Thursday, September 30, 2021

Can Authors Live Their Ideal Life?

 



“You deserve to live your ideal life.”

This is the opening line to a book by bestselling author Gino Wickman. 

It’s such a powerful line. Somewhere between “bullshit” and “absolutely” is my response. Maybe we have to work with both responses.  

It is “bullshit” if you: (a) don’t believe in yourself or (b) understand that nothing just comes to you without hard work. But it is “absolutely” if you believe in yourself and are prepared to make your life unfold the way you want it to.  

Notice the author of the EOS Life: How To Love Your Ideal Entrepreneurial Life says “your ideal life” and not “the ideal life.” There is a difference. Truthfully, there’s no one singular standard for an ideal life.  If there were, I suspect, the standard would keep shifting for life and the world is not stagnant. We customize our lives to fit our targeted goals, or at least we should, as opposed to customizing our goals to fit our lives. Why? 

The latter means setting goals based on where we are at or have come from. The former says: aim high and find a way to get there. Both will still be solid paths to improvement, maybe even riches, but they do differ in their potential degrees of success.  

So, let’s apply this to you: You deserve to live your ideal author life.  

Question: How?  

How will you do this? First define what it is that you want to accomplish as a writer. Be specific. Believe you are worthy and that this is achievable.   

If you do what you love (write) with people who support what you love (editors, publicists, literary agents, publishers, friends, fans), getting compensated for your work, and your writings begin to make a difference in the lives of others, you are living a great life.   

So, what does Wickman believe we each need to do to attain our ideal life? 

1.      Develop 10-Year Thinking

Do not just think short-term or day-to-day. Don’t overestimate what you can do in a year nor underestimate what you can accomplish in a decade. Think big and beyond today. 

2.      Take Time Off

That’s right, to work hard and smart, take a break. Rest, reflect, and rejuvenate yourself. 

3.      Know Thyself

You can’t really be yourself until you first truly know yourself. Get in touch with who you are --your style and approach to things, your strengths and weaknesses, and your attitude, seek a coach, therapist, or mentor to help you focus on you.  

4.      Quiet Time 

Spend at least 10 minutes a day in silence and solitude. Meditation, prayer, silence, or yoga breathing can be transformative and bring you clarity. 

5. Know Your Limits

Setting limits is as important as setting goals. Know your boundaries and breaking points. How many hours per day and week will you commit to working -- and how many to not working? 

6.      Say No, Often

Walk away from something that is not the best fit. Do not commit to people or projects that are not worth your time or sanity.   

7.      Don’t Do Lower-Paying Work

If you want to make good money, pay others to do lower-wage tasks while you focus on things that have bigger pay-offs. 

8.      Prepare Nightly

Lay out your next day’s schedule and plan it on the night before. Write it down, map it, and visualize it. 

9.      Put Things In One Spot

Be organized and stick everything in a giant folder, notebook or area. Or store everything in a few key digital files. Make it so that you can’t waste time looking for things or information that should be readily accessible.  

10.  Be Humble.

Have a healthy, positive, empowering view of yourself but don’t put others down, underestimate them, or dismiss them.  Be thankful, appreciative, and less arrogant.  

Identify what your ideal writer’s life could be. Then take steps to achieve and make it materialize. If you can see it, it’s now possible.  If you don’t love to see what is possible, too much seems impossible, when it really isn’t.   

“Where the talents and the needs of the world cross, lies your calling, vocation, purpose.”

-Aristotle  

 

  Did You Know?

  One-third of all states have at least one-third of each state’s population that is obese.
  No state two decades ago was above 25% of its population having obesity.


Need Book PR Help?

Brian Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning blog, can be reached at brianfeinblum@gmail.com He is available to help authors promote their story, sell their book, and grow their brand. He has 30 years of experience in helping thousands of authors in all genres.


Catch Up With These Posts

Do Authors Need A Day Of Forgiveness?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2021/09/do-authors-need-day-of-forgiveness.html

 

How Should Authors Answer The Social Media Question?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2021/09/how-should-authors-answer-social-media.html

 

How Do Authors Achieve Podium Power?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2021/09/how-do-authors-achieve-podium-power.html

 

What Are The 7 Book Marketing Sins?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2021/09/what-are-7-book-marketing-sins.html

 

Are You Atop the Book Marketing Pyramid?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2021/09/are-you-atop-book-marketing-pyramid.html

 

Will You Take The 30-Day Book Marketing Challenge?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2021/08/will-you-take-30-day-book-marketing.html

 

  How Do Authors Sell A Book?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2021/09/how-do-authors-sell-book.html

 

Top 100 Book PR Blog Posts

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2019/10/the-best-100-book-marketing-pr-blog.html

 

Great Book Marketing Podcast Interview With Savvy Book PR Pro Brian Feinblum

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2021/04/great-book-marketing-podcast-interview.html

 

About Brian Feinblum

Brian Feinblum should be followed on Twitter @theprexpert. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2021. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog. His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent.  This was named one of the best book marketing blogs by BookBaby  http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs and recognized by Feedspot in 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” He recently hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America. For more information, please consult: linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum. 

