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Peppering in Stories can Save your Book from being Boring
I recently read a book that was completely cut-and-dry, to-the-point. Though I have a great appreciation for brevity, I also need something to keep my attention. The book was so straightforward, though, that it bordered on pedagogical and left me feeling like I was in one of my college chemistry classes . . . which is usually the opposite of the environment you want to curate with your book. So how do you get around
When are you ready for an editor?
Some people take years to write their books. How awful, right? Why is this happening? Some people claim it’s time, but for the most part, it’s either lack of clarity in their message or how to publish, or it’s a lack of belief that the book is ready (which is actually a lack of confidence in their own words). I had to go there. We blame a lot of things for our lack of reaching
Why Your Book isn’t Helping your Business
Every once in a while, I run into someone who scoffs when I talk about how books build businesses. Usually, it’s someone who published and hasn’t seen results themselves. And this can absolutely happen! So if this is a current problem for you, there are several questions you need to look at to shift that and get your business into high gear. Your book is a vehicle, after all, and you should be able to
3 Things to Remember when Designing your Book Cover
Your book cover is the first chance for you to hook readers. It’s like when you walk in a room: you only get one shot at a first impression. So how do you know what to do? There are a few key rules to look at when working with a designer (or doing it yourself, if you have the skill). It has to match your genre. Do your research before you get super excited about
The Top 3 Reasons to Write a Book for your Business
We’ve all heard people refer to books as the new business card, but I believe that they are so much more than that. First of all, if you hand someone a book, they aren’t going to add you on LinkedIn and then toss it in the trash. A tangible item is way more likely to either lay on their desk (reminding them of you every day), be given to a friend who may need it
Key Visibility Components BEFORE you Launch your Book
I had a major epiphany earlier this year. I was at a networking event, and I introduced myself and what I do during the 30-second commercial period. It was pretty standard. I mentioned who I helped and what that’s so important. Dropped the info about being an author of 8 books and the executive editor of Inspiring Lives Magazine. Easy peasy. Later, a woman came up to me and said, “I didn’t realize you had
3 Reasons a Book is a Must for Speakers
Do you ever wonder why all the speakers at every big event that you attend have at least one book in their arsenal? They are sitting at the back of the room with a line of people excited to meet with them and chat about their impactful talk, and many of them are walking away with the book in their hands, eagerly announcing that they can’t wait to read it. But that book is more
The Most Important Elements for Your Book Cover
Humans have been judging a book by its cover since the dawn of publishing. Books have always had a certain look that, of course, has changed over time. Things trend. Styles end. And if we want to be a part of this industry, we have to keep up. When you self-publish, there is a high chance that you will do some of the book yourself, not just the writing part. And if you’re in charge
Why Do I Need a Book for My Business?
Everybody’s got a book for their business. But why? Not only are they great for when you think your bag isn’t already heavy enough, or when you need to fill empty space on an event table. Not only are books great for stacking up to reach the cookie jar . . . Books are great for getting people acclimated to the program they just enrolled in, or are about to enroll in. They are great
Tips and Tricks for Titling Your Book
Are you one of those people who stares at a blank page forever because you can’t come up with the title? Let me start by telling you that this is no way to finish writing a book. The title is NOT the first thing you have to write. In fact, sometimes, it should be the last. When you want something to encompass the depth and significance of your entire work, you need to have at
How to Decide if a Group Book is Right for You
Anthologies–group books–have become really popular over the past couple years. You might be looking for one to join or have been invited to one already! Of course, you have to decide if you want to do it, but that decision shouldn’t just be based on the dollar amount to participate (and no, it’s not unreasonable for an anthology leader to ask you to pay to join). There are several things to consider before signing the
When Should You Launch Your Book
If you’re dreaming of the day you have your book in your hands, then you may have an entire image in your head . . . the season, what you’re wearing, who is there. But before you dig too deep into this daydream, there are some things you have to consider about when the right time is to launch YOUR specific book! It’s different for everyone.
Telling a Story You Can’t Tell
It isn’t a problem when you are talking about someone who knows, understands, and approves of you telling your story. But sometimes, you need to share about something that involves people outside your immediate, supportive circle. Maybe it’s someone from an old job. A family member. Or a stranger. But here you are, wanting to share a story that may involve that person, wondering how you’re supposed to share it. Should you leave them out?
What’s the Best Way to Publish?
Writing a book is only the first part of a long journey. Once the book is done, you need to publish it to let people all over the world benefit from your brilliance. Fortunately, there are several different options for you to publish your book. The hard part? Choosing one. Watch this video to learn a little about the different types and how to choose what’s right for you and your audience.
The Return on Your Book Investment
No one wants to just flush money down the drain. Especially when you have a business, you need to know that what you’re working on and pouring your heart (and cash) into is going to have returns. A lot of people complain that you “can’t make any money from selling books,” but that’s simply not true. You might not sell enough books to quit your day job, but you can absolutely make money from your
Investing in Your Book is Investing in Your Business
Investing in your book is investing in your business, pure and simple. Like investing in doing a podcast. Like investing in a website. It’s a piece of the business that dovetails with what you already do. There is more to it than just deciding that you want a book and hoping that it pans out. Watch the video to learn more about how investing in your book works.
When is Your Book Ready for the Editor?
One of the most popular questions that new authors ask is, “How do I know when my book is ready for editing?” It’s not a simple question of how much space your story takes up. And it’s not as easy as doing a checklist. It takes a feeling within to know when it’s ready. And it’s not something that anyone else can really tell you. Watch the video to learn more about how you can
Is Your Book Aligned with Your Business?
One morning, I awoke with a sense of urgency. It was almost like being awakened by an alarm. I felt like I should rush to my desk and write. I had a really strange dream that was like a movie. And not like the normal dream that’s like a movie. I saw the title come up on the screen. I saw the camera angles change. I met the characters. I followed them. I was even
Use Your Business Book as an Evergreen Marketing Tool with these 4 Tips
Employ these methods now to avoid ups and downs due to sickness or crisis If you have a business, then you’ve likely seen challenges. Lack of clients, loss of staff, illness and more changed the landscape of many businesses quarantine during the spring of 2020 quarantine, and it’s left many looking for outside the box ways to bring stability and work in new ways. The beautiful thing about having a book for your business is
Why Leaders Need to be Honest About their Story
The first book I wrote is in the fantasy genre, and the most fun thing about it was that I could make up everything! I created a world, characters, rules about magic, etc., and if I couldn’t figure out how something happened, magic was an all too convenient culprit. Obviously, the same isn’t true with fiction. Though it may look like other people rose to the top like magic, we know that it didn’t happen