All of these questions are key. And they all have their start with the author…. As a reader, I’m always asking this of any book that makes its way to my attention spectrum: Who wrote this? Are they a professional? Have they practiced this idea in other mediums? Where do they work? Have they experienced some failures on the way to getting where they are?
Read MoreI've compiled the below list of the tools I think should be in every publisher, writer, editor, and author toolbox. I'm assuming you already have a laptop, the Internet, and an inspiring place to work. These should all be next on your list.
Read MoreThe effective endorser list of people on a book has two main reasons for existing: (1) to have experts in a field lend a credible voice to a work and (2) to get those same experts/influencers excited about your book ahead of time. Ideally it’s not just a list of famous/semi-famous people willing to write something.
Read MoreThis success question can be asked in different ways like: What benchmarks do we need to reach to be able to do more books? And what are your metrics for success? But I think there are four main categories where books can be placed in their lives as for-sale items...
Read MoreThen I experienced being edited. I honestly don’t remember any specific changes that editor made to any of my pieces, but I do know they got shorter, clearer, and less inside my own head. Even though I didn’t realize it then, I think that’s when I decided (somewhere in the deep recesses of my brain) what I wanted to do. But was it writing or was it editing? And what was the difference?
Read MoreI was going to start writing about how to keep a reader interested in your book. How to make sure that page one is interesting enough for them to turn to page two, etc. But instead I thought it’d be more fun to flip the coin over and look at the places most readers usually check out… And then encourage the bookmakers of the world to address them with each aspect of their books.
Read MoreThe amount of energy, time, sweat, stress, prayer, and research that goes into writing a book will often go a long way toward helping its author craft a great talk. Writing a book and giving a talk are different skillsets, to be sure, but they both require clarity, a willing audience, and creative delivery.
Read MoreAuthors of great books know it takes a certain amount of smarts on the reader’s end to be picking up a book in the first place. The great ones don’t start at the very beginning of time—explaining all the background details in order—for no reason. It needs to be less “classroom lecture” and more “guided historical monument tour.”
Read MoreThe reality for every author is that writing a book is hard work. And the best way to tackle hard work is with a plan. Here are six cures for the inevitability of writer’s block.
Read MoreA good interior design is almost never the reason someone decides to buy a book. But, a bad interior design may be why a certain book doesn’t get finished.
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