Being an indie author means wearing a lot of hats: writing, publishing, marketing, and more. Luckily, there are blogs that can help with all of it.
So, we picked 10 of the best blogs for self-published authors. They’ll give you tips, tools, and inspiration to make the journey easier (and more fun). Let’s check them out!
Jane Friedman’s Blog
Jane Friedman’s blog is a classic in the writing world. If you’re trying to publish, market, or just figure out the indie life, this site has straight-to-the-point advice. Jane covers both traditional publishing and self-publishing.
What you’ll find:
- Clear breakdowns of different publishing paths: traditional, indie presses, hybrid, self-pub
- Practical business tips: proposals, synopses, agents, contracts
- Marketing and promo know-how: building your author platform, websites, newsletters, social media
- Writing advice for fiction, nonfiction, and memoir
- Insights on industry trends, rights, and other tricky topics
If you want inspiration plus tools you can actually use, Jane Friedman’s blog is a must.
The Creative Penn
Joanna Penn’s The Creative Penn is a favorite spot for indie authors who want the full package: writing tips, publishing advice, marketing help, and mindset support.
What you’ll find:
- Posts on writing, self-publishing, and book marketing: what works, what doesn’t, and how to get noticed
- Interviews and lessons with authors and industry pros on all kinds of topics (kids’ books, short stories, fan fiction, and more)
- Guidance on building a writing business and actually making a living from it
- Tools, resources, and tutorials for every stage of the journey
- Honest reflections on wins, struggles, and how the indie world keeps changing
If you want an equally motivating and practical blog, The Creative Penn is a must-read. Joanna doesn’t just inspire — she hands you the tools to keep going.
Miblart’s Blog
Miblart’s blog is all about book cover design — a lifesaver if you want your book to look professional, not amateur. It’s packed with inspiration and hands-on advice to make your cover shine.
What you’ll find:
- Tips and examples on cover design: genres, fonts, layouts, spines, illustrated covers
- Case studies of custom and premium covers: how they came together and why certain choices worked
- Free goodies for indie authors: checklists, templates, marketing, and branding ideas
- Author stories about working with designers and how cover makeovers boosted visibility
- Trend reports and guides: what’s hot right now, color tips, mistakes to avoid, and how to pick the right designer
If you know a cover can make or break your book, Miblart’s blog is the place to get fresh ideas and solid advice.
Self-Publishing Advice Blog
The ALLi’s blog is built to give indie authors the kind of advice that actually matters. From writing to publishing to marketing, it covers every step of the journey.
What you’ll find:
- Posts organized by stage: editing, design and formatting, production and distribution, marketing and promotion, rights and licensing
- Straightforward how-tos and practical tips
- Interviews and case studies with indie authors
- Updates on industry news, from trends and tech to legal and AI topics
- Loads of resources: guides, podcasts, workshops, and mindset support
If you want precise, reliable, and current guidance for your indie career, the ALLi’s blog is a solid go-to.
Go to Self-Publishing Advice Blog
Reedsy Blog
Reedsy’s blog is a treasure chest of practical tips and creative sparks. It covers everything from writing craft to marketing, all explained in an easy-to-use way.
What you’ll find:
- Writing craft advice: characters, plotting, figurative language, exposition, and more
- Huge lists of story and book ideas
- Writing prompts and exercises to kick writer’s block
- Publishing guidance: children’s books, different publishing routes, step-by-step help
- Marketing and promotion strategies
- Contests and community activities: challenges, writing competitions, and chances to share your work
If you want both fresh ideas and hands-on guidance, Reedsy’s blog is perfect for keeping your creativity flowing and your author skills sharp.
Self-Publishing with Dale
Run by Dale L. Roberts, SelfPublishingwithDale.com is a down-to-earth blog packed with clear advice on self-publishing, marketing, and branding.
What you’ll find:
- Reviews and comparisons of publishing platforms like KDP, IngramSpark, and Bookvault to help you choose what works best
- Tutorials on writing and editing tools, plus tips on cleaning up your manuscript
- Marketing and branding advice: building your author brand, using YouTube, email marketing, and more
- Business-focused posts on sales strategy, distribution choices, and platform decisions
- Straight talk on what works, what doesn’t, and the mistakes to avoid
If you want more than the usual “write and publish” advice, Self-Publishing with Dale is a blog to keep on your radar. By the way, he also has a YouTube channel.
Go to Self-Publishing with Dale
IngramSpark Blog
IngramSpark’s blog is like a toolkit for indie authors, covering everything from self-publishing basics to marketing and sales. Clear, step-by-step posts make the whole process less overwhelming.
What you’ll find:
- How-tos on editing, design, formatting, print, and ebooks
- Marketing tips: metadata, keywords, social media, newsletters
- Building your author platform: websites, branding, bios, media kits
- Distribution know-how: sales channels, pricing, ISBNs, BISAC codes
- Fresh ideas: new tools, trends, creative funding, author spotlights
If you want to handle your book from draft to bookstore shelf, IngramSpark’s blog gives you the guidance to do it right.
Kindlepreneur Blog
Founded by Dave Chesson, Kindlepreneur is all about helping indie authors not just publish, but actually sell books. It’s packed with marketing tips, keyword tricks, tools, and writing advice—especially geared toward Amazon.
What you’ll find:
- In-depth guides on marketing: keywords, categories, metadata, and selling direct
- Writing craft help: story structure, plot points, exposition
- Tons of prompts and ideas to spark new projects
- Reviews of tools for writing, formatting, and marketing
- Step-by-step guides on building an audience through websites, social media, and email
If you want to grow your reach, avoid guessing, and sell more books, Kindlepreneur is a blog you’ll want to follow.
Just Publishing Advice
Just Publishing Advice is a laid-back but super helpful blog for indie authors who want quick, practical tips on both writing and publishing. Everything’s broken down into small, easy steps, so it never feels overwhelming.
What you’ll find:
- Writing and grammar help: stronger sentences, smoother prose, pronoun fixes
- Self-publishing tips: formatting ebooks, uploading to Amazon, Apple, and more
- Promotion advice: getting discovered, boosting visibility, reaching readers
- How-to guides on the little details that matter, like title pages or ebook formatting
- A mix of practical posts and thoughtful reflections on common author struggles
If you want clear, bite-sized advice you can use right away, Just Publishing Advice is like a friendly guide for your indie journey.
Helping Writers Become Authors
Run by K.M. Weiland, Helping Writers Become Authors is all about mastering story craft. It goes way past “just write more” and dives into how stories really work — characters, arcs, structure, and more.
What you’ll find:
- Deep guides on structure: outlines, pacing, scene breakdowns, beginnings and endings
- Character-focused advice: arcs, motivation, voice, goals
- Common mistakes explained and how to avoid them
- Handy resources: worksheets, glossaries, story structure database, archetypes, setting guides
- Mindset and inspiration: the writing life, what makes stories meaningful, learning from what you read and watch
If you want to make your stories sharper, stronger, and more powerful, this blog is a must for serious writers.
Go to Helping Writers Become Authors
Summing up
Self-publishing is a big adventure, but the right guidance makes it much easier. These 10 blogs are packed with tips, examples, and inspiration to help you grow as a writer and reach more readers.
Which blogs do you read and love? Share your favorites in the comments!
