Reel Your Book Readers In with Top Titles
Titles are one of the most important aspects of your book. Did you know the average reader, publisher or editor only spends about 6 seconds looking at the front cover of any book. They spend not much longer, about 15 seconds, on the back cover. That leaves an author about 20 seconds to make a good impression on a potential reader. How will your title measure up in those few seconds?
Does your title do its job well? I mean does it help explain what’s in your book? Does it capture the interest, engage, or shock the senses of your potential reader? Expert studies show the title may be responsible for up to 90% of your book’s magnetic pulling power. Some even say at least half of your book’s success can be attributed to its title.
Use these top two title sizzlers and sell more books than you ever dreamed.
2. Promise change through the book title to hook your readers
Another characteristic to use in developing your best title is to promise change. In your title spell out the change that readers can expect if they follow your book’s precepts. Let them know what to expect. Use steps, ways and time limits to promise change.
You can add focus and creditability to your title by adding a time frame or quantifying change. C.J. Hayden’s book “Get Clients Now!: A 28-Day Marketing Program for Professionals and Consultants” The first part of the title tells what the book is about. Adding now brings immediacy. The (28-Day) part emphasizes that the reader will get day-by-day instruction and probably enjoy results in less than a month.
The “Write Your Best Book Now: An Easy 7 step writing program for Entrepreneurs and Writers” uses the same principle of adding immediacy with the word now. She also quantified change with the steps that communicates to the reader read this book and they will get their best book written in 9 easy steps. Other good examples of quantifying change are “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen R. Covey and “7 Steps to Fearless Speaking” by Lilyan Wilder.
Another change oriented title is “Weigh Down: An Inspirational Way to Lose Weight, Stay Slim and Find a New You” or “How to Be a Great Communicator In Person, On Paper, and on the Podium: The Complete System for communication Effectively in Business & In Life.
Change motivating titles often begin by identifying their target market including the problem, event or characteristics the book address. In doing so, they promise an easy structure leading to the promised change. List instantly communicate easier success by changing big task into a series of smaller tasks.
Notice the two of eight powerful principles we have just covered: “short,” “concept,” “benefit,” or “curiosity” tile followed by a longer sub-title that explains. Notice how often “listing steps,” “numbers,” or “time range” appear in the titles.
Make a note of your favorite titles. You can simply write them on a sheet of paper. Take a break, overnight is best, and allow your sub-conscious mind to mull over what you have learned. You’ll be surprised one day soon after your best title will emerge.
You owe it to yourself and book’s success to develop your best title. After all, the better your title the more people will reach out and grab your book to read. Develop your title to have marketing appeal for the masses.
Earma Brown, helps small business owners and writers who want to write their best book now! Author of ‘Write Your Best Book Now’, Send any email to iscribe@bookwritinghelp.com to receive Free ecourse ‘Jumpstart Writing Your Book Now’ or visit her at http://bookwritinghelp.com
Write Your Best Book Now
Have you given up on getting your book out of your heart into the hands of your readers? Don’t give up. There’s an easy way to do anything and a more difficult way. The easy way usually includes getting helpful advice from someone that’s been there and done that. Here are eight steps that will speed you on your way to getting your book out now:
1. Setup a regular writing schedule.
Think about your priorities right now. Can you fit 7-10 hours a week in? If you have to let something go that is not high on your priority list, do it. Now is your time. Later is not better. Set yourself up for a successfully written book this year by committing to a regular schedule. After it’s done, remember to reward yourself.
2. Plan a short book first.
Many aspiring writers overwhelm themselves with goals of a 365 page book first. Shorten your book to 25-90 pages the first time or divide your large book into a smaller book one and two. Though you shorten it, still fill it with useful information by using the question and answer format for each chapter. Using the same format and length for each chapter and answering all your readers’ questions will not only speed your writing process but it will result in a successful book.
3. Let your passion lead you to a topic.
Passion will not only stir your readers when your book is done but it will keep you motivated to do the work involved. Yes, I did say work. Passion will make your work easy. Passion will lead you to develop all the profit centers (seminars, articles, or consulting services) your message deserves.
4. Choose what’s interesting to you.
If you are interested in what you are writing about you will happily write all you know and research to know more about your subject. You will easily spice your writing with interesting tid-bits that will delight your readers and keep them reading until the end of your book.
5. Get to know your reader before you write.
Target your audience and your copy will be focused, interesting and compelling. As a method of writing personable copy, write and post (somewhere in your work area) your reader profile including their sex, their top interest, what they spend money on, what books they want and read. Your subject must benefit your audience to capture their interest. After all who wants to pay for a book that doesn’t help them in any way?
6. Develop a plan for each chapter before you write.
Using a format plan including headlines throughout will organize your chapters. Organized chapters become easy to write and fill in the blanks. Additionally, organized chapters are easy to read and your readers will love it and tell all their friends about it. Don’t forget to weave the questions and answers that benefit your audience into your text.
