Book Launch Success & Celebration

Last Tuesday, my long-time client Julie Zolfo launched her book. And made it into the bestseller list in ELEVEN categories.

This is a big deal. And she’s STILL riding the wave of awesome – speaking gigs, book promo, and sharing the excitement.

It’s so EASY to look at the end and think, “Of course it happened for HER. She’s got [insert some bogus story here].”

So let me give you the BEHIND the scenes of the writing process.

Because we instantly jump to the LAUNCH. The excitement of the bestseller status. The beauty of the cover (and it is beautiful.) And it’s too easy to feel like this is an overnight sensation.

The truth of the matter is both far less glamorous AND really inspiring.

Because books aren’t written in a weekend. Or a month. Or, often, even a few months.

Books are written in days.

One day at a time. Over and over and over.

And there’s no shortcut. It’s putting words on the page, editing them, loving them, hating them, and doing it again.

The best news about that is that YOU can do it. Yes, you. The one sitting right there, reading these words.

And you also don’t have to do this alone. Julie came to me with a mountain of STUFF – notes and ideas and acronyms for processes and systems. I probably COULD have pulled a “book” out of that pile. Looking back, I’m thinking that may have even been our plan.

But instead, we did what I do with ALL my clients.

Start at the beginning:

What’s your message.

Learn the process:

How to tell a story. How to make it compelling. How to move the reader’s emotions.

And then…

Do that. Over and over and over.

Now, here’s a truth for you:

Doing it over and over and over is often hard. Frustrating. Lots of “effort” for little “results.” And more often than not, brings up all your Mental Monsters saying, “Are you even DOING this right? Nobody is going to read THIS? Who are YOU to write this book?”

Deep breath, my fellow author.

Because you do NOT have to do this alone. And you don’t have to figure out the process alone. You don’t have to struggle.

And while you can’t write a book in a weekend, I can give you the tools you’ll need – in just three days.

Registration is open for “Brew Your Book: Stop “Percolating” on Your Message and FINALLY Write Your Book” and I want you to join me. Tickets are just $97.

This is a live and virtual 3-day event happening September 21-23, 2021. In just three days, you’ll learn how to write a powerful book that shares your message – without struggling to get the writing done.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

  • The steps to uncover your powerful message so you can move your readers – and change their lives.
  • Exactly how to write powerfully and easily – even if you think you’re not a writer or struggle with expressing yourself in written word.
  • What needs to go into the book and what doesn’t so that your reader feels that you understand them – and are here to help.
  • How to deal with procrastination, writer’s block, overwhelm, and lack of motivation so that you’re able to keep going – moving forward and making steady progress – even if your inspiration gets derailed.
  • My proven method to consistently finding the time to write no matter how busy your life is!
  • How to engage your readers – from the first page – so that they keep reading, and so they recommend your book to their friends.
  • How to share your message in a way that your readers will remember – even if they forget the steps of your process, acronym, or system.
  • Why writing a book is the best way to be seen as an expert – and how having a book can open doors to interviews, speaking gigs, and more clients.
  • And more…

And when you register before August 31, you’ll also receive a physical “Gift Box” from me!

Register Here – Ticket Is $97

This event WILL sell out so don’t wait!

 

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Join Me for a Client Book Launch

Summer for me is a period of high activity. The longer days, extra time outside, and stupid-hot weather all create the perfect storm for me to Get. Things. Done.

And summer to me always makes me think of sitting in the truck, nondescript brown cardboard package in my lap, taking a deep breath before opening it to find the very first copy of my very first book. Mom and I cried.

Last week, one of my clients got to experience that feeling too.

I always wish I could be there for that moment…

When she saw the cover for the first time – her text message said she was in tears.

When get got the notification from Amazon that her book was live…

That moment, the first moment, when she held her book in her hands and IT WAS REAL.

My fellow author, nothing feels quite the same.

Keep Reading!

Should You Pay a Vanity Press OR Self-Publish?

First off, let’s take a look at the differences between a vanity press and self-publishing your book.

Vanity Press Recap:

  • You pay them to publish your book
  • They use an ISBN number that belongs to them
  • The vanity press takes a percentage of the cover price
  • Strict rules your book must adhere to, like title, cover design, and content
  • You’ll probably be charged for any and all changes
  • You will have to buy, store, market, and sell copies of your book
  • They may or may not own the rights to your book

I’ve never found a reason why using a Vanity Press is a better deal – time or money – than self-publishing. So to answer the question posed in the article title:

No, you should NOT pay a Vanity Press. Yes, you should self-publish your book.

After all, when you self-publish your book, all the rights are yours and so are all the profits. You completely own the work – and have all the business decisions like title, cover design, internal layout, sales price, and marketing.

Now, if you’re like many of the authors I work with, writing isn’t your only gig.

Which means that navigating the murky waters of self-publishing is something you know you need to do but you’re not excited about doing.

But don’t despair!

Just because you’re self-publishing doesn’t mean you’re on your own, flapping in the wind.

Keep Reading!

Let’s Talk About Perfectionism

There are two places where authors get tripped up by wanting to be “perfect.”

The first is when you’re writing your book. You want every word to sing on the page, to have the exact amount of gravity – and levity.

You want your writing to be clear, concise, witty, and professional.

And yet…

When you’re not actually that clear, concise, precise, etc. IN YOUR FIRST ATTEMPT, you give up.

Don’t believe me?

The average author who I speak with has been working on their book for MORE THAN TWO YEARS. Many as long as three or five. (And if you’re at this for more than ten… you probably will NEVER finish.)

So here’s a news flash for you, friend:

You book will NOT be perfect as you’re writing it.

