Here are the latest Writers Online newsletters including the November 2026 self-publishing newsletter and more:
Welcome! Welcome to the November 2026 Self-Publishing newsletter. This month, we’re looking at how to make the most of email promo platforms that can help us market our books to readers.
But first, let’s look at a couple of news stories affecting self-published authors. |
Simon Whaley
Author and Business of Writing expert |
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Ebook Promotional Newsletters: How To Promote Your eBook |
If publishing our books is one long learning opportunity, then promoting them is yet another learning opportunity, especially if it involves social media adverts and trusting a platform to spend our advertising budget wisely. But there are simpler ways to advertise our books to eager readers. Email promo platforms like BookBub, The Fussy Librarian, Bargain Booksy, Free Booksy, and many more have thousands (if not tens or hundreds of thousands) of readers on their mailing lists. Every day, they email newsletters to these voracious readers detailing newly published or price-promoted eBooks. They’re brilliant at putting our books right in front of our sort of readers. |
What is BookBub’s Reader Reach, and How Much Does It Cost? |
The biggest and most expensive promotional platform is BookBub. Authors have to apply for a Featured Deal promotion at BookBub, and anecdotally, I’ve heard of writers who’ve applied twenty, thirty, or more times before they’ve been accepted. They’re popular because of their reach. For example, in the USA alone, they have over one million subscribers who enjoy reading cosy mysteries. Another 1.2 million love psychological thrillers, 1 million enjoy women’s fiction, and over 730,000 read science fiction. The cost of a BookBub featured deal depends on three factors (as of November 2026): - The target audience—there are three options: 1)USA, 2) International (UK, Canada, and Australia), or 3) both.
- The genre (the more subscribers to a particular genre, the greater the fee).
- The book’s price (Free, $0.99, $1-$2, $2-$3, $3+).
You can find a full breakdown of the subscriber counts and fees on the BookBub Pricing and Statistics page. Here’s an example of how much promoting a cosy mystery novel, priced at $0.99, would cost on BookBub: |
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I secured an international featured deal for my cosy crime novel, Blooming Murder, in December 2021. It helped my book reach number 3 on Amazon’s British and Irish Humour and Satire lists. |
Despite applying for a couple more featured deals since then, I’ve been unsuccessful. |
Where to find Budget-Friendly Promo Platforms |
If those fees give your purse and wallet palpitations, don’t panic! There are many other budget-friendly email promo platforms that can still send lots of new readers our way. Written Word Media runs several newsletters, including: Unlike BookBub, where you have to apply, Written Word Media simply asks authors to select their book’s genre, pick a promotional date (if it’s available), and then pay. To give you a comparison with BookBub, when I use Bargain Booksy, I pay $70 to appear on their cosy mystery newsletter, which goes out to approximately 380,000 readers. Discounts are available to members of their Gold or Platinum schemes, so authors with many books to promote, or who plan a regular programme of promotion, may wish to consider joining this. |
What Impact Can These Promo Platforms Have On Book Sales? |
I’ve always seen a boost in sales on the day my promotion goes out. That boost varies each time, and sometimes I don’t cover the promotion cost on that day. However, there are a couple of points to consider here:
- Unlike adverts, which typically send prospective buyers to one site, many of these promotional platforms send buyers to their preferred bookstore. I don’t just see a sales spike on Amazon, but Apple, Kobo, Google Play Books, Barnes & Noble, and more.
- There’s often a second and third day boost. Readers don’t always buy on the day they get the email. Sometimes, it’s a day or two after.
- A boost of several sales on one day may help with visibility elsewhere on that sales platform. For example, if Amazon spots several people buying our book, they may include it in one of their emails to customers.