7. Design your book to market well while you write.
Incorporate the top market spots designed to sell more your book is completed. The hot spots are the title, cover, thesis, audience, benefits & features, mini sales letter written as introduction and back cover copy of each book.
8. Select your non-fiction topic first.
You may be like the author wanting to write novels. But start with the profitable book first, so you can finance your dream efforts. Write a short book first and satisfy the busy people that want useful information fast and easy. Remember answering 5 questions about one chapter topic will create a 5 page chapter.
Get your book out of your heart to paper fast. If you wait you could be this time next year with the same desire to get your book out.
Use the above eight easy steps: commit to a regular writing schedule, plan a short book first, choose a passion-led topic, pick an interesting to-you subject, get to know your reader first, develop a plan for each chapter, design your book’s top market spots, and choose your non-fiction topic first to become a successful author sooner. The world is waiting for your important message to answer their questions and help them become successful.
Earma Brown, helps small business owners and writers who want to write their best book now! Author of ‘Write Your Best Book Now’, Send any email to iscribe@bookwritinghelp.com to receive Free ecourse ‘Jumpstart Writing Your Book Now’ or visit her at http://www.bookwritinghelp.com
Make Your Book Readers Follow the Yellow Brick Road to the End
The best non-fiction books have a paved road guiding readers through their book chapters. That paved road includes mile markers, exit signs and other road markers for each chapter. It’s stressful to take a journey without a clear road to travel.
Most people enjoy a journey on a paved clearly marked road. Instead of leaving your readers to follow a muddy path of disorganization through your book, use repeating elements to create a can’t-miss-it road like the yellow brick road in the ‘Wizard of Oz’ movie (1939).
In John Maxwell’s “21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow Them and People Will Follow You” book, he skillfully uses repeating elements. These repeating elements form a paved road that leads you clearly through each chapter. Each chapter has the same basic form (road). To create chapters that guide your readers like a yellow brick road include these 10 elements:
1. Chapter title: The title immediately followed by a subtitle emphasizes and explains its meaning.
2. Brief quote: Following the title are one to two quotes from your speeches or other authorities in your field which support the title.
3. Introduction: Each chapter should begin with 6-8 paragraphs of introduction. The introduction may include a story presenting the chapter’s main principle or underlying thesis. For short books 3 to 4 paragraphs sound great.
4. Opening statement: For example, you could open each chapter with a though provoking question or a starling statistic that show where your audience is now (before reading your book.) Many start with a short story or analogy. Whatever you open with, make sure it’s an attention getter to hook your reader.
5. Thesis statement: Following your short introduction including your hook (opening statement), write your thesis. Make it simple; let your readers know what benefits await them if they keep reading. For example, one author friend uses sizzling bullet points to entice the reader into the chapter. You may place them right below quote or directly below introduction.
6. 7 to 10 points: Following the introduction may be lessons or tools used to achieve the goal presented in the introduction. Condense your material as you develop each point. Some lessons may require one paragraph and others may need several.
7. Case studies: Each chapter may include one or more story form case studies that support the chapter’s central idea.
8. Self-evaluation tools: The chapter may include brief questions that permit readers to measure their progress with each of the principles described in the chapters.
9. Conclusion: Each chapter may end with four to eight paragraphs that summarize the central idea and supporting points. Don’t forget to hold the carrot out at the end: include 1-2 sentences at the end of your summary to invite your readers with benefits waiting in the next chapter.
10. Other Engagement Tools: The chapter may include other engagement tools such as worksheets, note sheets, lists that work to engage your readers and make them active participants in the book instead of just observing.
Step out of your comfort zone prepare your marketing plan, mine your existing knowledge and create a yellow brick road for each chapter, speed write your book and you’ll be surprised at what you accomplish by following the simple steps of an easy writing program.
Earma Brown, helps small business owners and writers who want to write their best book now! Send any email to iscribe@bookwritinghelp.com to receive Free ecourse ‘Jumpstart Writing Your Book Now’ or visit her at http://www.bookwritinghelp.com for other book writing articles and resources.
Set Your Book Up to Succeed With a Marketing Plan, p1
Have you developed your book’s marketing plan yet? You know now really is better than later. There are 2 facts to realize in developing your promotion plan. Realize it begins the day you conceive your book idea and never ends.
The other is the more you write the better you become at it. You need to begin building name recognition in your field. In other words, you want to begin developing your public image related to your book.
No I’m not suggesting you become a politician but I am saying you must get involved in your book’s promotion. After all, you are the one that cares the most for your project. Many authors and especially small business owners/authors dread book promotion like a plague. They say, “With all that I already do, I jumped the hurdle of writing and completing my book, now I have to promote it as well “arggh.”
