Four authors share their views about Publishizer: what the platform is, their experiences working with the team, the publishing deals they received as a result, and if you should start the process with your own book idea. As of 2020, they are just some of the growing number of successful authors who used Publishizer to get a traditional publisher for their books. More detail about their stories in the video and article below.

How do authors get discovered with Publishizer?

It’s all about finding the right idea. It takes work to create a book proposal that gets traditional book publishers and literary agents excited. Publishizer is just one avenue for authors and it’s still quite new. It takes an entrepreneurial spirit and a bit of determination. It also takes a good strategy to run a successful pre-order campaign. There are many avenues to getting your physical book out in the world. We are making it less of a daunting task with personalized support and our book proposal builder.

We’ve had many successes with most categories, including fiction books. The commercial trade non-fiction book categories typically do the best because these authors have a subject matter expertise that can be shared in book form and have started to build an audience with clients, an email newsletter, or a social following.

A traditional publisher oftentimes looks for authors with large platforms and rejects 96% of the proposals sent to their inbox. Part of this reason is that they charge no upfront costs and have to be very selective about which books they work with. It’s also because the quality of ideas is subjective and there’s still no other great way to predict book sales. Because of this, great book ideas are overlooked every single day and there is a lack of diverse titles hitting shelves around the world.

We started Publishizer to enable book ideas that don’t get their proper review by publishers and agents, either because 1. the author’s platform is not quite there or 2. the publisher is just not interested in the idea. It often has nothing to do with the quality of the book.

JK Rowling was rejected 12 times by publishers. The publishing process, traditional agents, and the industry, together, are not a perfect machine. Engaging with an email list and bringing a new book to market are the two main things authors learn while working with us. Self-published authors can also benefit from this, even if they are not pursuing a publisher or interested in running a pre-orders campaign.

Some authors do fantastically well. And some give it their best shot and come up short. Such is the nature of books. For every author, however, we have qualified traditional, hybrid, and service publishers who will show care to your book and help you get published. You always have the option to take the pre-order funds and self-publish the book, with nothing coming out of your own pocket. Self-published authors, instead of choosing one of our publishing partners, will still get access to email addresses from all readers for shipping, book printing, and book reviews once it’s released.

In the video above and stories below, four authors took the time to tell you in their own words: Why Publishizer? I hope they resonate with you and allow you to learn from their successes and focus on what’s possible with our book crowdfunding platform.

Neal Schaffer

Neal Schaffer, published with HarperCollins Leadership, launched his campaign on October 18, 2017, and sold 544 book pre-order copies for The Business of Influence “Just put your book on Publishizer. It’s a no-brainer.”-Neal Neal and I worked on his book proposal back and forth remotely for about a month until we had an idea and a structure that we thought would do well in the market. I was working from Bali at the time and he was traveling back and forth between Japan and California for business.

We did some research on the trends of influence and then tied it into a good message Neal could promote to his clients and a growing audience on social media. It was great to see his book campaign finish strong and by the end of it he had a five-figure paid advance offer from a growing foreign independent publisher. He soon received a second slightly larger advance offer from HarperCollins Leadership, which he took after a few conversations with the editor.

As Neal shares in the video, it was a great way to test and validate the book idea, get direction on marketability and what will sell, and have options to publish. We are already in talks to do a campaign on his next book idea.

What we learned:

Great ideas thrive and they can be molded and changed as you go. We revised Neal’s proposal many times to get it right and once we had publishing houses interested we were still updating selling points of the idea to ensure it aligned with what they wanted.

Derek Loudermilk

Derek Loudermilk, published with Kogan Page and Wiley, launched his first campaign on October 3, 2016, and sold 255 book pre-order copies for Superconductors , launched his second campaign on February 28, 2019, and sold 517 pre-order copies for Experience: The Revolution “I actually ran two campaigns on Publishizer, and both received traditional publishers.”-Derek Derek and I also met while I was in Bali, but this time in-person at a Nyepi celebration in Ubud. At the time, were both travelers and digital nomads working with people through our laptops as we grew our practices. Derek had been podcasting for some time and stood out as a natural promoter with some experience behind the camera.

His first video had a beautiful location and he really connected with people when he shared the book idea. A few years later we reconnected when it was time for the next book and he did the same thing. Only this time, he had experience behind him with a campaign and an extra three years building an audience around his message and his podcast. He doubled the number of copies sold at a retail book price and got a paid advance deal from Wiley UK.

Derek is a two-time success on Publishizer and was our first signed fully agented author. Our entire team looks forward to his next book.

What we learned:

Consistency matters both as an author and as an agent. Derek views his author career as a long-term game. He wants to work with a big 5 imprint like anyone else, but understands it often takes incremental steps with several books to build the brand and the message that they’ll eventually not want to turn down.

Kim Colegrove

Kim Colegrove, published with Mango, launched her campaign on November 15, 2018, and sold 330 copies for From Widow to Warrior “I landed a really good book deal and I couldn’t be happier.”-Kim Kim worked on her book with another agent at Publishizer and as a first-time author with no experience about how to write or sell a book, she gained a strong base of passionate readers and got hundreds of sales quickly.

Her proposal was like a story. In first-person, super personal, and gave very clear reader takeaways. This, along with her video, gave publishers a very good idea of her writing style and what she will be like to work with. And since her book category and idea aligned nicely with what they were looking for, the connection and match were very quick.

With Kim, the process went smoothly from beginning to end and her publisher utilized the Publishizer platform to gauge interest, communicate with her about the idea, and sign an agreement, all with minimal effort on behalf of the agent.

What we learned:

Technology helps because it improves publisher workflows and makes everyone more efficient. The platform did its job in hosting her campaign, allowing her to build an email list and then match with appropriate publishers. Once her agent got her ready, it was automation at its finest and resulted in a good book deal for her.

Daniel Stillman

Daniel Stillman, published with Management Impact, launched his campaign on July 31, 2018, and sold 553 copies for Good Talk “It got me off my butt. It got the word out. It got me pre-sales. It got me a real deal.”-Daniel Daniel and I connected from a previous author on the platform and we ended up working on his book in length during his time on the platform. We met in-person for the first time near our office in Amsterdam while he was hosting a workshop there. Being a remote team and a company that spends so much of our time doing business online, we don’t often have the chance to meet with our authors in real life. So this was really nice.

He had a full manuscript at the time, so once his campaign ended we worked with a professional reader to provide some editing feedback before shopping it around to our publishers. Shortly after, Daniel received a five-figure paid advance offer from a Dutch publisher who translated his book in two languages.

It took almost a year from the date of Daniel’s launch to signing a publishing deal. His book category and topic allowed him to be patient and wait for a good deal because it was a strong message that will be relevant for years to come and he’s still at the beginning of his long-term push to build an audience around it.

