Publishing

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5 Tips to Write Your Book’s Back Cover Copy

I see it all the time … an author has finished the book and they’re so excited to be “done” and published, they give exactly half a minute’s thought to one of the most critical pieces: the back cover copy.

I get it. You’ve invested a lot in writing the book and now that it’s time to publish it, the last thing you want to think about is MORE writing. Let alone this critical piece of marketing.

Deep breath, my friend. Writing your book’s back cover copy doesn’t have to be horrible. (But it does have to be done!)

So, just how do you write your book’s back cover copy? Here are five tips:

1. It’s MARKETING copy!

Nobody cares that you spent 3,000 hours writing the book! They want to know what they’re getting. So you need to tell them what’s in it for them – what transformation are they getting.

Think of it as marketing copy that might appear on your website for your opt-in gift: it touches their pain and promises to solve it. The copy wants to convince the readers to pick up the book, buy it, and READ it. Focus on the benefits!

2. Every word of the back cover copy has to pull its weight

How much real estate you have on your back cover is going to depend on all the OTHER stuff that goes on your book’s back cover, as well as your book’s trim size. My suggestion is to write MORE than you could possibly fit and then edit it down to something tightly written and punchy.

You want every single word to count. But trust me, it’s way easier to cut it down to fit than it is to agonize over every word on a super-short piece and then try to add to it when it doesn’t look good on the cover. Keep Reading!

What’s the Difference Between Book Promotion and a {Bestseller} Book Launch

Last week, we looked at “3 Must-Ask Questions BEFORE Self-Publishing Your Book” – and there’s so much more than just hitting “publish” and calling it a day! Here is the difference between book promotion and a {bestseller} book launch.

Book promotion is something that all authors need to be concerned about. And it’s the piece of marketing your book that isn’t going away. Ever.

Bottom line:

You have to keep promoting your book, regardless of if it’s new or not. Without ongoing promotion, your book won’t reach the people its meant to reach.

Let me pause here a moment. THIS is why you need to write a book you’re proud of, a book that shares your message. Because you’ll always be nudging the promotion along; you’ll always be investing energy in the book and its results. When it’s a message-driven book, that’s no problem because it’s your MESSAGE. It’s something you love and love to share – no matter what.

What is the difference between book promotion and a bestseller book launch? Click To TweetA book that is just a “check the box, I’ve got a book” … yeah, not so much. The idea of promoting THAT type of book month in and month out usually makes people feel faintly ill.

Your book promotion does start before the book launch – and carries on long after you have a bestselling book. While it is a “never going to end” task, it can be the type of marketing that you gently nudge along, fitting it into your day-to-day ongoing marketing efforts that you’re already doing.

A bestseller book launch is not an ongoing process. Done right, it’s a huge surge of effort and momentum to explode your book into the marketplace, get a bunch of people excited to buy (and READ!), and then gives you something to get newsworthy about.

Keep Reading!

3 Must-Ask Questions BEFORE Self-Publishing Your Book

Your book is finally done and it’s time to start looking at your publishing options. Yippee! I give you full permission to break out the champagne and celebrate. You’ve earned it!

I firmly believe that while you can self-publish your book, that doesn’t mean you should take the DIY route. Self-publishing means that you, the author, retain control of the rights, the marketing, and major publishing decisions. You can retain this control without learning how to code eBooks or set up beautiful layouts for print books!

When you’re choosing a company to help you self-publish your book, there are three things you need to evaluate before signing a contract and making a payment.

3 Must-Ask Questions BEFORE Self-Publishing Your Book Click To Tweet

1. Do they offer editing?

It’s the utmost rudeness to your reader if you don’t have your book professionally edited before publishing. Let me say that one more time:

Pay. For. Professional. Editing.

I don’t care how good you are or how many times you’ve read your book, there are errors that you’ve gone blind to. You need to pay (yes PAY) for a professional to edit the manuscript.

This can be done as part of the publishing package (this is what I do: all my publishing contracts include a round of copy edits) or done separately. When you’re evaluating your publishing partner, ask what, if any, editing they offer. Not all self-publishing companies offer editing (and not all editing is created equal) so you want to make sure that you’ve got an editing plan in place.

Another caveat on editing:

There’s a big difference between a structural edit (are all the pieces in the right order) and a copy edit (grammar, spelling, punctuation.) Many of my VIP Book Writing Mentorship authors do not need a structural edit because we did it during their VIP work with me. And some do – because the book had a more free-form process during writing.

Regardless, ALL books need to have a professional editor work their magic on your grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Keep Reading!

How To Know When You’re Ready for A Mentor – Five Key Indicators

Since we’ve rolled into 2019, I’ve had strategy sessions with SEVEN authors about their books. They’re all in different phases of writing, editing, publishing, and launching, but they all have two things in common:

  1. They are passionate about their message – and the world needs this message Right Now.
  2. They need help, mentorship, guidance, and support to get to the next step in the process.

(Now, you KNOW I have my soapbox about the importance of your message so there is one thing I have to tell you:

No, not EVERY author I speak to is writing a message-driven book. A few are looking no further than “credibility” or “expertise”. There’s no passion there. And no, not someone I take on as a client!)

But these authors – without exception – have a message that is ready to move out into the world.

The other thing these authors recognized is that they’ve gone as far as they can – by themselves. There are questions unanswered (What comes next? Am I being boring? Is this the right place for this story/this teaching? How do I publish? What will it take to be a best-seller?) that they’re seeking out help to find the answers.

There’s a deep strength in realizing that you aren’t infallible. That you don’t have all the answers. That no matter how much research you do on your own, nothing is a substitute for guidance from someone who not only has walked that path with her own books (20, to be exact) but who has also guided others through the same proven system.

