Friday, May 30, 2014

Is There an Excuse in Your Author Midst?

We think that summer is starting here in the U.S. Your writing and your book, or about-to-be-book, should be planning its next step. Your book marketing, or the steps you need to be taking should also have their own steps. Within those steps should be the inclusion of getting off and away from any of the excuse ruts you may have fallen into.



Don’t we all get stuck at some time? The list is endless with the number or reasons, and gulp, yes, excuses as to why we can’t … or won’t do things. It’s the excuse rut. The perfect scapegoat as to why we don’t move on and out.

How many times have you heard someone say …

#1  I don’t have time … to write my book …

#2  I don’t have time … to market my book …

#3  I don’t know where to start … on my book …

#4  I don’t know how to … or don’t want to … do social media …

#5  I don’t … have time to learn about the publishing business …

#6  I don’t … ?

How many times have you said any fraction of the above? And what is your excuse for not going forth, for not getting something done that is important to you and/or your book?

It’s easy to fall into the overwhelm factor … and it’s far easier to crash through it when you step into the reality that this journey you are on is a business. 

As we are in the midst of the summer, oh, another gulp, quarter of the year, it’s reality-check time. Start with time—yours. There are only so many hours in the day. You need some sleep. You may have a full-time job. Most likely, you take a little time to eat. The hours slip away. If there aren't enough hours in the day—you need to do an assessment … just how many of them do you kiss off? And how much time do you put into doing something that is part of your Vision Factor for your book after you have your book?

For our non-fiction members—how many of you really, really, really follow your own advice? Or are you so OD’d with other obligations that you end up putting yourself on the bottom of the list—any list? I have a new book birthing, Author YOU: Creating and Building the Author and Book Platforms. After finally getting the layout tweaked and sending it to print last month, I looked closely at the process that I do for the creation for my own books—and the reason why I've pumped out 30 to date.

The fun part was the “aha” moment, the breaking through and out-of the Excuse Abuse scenario that is so easy to slip into—even with me and some of the things I do within my office space. It brought me back to my own basics. As a result, we've implemented some changes in my office—and oh boy, we are slicing and dicing—from files to set-ups to personnel. It’s all very cool—kind of like spring cleaning in the fall.

What is great about Author U is that we are all authors—we relate to the writers as the progress to authordom. We authors know the OD that comes with the publication of a book; we understand the overwhelm that comes and the tsunami of things that marketing creates. We know that money and time are huge issues. And we get … but enough about us. You've got a book. It needs your attention if success is the goal in your Game Plan. What is holding you back? What do you need to slice and dice and get back on track? Start the list … do a reality check … get myopic … and as member Lynn Hellerstein says, “Ta-dah!It will come your way.





Judith Briles is known as The Book Shepherd a book publishing expert and coach. She is the Founder of Author U,  a membership organization created for the serious author who wants to be seriously successful. She’s been writing about and conducting workshops on publishing since the 80s. Judith is the author of 31 books including Author YOU: Creating and Building Your Author and Book Platforms, Snappy Sassy Salty: Wise Words for Authors and Writers  and a speaker at publishing conferences.
Become part of her inner circle by joining the Author’s Ark and exclusive monthly webinar and coaching event. Her audio and workbook series, Creating Your Book and Author Platform is now available. Join Judith live on Thursdays at 6 p.m. EST for Author U – Your Guide to Book Publishing on the Toginet Network at http://togi.us/authoru. Follow @AuthorU and @MyBookShepherd on Twitter and do a “Like” at AuthorU and TheBookShepherd on Facebook.  If you want to create a book that has no regrets, contact Judith at Judith@Briles.com.

Authors Need Their Muse … What’s Yours?

In February, I spent several days on a barrier island off the Gulf of Florida—Palm Island. I knew that snow was expected at my home base in Denver while I was gone. Happy that the wet stuff was there, I was happier I was in the sun and surf. Why? … I had a project to do… a big project, one that I had planned on seeding.



I need sun … and flowing water. Both are my muses with water being the primary. Ice isn't. I had major writing, and thinking—noodling to do. Another book in the works. A major book launch popping this month.

