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When readers ask an AI what to read next, the books it names share engineerable traits. Answer engine optimization is how your book becomes one of them.
5 min read
Latest from the Brief
A walk through every stage of Joseph Campbell's hero's journey, a Fight Club example, and how to apply the structure to non-fiction books.
7 min read
A four-step guide to writing a foreword for a nonfiction book: introduce yourself, explain why the book matters, close full circle, then sign.
3 min read
How long it takes to write a book by word count and page count, with average timelines for first-time authors and tips to finish faster.
6 min read
A breakdown of what it costs to publish a book, covering editing, cover design, formatting, marketing and distribution, with typical price ranges.
Four ways to outline a nonfiction book: traditional, web, 3 chapter chunks and pyramid, plus guidance on book length and how to start writing.
Why writer's block may be more of a void than a block, plus 5 practical ways to refill your creative well and get back to writing.
A practical guide for authors to Amazon keyword research: think like your reader, weigh search volume and difficulty, and match searcher intent.
4 min read
Why used copies of a new book show up on Amazon within a day of launch, and how marketplace vendors and drop shipping from wholesalers make it happen.
How book returns work for authors: sell-in, sell-through and returns, why a 25% return rate is normal, and why returnable status helps get books into stores.
2 min read
