Resources For Writers & Publishers

As a first time author who self-published my first book, At The Starting Gate, I find myself in many first-time situations. Immediately upon finishing and publishing the book, I began hearing, "now you need a website and a blog to market and promote your book". More firsts for me. At this point, firsts, are becoming a common theme, recurring regularly.

First I built my website which took a while since I had no idea where to begin. My initial response? Google "how-to-build-a-website". This gave me enough information to get started doing it myself because I could not afford to hire someone to do it for me. Step by step I muddled through tons of research and information and finally produced a finished website I could be proud of - because I did it myself. Professional? No. But, I feel good about the end results.

Next came the blog. Like the website, I had no earthly idea where to start. I didn't even know what a blog was. To-do first? Yes. Google "what is a blog", then on to "how to make a blog". The results were the same as with the website, I had enough information to start and maintain a blog.


Along the way I found some extremely helpful resources. I want to pass those along for anyone who might need them.

1. Build A Better Blog - Business blogging experts Patsi Krakoff and Denise Wakeman are known as The Blog Squad™. Patsi and Denise help professionals set up and optimize great business blogs. They also operate a "blog crisis prevention program" - dedicated to extreme blog makeovers for boring blogs.

2. Writers Weekly - Tells How Not To Waste Money & Time Promoting Your Book

3. Book Marketing Network - A place to share, a place to give, a place to pass it on. For book authors, self-publishers, book publishers, publicists, marketers, and others involved in writing, publishing, and marketing books.

4. Book Marketing - John Kremer's Promoting Your Books and Book Marketing Bestsellers web site.

5. Publicity Hound - Publicity expert Joan Stewart shows you how to use free publicity to establish your credibility, enhance your reputation, position yourself as an expert, sell more products and services, promote a favorite cause or issue, and position your company as an employer of choice

These are just a few resources with some valuable information. I'll post more another time.