 

Wednesday, September 29, 2021

What Are The Odds Of Writing A Best-Seller?

  

What are the chances of writing a best-seller? What are the odds of anything -- good or bad -- happening. 

A wonderful book, Listified! Britanica’s 300 Lists That Will Blow Your Mind, had an interesting list that handicaps things you may have pondered. You may know the odds of winning the lottery are around 1 in 300 million, but did you know that the chances of being killed by a falling coconut are 1 in 50 million? 

You may know the odds of being left-handed are 1 in 10, but the odds of being born with 11 fingers or toes are 1 in 1,000 -- and is probably not so well known. 

It is easier to win an Olympic gold medal (1 in 662,000) than to become a billionaire (1 in 2.6 million). But it’s much harder to be a parent of identical quadruplets (1 in 15 million). There’s a 1 in 20 million chance of becoming a saint, but a 1 in 10,000 chance of being injured by a toilet. 

Fun stuff. 

Another list featured in this book was of the all-time sales for books sold.  Though it doesn’t say how this was calculated, especially since some of those all-time sellers came out centuries, even millennia ago, the 13 best-selling books of all time across the globe are the following: 

1.      The Holy Quran

      3.0 billion copies

      650 CE published

 

2.      The King James Bible

2.5 billion copies

1611 published

 

3.      Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-Tung  

800 million copies

1964 published

 

4.      Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes

500 million copies

1512 published

 

5.      A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

200 million copies

1859 published   

6.      The Lord of The Rings by J.R.R Tolkien

150 million copies

1954 published  

7.      The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint Exupery

140 million copies

1943 published   

8.      Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by JK Rowling 

120 million copies

1997 published  

9.      Dream of the Red Chamber by Cao Xueqin

100 million copies

1754 published  

10.  Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

100 million copies

1865 published  

11.  The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkein 

100 million copies

1937 published  

12.  And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

100 million copies

1938published  

13.  The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by C.S Lewis 

85 million copies

1950 published  

What are the odds of having an all-time best-seller? I don’t know, but I do know that many millions of authors are trying hard to break through. Someone will.  

Shall it be you?   

  Did You Know?

  One-third of all states have at least one-third of each state’s population that is obese.
  No state two decades ago was above 25% of its population having obesity.

 

Need Book PR Help?

Brian Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning blog, can be reached at brianfeinblum@gmail.com He is available to help authors promote their story, sell their book, and grow their brand. He has 30 years of experience in helping thousands of authors in all genres.

 

Catch Up With These Posts

40 Questions Authors Need To Ask

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2021/09/40-questions-authors-need-to-answer.html

 

Do Authors Need A Day Of Forgiveness?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2021/09/do-authors-need-day-of-forgiveness.html

 

How Should Authors Answer The Social Media Question?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2021/09/how-should-authors-answer-social-media.html

 

How Do Authors Achieve Podium Power?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2021/09/how-do-authors-achieve-podium-power.html

 

What Are The 7 Book Marketing Sins?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2021/09/what-are-7-book-marketing-sins.html

 

Are You Atop the Book Marketing Pyramid?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2021/09/are-you-atop-book-marketing-pyramid.html

 

Will You Take The 30-Day Book Marketing Challenge?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2021/08/will-you-take-30-day-book-marketing.html

 

  How Do Authors Sell A Book?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2021/09/how-do-authors-sell-book.html

 

Top 100 Book PR Blog Posts

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2019/10/the-best-100-book-marketing-pr-blog.html

 

Great Book Marketing Podcast Interview With Savvy Book PR Pro Brian Feinblum

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2021/04/great-book-marketing-podcast-interview.html

 

About Brian Feinblum

Brian Feinblum should be followed on Twitter @theprexpert. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2021. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog. His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent.  This was named one of the best book marketing blogs by BookBaby  http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs and recognized by Feedspot in 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” He recently hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America. For more information, please consult: linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum. 

 

 

 

 

 

Tuesday, September 28, 2021

40 Questions Authors Need To Answer

 



To find answers, you first must know what the questions are. Well, authors, when it comes to knowing what questions need to be asked by you about your writing career and book marketing plans, look no further.   

Ask yourself the following 40 questions — and then seek to answer them.   

Reflect on your answers in the coming weeks, months, and years.  