What we learned:

Patience wins because publishers oftentimes move very slowly when deciding on and scheduling a new release. Time in the industry helps us connect with publishers with the right idea when they’re looking for it, and if a book can maintain its relevance in the meantime, a deal will follow.

Conclusion

Publishizer is still a startup with a new book publishing model that has landed a lot of really nice book deals for authors, including previously self-published authors. We are also a literary agency, and this industry takes decades of experience to develop relationships and work with the biggest players and pull in high-value deals.

We have started to do this in a very short amount of time with our model and we have many amazing happy author stories to share. We have come a long way and understand that we have an even longer way to go. It’s amazing to see a book in print and to have an author hold it in their hands for the first time. That smile on their face is why we keep doing this.

If you’re wondering: Is Publishizer legit? Consider that we are trying to innovate a massive industry and it takes tons of time to make progress with publishing professionals and reputable agents. We have worked with so many authors and book projects in a short amount of time, all with no upfront costs. We offer our professional services for free and for those who don’t get interest from major publishing houses, we have credible hybrid and service publishers for authors who may still be able to get books into online retailers.

Will any of these authors run a crowdfunding campaign for their next book? Will non-fiction book titles continue their dominance? Or will fiction start to find its place in the crowdfunding community and really start driving more book sales? Will the ability to run a pre-order campaign before writing the actual book increase in popularity as physical retail stores continue to struggle? We don’t yet know. And that’s what’s most exciting for us!

Start a book proposal for free on Publishizer. It takes a minute.

Cheers,

Lee

Read about the math on our fees

Why Publishizer? Four Authors Share Their Views was originally published in Publishizer on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

What are bonuses? How are they used to sell lots of copies of your book? And how do you create them in ways that excite people?

Crowdfunding and running a pre-order campaign are great tools to raise money for your book project by getting a community of readers engaged and supporting its publication. One of the most powerful tools an author has at his or her disposal is the bonus feature where you provide them free or extra stuff depending on how much money they contribute to the book project.

Think of bonuses in three different categories:

1. Give a copy of the “book.” Your campaign reward can be a direct transaction: pre-order for your book. You then have the capital to finance its production and your reader gets the book once it’s published.
2. Share the story. Make your readers insiders to your creative process and the project development. Engage them by sending updates, videos, blogs, photos. You may offer them credits in your book by adding their name in the manuscript or to the Acknowledgments page. You can provide them signed copies or personalized messages for supporting the campaign.
3. Creative experiences. Give your readers access to you and participation in the project. Invitations to the book launch, meeting for coffee or having a chat about the book as it relates to them or their business, access to an online course or program, or the opportunity to hire you to speak or give a workshop or retreat. These can be experiences for premium readers who would love to pre-order a book + many more copies they can share with their friends and own community.

Every book project should benefit its readers just as much as the author, and it’s up to you to define how. These readers will become your advocates once your book hits stores and can write early book reviews which help get the book out there even further.

The goal of your book pre-order campaign is to sell as many copies as possible since the more you can sell the more publishers will express interest in offering book deals for your idea on Publishizer.

Selling pre-order copies of your book takes a personal approach and some strategy. Your bonuses are key assets in helping you do both of these. Put another way, your bonuses are the most compelling way to encourage or incentivize your email list, following, and community to become readers and pre-order copies of your book.

You don’t need fancy book covers or to test book promotion sites, your book promotions should be direct and through a channel that encourages a reply: daily email. Whereas promoting your bonuses through social media sites is less likely to get people to take action and actually buy. That’s why mailing lists are so valuable to an author building a platform, and why publishers use it as a main criterion when reviewing a book proposal.

How many people should I aim to buy my bonuses?

We looked at hundreds and hundreds of successful book campaigns launched on Publishizer and there are some consistencies in the data. For instance, it’s clear that being able to get about 200 people to buy a bonus and become a reader is the mark to hit. Most of our top authors have this number. Although, there are quite a few that only got 100 people to buy bonuses, and still sold the same amount of books and attract big name publishers.

This all has to do with the value of the bonus and how many copies are included.

Let’s stay your goal is to sell 500 copies within your 30-day campaign.

At 200 people, each would have to pre-order 2 copies at $25 each, on average

Ok, why would the average person buy 2 copies? Because everyone is buying exactly 2 copies? No. Because some will buy many copies, maybe 20 or 50 or 100, depending on what your bonuses are. And most will buy only 1 copy. This averages out to 2 copies person, and our data says this is very common amongst book campaigns that reach 500 or more copies on Publishizer.

Why would someone buy so many copies?

1. They want a service you offer and will buy books to get it.
2. They want to support you and see you succeed.
3. They want your book and have a community they can share it with.

In your community or network, you will have all three of these. You will also have people who just won’t be interested at all. That’s okay. You need to connect with everyone to figure which one they are.

To garner enough book sales, you will have to list out all your email contacts and reach out personally to start a conversation. Since your goal is to get 200 people to support and buy, the size of your mailing list will tell you how many you will need to convert into a reader during your 30-day campaign and which bonuses to focus on.

For example,

• Let’s say you have 2,000 email contacts
• You will need to convert 10% of them to pre-order a bonus

Adjust your numbers depending on the size of your email contact list. (Again, social media does not sell books very well). Of course, the larger the list the more you can test with segment groups, and the odds of you reaching and exceeding your pre-order goal increases. If you have a smaller email contact list, you will want to be even more strategic and offer higher value bonuses.

As a good rule of thumb, consider how you could create bonuses in a way that would allow you to sell just one of each bonus and still reach 500 copies.

Ok, how do I create a good bonus?

Here are two real-world examples to get you started:

1. Neil Patel ran a pre-order campaign with his publisher, Rodale, for his book Hustle and offered a free one-hour SEO coaching to everyone on his email list who pre-ordered at least 10 copies. He limited availability of this offer for only 3 days and only to his engaged email list, which allowed him to sell hundreds of pre-order copies this way very quickly.
2. Gary Vaynerchuk ran a pre-order campaign with his publisher, HarperCollins, for his book Crushing It! and offered a 1-full day with him if anyone on his Instagram pre-ordered 350 copies of his book for a limited time only. Again, he sold thousands of copies this way. He essentially replaced his consulting fee with books.

These are two very successful authors. And you don’t need to be a big brand or have a large following like Neil Patel or Gary V to take this principle and apply it to your own expertise and following. This is what pre-orders are all about — and publishers love this. Think of Publishizer as a way to help you figure out what your bonus offers are and combine them to crush your book pre-order campaign before 30 days is up.