Oh, I was playing, it wasn't all work. But I was also creating, seeing a dear friend … and working. I had got many clients who are in the final stages of their books being completed and off to print; I had clients who are at various stages of their author journeys; and I had the Author U Extravaganza bubbling to the surface for the first weekend in May–and now behind me–what a wonderful array of talent that the Extravaganza brings in each year.  I had plans to start a new company that would create a travel agency for authors and the Publishing at Sea Conference. And then there was the birthing of  the Colorado Authors Hall of Fame to be completed. Yes, I had a lot on my plate.

Juice is what I need. My Muse is the juice. For the author, it’s critical to know where your creative juices come from. It’s critical to know what your sources are that jump start you for any project that needs your full focus. In today’s multi-media, multi-stimulus, multi-choice world, it’s easy to get off track—the “squirrel factor.” Wham … in a nano-second, your attention can be distracted, your head pulled in an entirely different direction—it’s as if something, sometimes someone, is clicking a remote control in your head—pulling you every which way but in the direction you thought, or wanted, to go in.

The warrior author needs, must, know what is the driver behind his or her energy and feed it—the Juice. When it’s nourished, amazing things are accomplished. Completion of client’s book. A book launch planned and executed. Joint ventures with others to spread your message. Marketing plan put in place. My own new book started. Etc., etc.

Back to my island. Did I get the game plan for the Colorado Authors Hall of Fame put together? Yes. Did I come up with something that I hadn't even thought about while my toes were in the sand and I was walking the beach looking for shark teeth (something I hadn't even thought about until I was at the water’s edge? Yes— I was so focused, that the Authors Travel Agency came together and the Publishing at Sea conference with colleagues Amy Collins, Joan Steward, Georgia McCabe will be an annual event. Did I finish books for two clients while away, yes again … you see, sometimes, you need to remove yourself from your routines and get back to where your Juice really comes from … I’m ready to go back.



As the summer comes to a close, I will remove myself from the mountains of Colorado and head to the seas once again … I hear the siren calling.






Judith Briles is known as The Book Shepherd a book publishing expert and coach. She is the Founder of Author U,  a membership organization created for the serious author who wants to be seriously successful. She’s been writing about and conducting workshops on publishing since the 80s. Judith is the author of 31 books including Author YOU: Creating and Building Your Author and Book Platforms, Snappy Sassy Salty: Wise Words for Authors and Writers  and a speaker at publishing conferences.

Become part of her inner circle by joining the Author’s Ark and exclusive monthly webinar and coaching event. Her audio and workbook series, Creating Your Book and Author Platform is now available. Join Judith live on Thursdays at 6 p.m. EST for Author U – Your Guide to Book Publishing on the Toginet Network at http://togi.us/authoru. Follow @AuthorU and @MyBookShepherd on Twitter and do a “Like” at AuthorU and TheBookShepherd on Facebook.  If you want to create a book that has no regrets, contact Judith at Judith@Briles.com.

Thursday, May 29, 2014

Top Ten Twitter Tweets of May 29


          It’s Thursday at 


                         …


                                     Today

Author U - Your Guide to Book Publishing will focus on some of the top to-dos from the recent 3-day Author U Extravagana—don’t miss it. Last week, Judith walked listeners through a step-by-step for crafting signature stories. This week it’s all about great websites and apps for your to use.Tune in at 6 Eastern, 5 Central, 4 Mountain, 3 Pacific and for our out-of-the-country members and followers … you are going to have to do the clock crunching for your time zone at http://togi.us/authoruYou can also go to the Home page of http://www.AuthorU.org, scroll down and click on any of the past shows—just click and are instantly there!  



"People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, 
but people will never forget how you made them feel." 

