| If you're wondering how to write a book, there | | | | book. |
| are other questions you want to ask yourself | | | | I saw Charlie at another seminar, at which time |
| before you get started, and here's why. | | | | she said her book was out. I looked up her name |
| Because... | | | | on Google, and do you know what? There was |
| Various studies over the years have shown that | | | | one listing of the book on her self-publisher's page |
| 80-83% of Americans want to write a book. Of | | | | and one on a site where she had posted the |
| those who do, it is a tough market. The author's | | | | ebook to sell. That's it. |
| dream is often shattered because of various | | | | I asked her what else she had besides the book |
| factors I will share with you shortly. | | | | and she stared blankly at me. Then I asked how |
| This does not need to discourage you, because | | | | book sales were going. I could feel the energy fly |
| you still see bestsellers and other books that do | | | | out of her like when you blow up a balloon and let |
| their job well. What makes for a successful book? | | | | it go. |
| I've studied thousands of books, both successful | | | | Oh, if only she had gotten coaching! Someone |
| and not successful, and I've coached authors for | | | | with a message so powerful should not be left |
| several years. Because of all that, I have a bunch | | | | with a bunch of boxes of books in her basement |
| of insights I will share with you shortly. | | | | and a broken dream. Her story could have had a |
| First, though, I need to give you a reality check. | | | | much happier ending... an end that is in truth a |
| You want to go into any endeavor with eyes | | | | beginning of a whole new life as a messenger |
| wide open. So here we go. | | | | author. |
| The Bad News | | | | Where did Charlie go wrong? |
| Whether you want to write fiction or nonfiction | | | | One huge element she was missing was how the |
| (or both), there is plenty of "bad news." I am not | | | | book fit into her vision for her life and business. |
| one to share gloom and doom, but you really do | | | | She told me she wanted to speak and do |
| need to know about these factors. And don't | | | | workshops, but I think she expected the book to |
| worry; I'll show you how to overcome them | | | | do all the heavy lifting for her, as if printing a |
| before this article is complete. | | | | book would magically bring opportunities to her. |
| - Huge royalty advances are a thing of the past. | | | | You may be thinking that wanting to speak was |
| Back in the "glory days," an author might be | | | | her vision. That's like looking at the world through |
| "wined and dined" on a whirlwind book tour after | | | | cataracts. You can see some light, but |
| receiving a 6- or 7- figure advance. Those days | | | | everything's cloudy. It's not a clear enough vision. |
| are gone. Oh sure, occasionally you hear about | | | | She had not established any kind of business |
| someone getting a big advance, but it is rare and | | | | structure or steps for how she would get the |
| mostly reserved for politics, celebrities and | | | | speaking engagements as an unknown author |
| scandal. | | | | with no website. She also had no audience, no |
| - Over 1.2 million books come out each year. So | | | | online presence, no media plan, and no idea how |
| getting noticed is no small feat. Too many authors | | | | to get noticed. It's like a drop of water trying to |
| imagine the world will discover them and make | | | | get someone's attention during a tsunami. |
| them famous. We live in an "Attention Economy. | | | | Yes, being an author does elevate you to Instant |
| " Getting people's attention is perhaps the hardest | | | | VIP status, but you still have to work it. I'm not |
| thing an author can do...unless you have certain | | | | even talking about the marketing right now. |
| factors in place. | | | | Before you even ask yourself how to write a |
| - An author MUST have a "platform" - which | | | | book, let alone how to market one, make sure |
| means a following. I have met plenty of authors | | | | you have something more in place than just the |
| who have no presence on-or-offline except the | | | | book and a wish. |
| listing for their book with the self-publisher and | | | | You want to know who should read your book |
| maybe Amazon. And they wonder why nobody | | | | and why. You need to know where to find those |
| buys the book. | | | | perfect customers, and you certainly need to be |
| - Having a book available is no guarantee of sales. | | | | sure you have something else for them besides a |
| Too many people assume that they will easily sell | | | | book and the hope someone will hire you to |
| a lot of their books just because their | | | | speak. |
| self-publisher gives them a page on a website. Not | | | | Remember, most books are under $20; so if all |
| so. 98% of books fail to sell even 100 copies. | | | | you have is a book, you're chasing $20s. |
| - If you're going to write a book, you either have | | | | Connecting with your vision |
| to know marketing or hire it done. Books don't sell | | | | This isn't a "woo-woo" or "airy fairy" topic. I'm not |
| themselves. Discoveries happen, but hope is not a | | | | going to start talking about anything weird. Simply |
| marketing strategy. | | | | put, you want to know why you're writing your |
| Let me share a story with you to help you | | | | book and what comes next. |
| understand how all this works.. | | | | - Are you certain anybody wants to read what |
| You are about to virtually meet a woman I'll call | | | | you want to write? |
| Charlie. What I am about to share is a tale of | | | | - How do you KNOW people want what you are |
| woe that need not have such a dismal ending. Had | | | | writing? |
| this woman come to me early on, I could have | | | | - What else do they want and need? |
| helped her save her dream and spread her | | | | - How and where will your readers find you? |
| message. | | | | - What are your plans for AFTER the book? |
| I vividly remember Charlie. She felt a calling to | | | | (products, services, courses, etc.) |
| share a highly personal story not just with those | | | | - Do you want to create a legacy business that |
| close to her, but also with strangers, in a book. I | | | | goes to your heirs? |
| gave her a lot of credit for being willing to share | | | | Establish your vision for how that book you are |
| the story of how her toddler died in an accident | | | | going to write fits into your life and you can be |
| on the day she found she was pregnant. She had | | | | sure everything else that goes with the book fits |
| found power in her pain. | | | | together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. |
| At the event, Charlie always had a small group of | | | | Action Plan |
| people around her simply because of the power | | | | 1.First, answer the above questions for yourself. |
| of her presence. When she spoke, people listened. | | | | Think beyond the book. |
| She had charisma and magnetism. I imagined her | | | | 2.use a system for how to write a book that |
| appearing on National TV and speaking to a large | | | | makes sense to you. Make sure it shows you |
| audience. | | | | how to develop a solid business with the book as |
| When I first met her, she was just beginning to | | | | one door through which your ideal readers enter |
| write, and she had given no thought to anything | | | | your world. |
| else beyond her book. | | | | 3.Set yourself a deadline for finishing your book. |
| She had unfortunately given no thought to how | | | | 4.Follow the system you choose to the letter. |
| this book would blossom into a business or into a | | | | Don't decide you know better. Don't omit parts. |
| message that she could turn into home study | | | | Don't do things out of sequence. Don't rush. |
| courses, workshops, coaching, keynote speeches, | | | | You will be on your way not only to having your |
| etc. Any author has plenty of options with your | | | | book in print, but also to ensuring you won't be |
| book, but you have to plan strategically. You have | | | | chasing $20 bills. |
| to know what's next for the reader after your | | | | |