Sharing a model that might help other authors think differently about street teams. Writers are often told to “build a street team.” The advice usually goes like this: gather other authors, book bloggers, and bookish accounts who will share your posts. And while that can create a sense of community, I’ve often felt it traps us in an echo chamber. Authors promoting to other authors. Writers talking mostly to writers. Posts circulating in the same small pond. Helpful for morale, maybe, but not for reaching new readers . So I started thinking differently. A Dream Goal What if a street team wasn’t built from other authors at all? What if it reflected the themes of my books instead: environmental activism, speculative futures, artificial intelligence, and youth voices? What if it looked more like the world itself — diverse, global, and multi-layered? I sketched out a “dream team” target: not because I expect to fill every slot, but because having a map helps me (and maybe...

 In today's rapidly changing publishing landscape, many indie authors are questioning whether traditional Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) programs still serve their intended purpose. As an author and industry observer, I've noticed several concerning trends that suggest it might be time for a significant overhaul of this long-standing practice. Photo by Vincenzo Malagoli: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-reading-book-and-holding-coffee-1550648/ Why the Current ARC Model Is Showing Cracks The traditional approach of distributing free copies to readers in exchange for honest reviews has been a cornerstone of indie publishing strategy. However, numerous issues have emerged that challenge its effectiveness: 1. Diminishing Returns on Investment Many authors now distribute more ARCs than they sell books during launch week. When your marketing strategy costs more than it generates, it deserves scrutiny. 2. Eroding Trust in Reviews The general public's trust in online reviews h...