Go back to the three reasons someone would buy many copies of your book and create a couple of bonuses for each one, such as these examples:

1. They want a service you offer and will buy books to get it.

• Pre-order 5 copies for $100 and get a free 1:1 30-min. coaching session + access to your newsletter and Facebook community + invitations to personalized book signings
• Pre-order 50 copies for $1,000 and get 1 month of coaching, multiple 60-minute sessions + your name mentioned in the acknowledgments

2. They want to support you and see you succeed.

• Pre-order 2 copies for $40 and share the other copy with a friend + get your name mentioned in the book and personalized thank you note once you receive the copy
• Pre-order 25 copies for $500 and get a shoutout on all social media and in your newsletter as an endorser + mention them in the Acknowledgments

3. They want your book and have a community they can share it with.

• Pre-order 20 copies for $400 and get access to your online program for 20 people for free + join your newsletter to receive more updates on the book
• Pre-order 100 copies for $2,000 and you will come speak at an event or a team workshop on the topic of the book

Going back to that rule of thumb from above, if you were to get just 1 reader per each of these bonuses, how many pre-order copies would have been sold already?

Remember, the best bonuses highlight your expertise and help validate a book idea in the process. Especially for non-fiction titles, this is where business development plays a key role in the success of the campaign. It’s about providing value beyond the book that relates directly to your business or personal brand. This is the most important strategy authors can use during their time spent on Publishizer.

Have fun with it.

For potential readers, it’s all about the experience and the value they receive. For authors, it’s about positioning your book and your messaging in a way that lets readers know that your campaign is for them, and that together you’re going to have a unique experience if they support you now.

The examples provided above are just standard bonuses and amounts of readers that tend to work. What you add to them and how you promote them to your readers will determine their excitement and level of engagement.

There have been a handful of campaigns that did not sell any larger bonuses but got 400 or 500 readers to buy single copies. That’s the value the author decided to push, and they had the engagement to make that strategy work for them.

Lastly, be unique. What can you offer that is relevant to your book, will bring loads of value to them, and have fun in the process?

Here are just some extra unique examples that worked well:

• Pre-order 10 copies of my book and receive a free online 60-minute didgeridoo class for you and a friend.
• Pre-order 3 copies of my book and I’ll write a new personalized haiku for you based on your name and background.
• Pre-order 5 copies of my novel and I’ll review and assess a screenplay you’re currently working on.
• Pre-order 100 copies and receive 6-months coaching from me + access to an online speaking course for an unlimited time.
• Pre-order 20 copies and receive a personalized cooking apron from my partner and your name mentioned in the cookbook.
• Pre-order 200 copies of my book and receive a guided Ayahuasca ceremony for you and 3 friends.
• Pre-order 27 copies and for 8 weeks, you’ll join me and 7 other women on a guided meditation and writing retreat.

As a final reminder, although it is the goal of authors on Publishizer to get book deals from publishers, successful book promotion campaigns in any form come down to how well you can engage with your readers and offer value (not a discounted book). Having a group you can tap into to share it with their own communities and be there for book reviews is how a vast majority of indie authors build a platform and become bestsellers.

Cheers,

Submit a book proposal on www.publishizer.com to get started.

How to Create Attractive Book Bonuses was originally published in Publishizer on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

This is a broad overview of the main types of publishers and what you can typically expect from them. Each has its own level of care, knowledge of the publishing industry, and approach to working with new titles. It is important to know that each of these types of publishers serves an important and truly valuable purpose to the more than one million authors who publish books each year.

The amount of work they do and contract terms vary greatly from publisher to publisher, even within a specific type. Self-published books from independent authors technically would not fall into any of these categories. Once you receive a publishing contract, it’s best to discuss the specific terms with your potential agent.

For even more information, read How to talk to book publishers.

Service

Service publishers get your book on Amazon with an ISBN and take care of internal formatting, book printing, and even provide proofreading and marketing for extra fees. Because they can provide these services to any author and don’t need to worry about bookstore placement or earning an ROI on royalty payments, they are not as selective about which books they work with.

What to expect: An upfront cost to print and publish your book that ranges from $3k–9k for a quality service publisher. Minimal to no editing support for your book, no distribution in bookstores, and no paid advances.

Value to authors: You retain all rights to the book and receive 100% of all book sales in the book’s lifetime. You will also have a lot of control over deadlines and the final manuscript. Time to publish is shorter, usually within 6 months if you have the manuscript completed.

These publishers are very similar to self-publishing companies, as much of the publishing process is still left to the author. Oftentimes, service publishers will set the author up as the publisher, and only provide help on getting the book online, such as KDP select or Apple Books, and printed, usually print on demand since they don’t want to invest in a first print run unless you have pre-orders already. You can still approach an indie bookstore on your own and still get in.

Hybrid

Hybrid publishers have a bit more stake in the success of your book and are more selective about who they work with. There can be a high level of care to authors on editorial and marketing, and oftentimes have experience in traditional book publishing.

What to expect: An upfront or additional cost to publish the book which includes some extra services such as manuscript editing and marketing, varies widely between publishers. Sometimes, this comes in the form of a requirement to pre-purchase thousands of copies of your book at low printing cost, which ranges at $3–6 per copy. Royalties range between 20–60% to the author.

Value to authors: Many hybrids can get your book into physical bookstores and there is high credibility if they have past success stories. Some may even give small paid advances. Time to publish is still quite short at within 6 months.

It’s always beneficial to get a professional editor, and no rely on the publisher. But when publishers take part in the editing process, the book stands a higher chance of doing well in the market. Hybrid publishers like to do more than service publishers when it comes to the book title, book cover, book reviews, and other factors that make a difference to sales. This is because they are earning royalties and have a bit more invested.

Small Press

Small presses vary widely, but they are usually highly credible publishers and more selective since they like to specialize in niche types of books and work hard to provide book distribution. They are very similar to hybrid publishers and some are even considered traditional publishers.

What to expect: An upfront cost to publish the book which includes some extra services such as manuscript editing and marketing. This ranges in price from $10k–25k. You still have a high amount of control over the book. The marketing effort is also higher and they develop a plan with you as a partnership.

Value to authors. Provides editing and high author support with a higher royalty, about 50–60%. They can also get you into bookstore shelves, although some still don’t have this capability. No paid advances are offered and still a short time to publish, within 6 months.

This is where you will start running into acquisitions editors and significant barriers to entry. Your proposal will need to be a bit more well-rounded, have a clear go-to-market strategy for a nonfiction book, and author platform (email list) is considered much more here. Type of book is also more important since a commissioning editor is more selective. Retail price is also a bigger factor since published books will start at $25 for paperback copies, or $15 for ebooks. Anything significantly lower speaks to the level of reader demand for the title.

