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Showing posts with label book coach for authors and. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Get Ready for Write Your Book in 4 Week

Next month, I start up my “How to Write a Book in 4 Weeks” in person course … if you want to participate … get registered pronto on TheBookShepherd.com website. Online is April 5, 12, 19, 26 and in-person May 3, 10, 17, 24. All info is posted on the The Book Shepherd site under Events.

Keep two things as a driving factor: Short is the new black … what you will produce is not designed to be the ultimate guide, a mothership or a tome—it’s a read that can be done on an airplane trip (and I’m not talking about from Hong Kong to Denver); and Don’t do well what you have no business doing … it’s easy to get sucked into things that don’t move you forward. Your new book will do that.

I love that Rhondda Hartman, Richard Rieman, Jill Christensen and Philippa Burgess all have books in hand and are selling them to exactly the audiences they envisioned in our first session.

I believe in practicing what I preach. I did the same process and exercises throughout the four weeks that my “students” did. Originally, I planned on doing 50 snafus that authors get themselves into … it grew as the process developed and ended up being a bigger book than I had originally planned. After all, we authors need some flexibility in our DNA. The title morphed as well. Knowing what my topic was, I had my illustrator do the cover art as a vision for me to keep in sight. As I write this, the finishing touches are in place, the book is out for endorsements and I will be making my first presentation on it in Austin, Texas at the Texas Authors annual conference. How cool is that? This is my Ta-dah!

The first session will be all about GETTING READY and GO …

To Do Before You Start My Intensive (and very fun!) Course:

Start noodling …

ID your topic
ID “the pain” that your reader is experiencing … I want you to start thinking the 4 components of your book
1. Problem
2. Cause
3. Effect
4. Solution
ID a working title – we will have a Title Exercise before the first session is done to cheer you on or refocus the effort.
Do a Google search on your topic (is there anything late breaking?) … do the copy / paste / download into a folder on your laptop – one that you can easily access and won’t forget.
If it makes sense to print out, do so. Highlight, put into slotted folders and bring.
Bring anything that you have written in articles, blogs, etc., on topic.

Get ready to get your book DONE … if that sounds like something you want to do before summer starts, get signed up NOW. AND here's a bonus-- the first FIVE that register will get a $100 refund from me. Questions? Call me … 303-885-2207

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 .

Follow @AuthorU and @MyBookShepherd on Twitter and do a “Like” at AuthorU and Judith Briles – TheBookShepherd on Facebook. If you want to create a book that has no regrets, contact Judith at Judith@Briles.com.

If you are looking for FREE author and book coaching ... call in to Judith's Author Monday Mornings at NOON Eastern each Monday. The number is 218-632-9854; Access Code 1239874444 ... have your questions ready--there's a full hour to ask and listen

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Book Truthiness Time Does Your Book Cover Soar … or Does It Suck?

Why authors think that they DIY cover will be “the one” has always amused

me.

In the old days, when an author would proudly reveal his or her newly birthed book … I would verbally support them and encourage. The conversation I would be having in my head may have had a totally different dialogue.

Today, I no longer keep my thoughts within if I’m asked for my opinion. The author gets it—sometimes glowing; sometimes with a: What were you thinking? … This cover is a disaster.

Yikes, it’s out of my mouth. The author may be hurt, pissed, curious or befuddled. Or not care. If I’m asked, I will respond—it’s what the blunt to the point of me does.

Book Truthiness Time
Too many book covers suck. They have fallen down and can’t get up.

How do you keep yours … and possibly your book from spiraling down the drain?

Start by looking at covers that you have been presented as options. Is it a plain Jane? Is it vibrating with the title? If there is an image, is it a grabber? If there is a back cover sample … is it appealing? Does it have a header? How about visual breaks from text? Is it readable? Does it use keys words and phrases that connect title/them with the reader?

Get yourself to the nearest large book store. You are on a scouting mission. Look at all the new titles. What are the fonts and sizes—what grabs your attention? What about colors? Use of images? What covers are vibrating –speak to you—look at both fiction and nonfiction covers.

Book Truthiness Time
Shrink your cover samples before finalizing.

Millions of books are sold online—your cover needs to pop when viewed small.

