A scout mindset is an important skillset in today's culture of division, "alternate" facts, and information overload. But I was struck by how many of the tools Galef provides apply to authors and the way we construct books. Read more →

We know it's not easy. As they say, if it was easy everybody would do it. And you'd have that book inside you published already. The herding cats analogy came to me as I was reading Building a Story Brand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen, by Donald Miller,... Read more →

This edition of Tips from Tom's inbox flows from the questions we get all the time in emails, calls, and in-person, in two basic flavors: "How much does it cost to get my book published?" And, "Why does it cost so much to publish?" As you might guess, the answers... Read more →

In this edition of Marginalia, we’ll be digging into some of the lessons – and mysteries – from our earliest ancestors as they developed the ability to tell stories. And consider how that evolution may guide us in telling our own stories about ourselves and our businesses. My scribbled thoughts... Read more →

[A version of this post first appeared in our weekly newsletter, which of course you should sign up for. > > > >] I called this entry "manufactured marginalia" because a client had asked whether they should add their book to the IngramSpark platform in addition to Amazon's KDP (Kindle... Read more →

What happens when you find out one of your favorite stories about achieving success is wrong? The real story behind my success mantra: "lots of pots." Read more →

Until recently, if you wanted to publish a hardcover edition of your book, Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) was not an option. That's all changed, since the beta release of the KDP hardcover option. Here's how it works and how to make it easy on yourself. Read more →

The Japanese phrase wabi-sabi means to celebrate imperfection. These five reasons show why you should apply wabi-sabi to your work. Read more →

It doesn't matter whether you're writing a fantasy novel, a memoir, history for a popular audience, a nonfiction business book, or any other genre you can think of, your job will be easier – and your book will be better – if you take the time to find your throughline.... Read more →

When Yvonne showed me the Stories from the Trenches she'd collected over the years from our author friends to include in our upcoming book, The How to Write a Book Book: Your Step-by-Step Plans for Bringing BIG IDEAS to Life One Page at a Time, I decided my contribution would offer a few specific lessons derived from the HGTV stars we enjoy watching together. Here are excerpts from that chapter: Read more →