You’ll struggle. You’ll lose interest. You’ll write in circles. You’ll be redundant. You’ll have bad habits all over the place.

Striving for perfection WHILE YOU’RE WRITING is a waste of time – and will drive you nuts.

I’m going to be talking about the writing process non-stop the ENTIRE month of August. AND I’ll be bringing you a special opportunity to improve your writing and get a jump on writing your book. No more waiting, wishing, wallowing.

Now here’s the OTHER place where authors mess up with the perfectionism…

Keep Reading!

Is “How To PUBLISH?” Keeping You Stuck?

Writing a book is unlike any other process.

Why?

Because you’ve got a series of “gates” to get through. Or thresholds to cross.

And while these are each distinct steps or processes, there is a LOT of bleed through.

(OMG I feel like I’m really mixing my metaphors today. Curse you, brain fog!)

So stick with me here:

The main reason YOU want to write a book is to help people.

Other reasons are dream fulfilment, be seen as an expert, get clients and speaking gigs, have passive income, etc.

So the idea/writing phase can feel easy.

Except…

When you realize that without knowing THIS thing in the editing, publishing, or marketing phase, you simply cannot go on.

And then you get stuck.

Friend, this is ME!

So much me.

One of my first mentors, Lisa Sasevich, was always saying that you build the plane as you fly it. You don’t HAVE to know all the details of every module in your course, when you’re having your calls, or how you’ll deliver the content. Just SELL the transformation and figure the rest out.

Except…

That “it’ll all work out” thinking does NOT work for everybody. I tried so hard to take her advice for my first seminar – back in September 2012. I tried So.Damn.Hard.

Except…

I couldn’t do it. I DID have to know some of the ins and outs, some of the hows and “what’s nexts” before I COULD focus on what I was doing.

Is that you?

If it is, that’s okay! If you’re mired in “how do I publish?” and it’s keeping you from WRITING, here is my two pieces of advice:

1. Buy my all-new product, “The Complete Self-Publishing Toolkit: Easily Format & Publish Your Book for Print & Kindle”

You need those questions answered? (Even if you’re TECHNICALLY not ready to publish?) Here’s your answer!

You’ll get:

  • Exactly how to set up your publishing accounts
  • A pre-formatted template for your book AND videos on how to USE it
  • System to make sure your text is beautiful and typo-free
  • Details on creating your book cover (hint: this is NOT a DIY thing)
  • How to actually GET your book onto Amazon

AND as a bonus, you’ll get how to format your book for Kindle AND my Easy Table of Contents Generator

Plus, it’s just $49.

So grab the product. Dip into it and then your brain can rest – and you get back to writing.

(OH and you get LIFETIME access so if you’re not ready to actually DO the steps for another month, three, or six, you still have it at your fingertips.)

Keep Reading!

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3 Self-Editing Tips to Catch the “Little” Things

I’m opening up sales for my all-new product, “The Complete Self-Publishing Toolkit: Easily Format & Publish Your Book for Print & Kindle” so I wanted to bring you a few editing tips.

When I was in the middle of editing one of my books, “Pitch Your Tent: A family’s guide to tent camping” I paid special attention to the “little” things that can mean the difference between a professional manuscript and looking like an amateur.

See if you can spot the problems:

  • Most public campgrounds in have paths between sites to the bathrooms, trash, etc.
  • When the sun begins to sweat you’ll get a chill.
  • Fist Aid Kit
  • I recommend packing in a duffle big.
  • And never underestimate the importance of a pair of slip of shoes.

None of the sentences (or chapter headings) above have any grammatical error that will be caught by a spelling or grammar checker. It’s up to a real editor who carefully reads each sentence to find them.

So how do you spot things like this in your own writing?

1. Read the manuscript backwards. I start with the last sentence (reading it from start to finish). And then the second to last sentence; the third to last sentence, etc. By reading the manuscript this way, I’m able to focus on one sentence at a time and my brain isn’t “assuming” it knows what will come next.

2. I print out the entire manuscript, grab my tea and red pen and go to town. Looking at the project in a different format really causes errors to jump out at me.

Keep Reading!

Having a Daily (MINI) Writing Goal

You want to write your book – yay! And you’ve already discovered that you can successfully write for a few days (or weeks) before your excitement dries up and… crickets. Your book lies untouched for weeks or months before you find another spurt.

(Hint: That’s a recipe for “working” on your book for YEARS with nothing to show for it!)

Friend, there IS an easier way.

You know I’ve written about the power of making a decision for your book. And you know I’ve also shared tips to develop consistency in your writing.

But today I want to bring you something straight of my VIP Client Playbook:

Having a Daily Mini-Goal for Your Writing

You’re going to PICK one of these (just one!) and then do it Every.Single.Day.

Now, I want you to read on and remember: you pick ONE of these to do. Not both.

How many days a week?

SEVEN! As in ALLLLLLL the days that end in -y.

Trust me, no matter HOW busy you are (or think you are) you CAN do this.

PICK ONE:

Option 1: Write for 15 minutes a day

You set your timer and your WRITE for 15 minutes. Really, honestly writing. Not re-reading what you wrote yesterday (or last week) and not cruising Facebook pretending to write. Actually writing.

At the end of your 15-minute writing session, if you’re in the groove, you just keep going. If you’ve been struggling over every word, you stop.

You can ALWAYS find 15 minutes in your day. This is a great “waiting” activity like when you’re waiting for your kids after school or at practice. It’s perfect when you’ve popped something into the oven and you’ve got a few minutes to kill. Don’t watch TV or play with your phone… WRITE!

Keep Reading!

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