Like marketing, self-publishing is the subject of entire books, and there are many available on the subject. Check the resources section of your local bookstore, search for “self-publishing” in your favorite search engine or Amazon, or go to your local library. If you plan to go this route, spend some time learning about it. What follows are the absolute basics of what you … [Read more...]
Why Hire a Ghostwriter?
You’re an expert in your subject matter. You know it inside and out. You can explain it, present it, analyze it … but can you write about it? Not sure? Don’t have the time or inclination? Perhaps you don’t even want to. Let’s face it, if you’re not a writer, or simply lack the time or desire to write, do what many best-selling authors do. Get help from a professional … [Read more...]
7 Questions to Ask Before You Write a Nonfiction Book
1. Why do you want to write a book? There are as many reasons to write a book as there are books. Whether you are truly an authority on a subject or not, just put that subject between book covers, and people will assume you must be. If you do a good job of promoting your book, you may actually make money on it. Although writing books does not guarantee that you will get rich … [Read more...]
The Art Of Interviewing
For me, the heart of research has always been the ability to elicit information from others. For years, it never occurred to me to go to the library or rummage through magazines or official documents. If I wanted to know about something, I found experts on that subject and tried to crawl inside their minds, to cram everything they would tell me in whatever time they would give … [Read more...]
Ghostwriting: 30 Smart Questions to Ask About Payment -Before- You Sign the Contract
Ghostwriting is a business. If you write a book or any other major project for a client, you are providing a service for which you deserve to be paid. While some ghostwriters accept an hourly fee, most arrive at some other arrangement with their clients regarding contracts, budgets, fees, benefits, expenses, and payment terms. What follows are 30 questions you should ask … [Read more...]
Why a Writer Needs to Stay in Shape
Writing is an extremely physical activity—something that never occurred to me when I started out. Forty-one years ago, we didn’t have computers; we were lucky to have electric typewriters. Mine was a little, blue Smith Corona portable. I couldn’t afford an IBM Self-Correcting Selectric, which I coveted for years. I remember the feel of my fingers on the keys, tripping all over … [Read more...]
7 Ways a Coach Can Help You Write Your Nonfiction Book
If you are working on your first book, guidance and support from a knowledgeable source is a gift. But, even if you have done this before, a book coach can make writing a nonfiction book smoother, more organized, and more efficient. Here are some of the things a book coach can do for you. 1. A book coach is a teacher, partner, and personal cheerleader. You may not even know … [Read more...]
The Four Ps of Public Speaking
Speak in public? Most people shake in their boots at the very thought. Yet, as a writer, chances are you will find yourself in front of an audience sooner or later. The ability to speak confidently and comfortably to a group will help you communicate your knowledge in an engaging style, enhance your credibility, and build self-confidence. Public speaking is a learnable … [Read more...]
7 Ways to Work Well With a Book Writing Coach
Let’s start with a little scenario. You have what you consider to be a great idea for a nonfiction book. Your head is spinning with ideas, and you can hardly wait to get started. Perhaps you have made a list of the main points you want to cover or even begun to write. At first, the words just seem to flow onto the computer screen. You feel like a real author … until the moment … [Read more...]
Do You Have a Book in You?
A book enhances credibility and commands higher speaking fees. Business leaders, subject matter experts, humorists, psychologists, and diet gurus are all expected to share their knowledge in book form. High-profile CEOs often write books to pass along their business philosophies and practices, to articulate their personal visions for their companies, or to share the hard-won … [Read more...]