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What Other Email Promo Platforms Are There? |
There are many other email promo platforms, including: |
Should Authors Consider Promo Stacking? |
Sometimes, stacking email promotions can generate a longer sales boost. Use one service to promote our book on one day, followed by a different service the day after, and then another service for the day after that to create a longer promotional effect. Of course, there’s no guarantee of getting sales from any of these services. That’s the risk we take. Start with one email promo platform and track the effect it has on sales. Remember, look at sales over several days, not just the day of the promotion. So, if you’re looking at ways to market your book that avoid having to use Amazon Ads or Meta Ads, these newsletter services offer a great way to access new readers. And there are services available to suit most budgets. Happy self-publishing! |
Enjoyed this email? If someone forwarded this to you, don’t miss out on future self-publishing tips, news, and insights! Subscribe now to get Writers Online’s Self-Publishing Newsletter delivered straight to your inbox. |
Email: webhelp@warnersgroup.co.uk / subscriptions@warnersgroup.co.uk (include your name & postcode) Tel: 01778 392482, Mon-Fri 8am-6pm, Sat and Bank Holidays 9am-5pm Writers Online is brought to you by Warners Group Publications 1 lysander drive, northfields industrial estate, peterborough, pe6 8fb Registered in England: 2572212 |
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Discover free IngramSpark Academy courses to help you self-publish, reach readers and build your author career. |
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Writing your manuscript is a huge accomplishment. Now IngramSpark can help you take the next step in your self-publishing journey. We give you the tools to print, distribute, and sell your book worldwide, and IngramSpark Academy, our free online learning hub, shows you how to publish with confidence.
Newly updated with courses on the business of self-publishing, the Academy helps you make informed decisions at every stage and give your book the best chance to reach readers. |
- How to self-publish and design a professional book
- Formatting for print, ebook, and audiobook
- Building your author brand and audience
- Metadata, marketing, and selling your book in global markets
- How to become a full-time author
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Enroll by November 30 for extra perks* |
- Receive access to our private Academy Facebook group to connect with fellow authors.
- Complete courses and share your progress on social media to earn entries in the Academy Challenge. Five Grand Prize winners will each receive:
✅Discovery Boost Package ✅ One-on-one session with an IngramSpark expert ✅ IngramSpark swag box ✅ 15% off a one-time print order of 15+ units |
*INGRAMSPARK®: ACADEMY PROMOTION OFFICIAL RULES NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Promotion runs from October 1st to November 30th, 2026. Read here for more details. |
Email: webhelp@warnersgroup.co.uk / subscriptions@warnersgroup.co.uk (include your name & postcode) Tel: 01778 392482, Mon-Fri 8am-6pm, Sat and Bank Holidays 9am-5pm Writers Online is brought to you by Warners Group Publications 1 Lysander Dr, Market Deeping, Peterborough PE6 8FB. Registered in England: 2572212 |
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Ready to tackle your 5,000 words for the First 5K Novel Prize? Explore magic systems, news, and more inside. |
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Happy spooky season!
We're well into the depths of the season that brings out the ghosts, ghouls, and heebie-jeebies - but if you ask any writer, the scariest thing in October isn't a monster hiding under the bed. It’s that unblinking, flashing cursor on a glaring white screen when you’re staring down a deadline! Apologies for the jump scare.
I think writers might be one of the only groups of people who LOVE the clocks going back an hour. With the longer nights there is no excuse to not get writing. And with many people taking on Novel November, starting this weekend, there really is no better time to put pen to paper (or fingertips to keyboard).
Whether you’re embarking on a full 50,000-word draft or simply committed to carving out daily writing time, November is the ultimate reset button for your manuscript. And it’s the absolute best way to build momentum and get your opening 5,000 words polished and ready to enter the First 5K Novel Prize!
So grab a fresh cup of coffee, clear your desk, and let’s make this month count. You’ve got this! |
Happy writing, The Writers Online Team |
Creative writing: Crafting a magic system |
Debut fantasy author Bel Banta offers tips on crafting an original magic system in your worldbuilding. |
Explore our 'Get Published' hub! |
Navigating the publishing world shouldn't feel like a mystery. That’s why we’re thrilled to introduce our brand-new Get Published hub on Writers Online!
Designed as your partner in literary success, this curated section brings together expert industry advice, inspiring real-author case studies, and practical step-by-step guidance to help you write, publish, and promote your book with confidence. |
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Turn Your Opening Chapter into £5,000! |
The countdown is officially on. There are just 60 days left to polish your opening pages and submit to the First 5K Novel Prize!
