When I heard this quote spoken by our local dentist, it resonated with me, not just about the food that we consume, but also the food that we consume via visual consumption. Is the use of junk media just as harmful to our brains as junk food is for our bodies?

How can you ensure that you don’t contribute to junk media?

When writing a book, it is important to remain faithful to your understanding and expertise. Disclose the limit of your knowledge and where further research or reading can be done to allow others to come to their conclusions.

The income challenged independent author will not have the resources of larger publishing houses. An audience will be forgiving for some irregularities – understanding that the independent author is seeking to keep their costs to a minimum while aiming to produce the best product that they can, with their limited budget, to bring their story to life.

Regardless of budget, there is no excuse for poor research, plagiarism, blatant lies or personal attacks.

Your content needs to be to the point. Be clear about personal opinions.

How can you clarify your message?

Could you use images or diagrams instead of words?

Could you interview yourself and use that as the basis for your story to grow and develop into your book?

How can you stay within your budget without compromising the integrity of your book?

How much time can you dedicate to your book?

When should you call on the resources and expertise of others?

Do what you have to do to ­– Get It Done.