This is an ongoing process, to revise and update a living document that allows you to grow and prosper — and to minimize mistakes and mitigate and resulting damages from such mistakes should they occur.  

First, ask yourself: What do you want to happen with your writing career?  

Then, determine: What needs to be done for that to happen?  

Finally, commit: What exactly will I do — as well as others do — to get done what needs to get done?  

Explore the following:  

Writing

1. What shall I write about?   

2. Why do I write?  

3. How often will I write?  

4. What do I need to know about the law and writing — censorship; plagiarism; copyright protections; book contracts?  

5. What are my specific short-term and long-term goals as a writer?  

6. How do I learn to be a better writer?  

Editing

7. Where can I find a good, affordable editor whom I can establish a relationship with?  

8. How can I work with an editor and be open to his or her corrections and suggestions while remaining true to my voice?  

9. What is the best process — write some, edit some — or finish a book and then edit it? Both?  

10. What if my work becomes unrecognizable under an editor’s red pen?  

Researching

11. How can I improve my research skills?  

12. How can I find comprehensive, updated, and accurate information from a respected, valid source — quickly?  

13. Can I commit to double-checking facts and researching things in order to keep my writing authentic?  

Publishing

14. How do I get a book publishing deal?  

15. If I need a literary agent, how do I find one that wants to represent me — and that I want to be represented by?  

16. What should be in a query letter?  

17. How do I craft a winning book proposal?  

18. What can I expect to happen if I get published?  

19. Should I self-publish? Why? How?  

20. What should my book title be?  

21. What should the book cover design be?  

22. How do I seek out blurbs or testimonials?  

23. What should the back cover copy say?  

Marketing

24. What is my brand essence as a writer?  

25. What is my elevator speech?  

26. Do I have a website? What can make it better?  

27. Which social media platforms should I be on? Can I post more often, with better content, that translates into sales or website visits? How do I grow my number of connections?  

28. Do I see myself as a speaker? Which type of places can I present at? How do I find a specific list of places and identify the right person to query?  

29. Where should I advertise? What should the ad say or do? What should my budget be? How do I measure success?  

30. Where can i meet — in person or virtually — to network with those who can help me or buy my book?  

31. How do I craft a strong press release and press kit? Where should I send it and how should it be used? What elements belong in the kit?  

32. Which writer groups or associations should I belong to? How can I maximize my membership?  

33. How do I prepare for interviews? What needs to be said? Avoided? Said in a certain way?  

34. How do I go about selecting which type of news media to pursue? How do I identify targeted media outlets and specific individuals and their contact information?  

35. Which book awards should i apply to? What are their deadlines, costs, and qualification conditions? How can I persuade them to select my book?  

36. Where can I submit my book for reviews? Which book reviews should I pay for?  

37. Which writer conferences book fairs should I attend or participate in?  

38. Should I have a blog? How often should I post? What should I write about? How do I get subscribers?  

39. Should I have a podcast? How often would it air? How long should an episode be? Will I interview people, and if so, whom? How will I attract listeners? Will this lead to book sales?  

40. Do I need to have a YouTube channel or book trailer? What should these videos consist of? How long should they be? How will I draw more viewers?  

Here is my last question to you: What are you waiting for? Start answering these questions. Your responses will craft your blueprint or roadmap to action. Go! 

 

Need Book PR Help?

Brian Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning blog, can be reached at brianfeinblum@gmail.com He is available to help authors promote their story, sell their book, and grow their brand. He has 30 years of experience in helping thousands of authors in all genres.

 

Catch Up With These Posts

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https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2021/09/do-authors-need-day-of-forgiveness.html

 

How Should Authors Answer The Social Media Question?

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How Do authors Achieve Podium Power?

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What Are The 7 Book Marketing Sins?

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Are You Atop the Book Marketing Pyramid?

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Guaranteed: Authors Who Do This One Thing Shall Succeed

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Will You Take The 30-Day Book Marketing Challenge?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2021/08/will-you-take-30-day-book-marketing.html

 

   How Do Authors Sell A Book?

 https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2021/09/how-do-authors-sell-book.html

 

Top 100 Book PR Blog Posts

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2019/10/the-best-100-book-marketing-pr-blog.html

 

 

How Should Authors Spend Their Book Marketing Dollars?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2021/07/how-should-authors-spend-their-book.html

 

Great Book Marketing Podcast Interview With Savvy Book PR Pro Brian Feinblum

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2021/04/great-book-marketing-podcast-interview.html

 

About Brian Feinblum

Brian Feinblum should be followed on Twitter @theprexpert. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2021. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog. His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent.  This was named one of the best book marketing blogs by BookBaby  http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs and recognized by Feedspot in 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” He recently hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America. For more information, please consult: linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum.