Blog - News and Updates from the World of Ghostwriting and Self-publishing

Standing Out in the Personal Development Genre

Posted on November 5 2025 by Mark Graham

This WWII Trilogy was written by Carl F. Haupt and Mark Graham Communications.

Enter “Personal Development Books” in the search bar for Amazon (or any other book retailer), and you’ll be presented with a vast array of options. Personal development, also known as self-help, self-empowerment, personal growth, and similar terms, is a genre that has exploded in recent years. From runaway bestsellers like The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and Atomic Habits, to popular books that focus on a particular lifestyle topic, such as The Psychology of Money and The Body Keeps the Score, it’s clear that countless authors have capitalized on the fact that readers are hungry for books that inspire them to better themselves, in general and/or within a variety of specific areas of their lives.

Whether you’re a therapist, entrepreneur, instructor, coach, or anyone else who has found success in your field, if you also have a talent for helping people and positively affecting others, you might be considering writing a book to broaden your sphere of influence. A book is a great idea for more reasons than one: in addition to the personal satisfaction of sharing your expertise through the written word, your book can expand your business, help you find new clients, and spread the word about your services. If you check out the backgrounds of popular authors in the personal development realm, you’ll discover that many of them began where you might be today: they were already sharing their wisdom with a limited number of people, and a book was the logical next step to widen their sphere.

But with so many personal development books already in the marketplace, how do you make yours stand out? Consider these ideas:

Employ story to make it personal. Readers connect with story more strongly than with pages and pages of instruction. Positive reviews of popular personal development books often mention how the author brings their own experience into their advice. For most readers, this is more relatable than a textbook-style book.
Keep it simple. The advice you have to offer might feel obvious to you, especially if you’ve employed it for a long time and it’s become intrinsic. But without guidance, the simplest lessons are often the most difficult for others to grasp. The easier you make it for readers to understand your concepts and ideas, the more likely they are to follow through with life-changing actions—and go on to recommend your book to others.
Make yourself available to readers. Successful personal development authors don’t live in an ivory tower. Instead, their books are often accompanied by downloadable worksheets, a website where the author can be reached, a social media presence where the target audience is most likely to spend time, and in-person appearances whenever possible. As you plan your book, think about these other pieces, too, so you can coordinate a book launch that enhances your visibility and relatability.

Personal development is a rewarding, multifaceted field, and new players enter it each year. Writing a successful book is the first step, but it’s one that can launch you into an entirely new, fulfilling lifestyle as a personal development expert.

If you have a great idea for a personal development book but you’re not sure where to start, please get in touch. Our team of ghostwriters, editors, and book marketing experts can help you create a book that has the potential to change lives—beginning with your own.

Expand Your Coaching Business Using a Book

Posted on October 7 2025 by Mark Graham

Back in the Real World – By Ed Turner and Cara Lopez Lee with Mark Graham Communications.

Coaching as a business is a relatively new field, only recognized for the past 40 years or so. And yet, it grows each year in the U.S. and throughout the world. If you’re in the coaching business, you already know that the most successful coaches have a niche: helping clients lose weight, for example, or land their dream job or start their own business. A great coach asks questions that help clients dig deeper and discover solutions or address challenges. Successful coaches help clients reframe their thinking and see what’s possible. Coaching clients are looking for the most direct route to get what they want, along with the accountability that a coach offers along every step of the path.

Many coaches offer specialized packages, group sessions, or other customized services that help them maintain and grow their client lists. It’s not uncommon for a successful coach to leave their 9-to-5 job and make a great living from coaching alone.

If you’re among them, congratulations! You’ve done something that many people only dream about. You’ve likely worked hard to build your business, and you continually look for ways to improve your services and offer innovative solutions for your clients.

So why would you need a book?

This might be a question you’ve already asked yourself. Like most coaches, you probably research widely about both your niche and coaching in general. You likely study the podcasts, social media, and websites of other coaches. You may have undergone training about how to become a successful coach and build a business. Along with these other resources, you might have read books by other coaches and wondered if you should write one yourself.