                                                              -Maya Angelou 
   
Here’s your Top Ten Tweets for the past week 
  

Tweets are faster than a speeding bird … below are Author U’s Top Ten Tweets from the past week that you may have missed …


Success & Resources

  • Blogging tips for #authors with Witty Woman#Writing on how to expand reach-listen to podcast. ow.ly/xiO6N
  • 7 essential lessons you don’t learn in collegeis. gd/q9ENmu
  • Oh my ... How Heinous Does #Amazon Have to Be Before You Boycott? | Yahoo! Tech pwne. ws/1knOV7k


Social Media and Marketing Strategies

  • #Authors, #Books and #Pinterest go together... here's 6 ways to get more followers: http://ow.ly/xmLYE
  • #author smarts: 8 steps to implementing a social media strategy: ow.ly/t0pdE Free white paper via Hootsuite


Cool and Sometimes Goofy or Unbelievable!
  • The big #book boys are fighting: Why the Amazon-Hachette feud is about much more than bookselling bit.ly/1hezNtw
  • Google clown car: Where the joy of driving is not driving at all is.gd/eSm1d6




Remember … you can listen to over 100 programs that Author U Founder Judith Briles has created for your book and authoring success: http://www.AuthorU.org, scroll down and click on any of the past shows—just click and you are instantly there! Or you, can go to the radio show’s home page and do the same: http://togi.us/authoru   








Monday, May 26, 2014

Author Ways to Support Our Troops this Memorial Day


It’s Memorial Day … most plan a day of yard work, picnics, BBQ and hanging out with family and friends. Take a moment and give thanks and honor the men and women who have died for our country. Over 1.1 million have given their lives since the American Revolution—a staggering number!


For me, my weekend started with flying our flag Friday am; picking up a friend of 40 plus years at the airport who was passing through for a family reunion; spending mega hours with two authors (five each) getting them back on track, let’s face it—refocusing and recommitting is critical to author success; planting a few roses and cleaning the koi pond; writing the June The Author Resource ezine for AuthorU.org; finishing planting flower pots; getting my favorite peach ice tea … and today, the official Memorial, I sip to our soldiers and deep dive into finishing the back covers for two clients.

Here are two articles that I would love to draw your attention to. The first is on how to share books & eBooks with soldiers overseas—Memorial Day should be every day—please keep that in mind: http://t.co/d89qOPgs76

And the second is from one of America’s most prolific authors, Stephen King via his interview in Parade magazine last year. He offers savvy writing and author advice including why he doesn't watch “Mad Man”: http://ow.ly/lqMRL
Be with your friends and family and honor those who have made that possible.








Judith Briles is known as The Book Shepherd (www.TheBookShepherd.com), an author and book publishing expert and the Founder of Author U (www.AuthorU.org), a membership organization created for the author who wants to be seriously successful. She’s been writing about and conducting workshops on publishing since the 80s. Judith is the author of 30 books. Her latest, Author YOU: Creating and Building Your Author and Book Platforms is just out. Join Judith live on Thursdays at 6 p.m. EST for Author U – Your Guide to Book publishing on the www.Toginet.com. Follow @AuthorU and @MyBookShepherd on Twitter and do a “Like” at AuthorU and TheBookShepherd on Facebook.  If you want to create a book that has no regrets, contact her at Judith@Briles.com.

Monday, May 19, 2014

Creating a Webinar that has Klout for Authors

Over the last two months, I've delivered several 90 minute webinars for colleagues of mine that were designed for their specific followers. Ranging from Crowdfunding for Your Book Project to Creating a $1,000,000 Speech Using Your Book, the hosts remarked–”I've never had anyone hand on until we all said our good-byes.”

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Hmmm … my webinars had Klout with the audiences, what was different from mine that the gazillions of webinars that are floating around today?

As I noodled their comments, I asked myself:

  • What made my presentations different?

  • Was it the content?

  • Was it the slides I created?

  • Was it the flow?

  • Was it my presentation style?

  • What was it?

