The WriterCon Newsletter

Hard to believe, but WriterCon is only two months away! Registrations are still open (though that could change) and we would love to have you join us! It’s Sept 4-7 in Oklahoma City at the historic Hilton Skirvin Hotel. The schedule is now posted to our website, though with so many speakers—over 60—there could be minor changes before the conference. I think we’re covering every kind of writing there is, we have agents covering every kind of writing there is, and we have the latest on all that’s happening in the writing world that writers need to know about.

More than 100 breakout sessions. Superstar presenters covering every aspect of writing. Contests, manuscript reviews, private consultations! Here are a few of the headliners:

This is one of the biggest and (imho) best conferences in the country, and definitely the warmest, friendliest conference designed to give you what you need to boost your career. Click here for more information.

CHRISTINA KAYE is an indie author career coach (20 yrs), and editor, and the author of seven award-winning novels. She knows what’s going on in the publishing world, so she’s the perfect person to provide this insightful article.

Every year, thousands of talented authors pour their hearts into writing books they genuinely believe readers will love.

They spend months, sometimes years, perfecting their manuscripts. They hire editors. They agonize over cover designs. They tweak blurbs until they’re convinced every word is just right.

Then, they hit “SUBMIT” on KDP, and every hour after that, they refresh their browser, watching for the sales to start rolling in…but they never do.

And they’re left feeling dejected, heartbroken, frustrated, and even a bit embarrassed.

The self-doubt kicks them in the gut like an angry mule, and they start thinking there’s something wrong with their story or that their writing is terrible or that readers just don’t like their books at all.

But the reality is, in most cases, none of that is true!

In all likelihood, slow, inconsistent, or even flatlined sales happen because they skipped a step, took a wrong turn, or more likely, they believed advice from online gurus that sounded perfectly reasonable at the time.

Some of that advice was probably true…twenty years ago.

Some of it has been repeated so many times, nobody even bothers questioning it anymore, and they take it as gospel.

And some of it?

Well...

Somebody needs to say it.

Some of it is an outright lie.

Let’s put a few of the biggest offenders on trial, shall we?

Exhibit A: “Publish your book first. Then, start marketing it.”

This one might be the most damaging lie of them all.

Imagine opening a brand-new restaurant, unlocking the doors...and only then deciding it might be a good idea to tell people where it’s located.

Sounds ridiculous, right?

Yet that’s exactly what authors are told to do every day.

“Build the audience later.”

“Worry about marketing after launch.”

The reality is that successful books don’t magically create an audience.

Audiences create successful book launches.

By the time your launch rolls around, your ideal readers should already know who you are, trust you, and be counting down the days until your book releases.

Marketing doesn’t begin on launch day.

If you truly want to succeed as an author, your marketing efforts must begin at least 90 days before your live launch day, if not more.

Exhibit B: “You need a publisher to succeed.”

This one has been out there for far too long.

Truth is, the publishing landscape has changed dramatically in the last 5 or 6 years.

Independent authors today have access to professional editors, cover designers, printers, distributors, audiobook platforms, global retailers, and marketing tools that just didn’t exist a generation ago.

According to the annual surveys conducted by the Alliance of Independent Authors, author satisfaction is consistently highest among authors who retain creative control over their work and publishing decisions.

Meanwhile, more authors than ever are choosing independent publishing because it allows them to publish faster, maintain control over all their rights, keep significantly higher royalty percentages, and build sustainable and profitable book empires!

The question isn’t whether you need a traditional publisher.

The better question is whether you need permission.

Exhibit C: “Email marketing is dead.”

Every few years, someone confidently declares that email marketing is dead.

And every few years...email continues making businesses millions of dollars in revenue.

According to multiple marketing industry studies, email continues to deliver one of the highest returns on investment of any digital marketing channel, often averaging well over $30 in revenue for every $1 spent.

Why?

Because unlike social media, you actually own your email list.

Algorithms change.

Platforms disappear.

Followers come and go.

Your email subscribers have stood up, raised their hands, and said, “Yes! I want to hear from you.”

That’s not just an audience.

That’s an asset, so, treat it like one!

Exhibit D: “Amazon reviews are everything.”

Reviews matter.

Of course they do.

But they’re not everything.

Far too many authors become obsessed with collecting reviews while neglecting the things that actually create consistent book sales: visibility, reader relationships, branding, audience growth, and strategic launches.

Think about your own buying habits.

Have you ever purchased a book because a friend recommended it?

