Author: Laura Resnick

Affiliate Marketing: A Starter Guide to Creating Passive Income

May 20, 2023
Laura Resnick
Business

Do you like easy money? Yes! Then you need to set up your affiliate marketing links. What is affiliate marketing? If you read the informational pamphlets for each affiliate site, they are full of jargon—performance-based channels, leveraged partnerships, pay-for-outcome alternatives—that is confusing and hard to decipher. But the basic answer is you get paid when you refer a reader to a vendor (i.e. Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple, Kobo, and Google) and they buy something on the website. In...

business, Distributors, organization, Tools

All Things Being Equal…

April 20, 2023
Laura Resnick
DEI

Like many children, I (Nikoo) was a voracious reader growing up, and my favorite books were those in which I could see myself. I was born in Iran. My parents were Muslim, but we also had family members who practiced Judaism, Christianity, and Bahá’í, and we had our share of atheists. We respected and embraced all beliefs. My initial awareness of a lack of representation in literature happened when I was attending college in the U.S., and later when Jim and I were raising our two sons, also voracious...

characterization, craft, DEI, muslims, Writing

ChatGPT and Authors: The good, the bad, and the ugly

April 5, 2023
Laura Resnick
Journal

ChatGPT and other AI programs have gone from science fiction to something a few users were playing with in various beta programs run by OpenAI, the parent company of ChatGPT, to something that is a part of our everyday lives. And as more authors, copywriters, and marketers use AI to ideate or create prompts, outlines, book blurbs, and more, one central question has risen to the top of discussion boards: when is the human operator no longer an author? When does AI become a co-author? It’s a question,...

AI, artificial intelligence, ChatGPT

Generational Cohorts: Applying Gen Z Insights to Your Writing

March 20, 2023
Laura Resnick
Research

If your contemporary fiction features teens and young adults, and you’re part of an older generation, you may benefit from insights into Gen Z. Here, we’ll define current generations (specifically in the U.S.), what makes each unique, and how that can relate to your characters. As with all generational insights, it’s important not to stereotype, or lump all people within a generation together. However, it is instructive to consider the events that shape a particular generation’s world view. First,...

characterization, craft, dialogue, market research, readers, Writing

Authoring Authenticity: Best Ways to Research Diverse Characters

February 19, 2023
Laura Resnick
DEI, Research

Although often attributed to Winston Churchill, the origin of the phrase “history is written by the victors” is unknown. Nonetheless, the sentiment is true and something to consider when writing about diversity, past and present. It is a fundamental tenant of the mindset one should have when diving into the scholarly record. I wish to take you into my philosophy of how I approach history, people, and research. I hope you’ll glean a way to enhance your writing methodology to bring more diverse...

characterization, craft, DEI, diversity, resarch, self-editing, Writing

Beyond the Booksellers: Alternative & Ancillary Ways to Sell Your Books

February 5, 2023
Laura Resnick
Business

Most indie authors focus on selling books through the major book distributors. We study ads and agonize over how to get visibility and traction on these sites. We watch our numbers go up and down with pride and alarm. But, as we’ve been doing that, a few pioneer authors have been forging other paths to readership: Wattpad Patreon Kickstarter Serial apps If you find them all tempting, no worries. You can avoid overwhelm by reminding yourself you can do one of these—or none of them. They are extra,...

business, crowdfunding, Distributors, indie, Marketing, sales, serial apps

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