The Latest Posts

• Eleven Topics Writers Should Consider When Evaluating Potential Publishers April 10, 2021
  For over a decade, the ever-evolving publishing industry has blossomed with publishing paths for writers. Now, in addition to traditional publishers who typically pay advances, we have small presses who tend to avoid advances, assisted and hybrid publishers where authors pay to publish, and Indie/Self-publishers who manage every part of the publication and distribution processes […]
  Matt Knight
• Happy Egg Hunting April 4, 2021
  ERROR: 404 — Blog Post Not Found     We would have a blog post if we weren’t so busy hiding chocolate eggs in our stomachs. See you next week, happier but heavier. Happy Easter! – The Sidebar Saturdays Team Note to self: order treadmill Photo Credit: Sister72 | VisualHunt   The post Happy Egg Hunting […]
  Matt Knight
• How To Copyright A Book March 20, 2021
  You’ve written a book. You decided to publish. You researched the benefits of registering your creative work with the copyright office and now you want to protect your intellectual property. So, how do you register your work? Simple. Follow these three easy steps. Complete the application; Pay the registration fee; and Submit your book to […]
  Matt Knight
• Non-Disclosure Agreements—Do You Need One? March 7, 2021
  Writers often fear someone will steal their ideas. I understand. Writers work hard and feel the need to protect their creative sparks. Especially if the idea has commercial value. Enter the non-disclosure agreement, or NDA. But are NDAs right for you? What is a non-disclosure agreement? An NDA is a formal contract that obligates the […]
  Matt Knight
• Objection! That Courtroom Scene Sucks! February 13, 2021
  Most of us have seen a courtroom trial, either as a juror in the box or a visitor in the gallery. So we have a good understanding that the majority of what happens during a trial is relatively boring. Why then, if written effectively, are courtroom scenes in books or on the screen so entertaining? Because the courtroom is a crucible […]
  Matt Knight
• The Curious Copyright Infringement Case of Sherlock Holmes in Enola Holmes January 17, 2021
  The Netflix movie Enola Holmes is based on a series of young adult novels by Nancy Springer, The Enola Holmes Mysteries, published between 2006-2010 by Penguin Random House. The series centers on Sherlock’s teenage sister Enola, a newly created character by Springer. In June 2020, just months before Enola Holmes premiered, the Estate of Sir Arthur […]
  Matt Knight
• Merry Christmas + Happy New Year December 26, 2020
  Farewell, 2020. We’re done with you. Hello, 2021. Don’t you look cute! We are on a mini-blog holiday–drinking lots of spiked eggnog and watching cheesy Christmas movies.  Have a fun and festive holiday. See you in the New Year where opportunity is the new difficulty. – The Sidebar Saturdays Team     Photo Credit: floridecires […]
  Matt Knight
• Securing Audiobook Rights: The Rights You Need to Bring Your Audiobook to Market December 19, 2020
  Audio rights used to be the ugly stepsister of publishing rights, often thought of as throwaway rights to be included with a group of other secondary rights in a publishing deal. If you think back to when audiobooks made their big splash in the early 1970s with audiocassettes and Books On Tape, the market was […]
  Matt Knight
• DRM And Protecting E-Books December 6, 2020
  What is DRM? Digital Rights Management (DRM) refers to various software technologies that control the unauthorized use, modification, and distribution of digital content like e-books, music, and films. DRM is a complicated subject. For writers, DRM restricts how readers share e-books between users and devices. It’s why you can’t buy a book on Kindle and […]
  Matt Knight
• Happy Wobble And Gobble Weekend! November 25, 2020
  Visiting with relatives this Thanksgiving? Be safe. Unable to be with relatives this holiday? Don’t brag! Wherever you land, have a fun-filled Turkey Weekend with great food, superb wine, and lots of yummy pies. We’re thankful for you! See you next week when our blog returns to your inbox.   With gratitude, Your Team at […]
  Matt Knight