Consider these benefits of a book authored by you:

Credibility. We’re all bombarded with information these days—from what lands in our inboxes to our social and news media feeds to what we see on TV. Given this information overload, many people intuitively trust what they read in a thoughtful, well written and well received book more than they do other information sources. A book about your niche coaching expertise can add to your credibility both in your specific area and in general as a coach.
An expanded platform. In addition to offering the book on your website, through your email list, and via social media promotion, you can offer it for sale from online retailers like Amazon, as well as in physical bookstores. This provides additional avenues for potential customers to learn about you and your offerings. A method for sharing your own and your clients’ stories. A successful coaching business is built not only based on the coach’s success in their area, but also clients’ success. You can include your clients’ success stories in your book to provide inspiration and motivation for others to use your services.
A “teaser” of your offerings. Many coaches who write a book cover their niche in general, provide case studies, and offer ideas that readers can use to get started. The goal is to entice readers to read the book, then to go one step further and engage your coaching services. Using your book to offer general solutions to common problems in your niche area provides a low entry point for potential customers to try out your methodologies before taking the more committed step of working directly with you.As a busy coach, you might not have the time to write a book. Or you might have written a draft of your book and need help polishing it before publication. In either case, our team of ghostwriters and editors can help you get started or take the book to the next level. If you’re interested in getting a book out there to help you grow your coaching business, please get in touch. We’d love to hear from you and discover how we can help.

Sharing Your Expertise When You’re Not an “Expert”

Posted on September 9 2025 by Mark Graham

The Hotel Nantucket – By Elin Hilderbrand with Mark Graham Communications.

If there’s one thing we know about readers, it’s that they like learning something new. Recent estimates indicate that about 88% of books published each year are nonfiction titles. These books range from self-help to memoir to business, among other areas. With such a large percentage of authors publishing nonfiction, it’s logical to assume there are a lot of experts out there. After all, it’s experts who write nonfiction books about their area of expertise—correct?

Yes and no. Certainly, any author publishing a book through an academic press will be required to demonstrate expertise in the book’s subject matter. This occurs via peer review or editorial decisions. Additionally, if an author wishes to secure an agent and a traditional publisher for their nonfiction book, the general process is for the author to submit a detailed book proposal, sample chapters, and a CV that establishes the author’s qualifications to write the book.

But what if you know a lot about something but aren’t considered an expert? What if you haven’t been formally educated about a particular topic, but you have extensive experience in this area? If you lack formal training, does that mean you shouldn’t write about it?

Not necessarily. Consider the following:

What qualifications do you have? You might not be an established expert, but that doesn’t mean you’re unqualified. For example, you might know a great deal about baking because you’ve spent countless hours customizing and perfecting your own recipes. Perhaps you haven’t gone to culinary school or run a bakery, but your homegrown recipes might be relatable to a particular audience, such as other home bakers—and a book might be the perfect way to share them.
Can you identify an audience for your topic? Remember that the audience does not need to include every person in the country or world. In fact, the more niche your audience, the more likely your book is to succeed, because when the time comes to promote the book, you can home in on readers whose interests align with the book’s topic.
In what other ways have you shared your experiences? Going back to the baking example, perhaps you’ve blogged your recipes for years. If your blog is well received, there’s no reason not to gather your recipes into a book and use the book to gain a wider audience. Other ways you might have shared your experience include podcasts, speaking engagements, or via your work or career.

Regardless of topic, before publishing your book, you’ll need to:

Use appropriate tone and organization. Unless your book is academic in nature, most readers prefer an engaging and relatable style. You’ll also want to ensure the book’s tone is true to your voice and is not overly wordy or rambling. Additionally, it’s vital that the information is presented logically, allowing readers’ knowledge about the subject to gradually build as they move through the chapters.
Do your research. Even if you have a great deal of experience in a subject, there are likely aspects that will require deeper research. You can either do this on your own or hire someone to do it for you. For example, many Mark Graham Communications ghostwriters and editors specialize in research.
Check the book’s content for accuracy. There’s a great deal of misinformation out there. Authors have a responsibility to their readers to ensure that the information in their books is accurate and up-to-date.

Having both expertise and passion for a subject is the first step toward writing a nonfiction book about that subject. However, ensuring the book is professionally presented goes a long way toward finding and appealing to readers. If you have a great idea, or you’ve begun writing a nonfiction book but need help completing it, please get in touch. Our experienced ghostwriters, editors, and book designers can work with you to ensure the nonfiction book you envision comes to life professionally, insightfully, and engagingly.

