“Crazy” Lives We’ve all known people who talk about their “crazy” lives, which, 99 out of 100, is just a life like most other lives, or, at the very least, certainly not some Oprah-worthy existence. They exclaim, “I should write a book; no one would believe it.” Yeah, and no offense, but I’d wager no one would buy it, either. What we think is absolutely fascinating about … [Read more...]
Eight Mistakes Self-Publishers Make — and How to Avoid Them!
Mistake #1. You wrote an unnecessary book Harsh? Perhaps. Honest. Absolutely. Are there already 20 titles on your non-fiction subject? Does the world really need a 21st? If so, how is yours different? Put another way, write a book people will want to read. No books on your subject? That could be good or could mean little market exists for the book. Mistake # 2. You have a … [Read more...]
Make Your Book Title a Promise
Got a Non-Fiction Book? Tell Your Reader What’s In It for Them! NOTE: the following suggestions apply to non-fiction works. Book titles and corporate slogans. The two have a lot in common (something I realized from all my years as a copywriter). Let’s look at some famous slogans: GE. We bring good things to life. Delta. We’re ready when you are. Avis. We try … [Read more...]
Create Powerful and Compelling Back Cover Copy That Sells Books!
Note: The following guidelines are for non-fiction. Fiction, where you simply need to entrance someone with a good story line, would be different. Think about how you buy a book. You pick it up, look at the cover, and if you like the visuals, title, and subtitle, it’s because something resonates in you; something about what you see calls to some desire or longing inside … [Read more...]
Seven Steps to a More Compelling, Engaging and Readable Book
Making Sure Your Book Gets Read, Referred, Talked About, and Bought More! How many best sellers have you ever read that were dry, boring, or uninspired? Not many, I’d wager. Write an interesting, compelling book, and you’ll be ahead of the pack out of the gate. Sure, some people are inherently gifted when it comes to wordsmithing, but anyone can improve their skills by … [Read more...]
How to Turn One Book Into a Full-Time Living
“The only reason to self-publish is because you can’t land a publisher.” Call me crazy, but for me, self-publishing was the first choice. I wanted to keep control of the project and timetable, keep the rights, and, most importantly, keep most of the profits. How did it turn out? A Full-Time Income For over four years, my first book supported me full-time. Not … [Read more...]