The Art of Ambiguous Endings
By: Ginger | Posted on May 2, 2025
When done right, an ambiguous ending becomes the part of your story that readers talk about long after the final page. When done wrong, it can be maddening, risking not only reader frustration but also the kind of backlash that leads people to abandon your work or even warn others away. So why do these kinds of endings often lead to deeper emotional investment, more buzz, and greater loyalty? And how can you craft one that feels intentional and satisfying rather than confusing or disappointing? Those are exactly the questions Ginger explores in today’s blog, using real-world examples, practical techniques, and even a few cautionary tales. With tips on planting clues, maintaining the balance between mystery and resolution, and tailoring your ending to your genre and audience, this post is packed with actionable advice for any author ready to turn their final pages into powerful conversation starters. One of my favorite… Read More >
Mastering the Cliffhanger
By: Ginger | Posted on April 25, 2025
More than just a plot device, cliffhangers are a strategic storytelling tool that can turn casual readers into devoted fans. Whether used at the end of a chapter or in the final lines of a book, a well-placed cliffhanger fuels momentum, builds anticipation, and drives series read-through. When used effectively, they become one of the most powerful tools in a writer’s arsenal. In this week’s blog, Ginger explores a variety of ways authors can harness the power of cliffhangers in their writing. Drawing on examples from bestselling books across genres, he outlines practical techniques for crafting compelling hooks at both the chapter and series level. On top of that, he offers guidance on when cliffhangers work best, when they risk frustrating readers, and how to strike the perfect balance. If you’re aiming to deepen engagement and make your work truly unputdownable, mastering the art of the cliffhanger is essential. A… Read More >
Are Cost Cap Ads Key to Direct Sales Success?
By: Ginger | Posted on April 18, 2025
While direct sales can be a game-changer for authors with a solid series or bundle to offer, the cost of running standard Facebook ads can make turning a profit a real challenge. Even for marketing-savvy writers, the learning phase, where Facebook figures out who’s most likely to buy, can set your ad budget on fire before you see a single sale. But there’s a rarely used strategy that might just change the game for authors selling direct. In today’s blog, Ginger breaks down Facebook’s Cost Cap setting, a powerful but underused tool that lets you control how much you’re willing to spend per sale. When used correctly, it can help you start running profitable ads from day one, and find your ideal readers before your budget runs dry. So, if you’ve read any of my previous articles on the topic, you should know by now that I’m an evangelical when… Read More >
What Wicked Can Teach Authors About Adaptation
By: Ginger | Posted on April 11, 2025
Many authors dream of seeing their books transformed into Broadway sensations or blockbuster films—but the journey from novel to script isn’t always smooth, or even successful. Even with industry interest, the adaptation process can be full of creative compromises, unexpected detours, and reinventions that risk losing the heart of the original story. That’s what makes Wicked such a fascinating case. Originally a novel, then a record-breaking musical, and now a critically acclaimed film, Wicked has thrived across a variety of adaptations. In today’s blog, Ginger digs into Wicked’s wildly successful evolution to uncover what it got so right, and what authors can learn from its journey. From story structure and thematic depth to the art of staying flexible while preserving your story’s core, Wicked offers authors a blueprint for crafting work that can leap off the page and come alive on stage or screen. I recently watched the Wicked movie… Read More >
Should Your Redeemed Villain Live or Die?
