The End of an Era for The Novel Smithy

by Lewis / April 20, 2021 / News, Post-Mortems

My fourth book is finally out in the wild…

…and, now that it is, I’m also moving into a new phase of my writing journey. You see, this was the fourth and likely final book in my Ten Day Novelist series, a series I’ve been hard at work on for the last two years. So, now that it’s done, what comes next?

Well, I have a lot of plans, including some exciting new projects that will (hopefully) come to fruition very soon. However, before we start looking towards the future, first I want to look back and share a few of the lessons I’ve learned over the last two years!

How to Self-Publish a Novel in 10 Days

by Lewis / April 6, 2021 / Publishing

You’ve officially finished your novel… so, now what?

Well, once you’ve planned, written, and edited your story, there’s only one thing left to do—and that is to publish it. Of course, navigating the self-publishing process isn’t always easy, especially if this is your debut novel. From formatting your manuscript to handling categories, ISBNs, and more, you have a lot to think about before your novel is ready to launch.

Fortunately, you don’t have to go in alone. In this article I’ll walk you through my personal, ten-step self-publishing process, covering every stage of publishing a novel. Best of all, no matter how new you are to the world of self-publishing, I’m confident this will be just the starting point you need!

Self-Publishing vs. Traditional Publishing: Which is Right for You?

by Lewis / April 6, 2021 / Publishing

It’s the biggest question in the writing world…

Which is better, self-publishing vs. traditional publishing? This is a question nearly all writers ask, but I’m afraid there’s no official answer. Both of these options have their own pros and cons, and which path is right for you will ultimately depend on your unique situation.

Fortunately, with a bit of reflection and research, you can make a choice that will not only fit your publishing goals, but set your novels up for success too. So, whether you choose to self-publish, decide traditional publishing is your ideal strategy, or opt for a hybrid approach, here’s everything you need to know about your publishing options!

How to Choose the Perfect Pen Name

by Lewis / March 30, 2021 / Publishing

There’s more to publishing than your novel itself…

As strange as it may sound, it’s actually true. How you present yourself as an author is often just as important as the quality of your stories, because that’s what readers will see before they ever dive into your novel. This is why polishing your author bio and choosing an author photo is so important—and why you should put some serious thought into your pen name.

From Mark Twain to Elena Ferrante, tons of authors use pen names. Of course, whether a pen name is right for you won’t always be clear—and even when it is, choosing the right one is often its own challenge. So today, let’s dive into the pros and cons of pen names, along with everything you’ll need to consider before choosing your new name!

Should You Publish Wide as an Indie Author?

by Lewis / March 23, 2021 / Publishing

Welcome to the world of self-publishing…

From niche international booksellers, to libraries and retail juggernauts like Amazon, there are more publishing platforms than ever these days. Of course, with that level of variety comes a corresponding level of difficulty—how do you know which self-publishing strategy is right for you? More importantly, how do you sort through the many options available?

Well, while your choices of publishing platform are many, most of your options can actually be boiled down to two simple self-publishing strategies. So, whether you go Amazon exclusive or choose to publish wide, let’s talk about your options as a self-published author—as well as how those options will affect your novel’s future!