I’ve written this advice page in response to a few DMs over the past year by aspiring authors not sure where to begin on their publishing journey. I’m no expert, as I’m a firm believer that writing, publishing and marketing are ongoing learning experiences, especially as technology constantly changes; however, I have been traditionally published, hybrid published and self-published and I have had five novels, three poetry collections and three short story collections published, as well as numerous poems and short stories appearing in magazines and anthologies worldwide during the past sixteen years. In addition, for the past nine years I have been publishing writers and poets from all over the world as Editor-in-Chief of Bindweed Magazine, a literary journal that is listed on Duotrope. If my experience can be of any benefit to an aspiring author, then I’m happy to help; with that in mind, please see all the following blog posts I have written about writing, editing, publishing and marketing, as follows:
A to Z by blog post title
A
Are author newsletters worth it? Why I’ve stopped mine.
Are book reviews for readers or authors?
Are ebooks the way forward for poetry?
Are more authors choosing self-publishing than traditional?
Are short story collections getting popular again?
Author misconceptions: books in retail stores versus available to order online
Author promotion and social media
B
Believing in your own writing: the importance of self-confidence as a writer
Book sales rankings, pre-orders and what I’ve learned about discoverability
C
Calculating customers from Kindle Unlimited page reads
Can self-publishing lead to a publishing deal?
Countdown to publication checklist
D
Do reels and videos help authors sell books?
Does social media help an author sell books?
E
Ebooks and the future of publishing
G
Getting bad book reviews – keeping a level head
Getting book reviews: effective methods and how to find reviewers
Getting ideas and doing research for novels
Getting motivated to write when you aren’t feeling it
H
How can you support an author without spending money?
How many copies do self-published books sell?
How many people who write a novel finish it and how many get published?
How to become an author – my thoughts on writing qualifications
How to fit in literary time with normal life?
How to manage writing time with a busy day-job?
How to price your books to attract readers
I
Is giving away free eBooks beneficial for authors?
Is self-publishing worth it? Yes, but don’t take my word for it
Is talent or skills more important for novel writing?
K
Keeping sales going beyond publication month
L
Learning how to write creatively
Legal responsibilities as your own self-publisher
M
Marketing: how to spend your advertising budget wisely
Motivation to write when it’s not about the money
N
Novel writing: how to keep your plot moving forward
O
Outlining and planning a novel
P
Paying to be published: a personal view
Professional writer versus non-professional writer: how to know which one you are?
S
Selling books in an oversaturated publishing market
Should writers join a writing group?
Switching hats as a writer, editor and publisher
T
The importance of writing short stories
The ups and downs of being a writer
Traditional, hybrid and indie-publishing – how do they compare?
Traditional, hybrid and self-publishing…my experience
Trigger warnings and sensitivity readers for controversial fiction
W
Wanting to write a book? Don’t give up!
What I’ve learned about how to sell books
What percentage of authors make a full-time living from it?
What royalties and expenses will I have as a self-published author?
What services to pay for as an Indie author
What sort of people are creative writers?
When can you call yourself a best-selling author?
When writing isn’t your day-job: benefits of having other full-time work
Which do I recommend? Traditional, hybrid or self-publishing?
Which is best: strong protagonists or flawed characters in fiction?
Why don’t writers get paid a living wage?
Why going Indie has been the best decision for my writing career?
Why is there a stigma about writing horror?
Writing, editing, publishing and marketing – which is hardest?
Leilanie Stewart 
Thanks Leilanie, had a quick look, interesting – will read properly in due course. And good luck with it all. I note your comment about reviews!
Cheers Cory
Hi Leilanie,
I visited your literary blog, and as I can see you are passionate about poetry.
What I mean is that you are a very active in your blog and publishing your poems.
Let me introduce myself.
I’m a designer specialized in Book Cover Design.
I have learned with the experience that some good writers can’t show all their value due to their covers aren’t the most appropriate.
Only good covers can attract readers to discover a literary work.
A writer has invested a lot of time and emotional effort, but if the cover is not good enough, their effort has been for nothing.
I offer good rates and high quality designs.
Writer and Designer are the best combination for success.
Best,
Judith
Judith San Nicolás
JudithS Design & Creativity
Leilane, very interesting. Thanks and have a wonderful week.George