The wise author-to-be immediately reduces the size of the cover to a minimum of 25 percent of original size. Have your designer send you a jpg and start reducing its size. You will be competing with plenty of titles in your category—does yours shine? Or, does it become invisible in the sea of others?

Book Truthiness Time
Create a provocative cover and title.
Both can help sell books and get people to pick yours up.

Yes, it’s what’s in between the covers and on the sheets that count the most. But, and it’s a huge but, buyers judge a book by its cover. There are wonderful designers that don’t charge an arm and a leg to create a stellar cover that becomes the beacon … come to me reader/buyer … effect you want to create.

Yes, books are judged by their covers. It’s the Book Truthiness of book marketing and selling. Book covers speak, are you listening? You want yours to soar; not to suck.

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

4 Essential Questions (plus 1 more) Every Author Must Ask (and Answer)

When in 4^th grade (and that’s a long, long time ago), my teacher Mrs. Russell reminded her wide-eye students to avoid two words: always and never.

Her words were ingrained in us and to this day, they gurgle up repeatedly in my thinking. In most cases, Mrs. Russell was correct. But there are exceptions.

When it comes to writing and books (and living), the “always” and “never” need to be tossed aside. I always ask authors a few questions when I meet them … and ask again as I work with them. Two “always” questions that I ask involve the word “WHO” in them. Who is the book for … Who are you to write it?

As a follower of Seth Godin’s wise words in his daily blog, he hit on my hot spot questions on October 13, 2016 when he asked four simple, yet critical questions for all writers. And that means we authors.

Godin’s questions were:

1. What is it for?

If this piece of writing works, what will change? What action will be taken?

The more specific you are in your intent, the more frightening it is to do the writing (because you might fail). And, magically, the more specific you are in your intent, the more likely it is to succeed.

For me, I’m looking for value and the “who cares” factor. If you don’t know it, how do you expect readers and buyers to know?

2. Who are you?

Writing comes from someone. Are you writing as scientist, reporting the facts? Are you an angry op-ed writer, seeking political action? Or are you perhaps the voice of an institution, putting up an official warning sign in an official place?

My add is that when you know “who” you are, your expertise spills forth—your credibility. It’s not so much what alphabet soup initials you have behind your name; rather, it’s the true, in the trenches experience you deliver to ease the pain and deliver the solutions for the reader. For the fiction writer, what entertaining factor your deliver.

3. Who is it for?

It's almost impossible for a piece of writing to change someone. It's definitely impossible for it to change everyone. So... who is this designed to reach? What do they believe? Do they trust you? Are they inclined to take action?

Oh boy, this is a hot button for me. Why do so many authors get the deer in the headlights glaze when asked this question? The “why” here is that they haven’t done the necessary homework to really ID this “who” … the kiss of death is the common response, “Oh, my book is for everyone.” No, it is not. The reality is that the more you niche yourself, drill down into who your reader is, the more successful you will me. Your book is not for everyone—far from it.

4. Will it spread?

After the person you seek to reach reads this, will she share it? Shared action is amplified action.

My take is ditto, ditto, ditto. Your words, your writing and the re-sharing of it via social media, buzz, mouth are what makes the difference. Depending on situations and circumstances, your words bring solutions and in many cases, healing. What an awesome power to have.

5. What’s holding you back from completing it? OK, this is my add. Are you diddling at all in getting your writing, your book done? Do you practice what I call, One for the money; Two for the show; Three to get ready … Three to get ready … Three to get ready … and you just don’t GO?

Are you do feel you have to get one more study; that you need to research one more thing … The reality is that if you don’t GO … all that research, another study, will just suck your time and energy. The reality is that the likelihood of GO becomes dramatically lessened. In my How to Write a Book in 4 Weeksworkshop I do (the next one will pop in February), after the first week, participants are told to STOP researching and START writing. At the end of the four weeks, then they are encouraged to do one more Google search; one more quick independent study using a tool like Survey Monkey to get an update if needed.

Five essential questions to ask yourself about your writing. Today would be a good day to answer them.

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Inspiration and Ideals for Authors

What author doesn't need a goose every once in a while? And what author | writer wouldn't love to NOT have to start from scratch for every piece of work that gets published? And, have you thought about exploring what might be a fit for you and your expertise that could be waiting to be found via the public domain?

It's always fun to share new things that come across the AuthorU desk that does just that, especially when it is birthed from one of our own.

