Yes. For the most part, my clients are my friends. This philosophy goes against most people’s advice. We freelancers are told that we have to maintain a professional distance. That we have to ask for money, which you don’t do with friends. That we might even have to our your clients — or they might…
I pride myself on choosing writing and editing clients that pass the sniff test. That is: their project is worthwhile, they have the skills to succeed with a book, they value my input, they can pay what I charge, and they don’t behave like asses. If you don’t pass the sniff test, we won’t start…
Newsletter 86: Insisting on crediting idea creators, AI can’t cite articles properly, a new business hybrid publisher, plus three people to follow and three books to read. Fight the rip-off culture I recently accepted a job to write a book chapter. The clients were expert business thinkers. The topic was a business discipline that should…
Ex-Facebook executive Sarah Wynn-Williams’ book Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism is, as I write this, the third-best-selling book on Amazon. It’s been out one week, and is the author’s first book. Not only that, Meta has tried and failed to block it, citing Wynn-Williams’ severance agreement. In case you’ve…
We’re not in a recession yet, but the signs are all there. If you’re a nonfiction author, it’s prudent to prepare. Authors typically make money from speaking, workshops, and consulting — all types of work that may become harder to secure in a recession. What you should do now depends on how secure you are…
Authors believe they should get free copies of their own books. But for the most part, they don’t. In fact, the cost and terms of fulfillment of author copies are part of the negotiation with the publisher. Pay attention to this when the contract is in process or it could cost you quite a bit…
Newsletter 85: Questions to ask when you treat your book as a startup venture. Plus paperbacks in decline, authors reveal their secrets, three people to follow, and three books to read. A book is a startup venture I help authors with nonfiction books. I’ve also been studying the principles and culture of startups of late….
If you’re trying to get a book contract, publishing may seem like a monolith. But it’s not. The typical quest of a nonfiction author seeking a publisher is filled with rejection. You connect through friends of friends, send in your query or proposal, and then mostly hear nothing or curt rejections. But you’ll also hear…
Newsletter 84. Why well-told case study stories are here to stay, another Gathering of the Ghosts, a section 230 podcast, plus three people to follow and three books to read. About those case study stories . . . “Tell me a story, Daddy . . .” My kids are well into their twenties now, but…