Look at it this way; you have more to gain than anyone in the success of your book. Therefore, when developing your book marketing plan you should:
Set Realistic Expectations
I hate to be the one to break the news to you. But I felt I must be honest. Many writers set themselves up for failure by having wrong expectations. The reason successful authors and writers embrace a plan (program) is because they know it is highly unlikely they will get rich from sales of their book.
They know writing and publishing a book will change their life. But they realize that most of the rewards will come from sources other than their publisher.
You must realize your book is a product and as a product it has to be marketed. Your plan provides a map for everything you do afterwards.
Know the Difference from your plan and proposal
Your book marketing plan is what I describe as your map. It describes your book, what you will do after the book is completed and published. It also describes who you hope to sell your book to — target audience.
So in short you can say your book marketing plan is your roadmap to success and profits.
Your book proposal is a sales (direct-marketing) document with a sole purpose. It’s single purpose is to convince a publisher that your book will earn a profit, if published.
The proposal should focus on the size and buying power of the targeted market you will attract, the problem your book solves, how your book plans to solve the problem, how different your book is from others already published on the subject and how you plan to promote your book.
If you have selected a traditional method of publishing, you can and should develop your proposal before you even write your book. It will help solidify and crystallize some of your ideas. In fact, how well you develop your proposal including a detailed table of contents or chapter outline in your proposal, the easier and faster you can get started mining your ideas, creating a structure and writing your book.
The publishing world and our society have changed. Writing and publishing your book can still change your life. But now a book is not the be-all and end-all, it is simply a tool that allows you to become a more successful business person, taking the profitable road to success and destiny.
Earma Brown, helps small business owners and writers who want to write their best book now! Send any email to iscribe@bookwritinghelp.com to receive Free ecourse Jumpstart Writing Your Book Now or visit her at http://bookwritinghelp.com
3 Little Pigs Went to Market But One Went Faster, P1
No, I’m not calling you a pig. Now that I have your attention, I want to talk with you about finishing your book fast and getting it to market faster. Did you start on your book and lose focus? You would love the rewards of a completed book but wonder where you could fit writing into your schedule.
Don’t be discouraged; let me share some tips that will jumpstart your writing again. Trust me, if it feels like you’ve been stuck in the mud, these tips will pull you out. I call them the habits of highly effective authors. Successful writers set up a system of writing using steps that become habits. Practice the habits below and write your best book now:
1. Do a reality check.
Do you have a plan in place? Don’t set yourself up for failure by not planning. Even if it’s a simple intention goal like “I complete my book (title of book) this year by (date and year.) I educate myself and do what it takes to complete it.” Set one and write it down so you can hit the target.
2. Setup a writing schedule.
Keep it simple. How much time can you devote to your book? Schedule at least 10 hours per week. Snatch an hour here and an hour there, if you must. When my schedule is tight, I write one hour in the wee hours of the morning and one hour late at night. I have to prioritize and so must you if you want to get it done. I must admit since I am an early bird, my early morning writing takes less revision than the late night.
3. Act now.
Too many of us for too long have hid behind the words, “It’s too hard.” Now is the time to take charge of our fears and conquer them. First things first, to overcome procrastination -the fear of failure- is to act now. Most times the bottom line of procrastination is fear of failure.
Setup your writing schedule and begin today. Remember, action will destroy fear. Each successful step of your system will deal a death blow to fear.
4. Avoid marathon writing.
Have you ever thought, “I have to get away from everything to write a successful book?” No you don’t. I know several novelist and non-fiction book writers who had to write during a long commute to get their best book written and out to the world. They accomplished it because they systematically worked on their book until it was done. In the midst of your busy life, designate your time to write (work on your book) with a goal to completion. (Reasonable time to completion)
5. Use the tracking approach.
I can’t keep up with where I am after interruptions of life. It is a common challenge to find your place after being interrupted with family, work and daily life. After all that’s why many think you must get away to get it done effectively. Yet, there’s hope for those who can’t get away or choose not to. Successful writers all over the world use the tracking approach. They succeed because they commit to doing a little each day.
There are 2 methods you could use for your tracking. Time is the method where you commit to a writing a certain amount of time each day. With the cumulative factor involved your commitment doesn’t have to be that much. For example, to accomplish my book writing goals I commit to writing one hour a day in my most productive time. For me it is right after my meditation and reading time. With this method don’t be overly concerned about how much you write, just keep the time commitment.
The other method is focused on output. Commit to writing a certain number of words or pages a day, perhaps 750-1,000 words or approximately three and a half pages double-spaced text. The key factor is to stick to it until completion.
Even so, nothing can happen until that first draft is completed. Procrastination is ultimately based on fear of failure. It has stopped countless of book projects and stolen the vision of many more. Don’t allow procrastination to become a giant towering over your book dreams.