Inspiration and Ideals: Thoughts for Every Day by Philippa Burgess pops this week and what a terrific book to encourage you in your writing and yes, your marketing. Think of it as a non-fiction every day inspiration with something to read and noodle upon.

Here's what is cool. This is an old book brought back to live with love and care. Originally discovered at a flea market over 30 years ago, Philippa used it as her daily encourager as a

teen to today. Written by Grenville Kleiser (1868 - 1935), the daily thoughts in their original form carried a quality to them designed to instruct and uplift and became a guidepost for her life.

Learning about public domain books and fondly reading her very, very worn copy, the light bulb was turned on. She worked closely with a book coach, editor and designer--morphing her version for today's modern audiences. Her vision was to create a vivifying and instructive and very friend manual for your own life's journey. And she did.

Here's a few lessons for all of us:

ID what has inspired | encouraged you over the years ... can it be morphed for your own writing/authorship?
Are there an "oldies" out there that you can "repurpose" a bit and bring them out as a new version with your name attached?
Don't forget your roots. For Philippa, what brought her to where she is today, she has now made it a contemporary and beautiful book.

I love it and would encourage you to get your copy--I chose "hard"--I get what a well used book looks like after multiple readings. Something you will do. I'm for helping our fellow and fellowette author members out. Here's Philippa Burgess' website where pre-orders are currently being taken. Think of it as a gift to yourself and anyone you care for.

Monday, August 24, 2015

It's Hot ... CrowdFunding for Authors!

You want to be in the minority in you are CrowdFunding!

That is, the minority that succeeds in a publishing crowdfunding project. Just under 30 percent are successful in reaching their funding goals. That should be you.

CrowdFunding Is a Trend … Not a Fad!

You’ve written a book … and now you need money for design and printing; money for marketing; money to develop a website; even money for a PR campaign. Money. If your resources are low and your bank yawns when you approach it, there’s another way.

Welcome to OPM—Other People’s Money … money that is given to you and money that you don’t have to pay back. Welcome to Crowdfunding.

You want the odds to be on your side. You want to be in the 30 percent minority that succeeds if you are an author or author-to-be. Not the 70 percent that fail.

The CrowdFunding Guide for Authors & Writers is exactly what you need and this week is the big launch on Amazon. It will show you how to:

Create rewards that are slick, click and tick with donors.
Identify timelines: pre, during and post a crowdfunding campaign.
Determine which crowdfunding sites are best for authors and writers.
Pinpoint the essentials that every successful crowdfunding campaign has.
Get hot tips for creating momentum and the final push.
Structure a social media checklist that’s ideal for your project.

It's the compact guide you’ve been looking for that is easy and understandable—one that shows you how to set budgets and limit costs. Does crowdfunding work? Yes. Is it doable? Absolutely … with some help.

With The CrowdFunding Guide for Authors and Writers, you’ve got The Book Shepherd, Dr. Judith Briles at your side. As publishing expert, all her crowdfunded authors have been over-funded. You can be too.

One of the essentials is the GamePlan. You need one. Another is the critical Timelines ... starting as far out as one year before you run your campaign. Granted, most don't think a year out ... but there is planning, and it's critical to your success. For example, here are tips for three months to launch date:

1 to 3 months before Crowdfunding Launch

eMail Gathering Continues. Don’t be surprised when people will say they are interested and want to be contacted when your launch begins—and vanish. It happens. There will be a percentage that come through, many won’t.
Book Cover and Support Branding. Having your book cover (even if it changes during the evolution post funding) delivers a visual of what’s to come.
Create Content for Crowdfunding Platform. Video, text for pages, gather images to include.
Crowdfunding Platform Site. You are building a landing page for your project that has a variety of elements to it. The good news is that you don’t have to “think up” what you need—you will get a step-by-step guide with the platform you choose to build your campaign on. What you need is to supply the content that goes in each. Think snap, crackle and pop in presentation. You want this completed several weeks before launch day.
Build Rewards. Study what other successful campaigns have presented for Rewards—what types appeared to be the most successful (you will tell this by the greatest number taken)? Create descriptions. Add a few that are “back-ups” to be used as a substitute for one that is posted and not being subscribed to or as a Bonus at the end of the campaign to lure already committed supporters into contributed a second round of funding.
Make your Video. When your campaign starts, consider adding an additional video—updating your supporters of any news. You can have a professional do it or DIY. What it needs is the heartfelt outreach, the why you are doing it, what the benefit will be to the reader, what you are doing with the moneys, and a call to action.
Refine your Marketing Strategy. Many authors automatically go to Kickstarter because it’s huge and they think because of size, the sheer volume of traffic it gets will automatically bring donors to them. Wrong thinking. Because of its size, you can be lost easily. Will you get looky-loos wherever you launch from? Sure. But the real success will come from your own push, your friends and relatives and the list building you did prior to launch.