Clearly, the content attracted the large audience. I had worked hard to create a consistent flow as in a logical progressive presentation and I knew my material–material that I had presented multiple times within the AuthorU.org community; material that I had developed over years of working with authors and speakers as well as presented to conferences. Here’s what was added that made it a bit different:
  • I never presented on something that I didn't know inside out.
  • I added stories of really life situations and scenarios that my listeners/viewers connected with.
  • My format was not one of just “tell them” … it was more of a “show them” how this works so that they would get it.
  • I shared both what worked, and didn't work for me as the webinars progressed through the 90 minutes.
  • I was authentic–both an overused word and underused word …  yet a critical word. For what I was sharing, I could easily “talk the walk” because I had “walked the talk”.
  • All presentations were content rich.
  • I provided plenty of specific “how-to” steps that they could immediately take away and implement.
  • My slides had color, not a lot of bells and whistles, yet were easily read as I focused on each point.
  • I wasn’t afraid to be my Snappy, Sassy, Salty self.
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With key areas identified, it’s back to you. My 30 plus years from speaking on the international stage, I learned how to connect with audiences with my mouth and slides–from the old days of using reels of slides to slipping into PowerPoint. I still use PowerPoint. It’s fairly easy and can be modified with not much effort for various groups I speak with and for. Whether you connect via cyber land or in person, the nine points above will allow you to stand out.
Is it an overnight success? Most likely not–your success will come with continual practice. If you keep those nine points at the top of your list as your craft your presentation and webinar, you will begin way ahead of your competitors in your filed. Start with your expertise, then let it flow. Let yourself flow through–what worked, and didn’t, as you learned whatever you are teaching/sharing along the way.
AND … Continue to look for ways to position yourself as the expert. Speaking on your book can created significant cash flow. Doing Webinars on your topic can do the same … and get your words, ideas and expertise out via the Internet without leaving your home. Some are free; most charge for them—and why not?!

Webinars are a great tool to add to your speaking, marketing and branding mix. Most of them are done poorly. You still need a plan; slides that work; presentation skills. If you need some help, coaches are out there–one or two sessions with one can make a huge difference. The result is that you will sell more books, bring in more business and gain Klout!  Nice.


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Judith Briles is known as The Book Shepherd a book publishing expert and coach. She is the Founder of Author U,  a membership organization created for the serious author who wants to be seriously successful. She’s been writing about and conducting workshops on publishing since the 80s. Judith is the author of 31 books including Author YOU: Creating and Building Your Author and Book Platforms, Snappy Sassy Salty: Wise Words for Authors and Writers  and a speaker at publishing conferences.
Become part of her inner circle by joining the Author’s Arkand exclusive monthly webinar and coaching event. Her audio and workbook series, Creating Your Book and Author Platform is now available. Join Judith live on Thursdays at 6 p.m. EST for Author U – Your Guide to Book Publishing on the Toginet Network athttp://togi.us/authoru. Follow @AuthorU and @MyBookShepherd on Twitter and do a “Like” at AuthorU and TheBookShepherd on Facebook.  If you want to create a book that has no regrets, contact Judith at Judith@Briles.com.

Authors Beware … What You See and Write In Word Is Not What You Get!

Overwhelmed??After spending several hours with a client who was incredibly frustrated (and most likely PO’d at me for being the messenger) that what she had so carefully structured in her 8 x 11 print out version was most likely NOT going to be the same presentation in the interior design of the finished book. Here’s the heads up: what you put down, page-by-page in your Word document/Pdf may have little to do with what it looks like in the formal book layout. So … don’t make yourself crazy in trying to format things in the future.

Just … make … your … words … sing.


You want to break up your copy—today’s eyes only will take in so many works—give them a break. Use Sub-titles to lead into new sections. Use call-outs and boxes—no, don’t box the words for visual change in your Word document as well as to accent major aha’s and thoughts.
To do this, help the interior designer out … insert a “lead in” to the section/segment that tells the layout person this is special—needs to be handled differently from text.
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Most prefer a “start box” at the beginning of the special text; “end box” at the end… doesn’t means it’s in a box, just that something will happen around this copy—be consistent and use that type of formatting throughout. Once the designer knows your “signature” his or her journey with you will be so much easier.
If your call-outs have special sections that must be contained on a specific page or between paragraphs, the probability of creating “gaps” or “holes” may be created—leaving the preceding or ending page “short”.
When your add all kinds of bells and whistles within your original manuscript, a layout nightmare is created, almost requiring a page-by-page tweaking (meaning more costs)—designers have got to create a template for the book that is customized for you, but consistent. Just because a word count is the same on a Word document page, doesn’t mean that it will lay down the same in a formal book layout program—breaks, leading between lines, bolding of words/phrases/paragraphs, # of paragraphs, sub-titles, illustrations and call-outs, etc. will alter the final lay down. Guaranteed.
Your designer will work with you and recommend a text font to use in the book, as well as title and sub-title font. Remember—eBooks are in their own world … the reader, on the e Reader selects the font that she or he wants, as well as the size. That careful layout that you envisioned becomes a fantasy.