Traditional

Traditional publishers also can vary quite widely since there are so many but what holds true is that they are all highly selective, have credibility with many previous successful books, and will ensure your book has a viable strategy to sell lots of copies.

What to expect: No upfront cost to publish the book and once you receive an offer you can expect high standards editorial process with deadlines. You lose a bit of control and give up royalties, which range between 6–20%. The marketing effort is also higher and they develop a plan with you as a partnership.

Value to authors. Credibility is the big one and they get you into bookstores so you will sell more copies. Most will offer paid advances, but not all. Time to publish is quite long, at least 1 year out.

Oftentimes, you will need a literary agent in order to get a book deal offer from a traditional publishing house. This is because publishers trust agent recommendations about topics and authors and more accurately predict of the book will do well in the market, rather than relying solely on the book proposal. The publishing process is also much longer at this level since you’re now in a lineup of other authors who all need priority in pushing book releases and careful planning.

Conclusion

The publishing industry is a giant machine and book publishing professionals each have their own place and workflow, offering different levels of creative control, marketing initiatives, book editing, book formats, and how they get your book out in the world.

It is very common to have multiple Service and Hybrids interested in your book, whereas credible small presses and traditional publishers will take more time and work. Growth as an author, your personal brand, and your message is a long-term game. It often takes several books and publishers to get to a nice traditional deal or higher-paid advance.

Their value is discovered in phone conversations with the publisher or editor, and in terms of their contracts. For more detail on what exactly is in those contracts, this blog post is helpful.

It is always beneficial to go with the publisher who:

1. provides the best deal in terms of cost to output,
2. will publish your book in a timely manner, and
3. whom you feel confident cares about your book and can help you make a difference by publishing it.

Lastly, independent authors and writers often ask what’s the difference between traditional and self-publishing, and there are some clear differences, as above. But it’s more complicated than that, and there are thousands of options available to authors, which are usually much better than choosing to self-publish a book without any support or guidance. Every book should have a critique partner to help shape the idea into something that resonates with a niche market. It’s also helpful to have beta readers, or people within your community who can pre-order or give feedback.

Justine Evirs, author of Girl, F*ck This, (coming fall ‘21), published by Ballast Books, a hybrid book publisher based in Virginia, shares her own thoughts:

“I want to work with a small team and a publisher that takes pride in this book just as much I do. The purpose of this book is to start a conversation, expand my network, build a community, and continue to build a platform for even more courageous conversations.

I know for a fact, that if I would not have worked with Publishizer I would not have had so many opportunities to work with different publishers and pre-sell copies of my book with my network. I was amazed by how many were interested in my book idea and it gave me the confidence and validation to move forward. I now know that people want this and I am not wasting my time or just putting noise into the world. Which is priceless in my opinion!”

Cheers,

PS View more author testimonials at publishizer.com/#testimonials

How to Publish a Book These Days was originally published in Publishizer on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

When you dive into a story, you experience the world through the eyes of the protagonist and can explore complex emotions and situations through them. However, a majority of main characters have been presenting mainstream narratives for a long time. Representation has been lacking between the covers of books, and in the publishing industry as well.

From celebrated authors to mainstream publishers, the vast majority of big players in the book industry have been white, male and straight. A simple search on “great authors” presents Ranker’s “Best Writers of All Time” list in the top result. The list features 100 authors, of which only six are female, and not a single person of color.

The Diversity Baseline Survey, spearheaded by Lee & Low Books in 2015, found that almost 80% of the entire publishing industry (including executives, editors, and reviewers) were white. This lack of diversity became painfully clear in 2015 and 2017, two recent instances in which the “best book” shortlists in the UK consisted of only white authors.

Why does this matter? Stories are mirrors for readers to see themselves in, to feel acknowledged, and to validate their own experiences. Mainstream narratives that only support a particular demographic alienates others, and does not help develop empathy for those “different” to us.

It is especially empowering for younger audiences to read inspiring stories with characters they can identify with. Jacob Hood wrote a great essay for Huffpost about his memories of reading books as a kid of color. He loved those adventure stories, but he never felt like he could be like any of the white characters he admired. The stories weren’t about him. There were books with characters being black, but never about black kids solving mysteries. He explains that we need books that show life’s realities, but we also need books that feature diverse heroes in the genres we’re all familiar with. Kids want to see that they are like everyone else and that they can be heroes as well.

The freedom of the online world provides febrile grounds for a whole new array of stories told from other perspectives. Makers of interactive fiction recognize the format’s potential to speak directly to specific, niche audiences. Here are some interactive narrative games that offer different points of view.

1. Choices

Choices by Pixelberry Studios releases new books and chapters every week that provide general outlines of a story, but lets you fill in the blanks. You can pick your gender, ethnicity and sexual orientation. With story genres that range from romance to horror, you get to make choices “to kiss or not to kiss your love interest” or “run away from or fight the monster in your house.”

2. Drag Star!

Have you ever been curious about what it’s like to compete in a drag show? This interactive novel by Choices of Games might be a fun place to start. The story revolves around a big reality TV drag competition. It is entirely text-based, but you make decisions about the developments of the story. You can decide to play a queen or king, and even as a non-binary or genderfluid performer; write original jokes and song lyrics; create your look — all while finding out which diva contestant is trying to sabotage everything!

3. Bury Me, My Love

Some issues are difficult to understand, especially if you do not have firsthand experience of it. This is why stories are a great way to promote deeper understanding and empathy. That’s what The Pixel Hunt aims to achieve with their interactive story, Bury Me, My Love, which follows a Syrian couple through the refugee crisis — with one trying to reach Europe and the other still in Syria. You experience their story and the world they are living through their text messages to each other, the chaos and uncertainty of those who live in refugee camps and hoping for a better life.

4. Episode

Similar to Choices, Episode by Pocket Gems is an app that provides a general story outline, with readers choosing how the story unfolds by answering questions. You are also able to customize your avatar’s looks and sexual orientation. Besides original stories, Episode also has partnerships with popular TV shows, movies and popstars, so you get to include your favorite on-screen characters in the story! This is by far the most famous game on this list with 1.5 million reviews on the app store.

5. The Boat

This story by SBS doesn’t let you make any decisions, but is still highly engaging. The use of sound and visual effects provide an extra layer to the reading experience, making it more intense. You follow a group of Vietnamese refugees on a boat in the midst of a storm. As the text and illustrations on the screen tilt from left to right, you start to feel almost seasick yourself. Poetic writing, well-designed effects and the beautiful inky illustrations make you feel like a part of the story, bringing everything together beautifully.