Stuck? Here are 5 Key Indicators it's time to hire a mentor. (And you're ready for a mentor!) Click To Tweet

So how do you know if you [insert your name here] is ready for mentorship? Here are five key indicators.

1. You’re sick and tired of being stuck, frustrated, and searching for next steps.

As humans we KNOW that help is always available – once you ask for it. And we also have a stubbornness that keeps us from humbling ourselves and asking for it.

(Come on, you KNOW that’s true!)

At some point, you reach a point where you’re at the end of your rope – and you’re still 15 feet above the ground. The only options LEFT to you are A.) quit or B.) get help.

Please, please, don’t quit. You’re ready for mentorship when quitting isn’t an option.
 Keep Reading!

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7 Rules for Writing a Kick-Ass Author Bio

I’ve been speaking more and more lately – which necessitated the need to create a formal speaker one-sheet with my bio and an intro. And that led me to remember that it was time to update my author bio sheet for the year!

Here are my top 7 rules for writing a kick-ass author bio!

1. Write in third person
Use your full name the first time. (Be sure to decide which variation of your name you want to use! I’ve been transitioning from Kimberly to Kim – I like Kim better!) You’ll use plenty of pronouns so be sure to intermingle your name in there as well. It’s up to you if you’ll use your first name or your last. Personally, I usually use my first name (Kim) and save the Ms. Eldredge for more formal bits of writing. Now, if I was DOCTOR Eldredge, I might be more inclined to use “Dr. Eldredge” as opposed to Kim.

2. You’ll have different versions of the bio
At a bare minimum, you’ll need three versions:

  • End-of-book (300-500 words)
  • End-of-article (100-200 words)
  • Blurb (25 words or less)

AND you might have different variations on the bio as well. I write in two distinct genres, outdoor recreation and book publishing. My bio for my outdoor recreation books isn’t going to impress the entrepreneurial world; they don’t care many year’s camping experience I have!

#amwriting #bookpublishing You'll need 3 versions of your author bio. Find out what they are here: Click To Tweet

Don’t forget that each version needs to link your opt-in gift!

3. Lead with your credibility
This can be your degree, training or certificates. Just make sure it applies! If you have a certificate in underwater basket weaving but your book is about investing, it might be best to leave that “credential” off. Your credibility can also include awards you’ve won, memberships, and education. This can be a bit dry (okay so a LOT dry) so limit it to the most relevant. Also skip the alphabet soup UNLESS you know your audience will

  1. KNOW what the abbreviation means
  2. CARE that you have earned it.

Keep Reading!

You’re Making Your Bestselling Book too #$%*! Complicated

Let me lay it out for you:

You’re making your bestselling book too complicated.

I don’t {necessarily} mean your topic or the writing – although it’s been my experience that most people make that too complicated too.

Nope. I’m talking about the idea of a Bestselling Book.

You’re getting all wrapped up with the peripherals and you’re forgetting the three things that really matter:

1. Your Message

The message you want to share in your bestselling book is the guiding light, the golden thread, it’s the REASON you’re writing at all.

I believe, deep in my heart, that your message matters to the world. That your message is the reason you’re here – and the reason you’re meant to help someone. It’s the foundation of your book and your work in the world.

And you’ve been trying to make your message fancy. And have it down pat – like an elevator speech.

Give it over, already!

Your Message Matters. (Full stop.)

Your message matters. Don't let it be missing from your book! #amwriting Click To TweetIt matters in a heart-to-heart, soul-to-soul connection. It matters in a you’ve-had-a-bad-day, let-me-hold-your-hand way.

You aren’t being judged on the words you use but on your clarity of heart. Show your heart, use words that are honest and real.

2. Your Marketing

Gasp! I said… marketing.

Breathe.

Again.

It’s not a complicated Super Bowl commercial.

Marketing is the way you’ll share your message – which is the vehicle for your book.

Marketing is:

  • Being authentic.
  • Being clean and clear.
  • Being attractive.

Marketing is sharing YOU and YOUR MESSAGE in a way that excites other people.

Marketing is sharing YOU and YOUR MESSAGE in a way that excites other people. So market your book! Click To Tweet
Keep Reading!

Are the “Unknowns” Preventing You from Writing Your Book?

I’d like to think that I know a thing or two about allowing the “unknowns” in life take over and derail my plans…

For example, when I first started writing books of my own, I would get 80-90% of the way through the draft and then just…

stop.

Why?

Because I didn’t know what would come next. I didn’t know what editing and layout and cover design and publishing and royalties looked like.

Let’s be real:

If you never finish writing your book, you never have to figure out publishing!

If you never finish writing your book, you never have to figure out how to publish it. Is that what you REALLY want? Click To Tweet

The same thing happened to me last year when I was pregnant. I couldn’t imagine what life with a baby looked like. So a lot of my life just… stopped. I get it that nobody has a crystal ball but I just couldn’t wrap my head around how life would be the same and how it would change.

I didn’t even know where to begin. So I stayed stuck. Playing small. Being miserable (and broke) and then feeling bad about myself and my lack of “progress.”

Here’s the thing about me: I actually rarely procrastinate. But because I’m always busy doing something—and telling myself it’s an activity that is getting me closer to a goal—I can tell myself I’m making progress.

Yet, when there are so many moving parts at any one time, I get stuck knowing where to start, what to do next (or what to do first!), and how to keep everything I’m doing moving forward.

This is a classic definition of Unknowns Inducing Overwhelm or UIO.

When that negative, viscous cycle starts up in your head and you can’t sleep. When the “Whatifs” have their party – and start partying about things you didn’t even know you were worried about until you suddenly can’t sleep.

Keep Reading!

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