I-Just-Want-to-Sing

Just … make …  your …  words …  sing.

Keep your Word document simple with “notations” of callouts, art/photos/illustrations/figures to be inserted throughout … meaning where it goes.  Then have a separate file with all the art/photos/illustrations/figures you want to add, making sure that it is titled exactly the same as in the Word document notation. Your callouts/pullouts will be in the Word document with a lead in and exit around it… the designer will note and remove the extra words.


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Judith Briles is known as The Book Shepherd a book publishing expert and coach. She is the Founder of Author U,  a membership organization created for the serious author who wants to be seriously successful. She’s been writing about and conducting workshops on publishing since the 80s. Judith is the author of 31 books including Author YOU: Creating and Building Your Author and Book Platforms, Snappy Sassy Salty: Wise Words for Authors and Writers  and a speaker at publishing conferences.
Become part of her inner circle by joining the Author’s Arkand exclusive monthly webinar and coaching event. Her audio and workbook series, Creating Your Book and Author Platform is now available. Join Judith live on Thursdays at 6 p.m. EST for Author U – Your Guide to Book Publishing on the Toginet Network athttp://togi.us/authoru. Follow @AuthorU and @MyBookShepherd on Twitter and do a “Like” at AuthorU and TheBookShepherd on Facebook.  If you want to create a book that has no regrets, contact Judith at Judith@Briles.com.

Authors and Writers ... You Deserve a Break Today …

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You Deserve a Break Today …


There are Three BIG Rules to becoming a successful writer and author.
Rule #1: Write, Write, Write
Rule #2: Read, Read, Read 
Here’s Rule #3: Take a Break, Take a Break, Take a Break aka, a vacation from your authoring hat for a few days.
Summertime is approaching—the outdoors beckons. A warm day in the sun, a day on the lake or at the beach, river-rafting, a movie marathon, a week of dinners with friends, flying a kite … even reading a fabulous book (or several) that you've been dying to dive into ( or re-read).
Yes, it’s a savvy author who reads up on the latest marketing strategies, book design—you name it. But it’s also the savvy author who knows that a time-out may be the single best thing to do to kick-start the creative juices.

Take a mini vacation and read something that is totally not connected with what you are working on. Open a book—your favorite author or genre—and fall in … it’s a joy … a pleasure. What’s the best-seller you've wanted to get your hands on? Or is there a favorite book that deserves another page-turning weekend with you?
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Years ago, I had the pleasure of having dinner with sci-fi author Ray Bradbury. It was one of the most memorable evenings I've had for a variety of reasons—the man was brilliant; he was insightful; he was witty; he was outrageous; and was downright fun. And, he got me thinking. A book that I had been working on took a whole new dimension—just from my too short evening with him.
He amused me when he told me how flying-phobic he was—he drove or took the train. Did you know that? Here was the guy who was space travel personified in his many books, books that shaped so much of the sci-fi world. And he didn't fly.
Because my hubby John was a professor, part of the conversation was about education. Bradbury’s take, “Lock the kids in the library and let them out when they are 18—they will be educated.”
We laughed … and I loved it. As a cheerleader for the immense value libraries bring to the community, he was right. With books, worlds fall open. Amazing things pour forth. Unexpected delights and ahas waiting to happen … if you will let them.
When you take a vacation and let your mind wander a bit, amazing things pop in … things that just might be the missing piece that you were looking for all along. Several books are on my summer reading shelf … what’s on yours?
Take a vacation … if only for a day. Enjoy your summer reading!

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Judith Briles is known as The Book Shepherd a book publishing expert and coach. She is the Founder of Author U,  a membership organization created for the serious author who wants to be seriously successful. She’s been writing about and conducting workshops on publishing since the 80s. Judith is the author of 31 books including Author YOU: Creating and Building Your Author and Book Platforms, Snappy Sassy Salty: Wise Words for Authors and Writers  and a speaker at publishing conferences.
Become part of her inner circle by joining the Author’s Ark and exclusive monthly webinar and coaching event. Her audio and workbook series, Creating Your Book and Author Platform is now available. Join Judith live on Thursdays at 6 p.m. EST for Author U – Your Guide to Book Publishing on the Toginet Network at http://togi.us/authoru. Follow @AuthorU and @MyBookShepherd on Twitter and do a “Like” at AuthorU and TheBookShepherd on Facebook.  If you want to create a book that has no regrets, contact Judith at Judith@Briles.com.

Friday, May 9, 2014

Is Your Back Cover Limp? How About Mediocre? Fix It!

Why, oh why, do self-published authors insist on creating mediocre book covers? At the recent Author U Extravaganza, I talked with a gaggle of newly published authors. As proud as a new Dad or Mom, they put their treasure in my hands. Uh-oh... what comes out of my mouth is often what they don't want to hear ... as in "What were you thinking ...?"ugly   Too many times, the cover was poorly designed, didn’t relate to the book topic and was third-rate at best.

Covers are your barker … “You-who ... look at me,” “I have the answer to your question,” “Here’s the solution to your problem,” “Wahoo … pick me, I’m a terrific read,” etc., etc., etc. ugly book cover Covers are a critical investment in the presentation of your book … not just the front, but the back. Where the front is designed to say what the book is about and convey, “Pick me up now, I’m the one” ...  



The back cover should get them to fall in ... Your buyers spend more time on the back—does it have a bold “grab them” headline so they fall in? How about three to five bullet points that are designed to hook the reader with “That’s me; that’s me; the author has written this just for me” as they read through them. A paragraph or two about the book and they should be sold. In my opinion, don’t get stuck on a bunch of endorsements—unless they are knocking your socks off with a name that is the guru in the genre your are writing in. The truth is, most endorsements are fillers and used when the copy in the body doesn’t sing—you probably don’t need them. You want to create "grabber" copy ... use bullets ... entice the reader with intriguing questions--aha headlines to pull them in.


Use a Headline to Shout Out ... There is a reason why there are specialists in copy for headlines. One of my favorite resources is to look at what the tabloids do. Yes, some are outrageous, but step back. There is a word master at word. In those few short words used, he or she is putting together words that will emotionally pull you in. Headlines ... on the front covers and the back ... are grabbers. 
Standing in line at the grocery store in the spring, I was looking over the magazines waiting my turn to be checked out. All those magazines are placed    to grab shoppers attention, and I'm no exception. In Touch grabbed mine immediately: 


My Butt won't Stop Growing! Wow ... is that a headline or what?! Of course, I had to take a picture to share with you:   With covers—the back, the front and flaps or a dust jackets—always think benefit to the reader. Your book shouldn’t look like it was “self-published.” Ever. My final word.


 yJudith Briles is known as The Book Shepherd a book publishing expert and coach. She is the Founder of Author U,  a membership organization created for the serious author who wants to be seriously successful. She’s been writing about and conducting workshops on publishing since the 80s. Judith is the author of 31 books including Author YOU: Creating and Building Your Author and Book Platforms, Snappy Sassy Salty: Wise Words for Authors and Writers  and a speaker at publishing conferences.
Become part of her inner circle by joining the Author’s Ark and exclusive monthly webinar and coaching event. Her audio and workbook series, Creating Your Book and Author Platform is now available. Join Judith live on Thursdays at 6 p.m. EST for Author U – Your Guide to Book Publishing on the Toginet Network at http://togi.us/authoru. Follow @AuthorU and @MyBookShepherd on Twitter and do a “Like” at AuthorU and TheBookShepherd on Facebook.  If you want to create a book that has no regrets, contact Judith at Judith@Briles.com.

Moving from Wannabe Author to the Real Thing

It never fails … at every conference I speak at, multiple attendees will say, “I can’t believe you've written all these books … I wish I could write a book.” And I always respond, “Why not? You can with Vision, Passion and Commitment.”
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Is there a book in you?  Most people think there is. And most don’t get them out. You could have the makings of a fantastic novel, a creative young adult series, and exquisitely illustrated young children’s stories. Sci-fi could be your genre, a cookbook, how-to or business book may be lurking in your creative closet.
You just may be able to take your career to a whole new level with the creation of a book. Adding to your professional credentials, if done right, could position you as the expert in a specific field. A book could talk you to a whole new level, a different type of professional business card.


