Tuesday, November 24, 2015

The Author’s Tweak

Authors should always have the final say; the final pass through; the final anything on their books. The question though is: what is the final-final? When is that final tweak really the final-final … or is it just another “tweak” in the author letting go? This “tweak” is the direct opposite of the RTP syndrome—the rush to publish wiz who pushes through without giving any thought for one more read, another set of eyes to check the book over.

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Yep … letting go is hard to do.

Authors get tired. So do their consultants, advisors and designers. Yet there is “something” that keeps pulling everybody back for one more look; one more fine-tuning. It’s a good thing .. but it also can become not-so good. Sometimes the self-doubting gremlins surface: is the book good enough; did I really explain myself; do my characters make sense; will the reader like (or hate) them; is the storyline trite; are the colors right on the cover; what if no one buys it; what if … what if … what if.
Self-doubt is a book and author killer. What seemed like a good—no great idea— starts to lose its sizzle. The fizzle surfaces. The last twirl, the final phase is exhausting. It’s when all the possible reasons why it could lose its—the author’s and book’s—steam boils over.

STOP 
And ask: why did you start writing? Was it because you had a story that was gripping, gritty, entertaining, funny, thrilling … what? Was it because you had an idea, concept, solution to the relief of a “pain” that others could use … that they need? If yes, get it out there. What form you choose to take—be it pint, “e” or audio is up to you. Whether you print lots of copies or start with a POD format will be a personal, and usually financial choice. How you plan on marketing it brings in another choice of options.

The Truthiness
We authors are always fine-tuning. It’s the truthiness in us. What we must do is “let go” … to decide that there is merit in what we have created … that changes can be done in the next version; the next book. Otherwise … it’s going to evolve to the Author Procrastination Dance that starts: one for the money, two for the show, three to get ready … three to get ready … three to get ready and GO never happens.
Is that what you want?  I didn’t think so.
The Author’s Tweak … of course you should do it … but there is a limit. Of and for time. Of and for energy. Of and for support. 


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Judith Briles is a book publishing expert and coach. She empowers authors and 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 34 books including Author YOU: Creating and Building Your Author and Book Platforms (ForeWord IndieFab Book of the Year), Snappy Sassy Salty: Wise Words for Authors and Writers and a speaker at publishing conferences. Book #34 was published this summer: The CrowdFunding Guide for Authors & Writers. Get your copy.
Become part of her inner circle by joining the Author’s Ark and exclusive monthly webinar and coaching event. Each summer, she holds Judith Briles Book Publishing Unplugged, a three day intensive limited to a small group of authors who want to be seriously successful. In 2015, the dates are August 27-29th.  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 bit.ly/PublishingShow .
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header-logo1.pngAuthor U is a non-profit membership organization dedicated to the author who wants to be seriously successful. Monthly education programs delivered face-to-face and online, The Author Resource ezine, BookCamps and the annual Author U Extravaganza are tools designed for authors pre, during and post publishing of their books. Join AuthorU.org today.
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