By: Ginger | Posted on April 4, 2025
There’s something irresistible about watching a character we once hated fight their way back to redemption. But not all former villains get to ride off into the sunset. Often, they’re still sacrificed for the good of the story. But whether they live or die is not determined by flipping a coin. As an author, it’s your job to weigh several key factors when deciding the ultimate ending for your reformed antagonist. In today’s blog, Ginger walks us through how to evaluate your villain’s past sins and redemption arc to strike the right balance between satisfying storytelling and reader expectations. From the severity of their actions to the motivations behind their transformation, he breaks down the essential elements that should guide the fate of your redeemed villain. Whether it’s Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Negan from The Walking Dead, I’m a sucker for a bad guy who eventually sides… Read More >
You’re Not Just a Writer—You’re a Business Owner
By: Ginger | Posted on March 28, 2025
Most authors just want to tell stories, not crunch numbers. But in the world of self-publishing, writing a great book is only half the equation. The other, less glamorous (but equally vital) part is knowing how to track what’s working and what isn’t. That means thinking like a business owner. And every successful business runs on data. That’s why today, Ginger is going through the steps needed to turn your sporadic writing side hustle into a more sustainable, full-time income. By tracking key metrics like word count, book performance and marketing results, you’ll gain the insight needed to make smarter decisions. Once you start acting on those knowledge, you’ll find it easier to grow your audience, boost your sales, and ultimately stop leaving your publishing success up to chance. I’ve mentioned before how I’ve wanted to be a writer since I was 9-years-old—but even back then, I had more of… Read More >
The One AI Use Writers Won’t Hate
By: Ginger | Posted on March 21, 2025
The soul of being an author is writing books—and no machine, no matter how advanced, will ever truly replicate that. But just because we don’t want AI handling our plot twists doesn’t mean it can’t serve us in other ways. In fact, when it comes to one of the biggest bottlenecks self-published authors face in selling more books, AI might actually be the perfect secret weapon. As Ginger points out in today’s blog, writing may be our passion, but publishing is a business. And buried in that business is a mountain of data—ad results, sales numbers, conversion rates—that most authors don’t have the time (or desire) to sift through. But AI was built to make sense of messy data, and in Ginger’s case, it helped diagnose the issues with his ads and pull him out of a recent slump. So if you’d like to stop crunching numbers and get back… Read More >
The Key to Selling Books: Find Your Hook
By: Ginger | Posted on March 14, 2025
If you want to sell more books, you need a hook that stops readers in their tracks. With thousands of new titles flooding the market every day, your book needs a way to stand out. A strong hook is what keeps readers from scrolling past your title and onto the next, as it compels them to stop and find out more! In today’s blog, Ginger breaks down what makes a killer book hook, how to identify yours, and why some of the most successful self-published books of all time owe their rise to a single, unforgettable concept. He’s sharing actionable tips to help you distill your book’s premise into a gripping one-liner that grabs attention, strengthens your marketing, and ensures your story doesn’t disappear into the void. A few months ago I wrote a blog post called “the only four ways to sell books” and I wanted to revisit one… Read More >
What Writers Can Learn From the James Bond Formula
By: Ginger | Posted on March 7, 2025
This past February, Amazon MGM Studios made a billion-dollar deal to take over control of the James Bond franchise. After five years without a Bond film, this seems to signal that the super spy is on the verge of a major comeback. But for many familiar with the studio’s history, there are legitimate concerns about this return. Will the online retailer turned movie studio stay true to the Bond formula that has kept the franchise running successfully for six decades, or will they fumble it like they did with The Rings of Power? Because there’s no doubt, the existing 25 films follow a well-established “Bond formula” that fans have come to know, love, and most importantly, expect. And that’s the lesson Ginger aims to teach us this week. The success of James Bond isn’t just about fast cars and shaken martinis, but about understanding audience expectations and delivering on them…. Read More >
Kindle Download Removal: A Warning Sign for Digital Ownership
By: Ginger | Posted on February 21, 2025
Imagine waking up one day to find that the books you purchased and thought you owned were no longer accessible, or had been altered from the versions you remembered. That’s not just a hypothetical fear, but the unsettling direction Amazon has begun to move toward. As of February 26, 2025, the eBook retailer quietly removed the Kindle download option, eliminating the ability to save purchased books to a computer. It may seem like a minor technical shift, but in reality, it signals a growing trend where readers don’t fully own their digital purchases, and authors are left more vulnerable to the whims of a single platform. What happens if access to a book you bought is later restricted or its content is modified? And what does this mean for self-published authors who have built their careers within these ecosystems? This isn’t just about convenience—it’s about control. As both readers and… Read More >