Is Your Story Relatable?

Posted on August 8 2025 by Mark Graham

God in My Closet – By Sonya Black with Mark Graham Communications.

“I couldn’t get into this novel. I didn’t like any of the characters.”

“While I feel bad for this author, I felt little attachment to the story told in this memoir.”

“There are interesting factoids here, but no personal info about the author. Why should I trust this author to give me advice?”

Such criticisms are common in online reader reviews. They often accompany low ratings and can drive down the ratings average for a book, making it less appealing to future readers. It’s a situation all authors would prefer to avoid. But how do you ensure your story is relatable to readers?

Most authors, in all genres, begin by writing for themselves. This is sensible and understandable. We’re motivated to put words on a page when the story we’re writing (or having ghostwritten) speaks our truth. However, if your goal is to write a book that will also captivate readers, considering how relatable the story is to others will help you frame the narrative.

When considering relatability, think about the following:

Who will relate to this? In other words, who is your particular audience? For example, if you’re writing a memoir about caring for your aging parent, others who are going through that experience, or anticipating they will soon, are more likely to connect with your words than a much younger audience with still-young parents of their own, because that younger audience likely has little sense of what your experience might be like. Defining your audience as specifically as possible will help you—and your ghostwriter, if you’re working with one—keep that audience in mind as the writing progresses.
Which emotions make it relatable? Remember that your audience doesn’t need to experience exactly what you have (or what your characters have) in order to relate to those moments. When it comes to relatability, we’re riveted not by exact experiences, but by emotions. For example, we may have never been skydiving, but if a writer can put us in that moment—making us feel, right along with the writer, the exhilaration (and perhaps terror)—at the exact moment of stepping out of the plane and beginning to freefall, we relate those emotions to exhilarating or terrifying moments in our own history. It’s in these emotional beats that readers connect with characters or narrators.
If you’re writing nonfiction, how does relatability play into the book’s structure? A common criticism of many nonfiction books, especially some business books, is that they read like textbooks. Readers pick up a nonfiction title because they want to learn about a particular subject or hone particular skills, but most readers also want the narrative to be engaging. The key lies in storytelling—that is, finding ways to intersperse the story into the lessons and facts presented in the book. For example, if you’re an entrepreneur who wants to help others start their own business, you can include brief vignettes about the ups and downs of your own startup(s). As explained above, make sure emotion is part of the story. How did you feel when things went well? What about when something unexpected happened? Capturing the emotions of those moments along with recounting the specifics of what occurred will help readers relate—even if they have not yet had the same experience.

Relatability is fickle, and there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. However, keeping your audience in mind, focusing on emotions, and making sure to include story, even in nonfiction, all go a long way toward ensuring relatability for your book.

If this sounds challenging, please get in touch. Our team of experienced ghostwriters and editors can help you determine the best path forward for creating an engaging story that truly connects with your audience.

You Wrote a Book! Why Do You Need an Editor?

Posted on July 7 2025 by Mark Graham

Dreamality – By Jason McKinney with Mark Graham Communications.

Did we hear you correctly? You finished writing your book? Congratulations!

Conventional wisdom is that for every 100 people who say they want to write a book, only three will actually finish it. Turns out that writing, even if you’re passionate about your subject matter, is hard work! If you’re among the elite 3%, give yourself a pat on the back.

However, the process doesn’t end there. Whether you choose to self-publish or seek an agent and traditional publisher, once you’ve revised the book to the best of your ability, the next advisable step is to hire an editor.

There are several key types of editors:

Developmental editor. This editor will work with you to identify large issues in your book that need to be addressed. The editor reads your book on a high level, looking for concerns around organization, pacing, storytelling, and (for fiction) characterization. A developmental editor then offers the writer suggestions for improvement, and the writer implements them. This type of edit is appropriate for writers who wish to improve their skills, generally with an eye toward writing subsequent books.
Content editor. A content editor performs the same sort of high-level review as a developmental editor. However, a content editor (with the client’s approval) implements the suggestions, rather than the writer implementing them. A content editor is a good choice for anyone who has written a book but might not have the time or desire to significantly advance their writing skills.
Line editor. This editor looks for issues regarding sentence structure, grammar, unintended point-of-view shifts (for fiction), and other mechanical issues. Addressing such issues tightens the book’s language on the paragraph and sentence level. A line editor is a good choice for a writer whose book is well structured and organized, but who wants to ensure the book’s grammar and mechanics are top-notch. Additionally, many developmental editors will provide line editing suggestions, giving the writer ideas for line edits the writer might do on their own. Many content editors include line editing as part of the project.
Copy editor. A copy editor has a strong eye for detail and is an expert at catching typos, inconsistencies, missing/inverted words, spelling errors not caught by a spellchecker, and other small errors. Regardless of which other editor(s) a writer uses, using a copy editor is essential as a final check. This ensures the manuscript is as close to perfect as possible before publication.

What type of editor do you need? It depends on your goals, writing skills, time commitment, and other factors. When determining your editorial needs, think carefully about what you want for the book and for yourself as an author. Particularly if this is your first book, it’s critical to begin building your credibility as an author by putting out a book that’s as high quality as possible.

It’s important to note that there are online tools available that perform editorial functions. While some of these can be beneficial as an initial check, they also come with risks, especially if they’re AI-based. AI tools are not as reliable as a professionally trained human mind and eye. Additionally, AI tools use the material fed to them to continue to build the tool’s knowledge base. This means that if you use an AI-based tool, you give the tool permission to use your material for AI training. Essentially, you are giving away your intellectual property for free—or, worse, at a cost to you, depending on the AI tool’s purchase price or usage fee.

If you’d like to discuss which editorial choice is right for you and your book, please reach out. We’d love to learn more about your book, and we look forward to helping ensure your manuscript is as professional as possible—well on its way to becoming a published book!

Crowdfunding for Aspiring Authors

Posted on June 16 2025 by Mark Graham

Forgotton Letters – By Kirk Raeber and Mario Acevedo with Mark Graham Communications.

“How can I afford it?”

It’s a question we hear from many aspiring authors who want to have a book ghostwritten or who have written a book that needs editing. Answering it opens a conversation to multiple possibilities.

First things first: the question that generally precedes this one—“How much does it cost?”—can only be answered based on length of book, complexity, amount and quality of existing material available to the ghostwriter/editor, desired production specs, and numerous other factors. To discuss your specific project and its projected costs, please get in touch with us. Once you have an estimate in hand for your book project, if you do not have the funds readily available, an excellent way to raise funds is to start a crowdfunding campaign.

What is crowdfunding? Simply put, crowdfunding is a way to raise funds by allowing individuals to donate at various levels. Using crowdfunding, your friends, family, and any other interested parties can help you realize your goal of writing and publishing a book.

There are numerous crowdfunding apps available. Among the most well-known are:

GoFundMe. Used not just for creative projects but also for personal needs, GoFundMe is a recognizable source that many in your circle might already be familiar with. Its name recognition alone can help donors feel comfortable giving toward your book project. You specify your desired goal, and while the project might not be funded 100% before the campaign ends, any percentage raised will help offset your costs.
Kickstarter. Often used by startups creating a new product or service, Kickstarter is also popular among writers, performing artists, and other creatives to fund a particular project. When you put your project on Kickstarter, you are required to specify a funding target. Donors promise to back you by whatever amount they want to contribute, but if you don’t reach your funding target, all donations are returned to the donors. This “all or nothing” approach can entice donors to increase their contributions.
Indiegogo. This app allows either of the above options: you can set a goal and keep whatever funds are raised toward the goal, or you can set a target but only receive the funds if the target is met. In either case, before any funds are transferred to you, a minimum (as of this writing, $500) must be raised.

Keep in mind that, like all reputable crowdfunding apps, all of the above apps charge a usage fee—generally a percentage of the donations received.