6. Device 6

While reading a thriller, half the fun is trying to figure things out. But do you wish you were actively solving problems and answering questions as you flip through the pages? Device 6 by Simogo lets you do just that. It’s a thriller peppered with puzzles, maps and photographs. You’re Anna, who’s trying to figure out how she ended up in a castle on an island, plagued by the memory of a creepy doll. The aesthetic is reminiscent of the films from an earlier era, which featured more female victims than female heroines. In this story, the protagonist takes her fate into her own hands and finds out what happened to her (with your help, obviously).

7. Gone Home

In another exciting detective-style story, “you” come after a year of traveling to find your family gone. You have to find out what happened by walking through the house and finding clues. Gone Home features a female protagonist and has been linked to the nineties riot grrrl scene. According to the study, the game mobilizes feminist action and is a critical response to the often misogynistic gaming culture.

With so many examples of innovative and inclusive ways of storytelling, authors can think beyond limiting formats and mainstream audiences. There are so many ways to share all the wonderful, diverse stories of humanity. Thinking about the narrator is crucial to the writing process — so what voice will you give your protagonist?

7 Interactive Fiction Platforms that Will Open Our Eyes to New POVs was originally published in Publishizer on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

In the middle of writing your future best-seller, but need a piece of advice or some inspiration to keep going? There is a well of valuable content out there to help you. The easiest way to access it is through podcasts, which you can listen to while walking your dog, commuting to work or sipping your morning coffee on your couch.

Whether you need help navigating the publishing world, tips on how to write better, or just a dose of inspiration from your favorite authors, we found the best podcasts to keep you on the write, um, right track.

•••

1. The Self Publishing Show

About: As a self-published author himself, Mark Dawson dives headfirst into the world of self publishing. He shares his publishing experiences and strategies with his “wannabe author” and co-host, James Blatch. Together, they talk to industry professionals and give actionable tips, aiming to make the indie writing experience a great one for everyone.

Listen to if: you’re about to embark on or are in the middle of the daunting book publishing process, and need inspiration for a good marketing strategy.

Host: Mark Dawson and James Blatch.

Episode to listen to: How to be a Productive Author — with Craig Martelle

2. Helping Writers Become Authors

About: As the title suggests, this podcast is all about lending writers a helping hand. Every episode dives deep into a very specific part of the writing process, from character development to story structure. But the host won’t just talk about character development, she’ll devote an entire episode to how the want vs. need conflict can drive a character’s story.

Listen to if: you’re struggling with a very specific writing problem. There is a good chance your question will be answered in one of the more than 470 episodes.

Host: K.M. Weiland

Episode to listen to: Ep. 449: 5 ways to successfully start a book with a dream

3. Books and Authors by BBC Radio

About: This podcast consists of two segments. In the first, Open Book, host Mariella Frostrup interviews authors about their work. In the second segment, A Good Read, host Harriett Gilbert talks to authors about their favorite books. The conversations go deep and give listeners a substantial glimpse into the minds of other authors.

Listen to if: you want to hear how well-known authors wrote their books.

Hosts: Mariella Frostrup and Harriett Gilbert

Episode to listen to: Open Book: Taylor Jenkins Reid, Older Characters in Fiction, Baseball Books

4. Create If Writing

About: Every author just wants their book to be read. This podcast focuses on building and growing an audience. The host tackles topics such as how to optimize social media, getting more email sign-ups and how to reduce wasted time.

Listen to if: you’re excited to share your book with a whole lot of people.

Host: Kirsten Oliphant

Episode to listen to: How to Market Your Book While You Write

5. The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity and Neuroscience

About: We all have habits. We might be unaware of some, but we implement others into our lives because we hope they will make us more successful. It is tempting to look at people we admire and copy their habits. If your favorite author starts their day with three cups of chamomile tea to get in the flow, who knows? It might work for you too! This podcast aims to uncover the secrets behind those habits. Which ones spark productivity and creativity? The podcast host tries to figure this out by talking to authors, literary professionals and neuroscientists.

Listen to if: your voyeuristic self wants to learn what makes other writers tick.

Host: Kelton Reid

Episode to listen to: How New York Times Bestselling Author of ‘The Bookseller’ Cynthia Swanson Writes

6. Between the Covers

About: On this podcast, the host has long, in-depth conversations with authors about their books and writing processes. You’ll hear about the stories behind their stories. They cover things like the meaning behind certain scenes, the themes of the book and the author’s family’s responses to a memoir. To level the playing field and make sure the listeners get an idea of the author’s writing style, authors also read a few paragraphs of their book.

Listen to if: you want to hear what inspired other authors to write what they wrote.

Host: David Naimon

Episode to listen to: Sophia Shalmiyev: Mother Winter

7. The Sell More Books Show

About: Getting the word out about your book can be a challenge. This podcast discusses the latest book marketing news and provides hands-on tips, tricks and tools to successfully market your book.

Listen to if: you are about to or in the middle of marketing your book and need a boost.

Hosts: Jim Kukral and Bryan Cohen

Episode to listen to: Episode 260 — #Bookfans, Blasted Blasty, and Rising Indies

8. The Creative Penn

About: Want to know how to make money as a writer? Or how to navigate the creative industry as an introvert? Or how to write villains and heroes? This podcast has answers. It covers everything on publishing — from marketing to the writing process and from creative entrepreneurship to writing. Once a week, the host has an interview with someone from the publishing industry, shares advice and gives useful information.

Listen to if: you need advice on anything — from writing to publishing — during the book publishing process.

Host: Joanna Penn.

Episode to listen to: Storyteller: Audiobook Narration Tips With Lorelei King

9. The New Yorker: The Writer’s Voice

About: The concept for this podcast is very simple: New Yorker fiction writers read their stories for you.

Listen to if: you’re stuck and you need to get out of your own head. Listening to this podcast is like reading a book while you’re walking. So you can go outside, get some exercise and “read.” And we all know that reading is the best way to get inspired to continue writing.

Host: Deborah Treisman

Episode to listen to: Salman Rushdie Reads “The Little King”

10. Print Run

About: As an outsider, the publishing industry can seem like a mysterious world that’s hard to navigate and filled with minefields. Print Run aims to guide listeners through this place. Coming from publishing backgrounds themselves, the hosts talk about trends and news in the publishing industry, and tell listeners exactly what goes into creating a book. They have layered discussions about all sorts of topics.

Listen to if: you feel lost in the publishing world.

Hosts: Laura Zats and Erik Hane.

Episode to listen to: Episode 93 — Grammar and Power

•••

With all these great podcasts available, plug those earbuds in and start listening to get inspired!

10 Podcasts Every Author Should Add to Their Library was originally published in Publishizer on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

In the days pre-Internet, authors only had book tours to interact directly with their fans. The fun thing about publishing a book these days is that you can be in direct contact with your readers. It is a powerful way to see how your writing has touched other lives, and can help you gauge the popularity of your book.

