Learn Indie Publishing

  SENSORY DETAILS: HOW TO MAKE YOUR READER FEEL YOUR STORY Let’s get one thing straight: Every place has sensory details. Every. Single. Place. From the inside of a bustling café to the middle of a lonely desert highway, from your grandma’s cluttered attic to the sterile waiting room of a dentist’s office, there are always details waiting to be noticed. The question is, are you noticing them? And more importantly, are you weaving them into your writing in a way that lets your reader feel them too? Because here’s the truth: if you aren’t using sensory details, you’re robbing your reader blind. You’re handing them a flat, one-dimensional story when you could be giving them a living, breathing world. And trust me, nobody signs up to read a cardboard cutout of a novel. Why Sensory Details Matter Sight is just the beginning. Yes, you need to show your reader what a place looks like, but that’s only scratching the surface. Think about it: if you’ve ever walked into a bakery, what’s th...

  Let’s face it: shouting “Buy my book!” into the void of the internet rarely works. (Unless you’re shouting at your cat. Then it works perfectly—because the cat ignores you and you can get back to writing.) So how do you get readers to care about your books before they even know who you are? Two words: content marketing. Now, don’t let that term scare you. Content marketing is just a fancy way of saying: “Share useful, entertaining, or inspiring stuff so people want to hang around you, and eventually buy your book.” Here’s how authors can do it without feeling like a slimy salesperson: 1. Think Beyond the Book Your novel or nonfiction title is one piece of content. But what about the world around it? If you write fantasy, create blog posts or TikToks about mythical creatures, magic systems, or behind-the-scenes maps. If you write romance, share “date night” ideas inspired by your characters. If you write nonfiction, drop quick tips from your book that solve everyday probl...

Let’s be real: the phrase “author brand” can make a lot of writers squirm. It sounds like something reserved for influencers, CEOs, or people who drink cold brew while typing on MacBooks in perfectly curated home offices. But here’s the truth: If you’re an author, you already have a brand. It’s simply the way readers perceive you and your books. The real challenge? Building that brand without feeling like you’re putting on a mask or playing a role that doesn’t fit. So, let’s talk about how to do this in a way that feels authentic, natural, and even a little fun. 1. Remember: Your Brand Is Just You You don’t have to invent a shiny, Instagram-perfect version of yourself to be “marketable.” Readers connect with people , not robots. Love coffee? Mention it. Writing from your barn while chickens cluck in the background? Share that. Have a nerdy obsession with fountain pens, old maps, or Taylor Swift lyrics? Go ahead and sprinkle it in. The quirks you think are too ordinary or sil...