Several key elements can help make your crowdfunding campaign a success:

A well-described project. It’s important that potential donors understand exactly what you plan to do, as well as why it’s important. Make sure your description is sincere and thorough, but doesn’t go on longer than necessary. Photos, videos, and other visual elements can make the ask more appealing to donors.
Rewards. You can reward donors by offering a free copy of the finished book—or, alternatively, a “sneak peek” at the initial few chapters. You could also entice donors to participate by offering rewards such as an invitation to your book’s launch party, a homemade gift, and/or book swag.
Different donation levels. Small amounts add up. Don’t expect everyone to contribute significant funds. While some might, it’s vital that donors know that any amount they can contribute is greatly appreciated and will help you toward your goal.
Sharing. No one can donate to your crowdfunding campaign if they don’t know about it. Make sure to share your campaign widely via social media, email to family and friends, word-of-mouth, and any other method you have available to get the message out. Additionally, encourage those who donate to share the campaign with their networks. (Most crowdfunding apps automatically offer donors the option to share the campaign via social media.)

Turning your dream of becoming a published author into reality is closer than you think. If you’d like to discuss your book project, determine ballpark costs, and brainstorm ways to fund the project, please get in touch. We’d love to talk with you about how we—and your network—can help your creative vision become a book that’s ready to share with the world!

Carrying Multiple Products in Your Online “Store”

Posted on May 12 2025 by Mark Graham

The Aware Leader – collaboration with Richard Metheny and Mark Graham Communications

When going through the process of writing a book (whether on your own or with the help of a ghostwriter), it’s typical to consider writing the book the hardest part. While all authors have stories about how their book came to be, and for some authors such stories are fraught with more challenges than for others, a nearly-universal truth among authors is that once the book is written, gaining visibility for the book is equally if not more challenging than writing it.

However, this need not discourage anyone from writing a book. As discussed in the blog during the past few months, there are numerous ways to increase your book’s visibility: social media, direct emails, and reviews, among others. Another method—not as frequently mentioned but often extremely effective—is to write and publish another book as soon as possible.

Traditional publishers know this. It’s one of the reasons why when an author signs a contract with a traditional publisher, in most cases the author is contractually obligated to provide the publisher with their next book (their “option book”) before the author can shop that book to other publishers. In other cases, publishers will ask authors to sign multiple-book deals, obligating the author to write their next book quickly, so the publisher can get it to market.

Why do publishers do this? It’s because they know that Amazon and other online retailers give more visibility to authors who have multiple books to sell. The math is simple: the more products available when readers seek out a particular author, the more likely they are to buy more than one product—which benefits both the retailer and the author.

Think of it like a store. If you walked into a store and there was only one product on the shelf, would you buy it? In all likelihood, you would only do so if you needed that exact item. Otherwise, you’d probably walk out without making a purchase.

However, in a store full of products, consumers are much more likely to browse until they find something they like. If all the products are in one place—i.e., if the author has a well-stocked online “store”—then customers are much more likely to spend their money there. Because of this, Amazon’s algorithms are designed to provide higher visibility to authors with higher numbers of books to sell.

Additionally, multiple books in an author’s “store” give the author more credibility. We are programmed to believe that those who produce the most also have the most expertise, creativity, and/or other characteristics we find appealing. We’re drawn to the spectrum of products offered, and we’re impressed by those with a wide variety of offerings.

There are several ways you can work this scenario to your advantage:

Write a sequel. If your story is conducive to a second act, write the follow-up book and add it as soon as possible to your online “store.”
Write a series. Book series are extremely popular. Once readers discover a series they enjoy, they’re likely to read all the titles in that series.
Write companion books. For example, you might create a workbook to accompany your self-help book. If you wrote a business book, you could write companion books geared toward specific industries. For memoir, if your story is appropriate for other ages, you might write a young adult or middle grade version of the book, or a related story geared toward readers of a different age.

As you consider all the possibilities, remember that nothing sells more copies than high-quality writing that truly engages its target audience. Whether it’s your first book, your fifth, or more, if you need editing or ghostwriting help, please get in touch. We’d love to learn more about your ideas and help you stock your “store” as quickly as possible!

The Importance of Reviews – and How to Get Them

Posted on April 4 2025 by Mark Graham

Veracity is a collaboration between Lori Tucker and Mark Graham Communications.

“Read any good books lately?”

You’ve probably both asked and answered this question. It’s human nature to garner the opinions of those we respect—whether asking about prospects in your chosen career path, if a particular stock looks promising, or even whether your instincts about that new special someone in your life are spot-on (or not).