Creating an online community for your readers is not only rewarding, it’s also necessary. Publishers are investing less in promoting authors, so having your own engaged community of followers is extremely beneficial. Authors can promote their work directly to fans, get a feel of what their readers want and like, and valuable feedback on what they’re working on.

These are some authors who have successfully built an engaged community on interactions with their readers online.

•••

1. Rupi Kaur

@rupikaur_ on Instagram

As a poet who found fame through Instagram, Rupi Kaur should be on top of your to-follow list. She posts relatable poems, illustrations and gorgeous lifestyle pictures. Her posts are very easy to share — and many people do. Creating shareable content allowed her fame and online community of followers to grow.

2. Elizabeth Gilbert

@Elizabeth_Gilbert_Writer on Instagram

Gilbert is the author of Eat, Pray, Love and more recently City of Girls. She gives followers an unfiltered peek inside her everyday life. There are lots of puppy photos, and the occasional behind-the-scenes look into her life as an author. This balance between writing posts and personal photographs makes readers feel like they actually know the author behind their favorite novels.

3. J.K. Rowling

@jk_rowling on Twitter

The queen of creating magical realms is very much in touch with what’s going on in the real world as well. She is known for being savagely funny on Twitter, where she shares her views on politics, current affairs and global issues.

4. Jason Reynolds

@Jasonreynolds83 on Instagram

Reynolds, who writes for a young adult and middle-grade audience, shares book recommendations, handwritten notes from his writing process, projects he’s passionate about, and pictures from speaking engagements. Pretty much everything you would expect an author to share!

5. Daymond John

@thesharkdaymond on Instagram

This former Shark Tank investor/judge has written several business books. On Instagram, he shares business advice, inspirational quotes and updates on the publishing process. Even if you have not read any of his books before, his detailed captions and online advice gives you a taste of what to expect, and leaves you wanting more.

6. Stephen King

@StephenKing on Twitter

If you follow Stephen King, aka the “King of Horror”, you’ll get a pretty good idea of what he likes and dislikes. Several times a day, he shares his political views and suggestions for books, TV shows and movies. By sharing these things, fans can get a peek inside the mind of their favorite writer.

7. Hannah Orenstein

@hannahorens on Instagram

Orenstein, who recently published her second rom-com novel, is great at involving her followers in her writing and publishing process. She shares where she is writing, her own writing tips and tricks, and even consults her readers on the title of her new novel. When readers feel like they are personally invested in the development of the book, they are more likely to support it too.

8. Neil Gaiman

@Neilhimself on Twitter

This prolific author uses Twitter to respond to his readers’ messages and repost things they share. With his wit and dry sense of humor, he has created a fun online community for his fans to interact with him.

9. E.J. Mellow

@ejmellow on Instagram

This YA author sure knows how to ‘gram. She shares countless photos of the prettiest writing desk set-ups that inspire even the biggest procrastinators to start writing! She’ll caption these intimately with where she is at in the writing process and how she feels.

10. Margaret Atwood

@MargaretAtwood on Twitter

The author of The Handmaid’s Tale doesn’t just write great books; she is also a master of memorable tweets. Other than sharing updates about her work and engaging with followers, she’s also very vocal about topics that she cares about — such as climate change and animal protection.

11. Cheryl Strayed

@cherylstrayed on Instagram

Behind the memoir that triggered the “Wild” effect, inspiring thousands to walk the Pacific Crest Trail in California, is this woman with a seemingly normal life on Instagram. Well, she alternates “normal” pictures with ones of bronze statues of her and selfies with Oprah. You know, other casual situations for famous authors.

12. Salman Rushdie

@SalmanRushdie on Twitter

The author of critically-acclaimed magical realism novels shares book updates, asks readers to vote cover designs they like best, and responds to his followers’ questions. By sharing, responding and polling, Rushdie involves his followers in his book’s publishing journey.

13. Atticus

@atticuspoetry on Instagram

The mysterious poet seems to be nowhere and everywhere at the same time. He writes anonymously, but is a New York Times bestseller and Instagram favorite. His poems that are mostly about love, have been shared and re-shared by his followers for years. He has created a massive community that still feels deeply intimate.

•••

When looking for some inspiration or encouragement around building an engaged online community of readers, who do you follow on social media? What do they do that keeps their followers engaged?

13 Authors with Strong Communities on Social Media was originally published in Publishizer on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Ideas and stories that aim to make the world a radically better place

Mental, spiritual and physical resilience · October 1–15 2019

We all take moonshots. Because we are all astronauts.

The term “moonshot” derives from the Apollo 11 spaceflight project, which landed the first human on the moon in 1969. “Moonshot” may also reference the earlier phrase “shoot for the moon” meaning aim for a lofty target. When you try and do something radically hard, you approach the problem differently than when you try to make something incrementally better.

The goal of a moonshot forces you to throw out old problems and brainstorm something radically new. When it comes to thought leaders, entrepreneurs and forward thinking authors, this is the context upon which great book ideas become massive bestsellers.

These new books are making it possible for anyone to create an abundant reality in business and life — and realize that being successful is less about strategy, and more about emotional, spiritual, physical and mental resilience.

At a time when generations of people and new-age entrepreneurs in the workforce tie themselves to freedom and view going out on their own as a rite of passage to a fulfilling life, business, wellness, consciousness, spiritual, leadership, performance, fitness, and many other types of coaches, speakers, thought leaders, futurists and influencers are becoming more relevant, and necessary, than ever. Because they help accelerate growth and multiply impact further, beyond what anyone ever dreamed possible.

Are you ready for the challenge to push new boundaries?

Scientists can now hook the brain to a computer and begin to decode some of our memories and thoughts. This might eventually revolutionize communication and even entertainment, according to Dr. Michio Kaku, professor of theoretical physics at the City University of New York and author of The Future of the Mind.

We will spend considerable time in virtual and augmented realities allowing us to visit with each other even if hundreds of miles apart. They will be compelling but not quite human level by 2025 — that will take to the 2030s. We will be able to reprogram human biology away from many diseases and aging processes.

Predictive medicine will transforms health care. AI will be embedded in autos, robots, homes and hospitals will create the AI economy. The next generation Bitcoin will replace traditional hard money, creating a new paradigm for digital commerce and business that will create a legitimate new economy.

Mark Stevenson, author of An Optimist’s Tour of the Future, says the technologies aren’t the most important bit — although they are super cool. It’s what society does with them, and right now it’s institutional change that’s the sticking point. What you really want to look at is new ways of organizing ourselves. So, his next book covers, for instance, schools that are throwing out the curriculum in order to get on with some actual learning.

