The Heidi Thorne Show

What is all the fuss about ChatGPT? I’ve talked about AI tech for the writing and publishing space before. Here are additional developments that could impact authors and publishers, and our understanding and management of creative work. Warning: Star Trek references included! 🖖 😉 YouTube video: Timestamp show notes (click on timestamp to view or listen on YouTube): 0:45 What is ChatGPT? 2:49 What does this mean for authors? 3:40 What about copyrights? 5:33 How good is AI tech...

Some industry optimism about audiobooks and their double-digit growth in recent years was noted in Publishers Weekly’s reporting from this year’s Digital Book World conference. But as with any industry’s growth comes change. Let’s talk about some current and anticipated changes for audiobooks, and how they will impact self published authors. YouTube video: https://youtu.be/egtUpH4YfpE Timestamp show notes (click on timestamp to view or listen to segment on YouTube): 0:15 Optimism and...

As platforms continue to copycat their competitors, one of the more recent entries in that race is YouTube Shorts. Let’s talk about pros and cons, and how authors can use YouTube Shorts. Be aware that YouTube Shorts could change dramatically and quickly as YouTube figures out what it wants to do with this feature. Blog: YouTube Shorts: What Authors Need to Know http://hub.me/apEFr YouTube video: https://youtu.be/SjYJCl96Svg Timestamp show notes (click on timestamp to view or listen to...

The 2022 Thorne Self Publishing Survey asked self published authors what motivates and challenges them. Here's how they responded. YouTube video: https://youtu.be/BJNq_wn32rA Timestamp show notes (click on timestamp to view/listen to segment on YouTube): 0:15 The self publishing motivation question 0:38 The ACME model of self publishing motivation 5:28 Top 3 motivations for self publishing in 2022 5:47 What doesn't motivate self published authors? 6:30 Categories of self publishing...

Do self published authors still consider getting a book deal with a traditional publisher? I asked them in my 2022 Thorne Self Publishing Survey. The answers of why and when they do, or don't, might surprise you. YouTube video: https://youtu.be/byK4f4Qi4nQ Timestamp show notes (click on timestamp to view/listen to segment on YouTube): 0:15 The traditional publishing question I wanted answered 1:10 Do self published authors understand what traditional publishing is? 1:43 2022 Thorne Self...

The 2022 Thorne Self Publishing Survey results are in! Find out how much self published authors made in 2022, and what they're forecasting for 2023. This is the first of three video reports on the survey. YouTube video: https://youtu.be/6ZlLbu1R64Q Timestamp show notes (click on timestamp to view/listen to segment on YouTube): 0:15 About the 2022 Thorne Self Publishing Survey and participants 2:26 How much did the majority of self published authors make in 2022? 3:38 Most popular self...

Just in time for a new year, author pages on Amazon have been redesigned. The redesign is a good move. But authors need to be aware of some changes. Blog: New Amazon Author Pages http://hub.me/apAjf YouTube video: https://youtu.be/dVJ8t5ySNx8 Timestamp show notes (click timestamp to view or listen to segment on YouTube): 0:14 Programming note about Self Publishing Survey Results reporting 0:28 Amazon launches redesigned author pages 0:39 How to get an Author Page on Amazon Author...

A signature book title is one that when people see it, they immediately know what it is and associate the author with it. But do authors really need to strive to create one for their books? I share examples and tips. YouTube video: https://youtu.be/g1N_xKyVA2o Timestamp show notes (click on timestamp to view or listen to segment on YouTube): 0:15 Authors want to be memorable 0:57 What is a signature book title? 2:01 How do you create a signature book title? 3:13 Having a signature book...

A familiar request came from an author via email. “Which of these logos do you like best?” I responded that I wouldn’t go with any of them. My opinion on the choices had nothing to do with the actual art. Here's why I responded this way. YouTube video: https://youtu.be/EyVojXPhBjo Timestamp show notes (click timestamp to view/hear segment on YouTube): 0:14 A familiar question about logos 0:40 Celebrity authors don't need logos 1:40 A brand is not a logo 2:28 Author brand failures 4:25...

I took the new Amazon Attribution Tags system for a test drive to see if it really does help authors track mystery sales sources on Amazon generated off Amazon, such as social media ads. Here's how it went, including screenshots of my results. YouTube video: https://youtu.be/PC6zYs9_WKs Timestamp show notes (click on timestamp to view segment on YouTube): 0:15 New book, new book marketing tests 1:05 My Amazon Attribution Tag campaigns 3:35 Amazon Attribution Tags used for organic social...

