I just want to write my books …

Sometimes the best of an author’s plan goes kaput. The question that should be asked: was it a plan, a real plan … or a fantasy … or a wish?                        

We authors are good at creating the “what ifs” during the germination of a book; during the writing of a book; during the production of a book; during the marketing of a book; during the life of a book. Books are exciting … and when it’s in hand and available, euphoric. It’s your newborn. Of course you want it to do well, to soar.

When do the “what ifs” become a reality? The answer is direct: with a plan, or maybe several. Author success is rarely stumbled upon. It’s not like winning the lottery where you put a few bucks in for achanceat the mega-million dollar pot. Realistically, we know that the odds are humongous against winning, but hey, someone has to and why not “me”?—and if I don’t buy mychance, I can’t play. So there.

Authoring and Book selling isn't the lottery. You don’t buy a chance. The truth is that the creation of a book, even though it took years to do, is a mere fraction of the time, energy, commitment and money needed to teach it to walk. But …

     I just want to write my books. 
    That’s all I want to do. 
    If I just didn’t have to do all this “other stuff” to support the book; to market the      book; to sell the book, I could write more fabulous books. 
    My books are awesome; people just need to find them.
    I just want to write my books.
   Why can’t I just write?

And, gulp, what happens if your newborn doesn’t walk?That definitely wasn’t in the plan. Or, was it? If you failed to put together a plan post the book birth that would train your baby to walk, then run, you failed to plan. And if you did have a plan, and it didn’t work, what did you have in place for Plan B? Plan C? Plan D …?

If you want to be a “kept author” … that takes a plan, not a wish. What’s yours?

 Judith Briles is known as The Book Shepherd (www.TheBookShepherd.com), an author and book publishing expert and the Chief Visionary Officer and 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 Your Guide to Book publishing on the www.RockStarRadioNetwork.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.