ALLi Blog: The Self-Publishing Advice Blog

Self-Publishing News: UK Online Safety Act’s Impact on Content and ByteDance’s Challenge to US Legislation

So far this month, we have seen developments in two stories I’ve covered before that sit together under the heading, “Laying Down the Law for Tech Platforms.” I’ll start close to home here in the UK with the latest in the ongoing saga of the Online Safety Act. This is the UK’s legislation that seeks to protect vulnerable people, especially children, while they are online, by stopping them from encountering material that is “legal but harmful.” The recently implemented act required technology firms to take steps to ensure children were better protected online than adults.

Exploring OpenAI’s Game Theory Model for Fair Author Compensation: The Self-Publishing News Podcast with Dan Holloway

In this episode of the Self-Publishing News Podcast, Dan Holloway discusses a new proposal from OpenAI that introduces cooperative game theory to determine compensation for authors whose works help train AI. This approach aims to calculate the specific contributions of individual creators to AI outputs and allocate earnings accordingly, similar to determining the mix of colors in a paint blend. Dan examines the potential of this system to fairly reward creators and its computational feasibility in revolutionizing how authors are compensated for their contributions to AI.

Self-Publishing News: Indie Author Marks New Book with a No-AI Guarantee

OK, bear with me. This no-AI guarantee story is the second AI story for the week. I hope I will round off with something completely different. But because of the unpredictable nature of the news, I cannot promise. Which is, of course, a ham-handed segue into the story.

Maximizing Impact, Minimizing Costs: Value-Based Marketing for Self-Publishing Authors — Publishing for Profit with Orna Ross and Anna Featherstone

In this episode of the Publishing for Profit podcast stream, ALLI’s Australian ambassador and nonfiction adviser, Anna Featherstone, and Director Orna Ross, focus on value-based marketing for your book without adding to costs. Learn tips and tools for lowering the costs of editing and marketing, in particular, without compromising on the quality or impact of your work.

Self-Publishing News: OpenAI Paper Hints at How it Plans to Compensate Creators

Remember last week when I virtually popped a champagne cork at having gone a whole seven days without an AI story? Well, er, the reverie is over. But I hope the absence has left you wanting because this is a story you really need to read. Find out more about the OpenAI paper.

What Do I Do When a Book Launch Is Over?

Congratulations on publishing your book! As an indie author, the journey doesn't end with hitting "publish." In fact, it's just the beginning of a new adventure. After a book launch, it's crucial to maintain momentum, build your brand, and lay the groundwork for future success. In this Alliance of Independent Authors blog post, we'll cover key steps you should take to make the most of your book launch and beyond.

Inspirational Indie Author Interview: Sarah Banham. Writer Refuses to be Pinned to a Single Genre

My guest this episode is Sarah Banham, an author who admits that she is so restless that she refuses to be pinned down to one genre. Her fiction and nonfiction work keep her excited about writing, and she also helps other authors find their own voices. It wasn't until she turned forty that she gained the confidence to do this on her own, and she has not stopped since.

New Releases, Award Nominations and More: ALLi Member Milestones May 2024

This regular post from the Alliance of Independent Authors celebrates successes big and small from across our members as inspiration for all our indie author community. This month, our Member Milestones for May 2024 celebrates the successes of Author members Catherine Butterfield and William Brinkman.

Self-Publishing News: Readers of All Ages Turn to YA Fiction for Solace

As so often happens, this week’s weekend roundup has seen a rather nice theme emerge. That theme is something of interest to indies, who write a lot in this area. That theme is YA literature.

What Will Authors Do to Find Gen Z Readers if They Can’t Use TikTok? The Self-Publishing News Podcast with Dan Holloway

In this episode of the Self-Publishing News Podcast, Dan Holloway explores the potential US ban on TikTok and its implications for Gen Z readers and authors who use BookTok for book marketing. Dan examines alternative platforms like Discord for author-reader connections, noting that they may not match TikTok's ability to foster new readers. This discussion is crucial given BookTok's substantial role in influencing book trends and revitalizing interest in physical books among younger readers.

Self-Publishing News: Legal Changes Impacting Authors, from Noncompete Agreements to Payment Regulations

This feels like a week of legal and related stories. The big news, which I reported on earlier, is, of course, the move closer to a TikTok ban in the United States. But a few other stories caught my attention. First up is the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) voting to ban noncompete agreements.

Finding ARC Reviewers and More Self-Publishing Questions Answered by Michael La Ronn and Sacha Black: Member Q&A Podcast

In the latest instalment of the AskALLi Member Q&A podcast, hosts Michael La Ronn and Sacha Black discuss effective strategies for finding ARC (Advanced Review Copy) reviewers for manuscripts.