The Truth About Publishing: For Authors

Snappy answers to gut-wrenching author questions

I taught a class called “The Intimate Memoir” in May, about the craft and possibilities of writing about intimate life, erotic life, be it comedy or tragedy.

At the end of the course, I entertained publishing questions. Many of the students are published authors, and authors have work questions!

Q. Should I pursue audiobooks and audio licensing? How do I begin?

Get immersed in a medium before you produce or make choices about any of your work.

Listen to some of your favorite stories, classics, children’s work, titles you know well.  That’s the most pleasurable way to learn a lot, quickly.

It’s all free at the library. You’ll have thousands of choices.

Then: Read the customer reviews on Audible of the titles that strike your fancy. You will learn a great deal from the customer reviews, who do not hold back.

Q. What are the essentials to marketing a new book and getting it reviewed?

Visualizing the market, as in seeing their faces in your mind’s eye.

Understanding your audience.

Make it re…