If you’ve been sitting on an idea, drafting a fresh story, or polishing your opening chapters, now is the time to make those first 5,000 words shine. |
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Fresh Inspiration on the Get Published Hub This Week |
From adapting to Google’s major AI search overhaul - and what it means for author web traffic and discoverability - to making November the month you finally make real progress on your novel, we’ve got so much for you to catch up on through our Get Published Hub.
Plus, discover why handwritten letter writing might be the key to unlocking your best creative work, and check out our publisher spotlight on Ruadán Books, a US indie publisher actively seeking dark thrillers and speculative fiction. |
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Make November the month you make real progress on your novel |
How many of us dream of writing a novel, and holding that published book in our hands?
For a lot of writers, it’s the ultimate goal – and there’s only one way to achieve it, which is by completing the manuscript!
But it’s a mammoth task, and so many of us struggle not just to complete it, but to start it in the first place. But that’s where ProWritingAid’s free Novel November challenge comes in, inviting you to complete a 50,000-word first draft in a month. |
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We can’t wait for Winters Haunts 2026! |
As the nights turn colder and the days turn darker, it’s time for the return of Winter Haunts! Back for its fifth year, the event will again be presenting an exciting range of workshops and author interviews featuring leading names in ghost story, Gothic and supernatural fiction from around the world. Join us for another exciting running of Winter Haunts yet, with a stunning line-up of writing talent joining us! |
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Email: webhelp@warnersgroup.co.uk / subscriptions@warnersgroup.co.uk (include your name & postcode) Tel: 01778 392482, Mon-Fri 8am-6pm, Sat and Bank Holidays 9am-5pm Writers Online is brought to you by Warners Group Publications 1 Lysander Dr, Market Deeping, Peterborough PE6 8FB. Registered in England: 2572212 |
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Daily writing sprints, expert workshops and a community to keep you motivated. |
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Your novel deserves more than “one day” |
Have you got a story you've been longing to write, or a half-finished manuscript waiting for your attention? Finding the time, confidence and consistency to make real progress can be one of the biggest challenges of being a writer.
November could be your opportunity to change that.
ProWritingAid's free Novel November challenge invites you to work towards a 50,000-word first draft in 30 days. With daily writing sprints, expert-led workshops and a community of fellow writers, you'll have practical support to help you build momentum and keep your story moving. |
Small steps towards a big goal |
Writing 50,000 words in a month might sound daunting, particularly when you’re juggling work, family and other commitments. But breaking the target down into around 1,667 words a day can make the task feel more manageable.
You’ll also have support along the way, including daily group writing sprints, expert-led workshops, practical writing tools and community discussions. Whether you’re starting a new story or returning to an unfinished manuscript, the aim is to help you find a rhythm that works for you. |
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You don’t have to write alone |
Last year’s inaugural Novel November challenge attracted 68,000 writers worldwide, who collectively produced more than 353 million words.
The experience of participant Denise Wilkerson shows what a little structure and encouragement can achieve. She wrote nearly 70,000 words in 30 days, developing a project that began as a way to preserve her family’s history for her children.
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The challenge is about more than hitting a word count. It’s an opportunity to make time for your creativity, connect with other writers and develop the confidence to keep going when your story becomes difficult.
And once November is over, there’s still more to do. December’s resources will help you explore the next stages, including editing, publishing and marketing your work. |
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Ready to give your novel a fresh start? |
You don’t need a finished plan or a perfect opening chapter to begin. You just need a story you want to tell and a commitment to keep returning to the page.
Novel November is completely free to join, making it an accessible way to give your writing a dedicated month of focus.
Make this November the month you move closer to completing the manuscript you’ve been dreaming of writing. |
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Email: webhelp@warnersgroup.co.uk / subscriptions@warnersgroup.co.uk (include your name & postcode) Tel: 01778 392482, Mon-Fri 8am-6pm, Sat and Bank Holidays 9am-5pm Writers Online is brought to you by Warners Group Publications 1 Lysander Dr, Market Deeping, Peterborough PE6 8FB. Registered in England: 2572212
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