For readers, choosing their next great read is no different. For this reason, it’s vital that authors ensure people are recommending their book. But if you’re a new author and/or have a new book out, how do you get these recommendations?

The key is book reviews. There are two types of book reviews, both of which can be instrumental to a book’s success:

Trade reviews from members of the media and/or professional organizations that review books
Consumer reviews from everyday readers

It’s a good idea to start with trade reviews, because the media and trade publications usually require several months to review a book. These groups accept a pre-publication version of your book for review. This is usually a PDF, epub (i.e., ebook) file, or a printed advance review copy (ARC). Once your book receives a glowing trade review, it can be posted to your website, your book’s Amazon page, and other areas, giving the book credibility and generating excitement before the book is available to the public.

If you’re traditionally published, the publicist at your publishing house will often work to get trade reviews for your book. If you’re self-published or your publishing house has no in-house publicist, you can:

Reach out directly to any media contacts you have
Pay for trade reviews from review sites such as Kirkus, Booklife, and Midwest Book Review
Hire an outside publicist to solicit trade reviews on your behalf

The above options are listed from the most economical to (in general) the most expensive. The options you choose will depend on your budget and time constraints, the connections you currently have, and how wide you want your publicity to go.

Consumer reviews are posted by “regular folks” giving their opinion about the book. Like trade reviews, consumer reviews can increase your book’s credibility and hype. Consumer review sites include (among others):

Book purchasing sites such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble also allow consumers to leave reviews. Some sites (such as Amazon) don’t allow consumer reviews until the book’s publication date. Others allow pre-publication consumer reviews.

It may seem logical to start by asking family and friends to post consumer reviews. However, this can backfire if your loved ones don’t usually read in your genre. Review sites’ algorithms consider what other books a consumer has reviewed. If a consumer posts a review that’s outside their normal reading habits, it can cause your book to show up in the wrong searches. Therefore, if you do ask family and friends, ensure you only ask those who read in your genre.

So how do you find consumer reviewers, outside of your own circle, who read in your genre? A well-established resource is NetGalley, where you can post a pre-publication epub file and make it available for review to anyone who uses the NetGalley site. NetGalley provides you with data about a requesting reviewer, such as other books they’ve read and their review rate, allowing you to determine if the reviewer is a good match for your book. Using this data, you can accept or decline any request for your book. Similar sites to NetGalley are Booksirens and Booksprout.

As discussed in the blog during the past few months, getting the word out about your finished book is a large task, with multiple components. The first step, however, is writing a compelling book that audiences want to read. If you need ghostwriting or editing assistance, please get in touch. We’d love to help you start your journey toward authoring a book that garners rave reviews!

Building and Using a Mailing List to Promote Your Book

Posted on March 11 2025 by Mark Graham

From Utopia To the American Dream is a collaboration between John Czingula and Mark Graham Communications.

As mentioned last month when we discussed using social media for book promotion, it’s important to note the fluctuating nature of social media platforms. While social media provides ample opportunity for connection, these ever-evolving platforms are subject to change without notice.
In contrast, an email newsletter that you send directly to your own subscribers cannot be modified or deleted by the whims of a corporation. Your email newsletter is controlled only by you and any limitations of the platform you use for creating it.

An email newsletter has several key advantages:

Direct contact. Unlike social media posts, which many of your followers might never see, your newsletter arrives directly in subscribers’ inboxes. If a subscriber infrequently opens your emailed newsletters, their email provider might begin sorting them into the subscriber’s “promotions” folder rather than their inbox. You can minimize this by ensuring your content is engaging and relevant, leading to a higher open rate.
List ownership. Your subscriber list can only be decreased by subscribers themselves (if they choose to unsubscribe) or by you (for example, you might periodically remove subscribers who have never opened any of your emails). As a precaution, regularly download your list from your newsletter platform and store it securely.
Style and content relevance. You create your newsletter content, and thus you control its relevance. You might choose a theme for each newsletter and include several short pieces related to that theme. Or you could provide subscribers with advice and insights related to your book, as well as updates about the book, your public appearances, and so on. Most newsletter platforms allow you to add photos and videos, and many provide templates to help you control the look and feel of the newsletter.