Many wannabe authors practice the art of one for the money, two for the show, three to get ready, three to get ready, three to get ready … and they never go.

They keep reaching for one more thing; one more piece of information; another interview; another who knows what. Sometimes, it’s just another excuse. Their book never gets written, much less published. Their quest for the perfect book has become the enemy of creating a good book, even a great book.


The First Step ~ Choose a spot … any spot that is yours and yours alone. Authors need their space and time. Space will contain all the ingredients you need to support you. Think computer, phone— if necessary, pens, pencils, paper, files with reference items that you’ve collected, notes you’ve saved or made to support your topic, other reference books, a favorite snack (I confess—I’ve written an entire book with M&Ms being the reward each time I finished a chapter), genius_at_work_do_not_disturb_door_hanger_ornament-rac5bad6e1f7e45588f522727f1c786bf_x7s2y_8byvr_512beverage of choice, toys, etc. Your space. Claim it and let others know that when you are in your space, it’s a “Do Not Disturb” sanctuary.
Find time. Some authors have to work specific hours; others are more loosey-goosey. I’m a binge writer—if someone told me that I had to write/work from the hours of 8 to noon every day—my response would be, “Fat chance.” I’m one of those intensives—when I start, it’s like a train … keep going until it gets to the next station—rarely do I start a chapter without finishing it in a first draft format—bathroom breaks are allowed and fresh tea, but that’s just about it.


The Second Step ~ Just do it … even if what you get down looks like gibberish. It’s a start. You can’t move forward to publication until you've got some words. So dump them out. The more you organize them, the better it is when it comes to the first dump. The general topic, sub-topics, stories/facts/stats to support the topic all go into magic piles. kNg85oet
Where you choose to “dump” is your choice. Some still write all by hand … if you having been procrastinating or dragging your feet—best to bypass this method and either pick up a speaking program like Dragon’s Naturally Speaking where you can literally put on a headset with a mic and start talking. Your works get transcribed to your computer, and then you clean up spellings and missed words after your dictation is done. Easy, very easy. Or, if you can pound it out on the computer, each document is a major theme/chapter and you start pulling it together in bits and chunks.
It won’t be perfect … it’s a START.

The Third Step ~ Get help … this is where a book shepherd or book coach can come into play. You will need an editor. All authors need editors who edit (this is not your friend or sister, although they can be readers) … all authors no exceptions.
Here's my personal Plug time … I've got two books you should have at your side: Author YOU: Creating and Building Your Author and Book Platforms and Sappy Sassy Salty: Wise Words for Authors and Writers. Get them (the Amazon link is live if you click on the titles), use them ... you will thank me.
AND ... Come play and learn with me ... here are two ways:  Attend on August 1-2, 2-14 in Denver CO ... Judith Briles Unplugged.

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Author's ArkAND join The Author's Ark ... next sailing is in June.
Do you have a book in you? Most likely, yes. Could a book help your professional career? Again, most likely, yes.






JB_pic_2013-2Judith Briles is known as The Book Shepherd a book publishing expert and coach. She is the Founder of Author U,  a membership organization created for the serious author who wants to be seriously successful. She’s been writing about and conducting workshops on publishing since the 80s. Judith is the author of 31 books including Author YOU: Creating and Building Your Author and Book Platforms, Snappy Sassy Salty: Wise Words for Authors and Writers  and a speaker at publishing conferences.
Become part of her inner circle by joining the Author’s Arkand exclusive monthly webinar and coaching event. Her audio and workbook series, Creating Your Book and Author Platform is now available. Join Judith live on Thursdays at 6 p.m. EST for Author U – Your Guide to Book Publishing on the Toginet Network athttp://togi.us/authoru. Follow @AuthorU and @MyBookShepherd on Twitter and do a “Like” at AuthorU and TheBookShepherd on Facebook.  If you want to create a book that has no regrets, contact Judith at Judith@Briles.com.