What’s your next moonshot idea?

—

For this book proposal contest, Publishizer is seeking topics on:

lifestyle, modern living, mindfulness, mental health, well-being, peak performance, sex, relationships, technology, business, innovation, sales and leadership, luck, success, money, personal growth, sustainability, influence, creativity, networking, emotional intelligence, hacking, leadership, habits, change, movement, work flow, radical empathy, yoga, fitness, happiness, effectiveness, dieting, microdosing, consciousness, health, spirituality, enlightenment, meditation, evolution, alternative therapies, psychology, emotional intelligence, nutrition, food, clean living, veganism, alternative lifestyle, religion, coaches, speakers, entrepreneurs, yoga teachers, practitioners, psychologists, columnists, buddhists, monks, storytellers, and others

The Terms:

This is our final book proposal contest for 2019. Pitch a Scout your book idea, by submitting a proposal, for your chance to win $500 and land a publisher for your book.

Open for submissions now until 15 October 2019.

T&C’s apply. All entries must be a completed book proposal written in English. They must be submitted, approved and launched in a 30-day crowdfunding campaign on Publishizer by 15 October 2019.

For more information or to submit your book idea head to:

publishizer.com/contests

Moonshot Book Proposal Writing Contest was originally published in Publishizer on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Publishing a book is a lot like having a baby: you create something you’re proud of in a labour of love and you want to give it its best shot in the world. Just like you would with an actual baby, you must put thought into what to call your book. The title should reflect its personality and the essence of its content. It should be captivating and evergreen — just like a baby name.

Why is a good book title important?

Your book title is the very first impression. It is a critical chance for you to grab attention and set expectations for what comes next. When a book is on a shelf, all people have to base their split-second judgement on is the title. A great title can help sell your book and make it stand out from the others, a bad one can doom it to obscurity.

How do you come up with a book title?

Do your research

How did other authors in your genre title their books? Compile a list of titles within your genre and learn from them — what works, what doesn’t, and why. Let other titles inspire you.

Think about your character

If your book is character-driven, you could consider coming up with a title that has something to do with your main character. What are their defining personality traits? What phase in life are they going through? Are there any defining moments that could work as a title? Is there a word they use all the time? Do they have an interesting name? A fun example of this is Where’d You Go, Bernadette?, which tells you that Bernadette is an important character in the story and that something is going to happen to her.

Have an uninterrupted brainstorm session

Schedule some time for an uninterrupted brainstorm session. Clear the table, make yourself some coffee, and grab a pile of paper, pens, sticky notes and crayons. When you’re in position, start free-writing. Write down every word, location, synonym, theme, feeling, emotion, term, description that is in some way connected to your story. Make mind maps, think about your favorite song lyrics and flip through a dictionary to get inspired. Write everything down, even if it sounds silly. Things that seem strange at first might spark new ideas later. After a while, start combining some of the words you came up with and make a list with possible titles. Put them in a drawer and come back to them after a day to see how you feel about them.

Make it memorable

Having a title that sticks can be beneficial in different stages of the process. Imagine people talking about your book. You don’t want them to say, “There’s this book I heard about, but I can’t remember what it’s called.” Of course, coming up with something memorable is easier said than done, but there are two tips to make this happen: 1. Keep it short (like Very Nice) or 2. Make it poetic (think Where the Crawdads Sing).

Talk to people

Present your ideas to people you trust and get feedback from them. Sometimes, things that make perfect sense to you may not be clear to others. Saying things out loud and getting other perspectives can give you clarity or new ideas. Some Publishizer authors in the past have even engaged their readers by asking them to vote on different book title ideas!

Now, let’s look at some real examples to show you the importance of a great book title

I’m Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid. This title immediately invokes an eerie vibe. It also makes you wonder what the title is referring to. Is the protagonist thinking this? And what are the “things” he’s referring to? A relationship? A job? A life…? Something strange is going to happen. Reading this creepy, mysterious title, you can immediately sense that this book is a thriller, or at least a book with a dark undertone.

The Backpacker Chef: Pocket-Friendly Recipes For Backpackers by Jacqui Treagus. It’s catchy, clever and you can tell that this is a cookbook. You know that the tone of the book is going to be casual. And even without the subtitle, you know exactly what you’ll learn. Before launching a pre-order campaign, Treagus called her book The Art of Roaming Cooking: Easy Recipes Designed for Travelers. This title doesn’t invoke as strong an image as the one she eventually went with and doesn’t roll off the tongue.

Love at First Like by Hannah Orenstein. The title encapsulates the genre (rom-com), it gives the reader a glimpse of what to expect of the story (something with social media and love) and, because of its play on a well-known phrase, it feels cheeky and light-hearted.

Compassionate Counterterrorism: The Power of Inclusion In Fighting Fundamentalism by Leena Al Olaimy. The original title for this book was Fundamentalists, which gave the reader a suggestion of the topic Al Olaimy would cover, but it said nothing about the angle. The new title tells you something about the argument that Al Olaimy is going to make and from which point of view she’s going to look at the topic. She also manages to make a heavy topic sound poetic, which makes it feel less intimidating.

Finally, keep these tips in mind

Just like books, titles come in all shapes and sizes. Deciding on yours can feel daunting, especially when you have too many options. If it all starts feeling like a bit too much, just keep these in mind while brainstorming:

• Your title should be relevant to its content and should give people an idea of what it is about.
• The title should hint at the genre, so that people know whether it is something for them or not.
• Create a vibe or tone similar to the one in your book.
• Wordplay works. When people recognize something in a title, it gives them an aha-moment (and we all love having those).

In the end, have fun coming up with a great title for your book, but don’t get too attached to it! Your publisher will most likely change the title to make it more marketable. Still, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t put thought and care into it. There are a lot of steps — such as getting people to pre-order your book for your Publishizer campaign — before you even start talking to a publisher.

Creating a Great Title for Your Book was originally published in Publishizer on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Who are you?

No, we’re not trying to have an existential conversation about the meaning of life! We’re talking about your author bio. It might seem like a minor detail in the process of putting together your book campaign, but it’s actually really important that you create a good one.

This is your chance to make a good first impression on your potential future readers. Tell the world who you are, what you have achieved in the past, and why people should trust you to write the most awesome book ever. It’s definitely worth spending some time and effort on this, so write a few versions, and ask your friends which one they prefer. Then go back to the writing table to craft a stellar author bio to impress.

We put together a list with tips to get you started.

Use a tone of voice that matches your book’s.

An author bio gives you a chance to connect with your potential audience. It gives them a sense of who you are and how you will write your book. So this is the perfect opportunity to flaunt your writing style. You’ll want your tone of voice to match with your topic, because you’re pitching yourself as the right person to write this book. If you’re writing a scientific book, it might not make sense to use comical language, and if you’re writing a funny book, you probably shouldn’t use an academic tone.