Then there are others who are not afraid but simply get bogged down with lack of focus and a plan. Develop the habits outlined above and you’ll be surprised at what you accomplish. Write your best book now and bring it to market faster!
Earma Brown, helps small business owners and writers who want to write their best book now! Send any email to iscribe@writetowin.org to receive Free ecourse ‘Jumpstart Writing Your Book Now’ or visit her at http://www.writetowin.org
Overcoming the Planning Hurdles When Writing Your First Nonfiction Book
Once you’ve covered the basics of determining who your specific audience is, understanding exactly what they want to read, and knowing what other similar books already exist, it’s time to begin strategizing the business angles of your book. Beginning nonfiction authors frequently err in judgment when it comes to the practical, business, and fiscal components of creating your book.
FAILING TO UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRADITIONAL PUBLISHING AND SELF-PUBLISHING
In traditional publishing, there are three primary parties involved: the author, the agent, and the publishing company. The author writes the material; the agent acts as the author’s representative and sells the material to a publisher; the publisher is the money behind the project and is responsible for placement of the book in brick and mortar stores as well as online distribution channels.
The publisher also sometimes handles certain marketing responsibilities for the book, including its listing in appropriate catalogues and other resources. The scope of the publisher’s marketing efforts will depend largely on the author’s credentials and renown. If they are already a well-known name with a big following, the publisher will be much more likely to take a risk than they would be for a first-time author with very little name or brand recognition.
In certain cases, the publisher will offer the author an “advance” - money paid to the writer before the book is even completed. This is a gamble, really, on the part of the publisher, because it assumes the book will sell enough copies to both cover the advance and be profitable to the publishing company.
Alternately, when you self-publish, you assume all the risk - financial and otherwise - yourself. The good news is that when you self-publish, you get to do it your way. You select the title. You determine what the cover looks like. And you keep a much greater percentage of the profits. The outlay on your part, however, can be substantial.
Hard costs can involve any or all of the following: ghostwriting, editing, cover design, interior design, proofreading, ISBN, copyright, proofs, printing, binding, shipping, distribution, Web design, e commerce capabilities, marketing, attorneys’ fees. To do it properly, the costs can be considerable. Anyone thinking about writing a book who plans to sell more than a couple dozen copies to family and friends must realize that a book is a business.
While there are no hard numbers available for self-published books, a quick perusal of the article archives at writing-world’s website confirms that between 5,000 and 10,000 books are printed each year by the major vanity presses (a publisher that publishes a book at the author’s complete expense), such as Xlibris, iUniverse, and the like.
FAILING TO UNDERSTAND THAT A BOOK IS A BUSINESS
As mentioned above, a well-written book that will actually appeal to people and sell more than a handful of copies must be treated as a business. This means incorporating all the steps involved in starting any new business. A budget, a business plan (generally speaking, a well-written book proposal will suffice), a Web site equipped with e-commerce, and a thorough marketing plan are a few of the main components involved in a successful “book business.” Our goal here is not to stamp all the enjoyment out of your writing project. Certainly you can and should have fun with your book. But if you have any intent to see it widely read and distributed, you must set out with a realistic attitude about exactly what is involved in taking your idea from conception to publication to dollars in your pocket.
Do not make the mistake of thinking this book will make you rich - the likelihood is that it won’t. That’s not to say you shouldn’t write it, or that your book will not be a financial success for you - but you must be prepared to lay out some serious cash first, particularly for a self-published title. Generally speaking, if you recoup your expenses within the first year, your book has been “successful.” With a great concept, proper marketing, and a real business plan to which you are willing to adhere, you can supersede this goal and actually make money from your book, but it will require a substantial time and energy commitment on your part.
NEGLECTING TO CREATE A REALISTIC TIMELINE
One major place where new authors get tripped up is understanding how long the writing/publishing process takes. First, there are the research components mentioned above. Next, there’s the actual writing process. Unless you are as disciplined as Gandhi, you have to plan for distractions. This likely means creating a dedicated writing space and/or carving out a specified writing time. If you’re not independently wealthy or haven’t already sold your book to a publisher for a healthy advance, chances are you will be writing this book around your existing job and amidst life’s many demands (job, spouse, kids, parents, social commitments, civic commitments, religious commitments, errands, pets, etc.). Oh my goodness . . . where are you possibly going to find the time to write a book?
This is why you absolutely must create a timeline and find a way to carve out dedicated writing time. Otherwise, your book will never take top priority for you. It will always remain just another great idea, a hobby, or something that hovers somewhere on your “someday” list.
