Welcome to Indie Author Day! No matter where you are in your writing journey or what you’re writing, let these resources help you. Check out all the information we have below. You’ll find resources to help you on your writing journey, interviews and conversations with authors and live stream events you can join.
Indie Author Day Live Event
Join us Saturday, November 7, for the 5th annual Indie Author Day! This year’s virtual live stream will include an interview with 2020 Indie Author of the Year, Jacqui Castle, the highly anticipated announcement of the winners of the 2020 Indie Author Project regional contests and an interactive author panel with award-winning authors from all across the US and Canada.
The live stream schedule is below. Register and join us for all sessions, just a few, whatever you’d like! Can’t make it live, but still want to enjoy the event? No problem. Register, and you’ll receive a recording of all of the sessions.
- 11 a.m. CST: Interview with 2020 Indie Author of the Year, Jacqui Castle
- Noon CST: Announcement of the 2020 Indie Author Project regional contest winners!
- 1 p.m. CST: Author Panel: Writing in the Time of COVID
Resources
Need help getting started overcoming the dreaded writer’s block? Or perhaps you need some guidance on self-publishing? We’ve curated a selection of digital and print resources to help you write, edit and publish your work.
Nameless Writers Group @ FPLD
Our regular club for adult writers of all kinds. Join us on Facebook or at our next meeting on Thursday, November 19, at 6 p.m. via Zoom.
Print & Digital Resources
Gale Courses
Online, instructor-led courses for professional development and personal enrichment. A Fountaindale Library card is required to access these courses.
Print Collection
Browse our collections of physical material to help with your writing. If you see something you like, you can request it using your library card.
Pressbooks Public Help
From Start to Finish: Four Steps to Complete Your Book
STEP 1: Writing Your Book
National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)
Join the community and write a 50,000-word novel during November. Visit their website for details. NaNoWriMo sponsors other writing events throughout the year, too. Don’t miss their NaNo Prep series for writing your novel (during November or anytime).
STEP 2: Creating Your Book
Going from First Draft to Finished Product
Read this handy guide to what to do and where to go next once you have a completed draft in hand. READ MORE…
PressBooks
Get free access to Pressbooks and create a professional ebook and print version of your book.
How to Use Pressbooks
The Importance of a Quality Book Cover
Print On Demand for Indie Authors
STEP 3: Submitting & Publishing Your Book
Local Collection
We accept eBooks and print work from our local authors. Find out how to submit your work and read what your peers have written.
The Nemo Journal
The Nameless Writer’s Group @ FPLD publishes an annual print and online literary journal for the Fountaindale Public Library community to include original creative works written by our patrons. The deadline is March 31, 2021. Details and submit here.
Soon to Be Famous Illinois Author Project
The group sponsors two contests for Illinois authors. Find details here.
Indie Author Project
Submit your book to our local collection and share it with readers from Illinois (and beyond).
STEP 4: Marketing Your Book
5 Basics for Creating a Marketing Plan
Discover five steps to building and marketing your author brand that will get you on the right track. From Lulu, an online self-publishing book and eBook platform. READ MORE…
How to Become a Published Poet
Learn how to become a published poet and why publishing your poetry is a worthwhile venture. From Kirkus Reviews, an American book review magazine. READ MORE…
How to Successfully Market Your Book
Creating Stellar Author Websites
Author’s Guide to Creating Video Content
YouTube for Authors
Marketing Outside of the Box
Expanding your Reach
How to Leverage Wattpad
Author Talks
Soon to Be Famous Illinois Author Project Talk
Join award-winning authors Jean Rabe and Lauren Eckhardt as they discuss their books, writing process, winning the 2019 contest and more.
A Candid Discussion: Race and Writing with Ran Walker
Learn from national award-winning author Ran Walker about speaking your mind through writing.
Pandemic Prose: Writing in the time of COVID
Join indie authors Joanne Zienty and Daniel Rosenberg as they discuss how the pandemic and conflict in our world today has affected their writing.
What Award-Winning Authors Write About During the Pandemic
What are the Soon to Be Famous Illinois Author Project winners, Michael Alan Peck (2015) and Geralyn Hesslau Magrady (2016), writing and reading during this pandemic?
Pandemic Prose III: Writing in the time of COVID
Indie authors and Soon to Be Famous Manuscript contest winners Kate Robards and Hollie Smurthwaite discuss how the pandemic and conflict in our world today has affected their writing. They’ll discuss what challenges or advantages working from home presents, what effect current events have on what they’re writing, their advice for other authors, and more. We’ll also provide information on some powerful, free tools available to all writers in Illinois.