3 Billion Words? Try 100 Billion or more

posted by Ken

Just two weeks ago, Smashwords announced they had published three billion words. How big is 3 billion? Think of it this way: if you started at 1 and counted each second until you got to 3 billion, you'd still be counting ninety years from now.

Indie Writers, Map Out Your Journey Before Hitting the Self-Pub Road (Part Two: Creating a Roadmap).

This is the second part of three on my series of blog posts for new indie writers. Part One discussed the writer's decision to go indie. Part Three, which will be posted next week, will be an outline of my own business plan and rationale.

posted by Saul

No serious-minded indie writer is going to set out on the self-pub journey without first having drafted a solid business plan that includes a vision of what to expect and what to accomplish along the way. Goal setting must be firmly couched in the real world and based on real-world experiences.

So how does a noob acquire such wisdom?

Indie Writers, Map Out Your Journey Before Hitting the Self-Pub Road (Part One: The Decision)

(posted by Saul)

I’ve been reading more and more frequently disturbing stories about writers frustrated with how hard it is to break into traditional publishing and instead making their way into self-publishing, only to find their frustration compounded by how hard it is to get people to buy their stories.

Believe me, self-pubbing is not a shortcut, and it’s definitely not a route to be taken by everyone. Publication isn’t simply a destination. It’s a series of stops and starts, detours and expressways. Sometimes the road is smooth and the horizon clear; other times, the route may seem to disappear altogether, the path so rough and treacherous that you’ll constantly wonder whether your mental suspension might give out at any moment.

A Conversation with Indie Writer Saul Tanpepper

Today's blog post is a conversation with The Writer's RoadTrip's newest contributor, Saul Tanpepper, a recently self-published writer of speculative fiction. He'll be a regular presence here, offering insights and opinions on the indie writer's journey as a point-counter-point to my own journey to becoming a trade published writer.

KJHwrite: Welcome, Saul. And thanks for accepting my invitation to blog your journey here at The Writer's RoadTrip.

ST: Thank you, Ken. It's a pleasure to be here. I'm pleased to have the opportunity to talk about my experiences.

KJHwrite: I think, to start off, it might be helpful to talk a little bit about yourself, give the readers an idea of what you can offer. Before you answer, though, I should give a brief intro to how we came to be here.