· From the team ·
The AuthorLoft Blog
Guides, strategies, and insights for independent authors building a direct connection with readers.
Showing 12 of 12
Can You Write a Book Using ChatGPT?
ChatGPT is a powerful language model that excels at brainstorming, drafting, outlining, and providing editorial feedback. However—and this is important—ChatGPT works best when it's a tool that enhances your creativity rather than replacing it.
How to sell your book directly to readers — without Amazon taking a cut
Most indie authors treat Amazon as the default. You publish, you list, you wait. That is a reasonable starting point. Amazon has the traffic, the infrastructure, and the trust of millions of readers. It makes sense to be there. When a reader buys your book on Amazon, Amazon owns that relationship. You get the royalty. Amazon gets the customer's name, email address, and purchase history. The next time that reader wants to buy a book — yours or someone else's — Amazon is the starting point, not you. You start from zero every time. This is not a criticism of Amazon. It is simply how their business model works. The question is whether it should be the only model you work with.
The Author's Guide to GDPR and Reader Data
If you're collecting emails or selling to EU readers, GDPR applies to you. Here's what you actually need to do.
Why Authors Are Leaving Amazon KDP for Direct Sales
A growing number of indie authors are reducing their Amazon dependency. We spoke to authors who made the switch — here's what they said.
How to Price Your eBook for Direct Sales
Pricing your eBook for a platform like Amazon is very different from pricing for direct sales. Here's how to think about it.
How to Set Up Direct Sales for Your eBook
A step-by-step guide to setting up a Stripe-powered checkout for your eBooks so readers can buy directly from you.
Self-Publishing vs Amazon KDP: What Authors Need to Know
KDP made self-publishing mainstream — but it comes with trade-offs most authors don't discover until it's too late.
How to Build an Author Brand That Readers Remember
Readers don’t fall in love with a font. They fall in love with a feeling. Your brand is the promise of that feeling, delivered consistently across your books, website, and presence online.
Selling Books Directly From Your Website: The Complete Guide for Modern Authors
Selling direct gives you higher royalties, reader data, and a relationship retailers can never give you. Here's how to get started.
Beyond Social Media: Why Every Author Needs a Website in 2026
If you are relying solely on social media to build your author platform, you are building your digital house on rented land. In 2026, an author website is the single most important asset you can own to future-proof your career, sell directly to readers, and protect your audience from shifting algorithms.
How to Build an Email List as an Author
Your email list is the one asset you own completely. Here's a practical guide to growing it from zero.
7 Things Every Author Website Needs
Most author websites are missing the basics. Here are the seven elements that turn visitors into subscribers and buyers.