I Pitched My Novel to Over a Hundred Literary Agents. Here's What I Built From the Experience.
Ben Cibula spent months querying literary agents for his debut novel, pitched over a hundred, and self-published instead. Here's what he learned about traditional publishing — and the tool he built from the experience.
Books Do Grow on Trees: What Writing a Vampire Novel Taught Me About the Creative Process
Hungarian author W. L. Know went from outlining a mermaid novel to writing a vampire serial killer thriller. A witty essay on seeds, gardening, and how books find their own shape.
I Study Oil Recovery for a Living. I Wrote a Crime Thriller for Fun.
A petroleum engineering PhD candidate wrote a dark crime thriller in the cracks of his research schedule. Karthik Sivaraman on logic, fiction, and why the two were never really enemies.
The Day the World Went Dark: A Debut Author on Survival, Family, and the End of Everything
A debut apocalyptic novel rooted in a real father-son survival pact. The author behind The Day The World Went Dark on the bond that inspired the story and what happens when every light goes out.
Cynthia Woods: The Writer Who Balances Compliance, Creativity, and a Serious Love of Bread
Cynthia Woods spends her days in compliance and her nights writing werewolves, vampires, magical sprites, and old west love stories. Meet the prolific indie author who can't stop creating.
Cliffhangers and Characterization: Writing the Arkolny Series
Pulp sci-fi author Brendan Onfrichuk breaks down the cliffhanger serial structure and character dynamics behind Arkolny Abyss, his fast-paced sequel built to be read in a single sitting.
Trusting the Wrong People: My Top 3 Mistakes as an Indie Author
Fantasy author Danielle Orsino shares the top three mistakes she made navigating traditional, hybrid, and self-publishing, including PR nightmares and trusting the wrong people.
The Writer’s Guide to Self-Publishing: Why Hitting "Publish" is Only 10% of the Job
Explore the hidden realities of indie publishing. Learn why the 10% of writing matters more than the 90% of marketing, and why "free" isn't always the best book promotion strategy.
Failing Forward: The Painful Lessons of My First Self-Published Novel
Jamaican fantasy author Christopher Valentine shares the harsh but necessary lessons he learned from self-publishing his first novel, Damara the Valiant, and how Stan Lee's creative philosophy shaped his writing.
Author Christopher Valentine on Self-Publishing, Classic Superman, and His New Book: The Valiant Knight
Jamaican sci-fi and fantasy author Christopher Valentine discusses his disillusionment with mainstream entertainment. Discover why he turned to self-publishing on Royal Road to create The Valiant Knight, a 1940s superhero period piece.
Jellyfish Babies, Severed Arms, and Soviet Paranoia: The 14-Year Journey of Mushroomhead
Scottish author Stephen Toman discusses the chaotic journey of writing Mushroomhead—a non-genre novel influenced by Disco Elysium. Learn how he used scissors and glue to cut 60,000 words and navigate the world of indie publishing.