Write it in the third person.

We know, this feels awkward, but the third person makes your bio more professional and more trustworthy. And building trust is what you’re trying to accomplish here. This is not an autobiography, and writing in the first person would make it sound like it is.

Why you?

With so many writers on this planet, why would you be the perfect person to write this book? When you write your author bio, make sure you hit all the necessary points to show this. If you’re writing a cookbook, for instance, it would make sense to mention that you’ve studied nutrition, or maintain a popular recipe blog. If you’re a debut author, it is especially important to show the reader what your experience or affinity with your book’s topic is.

Cover the must-read information ASAP.

Information comes and goes at a rapid speed these days. That has made the average person’s attention span shorter. It’s important that you cover the most important information as soon as possible. Cover all the necessary information before the “read more” button, and grab readers’ attention from the start so that they actually want to find out more about you.

It’s okay to brag a little — but don’t overdo it.

As we said before, you have to let your readers know why they should trust you to write the book they want to read. One way of doing this is to list your accomplishments, educational background and previous work experience — but be sure to add things that are relevant to your book topic. If you’re writing about the benefits of meditation, it would be relevant to mention that you completed a silent retreat, but irrelevant that you won first prize in a baking contest.

Make sure the facts you share are verifiable.

It would be incredible if you came up with your business theory while you were selling lemonade behind a homemade stand when you were five years old, but it may not do anything for your credibility. Some readers may find it difficult to trust the word of a stranger, and providing facts that have no way of verification may make it harder. However, they would be able to look up facts such as where you went to college, what prizes you’ve won and where you’ve given talks.

Include previous books you’ve written.

This one sounds obvious, but if you’ve written books prior to the one you’re working on now, mention it. Potential supporters will be happy to know that you can deliver what you are promising.

Keep it short and sweet.

People can’t focus for that long. So don’t give them a loooooong resumé-like list. Keep it short and to the point but write enough to grab their attention.

Make it fun to read.

Even though you should cover all of the basic topics mentioned above, you should definitely try to keep things light and fun to read. If you just list your accomplishments, you might lose your reader after two sentences, even if you have the most impressive resumé. Add a hint of flair to your bio, and people will see your personality.

Good luck writing your stellar bio!

How to Write a Stellar Author Bio was originally published in Publishizer on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

There’s nothing more frustrating than staring at a blinking cursor on a blank page while your fingers hover over the keyboard. You know what you want to say, but how you’re going to say it is still a big question.

A writer’s block is often more than simply experiencing a lack of inspiration. It can come from an anxiousness to write, a lack of self-motivation, a feeling of inadequacy or an unhealthy amount of self-criticism. All of these are serious issues that should be solved by pushing through and doing one thing: writing. If you have a story to tell, you have to believe that you can tell it. To hopefully make the process a bit easier, we’ve collected some tips that might help you with that.

Create a pre-writing ritual

Something Toni Morrison — who sadly passed away earlier this week — observed, was that it works to perform a ritual every time you start writing. For her, this ritual was waking up before sunrise, making a cup of coffee and drinking it while the first sun rays touched the earth. A friend of hers, she said, would touch a specific item on her desk every time before she started working. Whatever your ritual is, it creates a way for your body and mind to know it’s time to get into “writer’s mode.”

Get rid of distractions

When a whole world is available to explore with the click of a few buttons, it’s really easy to get distracted. A daily tumble down the YouTube/Instagram/Twitter/Facebook hole can cost you hours without noticing. So turn of your WiFi, put your phone in a drawer and move away from the TV. Get rid of that stack of magazines you still need to read and plan a moment to clean your house while you are not trying to write. Create a distraction-free environment so all there is to do is write.

Find inspiration

Sometimes, all your brain needs is a spark of inspiration. Read a book to get a feel of how other authors’ sentences flow, listen to songs to hear how lyricists play with words, or look at paintings to see how painters bring objects to life with the stroke of a brush. Seeing how others have used their creativity to convey emotion might help you see things with fresh eyes.

Do a writing exercise

When you’re experiencing certain pains, a doctor will tell you to push through it, keep moving around and flexing your muscles. That’s what you have to do when you’re in a writing rut. You have to keep writing. If your project feels like it has reached a dead end, leave it for a minute and write about something completely different. Try finding a fun writing prompt, for instance, or do what Ernest Hemingway did and describe an everyday experience in great detail, using all your senses.

Get moving

Go for a walk around the block, head to your local gym or take a swim in a nearby lake. Whatever your preference, get your body in action. Movement is known to clear your mind. So getting your blood pumping will get those creative juices flowing.

Change of scenery

Whether you work in an office or write behind your own desk, at some point, we all need a change of scenery to reset our brain. Find a place that helps to ignite your senses and motivate that brain to push it into gear.

Create a routine

It seems counterintuitive: telling a creative when to be creative. Shouldn’t you wait for creativity to strike? Nope. You should treat writing like any other job and find a routine that works for you. Write around the same time, give yourself a daily word count goal or set a timer. By creating a routine, writing becomes part of your everyday life.

Stop worrying about perfection

Of course we want our writing to be perfect, but when you’re stuck, aiming for perfection is only going to hold you back. If you’re struggling to let every word perfectly encapsulate what you’re trying to say, every sentence flow from the first try, and every chapter make complete sense from start to finish, you’re going to take forever. Instead, try to let go of perfection and just get that first draft on paper. Force yourself to start writing and not stop until you have it. Afterwards, you can always go back to prune, add and tweak.

Do something “normal”

Research has shown that our aha-moments often happen while we’re doing mundane tasks. If you do tasks on “auto pilot” you activate a different part of your brain. The solution to your creative problem might just be there.

Talk about it

Sometimes, there is an idea stuck in your head, dying to get out, but you just can’t find the right words. It could help to ask someone you trust to serve as a sounding board. Explaining your idea to someone else and having them ask questions might give you ideas about how to describe something or where the story should go next. Pro tip: use a recorder and write down notes. We’ve all had that horrible experience of having a breakthrough and not remembering what exactly it was a few minutes later.

Develop your characters

Are you writing fiction? Take a deep-dive into your characters’ lives. Create detailed profiles, backstories, looks, mannerisms and timelines for them. You might not use any of the details you come up with, but it will make you understand them better. This will make you see things more clearly when you’re working on a story. If you know Character A intimately, you’ll have a better grasp of how he or she would act in a certain situation.

Have your own tips for how to combat writer’s block? We would love to hear them. Let us know in the comments.

Tips to Help You Eliminate Your Writer’s Block was originally published in Publishizer on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.