KN Magazine: Articles
This Crazy Writing Life: Four Million And Counting! Please, Somebody, Make It Stop!
In this installment of This Crazy Writing Life, Steven Womack examines the explosive rise of AI-generated books and the growing challenges facing today’s writers. With millions of titles flooding the market each year, he explores how shifting publishing models, algorithms, and emerging technologies are reshaping the industry—and what it means for authors striving to create meaningful, lasting work.
This Crazy Writing Life: When Publishing Throws You A Curve Ball—Again—And The Scammers Circle Above
Publishing is a people business—until it isn’t. In this installment of This Crazy Writing Life, Steven Womack shares the rollercoaster saga of his novel Pearson Place, from near-acquisition heartbreak to unexpected second chances. But just as hope resurfaces, scammers swoop in with AI-generated flattery and too-good-to-be-true offers. This candid, sharp-edged craft essay offers hard-won wisdom about perseverance, publishing politics, and protecting yourself in a predatory literary landscape.
Writing Historical Fiction
Historical fiction demands more than dates and dusty facts—it requires knowing how to transform real events into compelling narrative. In this practical craft article, James L. Hill explores three major approaches to historical fiction, from time-period-based storytelling to alternative history, and explains how much research each truly requires. Whether anchoring your story in the Battle of Trenton or rewriting the fate of the American Revolution, Hill shows how to balance accuracy, imagination, and storytelling power.
Flying Solo: On Finding Success As a Writer Without the Help of an Agent
Anna Scotti offers an honest, witty, and motivating look at what it means to build a career as a writer without an agent. From realistic expectations about advances to insider strategies for publishing with indie presses, entering contests, managing submissions, and promoting your own work, she shows how many authors thrive while “flying solo”—and how you can, too.
My Ten-Year Journey from Clueless to Getting a Clue
Bestselling author Lois Winston shares her honest, funny, and hard-won insights from a decade-long journey through the publishing world. From scams and setbacks to breakthroughs and bestseller lists, Winston reveals what it really takes to go from clueless beginner to seasoned professional—and how every writer can learn from the clues along the way.
This Crazy Writing Life: Some Random Reflections On The Reality of This Crazy Writing Life
In this candid and insightful column, Steven Womack dives deep into the overwhelming realities of the publishing world—from sobering statistics to the evolution of indie publishing. With wit and honesty, he unpacks the frustrations, surprises, and small victories that come with living this crazy writing life.
This Crazy Writing Life’s Conversation with Emma Boyer of Written Word Media
In this insightful conversation with Emma Boyer, Vice-President of Digital Operations & Author Relations at Written Word Media, Steven Womack explores how indie authors can successfully navigate book marketing. From giving books away for exposure to leveraging targeted digital platforms, Emma shares practical advice on overcoming the challenges of indie publishing and building momentum with readers.
Creating Your Personal and Business Road Map to Success as an Author!
Becoming a successful author requires more than just writing—it demands a strategic, business-minded approach. This article explores how to define personal and professional goals, understand the publishing industry, and avoid the trap of believing there’s only one right path to success.
This Crazy Writing Life: Amazon Ads Part Three–Don't Forget to Press the Clutch...
In this third installment on Amazon advertising, Steven Womack dives into manual ad targeting, explains the difference between keyword match types, and explores how to avoid getting lost in Amazon's massive category maze. If you're an indie author who wants to take the wheel, this is the roadmap.
This Crazy Writing Life: Dipping Our Toes In The Amazon Part Two — On Swimming Upstream...
In part two of our Amazon advertising deep dive, we unpack campaign architecture, custom vs. standard ads, bidding strategies, and the role of metadata in targeting. If you're ready to move beyond the basics and get serious about promoting your book, this is where the learning curve begins.
This Crazy Writing Life: Okay, Let’s Talk About The 800-Pound Gorilla: Marketing
A bold statement: I'd rather write five novels than market one. Here's a dive into the necessary evil of book marketing for indie authors and the principles to guide your marketing journey.
This Crazy Writing Life: On Defining a Book By Its Cover—Part Two
A stunning book cover can make or break a reader’s first impression—but what happens when the packaging far outshines the prose? In this latest installment of This Crazy Writing Life, we dig into types of book covers, production logistics, and the cautionary tale of a beautifully dressed train wreck of a novel.
This Crazy Writing Life: On Defining a Book By Its Cover
Book covers aren’t just decoration—they’re essential marketing tools. In this installment of This Crazy Writing Life, we explore how covers impact book sales, indie publishing strategies, genre expectations, and why you might want to leave the design to a pro.
This Crazy Writing Life: Defining Irony In The Time Of Covid
In this month's edition of This Crazy Writing Life, the author reflects on the irony of missing major mystery conferences due to a Covid diagnosis while also diving into the technical challenges of indie publishing print books.
The Indie Pubbing Journey Continues—Part Four: Navigating The Distribution Maze
You’ve written and polished your book—now what? This installment of This Crazy Writing Life explores the wild world of eBook distribution, weighing the pros and cons of going wide vs. going exclusive with Kindle Select. A must-read for indie authors navigating the modern publishing maze.
The Indie Pubbing Journey Continues—Part Three: The Learning Curve
From engine rebuilds to eBook formatting—indie publishing is a hands-on adventure. In this third installment, Steven Womack shares the hard-won lessons of navigating the indie tech stack, from Jutoh to Atticus, and why learning curves are worth the climb.
Covers
A great book cover is your first, and sometimes only, chance to make a professional impression. In this guide, Dale T. Phillips explores what makes a cover work, what can doom your book to obscurity, and how Indie authors can compete with the big publishers on visual appeal—and win.
Getting Started In Indie Pubbing — Part Two – The First Few Choices
In part two of my series on independent publishing, I discuss the first critical choices you’ll need to make when deciding how to publish your book. From selecting the format—hardcover, paperback, or eBook—to considering production quality and distribution, these decisions will shape your indie-pubbing journey.
Getting Started In Indie Pubbing (or Good God, what have I gotten myself into?)
Thinking of self-publishing but overwhelmed by the noise? Whether you’re new to the game or a veteran author rethinking your strategy, this guide offers a grounded starting point to navigate the indie pubbing world—without blowing a fuse.
Submit Your Writing to KN Magazine
Want to have your writing included in Killer Nashville Magazine?
Fill out our submission form and upload your writing here: