Category: The OBP BLOG
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The Publishing Industry Is Burning — But We’re Not Waiting to Be Rescued
The publishing industry is facing significant challenges marked by layoffs, imprint closures, and diminishing federal support, particularly affecting Black creators. Major companies like HarperCollins and Penguin Random House have made sweeping cuts, while Amazon’s actions further harm small publishers. Historical figures like Toni Morrison and Charles R. Johnson exemplified resilience, proving Black authors can create…
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Editor’s Note: A Layperson’s Art Education in Pursuit of a Cover Design Aesthetic
Authors who self-publish face numerous challenges, including cover design. Researching successful books in their genre and studying literary journals can provide inspiration. Learning about art movements and cultural history, particularly African American and protest art, can inform cover design. Art can speak to cultural moments and provoke thought, making it a powerful tool for expression.
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How to Use Compassion to Build and Strengthen Your Writing Practice
How to Use Compassion to Build and Strengthen Your Writing Practice We writers can self-debase into oblivion. We’ll often read back over our work and sees nothing but flaws, typos, awkward phrasing, lazy wording. And that’s if we’re lucky to write consistently enough to critique ourselves often. There’ll be a couple of days in…
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3 Books to Help You Stay Consistent, Motivated, and Inspired to Write
3 Books to Help You Stay Consistent, Motivated, and Inspired to Write 3 Books to Give Your Plight a Lift Writing struggles are normal. Even now with today’s tools, you’re not going to avoid obstacles, most of which are mental. And though you didn’t commit to writing because you thought it would be easy all…