How much time you can dedicate to your writing project will differ for each person. But even if you can afford only two hours a week for dedicated writing time, schedule that time. Write it on your calendar or enter it into your PDA. Make a sign for the door: “Do Not Disturb - Mommy’s Wearing Her Author Hat Until 2 p.m.” Get up an hour earlier. Stay up an hour later. Write during your lunch hour. Think about getting a digital recorder and “talking” your book; you can always have it transcribed later. Find a coach or an accountability partner . . . someone who checks in with you once a week to see how much progress you’ve made. Do whatever works for you - but you MUST create a timeline for your writing project and find a way to stick to it.
Once your book is written, though, you’re really only halfway there - unless your only dream was to write it, and you couldn’t give a flying Fig Newton if you ever sell a copy. Most authors do care about selling their work, though. Even if you are the Bob Ross of nonfiction writing, you still must factor in all the components that come AFTER the writing is complete. These include editing, cover design, layout and interior design, proofreading, and printing, to name a few of the basics.
While it’s pretty much guaranteed that your timeline will change, you must have one, if you want to have any idea how all the pieces will dovetail, once the production process gets underway.
Virtually anyone can write a book - it’s true. Seeing to the details, though, will make a huge difference in whether your book sinks or swims financially. Decide before you begin whether you will self-publish or seek a traditional publisher. Treat your book as a business, and create a realistic budget for it. And lastly, create a timeline for the entirety of your publishing project. While there is no way to EVER guarantee which book will succeed and which one will fail, these steps will help assure that your book has a fighting chance for success.
Scott White is an SEO specialist and SEO consultant in Arizona who has designed a program to teach you how to rank your website: http://www.seotutorialprogram.com
http://www.seotutorialprogram.com/SEO_Simple_Secrets_book.htm
http://www.wordsmadeeasy.com
Major Mistakes Beginning Nonfiction Authors Make and How to Avoid Them
It’s never been easier to write a book than it is today. With the advent of print-on-demand and self-publishing, almost anyone can throw a book together - a real bound book, with pages and everything - for a few hundred bucks. This news should be encouraging, because there’s no reason you shouldn’t author the book you’ve always dreamed of writing.
The question, though, is whether it will be a book anyone other than your mother wants to read. Beginning nonfiction authors frequently make the same sorts of errors. While avoiding these errors won’t guarantee that your book will become a best-seller (there are far too many variables for anyone to EVER guarantee that), it will give you a considerable head-start over other neophyte authors.
FAILING TO DETERMINE A NICHE AUDIENCE
The single biggest mistake new nonfiction authors make is failing to determine who their niche audience is, and if/where those people buy books.
You’re writing a book, so presumably you have a message. But do you know who will receive that message? Do you know who your audience is? Do you know where they spend time, and if or where they buy books? Is your niche audience comprised mostly of men? More than 80 percent of books are purchased by women . . . so if your audience is mainly male, do they read, or have women in their lives who buy books for them?
Become intimately acquainted with your audience before you get too far into the writing of your book, and make sure you know who you are writing to. It’s sometimes helpful to write to one person. You can do this by defining the entirety of your reader’s demographics. Start by determining his or her gender. Then give them a name, like Stan, Joe, Sally, or Phyllis. Determine exactly how old he or she is. Where do they live? What do they drive? What do they do for a living, and how much do they earn? Married? Kids? Hobbies? Religious affiliation? Political persuasion? Paint as complete a picture as possible. Giving such specific characteristics to your reader will help you determine what to include in - and exclude from - your book.
WRITING WHAT YOU WANT TO WRITE - INSTEAD OF WHAT YOUR MARKET WANTS TO READ
Another place beginners err is by writing what they want to write, as opposed to what their market wants to read. Remember, we’re talking nonfiction here. But even with fiction, if you write obscure, esoteric stuff that holds interest for only one crotchety, tenured 14th century literature professor at the University of Iowa, you’ll have a nice little book that you, your mom, and Professor Snodgrass can enjoy.
The thing is, in order for a book to be born, you must have an idea that is exciting enough, first, to hold your interest (does it energize you so much that you can’t wait to do the necessary research and legwork?) - but that will also hold the interest of your niche audience. The problem is that we often get so carried away with how great our idea is that we forget to find out if anyone else (i.e., our readers) also thinks it’s a great idea . . . and provided they do, that they think it’s a great enough idea to fork over some of their hard-earned cash for the privilege of reading our words.
Before you go through all the time, effort, and expense to write this book, you absolutely must find out if there’s a market for it. Visit forums, Web sites, chatrooms, MySpace groups, and blogs on your subject. Read every article you can get your hands on, and talk with specialists.
SKIPPING THE DUE DILIGENCE
One more planning error that fouls up new nonfiction authors is skipping the due diligence. This is a BIG one. You’ve done your research and know there is a need for your book, but have you checked to see what else is out there on this subject? Have you looked at those books? Bought those books? Read those books?
