KU vs. Wide: What the Data Actually Says
Listen & Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube About the Episode: KU or wide? It's the debate that never dies in indie publishing — and we're ending it with data. In t...
Marketing
Marketing might not sound like the most exciting part of being an author, but we think it can be a lot of fun. Mark our words, we’re book marketing nerds, and soon you’ll be one too.
Cross-Promotion for Authors: Grow Faster With Strategic Partnerships
Cross-promotion is one of the most effective (and underused) ways for indie authors to grow their audience, without spending more on ads or shouting into the social media void. If you’ve ever th...
Backlist Strategy for Author Sales: How to Sell More Books Beyond Your First Title
Publishing your first book is a big moment. Not just because you finished it (which is an achievement in its own right), but because it’s the first time your writing has to live in the real world, ...
![KDP Global Fund Payouts [Updated January 2026]](https://www.writtenwordmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/KDP-Global-Fund-Payout-0097.jpg)
KDP Global Fund Payouts [Updated January 2026]
Check out this quick recap of Kindle Unlimited royalties trends and how this is affecting authors’ earnings.
Audience Insights: Everything You Wanted to Know About Our Readers
At Written Word Media, we’re all about helping authors connect with their ideal readers, and that starts with having real audience insights into who those readers are. So, we surveyed thousands of ...
2026 Reader Survey: What Readers Want, Buy, and Expect
Every year, we ask readers about how and why they read. It’s one of our favorite projects, because it gives us a direct line into the hearts and habits of the people who keep the reading world turn...
KDP Dashboard Explained: What to Watch and What to Ignore
Your KDP dashboard is a powerful publishing tool, but not every chart or number deserves your daily attention. This guide breaks down which Amazon KDP metrics actually move the needle, and which on...
How to Get Organized in 2026: Growing Your Author Business Without Losing Your Mind
Being an indie author in 2026 means you wear a lot of hats: writer, marketer, bookkeeper, social media manager, and probably part-time barista (for yourself). If your to-do list looks more like a t...
2026 Author Trends You Need to Know
This article explores the most important 2026 author trends affecting indie and traditionally published authors, including trust, AI in publishing, reader experience, discovery, and author sovereig...
Social Proof Sells Books: How to Get and Use Reader Reviews Strategically
Let’s start with a simple truth: books with reviews sell more copies. It’s not magic, it’s marketing. And it’s called social proof—a concept rooted in psychology and baked into consumer behavior...