Because your favorite creator mentioned it?

Because it kept appearing in your feed?

Because the cover caught your attention?

Exactly.

Reviews are just one piece of a much bigger puzzle.

So, give yourself a break and stop treating them like the be-all, end-all success factor.

Exhibit E: “Your genre is too saturated.”

I hear this one far too often.

“Fantasy is saturated.”

“Romance is saturated.”

First of all...your books aren’t competing against every book ever written.

They’re competing for the attention of the right readers.

Second, if a genre is crowded, that’s usually evidence that readers actually love buying books in that genre.

Nobody walks into a bookstore, sees hundreds of mysteries, and says, “Well, I guess nobody reads mysteries…guess I won’t either.”

Popularity isn’t a warning sign but rather proof that there’s demand.

Your job isn’t to find an empty market.

It’s to give readers a reason to choose your story.

Exhibit F: “Successful publishing takes years.”

Can it?

Absolutely. Especially for authors who choose the traditional publishing route.

Does it have to?

Nope…not even close.

One of the biggest differences I see between hobbyists and professionals isn’t talent.

It’s intentionality.

Professional authors create publishing plans, and they know what they’re writing next.

They understand that every book strengthens their brand, expands their catalog, attracts new readers, and increases their revenue.

Those authors are building careers instead of waiting around, hoping lightning strikes.

The truth is that publishing absolutely has changed.

So has reader behavior.

So has marketing.

So have the options and opportunities for authors.

It’s well past time the information given out to authors changed, too.

The best advice I can off any career-driven author is to stop thinking like someone trying to publish a book and start thinking like someone building a book empire.

If you’ve read this article and realized you’ve believed a few of these lies, don’t panic.

You’re not behind. You’re not doomed. And you’re certainly not alone.

Many authors still believe all this so-called advice because it’s repeated by well-meaning people, outdated publishing gurus, marketing “experts” with little real publishing experience, and an industry that hasn’t always kept pace with how readers actually discover and buy books today.

Here is your call-to-arms!

Question the advice.

Do your homework.

Think critically.

Build your author career with strategies that fit today’s publishing world, not the industry as it was back in 2015.

Because authors who think like CEOs are building careers.

And if you’d like someone in your corner to help separate timeless principles from outdated publishing myths, come say “hi” to me at WriterCon 2026. I’d genuinely love to meet you, hear about your books, and help you build an author career that’s every bit as exciting as the stories you’re writing.

News

Boston bookstore Porter Square Books is publishing a newsletter for book reviews, the Porter Square Review of Books. Reviews can be written by booksellers and writers.

Agent Opportunities

Ava Grayson joined the Lowenstein Agency. She is actively building her list with literary fiction, horror, romantasy, romance, fantasy, and narrative nonfiction. Learn more.

Michael Joosten joined the US office of Bright’s to build a list of author-illustrators for the children’s market. He was previously at Random House. Learn more.

Annie Hwang has started a new agency called Renegade Literary. Hwang represents literary fiction as well as established poets. Learn more.

Publisher Opportunities

Burro Libro will focus on literary fiction from emerging writers with strong ties to Texas. Authors do not need to reside in Texas to be eligible. Submissions must be unpublished.

Tor launches Clocktower Publishing

Tor (Macmillan) will release books set in the world of the popular party game Blood on the Clocktower, set in a cursed Victorian town terrorized by a demon. Each book will be written by an experienced player of the game.

Penguin Workshop, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers, is launching Tinker to publish board and picture books for readers newborn to 10.

The WriterCon Facebook Page

For more breaking news from the publishing world, join our free Facebook group! Doesn’t cost a thing and guarantees you’ll know about important book news when it breaks. My favorite part, though, is seeing how many WriterCon writers are sharing valuable information and experience and successfully publishing and marketing their books. Click Here to Join.

On the next podcast, to celebrate both our nation’s birthday and WriterCon, we interview William Martin, author of December ‘41, The Lincoln Letter, and many other bestselling historical fiction novels. We discussed some recent news stories of interest to writers and how Martin managed to build his blockbuster career. He will be the Sunday keynote speaker at WriterCon ‘26. The episode doesn’t post until Wednesday (July 8), but you can find it then on the WriterCon webpage (and anywhere else you find podcasts). https://writercon.com/writercon-podcast/

Till next time, keep writing, and remember—you cannot fail if you refuse to quit.

William Bernhardt

willbern@gmail.com

www.writercon.com