This is a scary step for a lot of people - it’s the place where they become intimidated (”Look how many books have already been written about garlic presses! Who am I to write another one?”) and often decide not to write their book at all. That’s NOT the intent with this directive. However, the fact is that unless you’re performing cutting-edge scientific research or are the first to write a tell-all book about an emerging celebrity or the most recent victim of our scandal-driven mass media, the chances that no one has ever written some sort of a book on your subject are very small. That’s why this step is so important. You absolutely must do the research to find out which other similar books are already in the stores, cover the same topic (general and specific), or have been written in the past.
This is for your own good. Let’s say you have an idea for a new motivational book about two hamsters named Argue and Resist. It’s a clever little parable, a quirky story about these cute little guys who have a hard time dealing with change. One, let’s say it’s Resist, manages to turn the corner on change much more quickly than his pal Argue. He learns that in reality, you must change or die. It’s a clever enough idea. However, you will never sell a single copy. Why? You probably already know the answer, unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last decade or so. But in the unlikely event that you somehow missed “Who Moved My Cheese?” - through your due diligence, you would discover that your clever little idea has already been raking in the big bucks since 1999.
Does this mean you should not write a cute motivational book in parable form? Not at all. It just means that you would need to go back to the drawing board to come up with new characters in a new situation, perhaps learning a different lesson - or a particular facet of this lesson - or achieving a slightly different result from learning the same lesson.
This also would be true of your brand new marketing concept; real estate investing book; how-to manual for baby-boomer job seekers; explanation about the spiritual, holistic side of financial planning; or almost any other subject under the sun. It’s likely there are other books out there on your subject, so you have to find out how yours is both different from and similar to the existing books. This will help you (a) determine the specific audience for your book, (b) sell your book to an agent or a traditional publisher, and/or (c) create a successful marketing strategy for your book. The other thing this research will accomplish is to let you know how well books on this theme, of this type, or in this general genre are selling right now. Are people still willing to plunk down a C-note for a coffee table book, or would a smaller, less costly gift book be more likely to fly off the shelves?
Taking some time to do the research to know who your audience is, understanding what they want to read, and knowing what other similar titles already are out there will help you build a stronger outline, and ultimately write a better book.
Scott White is an SEO specialist and SEO consultant in Arizona who has designed a program to teach you how to rank your website: http://www.seotutorialprogram.com
http://www.seotutorialprogram.com/SEO_Simple_Secrets_book.htm
http://www.wordsmadeeasy.com
Writing: Fact Or Fiction?
Nearly everyone who wants to be a writer looks at the fiction market as being the way to go - but another, vast market exists. What is it? Let’s find out.
The minute you mention that you’re a writer you nearly always get the same reaction. It goes something like this: ‘Do you write crime thrillers/science fiction/romance/spy stories etc .etc. etc.’ I was pleasantly surprised recently when someone I met at a writer’s circle said ‘I don’t write fiction.’ We had a very interesting conversation, the essence of which was this -
The fiction market is absolutely crammed with writers: established A-listers, journeyman B-listers and aspiring hopefuls or those with maybe just one or two minor pieces published. In other words - it’s a buyer’s market. That’s why this person writes factual books. Fiction publishers have their pick of the crop and can afford to be as choosy as they wish.
In a way you can’t blame them: the cost of promoting an unknown author can be very high indeed and publishers are a notoriously hard-headed bunch. After all, an editor of any publishing house is responsible to the owners for turning a profit. It’s a business, pure and simple.
Factual books are a different matter. I would not suggest for one moment that publishers of factual books - and they range from cookbooks to erudite tomes on some very rarified subjects - are any less business-oriented. It’s just that writers of such books are noticeably thinner on the ground than fiction writers, making the chances of publishing success that much more favourable.
Indeed, many fiction writers also write factual books. George MacDonald Fraser, the author of the hugely successful ‘Flashman’ series of fiction books, also wrote several factual (and entertaining) books such as ‘The Steel Bonnets’ and ‘Quartered Safe Out Here’. His ‘McAuslan’ series are a thinly-disguised autobiographical account of his time in the army and bridge the gap between fact and fiction.
What does this suggest? Perhaps that even such a successful fiction writer as Fraser discovered the market for factual books?
Whatever the reason for Fraser’s decision, the fact remains that books written about factual subjects sell. So how can you break into the market? First requirement: know your subject. This may seem obvious but you simply cannot write a factual book by picking up bits of knowledge from the internet and hoping to appear to be an expert. However, if you have been, let’s say, a financial analyst, or a pro football player, or maybe just a lifelong gardener, you may well be qualified to write a book.
Second requirement: know how to write. This is where a lot of would-be writers blow out their cheeks and adopt a rueful expression: ah, if only I could write . . .
If you simply cannot write, consider a ghostwriter. These are people who will turn your knowledge and expertise into a manuscript that will meet the requirements of publishers, yet put your name on the dustjacket. It may not be your ideal way of seeing you name in print but it’s an avenue to consider.