Within The CrowdFunding Guide for Authors & Writers, you will find Timeline nuggets for one month prior, one week prior and tips for what you need to do during the Launch month and after the campaign is complete.

Get on board ... this is part of the AuthorYOU Mini-Guide series. Less than 100 pages, it's ideal for all author personal libraries. Get your copy today.

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

YES ... you can write a nonfiction book in 4 weeks!

WOWIE ... Our first onsite class has finished and I'm deep in the heart of the first ONLINE class this month ... Write a NonFiction Book in 4 Weeks!

Each class is kept small (never over 18 members) so that I can know each author, what his or

her book is about and focus on their individual goals. What a pleasure to be in that position and what fun to watch as one by one, magic happens. The evolving Story Board tells are, creating a fantastic roadmap so that the book has guideposts for completion.

Boy-oh-boy, the first session is intense ... so much to get out, capped with the Kick-Butt Title Exercise. By the time session two pops up, the goove hits and believe it or not (better believe it), all titles are in place. Mission accomplished, it's gathering and plotting the rest of the book time.

Anita and Dennis Lunt are on their mission for their book, 10,000 Steps Straight Up. They plan to have it available for the AuthorU Holiday Christmas sale in November.

As the leader and creator of the How to Write a Non-Fiction Book in 4 Weeks, I loved the comments from several of the participants:

"Yes! Yes! Yes! I already see myself as an author--I can even feel and hold a copy of my first book. I see it hitting the market by storm."

"I enjoyed learning about how to really publish a book and about marketing."

"The reviewing and repeating of the processes as we added new steps each week was so helpful. It broke it down into manageable bites."

"I got more done in a month than I got done over an entire year."

"I really learned a lot from the first week's homework and hardcore evaluation of everyone's titles."

"Working with the story boarding, creative writing drills along with the styles of publish, marketing and all the social media strategies was invaluable."

Did anyone walk out with their book completed, edited, layed out, ready to print? No. Did anyone finish their first drafts? Yes, several did and all are working away with the tools they need to have a book in hand. Call me a happy Book Coach.

Both the onsite classes in Denver will be in September 8, 15, 22, 29 and online classes in October 6, 13, 20, 27--they will be repeated throughout the year. If you are just beginning, there is a place for you. If you have published, there is a place for you. Come join in. All information is on the website here.

ONLINE: Write Your Non-Fiction Book in Only 4 Weeks! sheepie-guy-write1-606x800

Judith Briles is a book publishing expert and coach. She empowers authors and is the Founder of Author.org, 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 33 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. The CrowdFunding Guide for Authors & Writers was published in June 2015.
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. Join Judith live on several shows on AuthorsRadio.fm: Authors on Fire (one-on-one interviews with authors and their books with Judith asking the questions on Tuesdays at 1 EST), Author YOU (the journey begins, retstarts or ignites to set the author on the road to success on Fridays at 1 EST) and AuthorU - Your Guide to Book Publishing (book publishing today - over all strategies to your marketing and publishing success on Wednesdays at 1 EST).
You can also hear her on Thursdays at 6 p.m. EST for Author U – Your Guide to Book Publishing on the Toginet Network at bit.ly/PublishingShow.
Follow @AuthorU and @MyBookShepherd on Twitter and do a “Like” at AuthorU and Judith Briles – TheBookShepherd on Facebook. If you want to create a book that has no regrets, contact Judith at Judith@Briles.com.

Author 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.
If you are looking for FREE author and book coaching ... call in to Judith's Author Monday Mornings at NOON Eastern each Monday. The number is 218-632-9854; Access Code 1239874444 ... have your questions ready--there's a full hour to ask and listen.