According to Bowker’s annual survey of the self-publishing market, the number of books self published in the U.S. jumped 40% from 2017 to 2018. With print on demand technology, it’s becoming easier than ever to get your ideas out into the world.
If you have dreams of writing a book, there are three important things you need to know to be successful in making your dream of becoming a best selling author a reality.
1. There is only one person in the way of you not getting your book into the hands of those who need it most.
There are millions of people who say they want to write a book and only a fraction who actually do. The one person getting in the way is you.
The plus side of writing your book now is that technology is making it easier than ever to write and self-publish your book all the way to the best sellers list. If you think your book idea isn’t good enough, think again.
Start by jotting down your idea and thoughts on paper. If you’re not good at typing, open up your email and click on that microphone on your smart phone. You can then dictate your book into emails whenever you get inspired about an idea that should be included in your book.
2. The better question to ask.
Most people ask how will my book get noticed. The better question to ask yourself is why do you want to write a book?
Your why is one of the most important questions you need to answer. It will keep you inspired throughout the entire process of writing your book. It’s also the first question many interviewers, broadcasters and radio show hosts will ask you when they interview you once you launch your book.
Your why should be bigger than yourself. When you tell others your why, it should inspire them.
When asked the question of why you want to write your book, many people respond that they have a compelling life story. Still others say that other people have encouraged them to write about their life.
That’s great but here’s the bad news. There are a lot of authors with a compelling story.
To make your book stand out, identify exactly what makes your story and topic unique. What is the compelling message or theme that no other book has captured?
When I was writing, Me, Myself, and Why? The Secrets to Navigating Change, I realized there were a lot of books that discussed the theory behind navigating change. So, instead of focusing on the theory, I decided to give my readers practical tools to build a life they love regardless of their circumstance. In addition, I included thought-provoking questions they could ask themselves about their own life making my book interactive rather than prescriptive.
To this day, I receive letters and emails from my readers who use my book as a resource guide. Whenever they experience a particularly challenging life event, they return to the Self-Reflection Questions at the end of each chapter. These questions coach them to stay focused on their life’s vision and on what’s most important.
Since they also use the built-in tools, they also read and apply the questions differently depending on what they are creating in life. So, instead of purchasing another self-help book, they end up purchasing a book with staying power.
3. Becoming a best selling author requires commitment.
To be successful in launching your book, you have to go beyond just thinking about writing your book. You must take action.
One of the best ways to get started is to imagine a reader has just finished the last sentence in your book and closes the book. Write down what you want your reader to feel, think, and do once they finish reading your book.
The next steps are all up to you.
INVITATION
If you are committed to writing your book, I invite you to join us for the Best Seller Profit System Group Mentoring Program. It starts with a two-day workshop on November 13 and 14, 2020 and includes 4 one-hour sessions or 8 30 minute sessions. Join us either online or onsite at the Business Innovation Lab in Michigan.
Information and registration at Excellerate Associates.com/how-to-self-publish-your-book