If, however, you possess the ability and the knowledge of your subject, why not try writing a factual book? Writing courses and classes are readily available and you might find you possess more ability than you thought! The market is there for you - go out and get a piece of it!
Steve Dempster writes fiction, copy and informative article such as the one above. He also ghostwrites. For more information about writing in general, try visiting his site at http://www.iwanttowrite.co.uk
Self-Publishing Book Production & Marketing Mistakes to Avoid
Once your book is written and you’ve determined that you will be self-publishing, there are a few serious errors you are going to want to steer clear of.
THINKING YOU DON’T NEED AN EDITOR
Even the best writer needs a second pair of impartial, well-trained eyes to look over their work before sending it out into the wide, wide world. The reason being that as the author, we are too close to our work to see it objectively. Are there any holes in your points or arguments? Are the introduction and conclusion as strong as they could be?
Editors provide feedback, sharpen the focus, and turn an already strong piece of writing into a stellar piece of writing. While you might have a great story to tell or have incredible information to share with the world, you also might struggle with getting the words out of your head. Or, perhaps you’re talented at outlining your overall concepts, but you need some help fleshing out the ideas, or finessing the language to make it as clear and compelling as possible. These issues are nothing to be ashamed of - but they are signs that you will definitely benefit from working with a qualified editor.
Think about it. Michael Jordan once was asked how he became the best basketball player in the world. Did he chalk it all up to raw talent? His answer might surprise some folks: “I had great coaches.” Likewise, great writers have good editors behind them. A good editor can make all the difference between a book that should be used as fireplace kindling and the next viral marketing success like “Unleashing the Ideavirus.” (No disrespect to Seth Godin - I’m sure he’s a brilliant writer whose work needs very little editing.)
DESIGNING YOUR OWN COVER - OR HAVING A FRIEND DESIGN IT FOR YOU
A lot of first-time self-published authors, in an attempt to conserve money, forego the investment in a graphic designer with book cover expertise. This is a HUGE mistake.
According to selfpublishingresources website, three-fourths of 300 booksellers surveyed (half from independent bookstores and half from chains) identified the look and design of the book cover as the most important component of the entire book. All agreed that the jacket is the prime real estate for promoting a book.
Although not all books are sold in bookstores, at least 50 percent still are. But before your book even makes it onto the bookstore shelf, retailers and reviewers will see it, and make their determinations about your magnum opus based on just a few seconds’ glance at the cover. And in the bookstore, a shopper will spend an average of just 8 seconds looking at the front cover and 14 seconds on the back cover. This is a total of less than a half-minute to decide if your book is even worth flipping through! If you do not have a professional image that is congruent with your contents, you will very often miss the sale.
A professionally designed cover will:
* ENHANCE the salability of your book. Does your cover make a person want to pick up the book and buy it? Will booksellers be proud to display it in their stores?
* INCORPORATE the book’s theme. Does the cover design effectively convey your voice and style? Does it entice and appeal to your target audience?
* EMPLOY creativity and originality. Is the design a unique expression of you, your theme, and your contents? Is it aesthetically pleasing and tasteful?
There are no two ways around it. If you want your book to sell, you must spend the money on a professional designer for the cover and interior layout of your book.
BELIEVING THE BOOK WILL SELL ITSELF
Many writers finish their books. For most, though, that is the end of the line. Few ever actually see their work in print. One of the main reasons for this has to do with marketing. Of all the mistaken beliefs held by new nonfiction authors, the most difficult one for most writers to grasp is an understanding of the time/money/energy commitment involved in marketing, a book.
Many writers envision themselves as creative geniuses who believe they should be left alone to write while someone else handles the marketing and promotion. In the sphere of traditional publishing, some publishers may provide significant marketing support, but that is mostly a thing of yesteryear. Today, most publishers offer very little in the way of marketing assistance; virtually every publishing house - from the smaller, little-known shops to the behemoths of great repute - leaves it to the author to promote his or her own book.
If an author is unable to provide any marketing support and cannot clearly define the market for their book, publishers are unlikely to be interested at all. This should be a red flag to those pursuing the self-publishing option. Know your audience and shatter that ubiquitous box, in terms of your creative marketing concepts. Who will read your book and where can you find them? These are the questions you need to keep at the forefront of your mind, even as you write the book, print it, and design your Web site.
There are hundreds of humor writers, columnists, and experts in myriad fields who could write books. What differentiates them is not their writing talents, as much as their ability - or inability - to sell their books. As we have by now determined, publishing is a business, and publishers will always go with the books they anticipate to be the biggest sellers. You must keep this same attitude and vision, even if you decide to self-publish. If you lose sight of creating a book that will actually sell, you may find yourself in an uphill battle once it’s done. The last thing you want is to take out a business loan to get your books produced, only to have 30 cases of them stacked in your garage for the next 10 years.
