Author Archives: Ann O'Brien

How to Write a Novella: Steps and Word Count 2026

Posted by Ann O'Brien
on July 11, 2026

How to write a novella in 2026: word count targets, outline steps, pacing fixes, and printing options once your short fiction manuscript is done. Continue reading »

Comic Book vs Graphic Novel: Key Differences 2026

Posted by Ann O'Brien
on July 10, 2026

Comic book vs graphic novel explained: page count, binding, and trim size differ by design. Learn which format fits your project and how to print it in 2026. Continue reading »

How to Write a Graphic Memoir: 2026 Step-by-Step Guide

Posted by Ann O'Brien
on July 10, 2026

How to write a graphic memoir in 2026: outline, script, thumbnail, art style, lettering, and print-ready binding choices, step by step with common mistakes. Continue reading »

Comic Book Tools 2026: What You Actually Need to Print

Posted by Ann O'Brien
on July 10, 2026

Essential comic book tools for 2026, ranked by stage: drawing, lettering, preflight, and print-ready file specs from Publishing Xpress’s short-run experience. Continue reading »

How to Write a Murder Mystery Novel (2026 Guide)

Posted by Ann O'Brien
on July 10, 2026

How to write a murder mystery in 2026: build the crime first, plant fair clues, and structure the reveal. Verdict, steps, and troubleshooting inside. Continue reading »

How to Plan a Comic Book Series in 2026 (Full Guide)

Posted by Ann O'Brien
on July 10, 2026

How to plan a comic book series in 2026: arc structure, page counts, binding, and printing schedule — with the mistakes that stall most indie runs. Continue reading »

AI Book Cover Design 2026: Step-by-Step Print Guide

Posted by Ann O'Brien
on July 9, 2026

AI book cover design in 2026: pick the right tool, set full bleed, hit 300 DPI, and export a print-ready file. Step-by-step guide with verdicts. Continue reading »

Children’s Book Plot That Holds Attention (2026 Guide)

Posted by Ann O'Brien
on July 9, 2026

Write a children’s book plot that holds attention in 2026: one want, one obstacle, three attempts, fast ending. Steps, fixes, and printing next steps here. Continue reading »

Book Cover Color: How to Pick Colors That Sell (2026)

Posted by Ann O'Brien
on July 9, 2026

Learn how to pick book cover color that sells in 2026 — genre palettes, contrast rules, CMYK conversion, and proof steps before your print run. Continue reading »

Children’s Book Mistakes First-Time Authors Make (2026)

Posted by Ann O'Brien
on July 9, 2026

Children’s book mistakes that cost first-time authors reprints in 2026 — bleed, trim size, binding, and copyright errors, plus the exact fixes for each. Continue reading »

Children’s Book Marketing After Printing: 2026 Guide

Posted by Ann O'Brien
on July 9, 2026

Children’s book marketing after printing in 2026: bookstore consignment, school outreach, and social launch steps that sell your first print run fast. Continue reading »

Nonfiction Books More Profitable Than Fiction? 2026 Verdict

Posted by Ann O'Brien
on July 8, 2026

Nonfiction books more profitable than fiction in 2026? Yes, on margin and backlist sales. See the print run, binding, and pricing moves that prove it. Continue reading »