I posted a video on TikTok and Instagram asking if you received a used book as a gift, would you think the giver was cheap, or that they found a treasure for you. Here’s how my tribe responded. Blog: Used Books as Gifts: Trash or Treasure? http://hub.me/apwgj YouTube video: https://youtu.be/yri2mX0ZMq8 Timestamp show notes (click timestamp to view segment on YouTube): 0:15 I asked my TikTok and Instagram tribe about used book gifts... 0:29 It's a treasure if... 1:06 It's all about the...

December 2022 marks the end of my 14th year on Twitter. In light of the culture changes and chaos from its recent acquisition by billionaire Elon Musk, will it also be the end of me using Twitter? Let’s talk about that since I’m sure many of you are also considering your future on Twitter. Blog: Will I Quit Twitter? http://hub.me/apvkl YouTube video: https://youtu.be/fH7C2sRHy9o Timestamp show notes (click on timestamp to view segment on YouTube): 0:15 Celebrating 14 years on Twitter....

I have just wrapped production on a new audiobook that’s a departure from my usual content. In doing this latest book, I ran across some updates to ACX, Audible, and audiobook trends that I’ll discuss here. YouTube video: https://youtu.be/VH9OKzb7r1o Timestamp show notes (click on timestamp to view segment on YouTube); 0:15 My new audiobook, Cradle to Crochet: Thoughts on the Crocheting Life 0:45 ACX updates 3:00 Audiobook listening trends 6:00 Spotify Audiobooks vs. Apple 7:40 How to...

I just published another book on Kindle Direct Publishing, KDP, that was an experiment in a couple of ways. It was a departure from my usual genre. And it was a test for the latest 2022 version of Kindle Create, KDP’s free book formatting software. Here's what I learned. YouTube video: https://youtu.be/CDzHrUXgB48 Timestamp show notes (click on timestamp to view segment on YouTube): 0:15 New book formatted using Kindle Create 2:14 Improvements in hyphenation 5:03 Widows and orphan...

Finally! Amazon has introduced a way for authors to measure sales generated by non-Amazon channels like organic social media posts and paid ads. It's called Amazon Attribution. YouTube video: https://youtu.be/bXN690DGXgY Timestamp show notes (click on timestamp to view segment on YouTube): 0:15 Amazon introduces Amazon Attribution Tags 1:00 What is Amazon Attribution? 1:20 Who is eligible to use Amazon Attribution? 1:33 Amazon Attribution terminology explained 5:12 How quickly can you...

I see authors and low content book creators forging ahead full steam to write or design their books before they decide on the niche markets their books will serve and what those markets could want and need. This is totally backwards if you’re hoping to make sales. I explain why. Blog: You're Doing Niche Marketing Wrong for Your Books http://hub.me/aprOT YouTube video: https://youtu.be/xcSFJpTiq9Q Timestamp show notes (click on timestamp to view segment on YouTube): 0:15 Putting the niche...

On October 12, 2022, I celebrated 13 years of having a YouTube channel. A whole lot has changed, and keeps changing on YouTube, mostly for the better, even though using it effectively is still a challenge. I’ll be talking about some newer features that can impact authors and small businesses, as well as sharing insights from my YouTube journey. Blog: YouTube Handles, YouTube Shorts, and My YouTube Journey http://hub.me/aprow YouTube video: https://youtu.be/TfMtiBEtVjs Timestamp show notes...

I love my author community! On a recent video I did about KDP print on demand quality and quality control, one of my favorite author people, Shanon, whose pen name is @S.D. Huston, commented about how she learned to cope with limitations on book design for print on demand. So this is a followup on that discussion, focusing on some specific design issues for book spines. Blog: Does Your Book Have Spine Problems? http://hub.me/apqpA YouTube video: https://youtu.be/s0bZEvi__9k Timestamp show...

I see a lot of confusion and questions on author forums about trademarks, copyrights, and book titles. While I’m not a lawyer, and this does not constitute legal advice of any type, I will provide some definitions and discussion of these terms, particularly as they relate to authors and self publishing. YouTube video: https://youtu.be/oouZeakqP3E Timestamp show notes (click on timestamp to view or listen to segment on YouTube): 0:15 Author confusion on trademarks, copyrights & book...

Got called out on one of my videos where I ranted on authors being overly sensitive about what they perceive as KDP print on demand quality issues. Out of respect for that author’s concerns, let me address each of them here, though some points might still might echo my position on the earlier video. Blog: KDP Print On Demand Quality versus Quality Control http://hub.me/apoIs YouTube video: https://youtu.be/L11jIaPCkGY Timestamp show notes (click on timestamp to view segment on...