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For Writers

Whether you’re a novelist, poet, author-illustrator, or anywhere in between, the New Orleans Public Library has resources to help you take your story from the first spark of creativity into readers’ hands.

Books on How to Write

Interested in self-publishing your work? Hop down to our self-publishing resources.

What’s the difference between traditional publishing and self-publishing? Read more on our blog.

Upcoming author events:

» Join our Author Event Email List for updates.

» Watch recordings of past Virtual Author Talks.

Writing & Publishing Workshops At The Library

Indie Author Project Expert Session: Utilizing Kickstarter in Your Publishing Cycle

When: Thursday, September 24, 2pm – 3pm

You’ve heard over and over again how great Kickstarter can be for authors. It seems like every other day, another author is launching a Kickstarter campaign for one book or another. But how does it all work? Is it meant for special editions or preorders? What are the real benefits? In this talk, Kickstarter Head of Publishing Oriana Leckert, award-winning fantasy author Z.S. Diamanti, and INKfluence owner Dana Claire demystify Kickstarter for authors.

Oriana Leckert is the Head of Publishing at Kickstarter. She’s written and edited for Vice, MTV News, Slate, Hyperallergic, Gothamist, and Atlas Obscura.

Z.S. Diamanti is the award-winning author of the Stone & Sky trilogy, an epic fantasy adventure, and the Fables of Finlestia cozy fantasy series, which includes Guard in the Garden.

Dana Claire is the founder of The INKfluence™ and INK Games Publishing™.

The Craft of Fear: Generating Scares in Fiction

When: Wednesday, October 14, 5pm – 6:30pm

Where: Milton H. Latter Memorial Library

So often in horror we’re taught: you must scare! Yet so few resources are geared towards how to—the actual mechanics of how to scare people. Exploring concepts such as creating an atmosphere of palpable dread, subverting genre expectations, setting as character, the Uncanny, establishing temporal dislocation in a reader, and the interconnectedness of screaming and laughing, this craft-oriented workshop will focus on the finer points of generating fear in fiction.

All levels of adult writers welcome.

Workshop leader Adrian Van Young is the author of four fiction books: The Man Who Noticed Everything (Black Lawrence Press),  Shadows in Summerland (Open Road Media), Midnight Self (Black Lawrence Press), and Rough Beast (forthcoming from Black Lawrence Press in October 2026).  More at adrianvanyoung.com.

Sponsored by the Library Foundation of New Orleans.

Self-Publishing Resources

Are you interested in self-publishing your book? Want to read self-published and indie works from other local authors? Pressbooks, Indie Author Project, and BiblioBoard work together to make the self-publishing process easier and more accessible to Library cardholders.

Create and format a publication-ready manuscript with Pressbooks Public. Write chapter by chapter, or import a manuscript previously written in Word or other formats. Create a professional-quality ePUB (compatible with most e-book readers) or PDF (print friendly) file that’s ready to submit to your self-publisher of choice, such as the Indie Author Project. When you’re ready for cover design, check out the Library’s list of websites where you can download copyright-free images.

After formatting your manuscript in Pressbooks Public or with a different tool, submit your work to Indie Author Project for the chance to be featured on BiblioBoard. Submissions are open year round. During April and May, Indie Author Project runs their Annual Contest, with the chance to win prize money and a full-page spread in Library Journal.

Read indie fiction by Louisiana authors, with no checkout periods, waits, or holds. Download the BiblioBoard Library app to read on your mobile device, or access on any web browser.

Create and format a publication-ready manuscript with Pressbooks Public. Write chapter by chapter, or import a manuscript previously written in Word or other formats. Create a professional-quality ePUB (compatible with most e-book readers), MOBI (compatible with Kindles) or PDF (print friendly) file that’s ready to submit to your self-publisher of choice, such as the Indie Author Project. When you’re ready for cover design, check out the Library’s list of websites where you can download copyright-free images.

Read indie fiction by Louisiana authors, with no checkout periods, waits, or holds. Download the BiblioBoard Library app to read on your mobile device, or access on any web browser.