If you’re considering the idea of a newsletter to help promote your book, here are some tips:

Subscribe to other authors’ newsletters. By seeing how other authors (particularly those in your genre) are writing and designing their newsletters, you will be inspired with ideas for your own newsletter. These subscriptions can also help you evaluate various newsletter platforms to choose the one that best fits your needs.
Remember that subscribers must opt in. Virtually all newsletter platforms, as well as most email servers, require subscribers to opt into your newsletter. Never add subscribers to your list who have not agreed to be on it.
Collect emails at every opportunity. The sooner you begin collecting emails, the more subscribers you’ll have when you send your first newsletter. To get started, you might send an email to family and friends, letting them know what you’re planning and asking if you can include them on your list. Additionally, collect emails via your website, mention the newsletter in your social media (and provide a signup link), and set out a signup sheet at every public appearance for your book.
Provide a subscriber magnet. As incentive, many authors offer an article, chapter, or other exclusive material to those who sign up for the newsletter.
Create an editorial calendar. To help you get started, plan out the first 6 – 12 months of newsletters. Many authors send one newsletter per month, but you may send yours more or less frequently. Even if your plans change over time, having an initial editorial calendar will help generate ideas and get the creativity flowing each time you sit down to write a newsletter.
Provide a feedback mechanism. Whether it’s a comments section (which some newsletter platforms provide automatically) and/or email, make sure subscribers know how to reach you to comment or ask questions. Any time a subscriber reaches out, respond to them promptly and thoughtfully.

A newsletter is a fun, interactive, author-controlled tool for connecting with readers. As you build you list and generate excitement, you’ll want to ensure you have a quality book (or books) available for eager readers. If you need help getting your manuscript ready for publication, please contact us. We’d love to talk with you about your book and your outreach goals!

Using Social Media to Promote Your Book

Posted on February 10 2025 by Mark Graham

Soul Tracker is a collaboration between Nicholas Crabtree and Mark Graham Communications.

Last month on the blog, we talked about the basics of book promotion, including the three main promotional arms: publicity, self-generated promotion, and marketing. Let’s take a closer look at one very popular area of self-generated promotion: social media.

Without a doubt, social media is a powerful tool for connection. Whether you’re currently on social media for personal connection, promoting a business/service, or both, chances are you’re using at least one of the many social media platforms available today.

If you decide to use social media for book promotion, it’s important to take note of the fluctuating nature of this environment. Currently popular social media apps include (among others) TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, and X. There is no guarantee that any of these will continue to be available. These tools are constantly in flux due to external forces such as policies and regulations, decisions made by social media companies and their owners, and other factors. Additionally, social media platforms wax and wane in overall popularity, as well as popularity within particular audiences or groups.

In such a rapidly changing environment, how do you decide where to place your social media focus? Consider the following:

Audience. As discussed last month, understanding your target audience and knowing where they go for information and entertainment is key. Carefully analyze the ways in which your ideal readers are engaging online. Where are they most likely to comment and connect with each other and with you as an author?
Your preferences. Where do you like to connect with others? If social media feels like a chore, you will be less likely to stay engaged and active. Think about the type of content you like to read, view, and/or listen to. If you enjoy taking in a particular type of content, you’re also more likely to enjoy creating that type of content.
Relationships. Think of social media not as a platform for endless promotion of your book, but rather as a pathway to create meaningful relationships with your audience. Where will you be able to have discussions that help your audience get to know you, and vice versa? What value can you provide to the audience that goes beyond simply asking them to buy your book?

Whatever social media platforms you decide to use, there are several key factors to consider when you post. First and foremost, be careful what you post. Provide enough personal content for your audience to get to know you, but make sure to protect your privacy by never disclosing sensitive personal information. Secondly, ensure your posts are relevant and engaging. Readers are more likely to comment on a post about your process of writing the book, for example, than one that consists only of purchase links for the book. Finally, consider engaging on more than one platform. As many TikTok users discovered recently, social media platforms can be removed (and restored) without notice. While you don’t need to overdo it, being active on more than one platform ensures that you do not put all your social media eggs in a single basket.

Social media can be a fun and useful tool for authors. If you need help ensuring your book’s content and production are top-notch before you start talking about it on social media, our team of ghostwriters, editors, and production staff can help. Please get in touch to talk with us about your book—so you can begin talking about it via social media as soon as possible!