How to hit the eBook Bestseller list with Pre-orders : Mark Coker

I'm more of a pantser—someone who figures things out on the page rather than planning every move. But when I heard that Scottish author and writing coach Jules Horne had applied the concept of deliberate practice—something musicians and athletes have used for generations—to writing, I was intrigued. Her book, Deliberate Practice for Creative Writers, argues that focused, bite-sized exercises can help writers build their skills more efficiently than just grinding through another draft. In this Q&A, I ask her how it works, how she uses it herself, and how writers like me might apply it without giving up spontaneity.

My ALLi author guest this episode is Annie Fox, an educator and author who writes for young adults. She talks about how her background in human development shapes her fiction, why she chose to go indie, and what it really takes to reach readers in a crowded market. Her work explores identity, belonging, and what it means to find your people.

Welcome to a new monthly feature on the Self-Publishing Advice blog, where we highlight standout titles from ALLi’s library of self-publishing guidebooks. This month, we’re featuring an excerpt from Creative Self-Publishing, written by ALLi Director and Founder Orna Ross. You can purchase a copy of the book in our bookstore, or, if you're an ALLi member, you can download this and all of our guidebooks for free in the Member Zone—just log in and go to “Publications.”