Be ready and willing to market yourself and your book. Become a media darling. Look for opportunities to appear on local, regional, and national radio and TV. Yes, this means you, even if you are shy! Take an acting class or join Toastmasters if you have a fear of speaking in public. You are going to sell this book - no one else is. That means you must be as available and open as possible. If someone from the media calls to invite you for an interview, drop everything else and get to that interview. Spread the word about your new title on the Web. Send preview copies to select reviewers and/or celebrities or personalities with long reach. You went through all the other steps to get here. Believe in yourself, your book, and your market - and be fearless in promoting it to the world.
Scott White is an SEO specialist and SEO consultant in Arizona who has designed a program to teach you how to rank your website:http://www.personalpowertraining.net
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How To Be Smarter
The term half-wit may actually be more true than we realize. And it also may be more common than we care to admit.
There isn’t really a term for thinking with all of your brain, so we’ll call it whole brain thinking.
Whole brain thinking is not only top to bottom thinking but also left to right thinking.
Evolution has created three brains, and they built themselves one on top of the other.
The first brain is the Reptilian Brain. It emerges directly from the spinal column. It controls basic instincts and responses. Those who are good at video games or racing cars where reflexive, fast-action thinking is important have this early brain well developed.
The second brain is the Limbic System. It is also called the Mammalian Brain. This includes the hypothalamus and pituitary gland. It controls emotions, sexuality, and pleasure. People who are ruled by strong feelings stimulate this brain quite often.
The third brain is the Neo-Cortex. This is the new brain, the “thinking brain,” the one we use to figure out what things mean. When someone is described as intelligent, it is a reference to this brain. This is the brain that goes to school.
At first blush, it may seem that all we need to do to develop more intelligence is to just focus on the most recently evolved brain. But this is not entirely true. The limbic system, for example, once aroused can improve learning, too, because emotional arousal activates more mental powers than normally used.
Now looking at the Neo-Cortex, we see two that it splits into two brains, with a tissue in between, the corpus callosum, that acts as a type of type of communication bridge.
The left brain is what is most developed in Western Cultures, especially through the process of education. It specializes in serial, sequential thought. It is logical and likes step by step reasoning. When you appeal to someone to be rational, it is an appeal made to this part of the brain.
Someone who is considered well-spoken and has a good vocabulary, shows mathematical ability, argues in a logical way, and likes things to be organized and sequential is using the left brain.
The right brain is what is most developed in cultures that are considered more artistic. The right brain grasps things all at once. It sees whole patterns. It synthesizes. People who are right-brained are able to see patterns, enjoy spatial reasoning, and show a talent for music. They are imaginative. They like to visualize new possibilities. The next time you see someone humming a tune, they are in rhapsody with their right brain.
The way to be smarter is to develop more of your brain both vertically and horizontally.
By developing your reflexive responses, your emotional range, your sensitivity to pleasurable stimulation, and your ability to figure things out, you are developing your brain vertically. You can also develop it horizontally by doing more of the things you are not very good at doing. If you have a scientific view of the world, you should develop your artistic side; and if you have an artistic leaning, then develop the skills of sequential reasoning. You will instinctively know what to develop by working on what you are weakest in. It’s not that those parts do not exist for you; they are just dormant through lack of exercise.
Previously, it was believed that intelligence is fixed and that it deteriorates with age. This is simply not true. These ideas evolved during the times when neuroscience was not as sophisticated as it is today. Today we know that a well-used brain gets smarter as time unfolds.
The way to be smarter is to work on providing an enriched environment for your brain. Besides exposing yourself to more interesting and challenging things, this also includes improving your physical health, diet, and attitude.
It takes a lot of effort to develop a really fit and healthy body. It actually takes less effort to develop a really sharp brain because the brain, unlike a muscle, can work longer and harder.
Is it worth the effort? After all, why bother to be smart when most people are content with just coasting by with what they know, indulging in mundane conversations and engaging in mindless television programs for hours on end?
Here is why it is worth it:
Life becomes increasingly more interesting because you actually start to experience more of it. You literally let more of your experiences come alive for you. You not only have more experiences, both literal and vicarious, but you also enjoy more vivid ones, experiencing more aspects of any situation.
Also, in a world that is becoming increasingly more complex, with information exploding at a rapid rate and technology and social interaction becoming more sophisticated, learning how to learn and pushing yourself to understand more of the amazing world around you might just make your life a whole lot better.
The future depends not on people who understand a few things but by those who are fascinated by the rich diversity inherent in any experience.
Saleem Rana would love to share his inspiring ideas with you. Hunting everywhere for a life worth living? Discover the life of your dreams. His book, Never Ever Give Up is offered at no cost to stimulate your success. http://www.theempoweredsoul.com/enter.html