Business of Publishing

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Create a Plan BEFORE You Get a Bad Book Review

#truthbomb

Some people aren’t going to like your book.

Yes, that sucks. It’s hard to hear. But there it is.

Because I get it:

You’re really proud of that book. You know it (and your message) is here to change the world.

And you’ve done a good job in the whole process: rewriting, editing, getting feedback, and then writing some more. But there’s something really important that is never told to authors – and it really should be.

Somebody will hate it. They’ll hate it so much, they’ll leave you a one-star review. And IF you’re lucky, they’ll keep their comments to how dumb the book was (and maybe how much they didn’t like the writing.) If they’re a true Troll, or simply having a Really.Bad.Day, their one-star review will ALSO be a personal attack.

What happens when you get your first 1-star review?

Take a deep breath. Because let’s be perfectly honest here: it’s going to happen. Somebody is going to hate your book – and if you let it, that little 1-star review will have the power to obliterate all the 4- and 5-star reviews that came before it.

Your best defense is… a plan.

It’s not a plan for how you’ll plead with Amazon to remove it.

It’s not a blueprint for how you’ll hunt down the reviewer and make him change his mind – and publicly apologize.

It’s not a plan for how you’ll fire off a witty comeback that is not only the perfectly placed literary knife to the ribs but also makes you look brilliant, beautiful, and 15 pounds lighter.

Here’s the thing about reviews: there’s not a single way you can respond that leave you looking classy. If you argue with a “bad” review, you’re whiny; if you thank the reviewer for a “good” review, you’re a creepy stalker author.

#authortip Never respond to your Amazon reviews. Nothing you say will make you seem classy. Click To Tweet

Still, you need a plan for how you’re going to handle it.

Here are some tips:

1. Don’t check on your reviews right before bed.

I’ll admit, when my first book was newly published, I checked sales stats and if there were any new reviews about every three hours. All. Day. Long.

But I knew from past experience, a nasty email from a client had the power to ruin a good night’s sleep. A bad review from a stranger… no WAY I’d be able to sleep. Keep Reading!

What if Nobody Wants to Read My Book?

There’s that little voice in the back of your mind that whispers… “What if nobody wants to read my book?”

Sweetheart, I’m here to give you some advice when it comes to writing your book (your first or your 21st!)

That little voice is a LIAR.

LIAR = Loathsome Individual Appearing Reasonable

And in this case, that individual is you.051215-LIAR

It’s the part of you who thinks you’re unworthy. The part that whispers you’re fat or old or have knobby knees. It’s the part that slides in sideways, tells you the most terrible things about yourself, and then laughs from the shadows while you cry.

Is this REALLY the voice you want to listen to?

The voice that whispers *You're not worthy* is lying to you. Click To Tweet

Keep Reading!

Want to Pick My Brain?

I’m sure we’ve all experienced it: we spend hours learning a skill or process, invest thousands of dollars in the education, given up free time, sleep, and doubled-down to learn all the nuances. At the end of it all, we have a deep understanding of the complete process.

Then somebody comes along and asks to pick our brain. If that wasn’t bad enough, they want it for free.

I’ve been guilty of this myself!

After all, it’s not difficult to convince a passionate subject-matter expert to talk about their passion!

Now that I understand a little bit more about what somebody may have invested in their knowledge, I don’t expect information for nothing.

Before I created a business helping authors to finally write their books, see it published, and launched a best-seller, I spent years working on my writing craft. Like 8 years of serious study, practice, and writing really poorly!

Did you know I hold a degree in Creative Writing from the University of Arizona?

Not to mention, I’ve invested the last decade to learn everything I could about marketing, publishing, and the book industry. Including all the “new” nuances added by self-publishing!

Keep Reading!

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The Truth About Amazon Book Reviews

Reviews – especially positive, well-written reviews – impact your book sales on Amazon. Rumor has it (because let’s face it, a LOT of what goes on at Amazon is rumor and speculation) that if your book can receive enough reviews, Amazon will more heavily promote the book to its users.

Are your book reviews getting removed from Amazon? Here's why! Click To TweetPersonally, I’ve found that a book having reviews, any reviews, is a boon to sales.

Here are Amazon’s “rules” about reviews:

  • No “objectionable” material
  • No promotional content
  • No off-topic information
  • No inappropriate content, which includes hyperlinks and references to other products

Amazon also doesn’t allow reviews that were written for any form of compensation other than a free copy of the product. This includes reviews that are a part of a paid publicity package.

Keep Reading!

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Can an “Older” Book Be a Best-Seller?

I totally understand the quest to be a best-selling author:

  • That title can give you credibility to your readers and to your potential clients
  • It makes you feel famous
  • It sounds cool

Here’s the truth of how being an Amazon Best-Selling Author works:

There are no “checks and balances” and to way to research which books are best-selling books and which… aren’t. That means that you might have been #1 in a category for a matter of minutes – or it might mean that your book never was, you’re just claiming that you’re a best-selling author.

Learn the TRUTH about being a best-selling author! Click To Tweet

Then, you have to create your personal decision about what exactly is a best-selling book or a best-selling author.

  • Best-selling in a category – no matter how many titles are in the genre?
  • #1 or anywhere in the top-ten? Top 5?
  • Best-selling in another country – where the competition might be less?
  • Kindle book or physical?
  • How long do you have to be on the list?

With so much emphasis on book launches and when a book is freshly released, what happens to books that are a year old? Or two? Or FIVE?

Can an older book still be a best-seller?

Teehee – GREAT question! And the answer is (drumroll please)

Keep Reading!

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What “Extras” Does Your Book Need?

I see it all the time – and author comes to me with a book ready to be published. The book is done, finally!

Except that it’s missing critical pieces that we’ll need to complete the final publishing layout! While I can (and do) get started with editing, the book still needs some or all of these pieces!

Here’s a breakdown of what’s included in a book (and if they’re “required” or not!)

Dedication (optional)

This is usually a simple sentence where you’re dedicating the book to a person. It’s not a thank you page where you list the people who’ve helped you!

Foreword (optional)

This is where a third party expert will write a few pages introducing you and your book. This isn’t an introduction, exactly, but it serves to bolster your credibility as an author and an expert and can help the book’s credibility by attaching a well-known name to the project. If you don’t have access to a well-known person in the field, an expert with more credentials than you have will work as well.

Introduction

This is where you introduce the book. It’s NOT a story of why you wrote it or how hard it was to write. NOBODY wants to hear about the struggle of writing! A book’s introduction is to introduce the subject matter, explain to the readers what they’ll get out of it, acknowledge how (and if) they can get more information, briefly introduce you and your expertise, and give them any information or knowledge they must have NOW before they read the book.

You're book is finally done! (yay) Here are the OTHER things you may still need to write. Click To Tweet Keep Reading!

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How to Write a Killer Book Title

Your title is the single most important part of your book. Period.

Whew! I said it. Finally.

011017-killertitleI work with authors every day. And I wish that more of them would spend more time working on their book’s title. Or at least listen to my years of hard-won knowledge about what makes a title work and what makes a title a flop.

Public Service Announcement: This article is about titles for non-fiction books!

Sure, your cover is critical, but it’s not as important as your title.

To get more book sales, you MUST have a clear benefit in your book's title. Click To TweetToo many authors think that cutesy is the same as effective.

Or that eye-grabbing is the same as effective.

Or that sensational is the same as effective.

Or that a play-on-words is the same as effective.

Do you see where I’m going with this?

Keep Reading!

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