Questions For All Authors To Answer

Every writer, whether prolific or not, must answer a number of questions in order to be better writers and better marketers of their writings. Inventory your thoughtful responses to these probing questions: 

What Is Your Writer SWOT?

Identify your:

* Strengths or assets

* Weaknesses or deficits

* Opportunities in the marketplace

* Threats or challenges from outside forces 

Do You Have Goals As A Writer?

What do you hope to accomplish — in terms of book sales, writing more books, winning awards, gaining critical acclaim, establishing your brand and legacy, etc?

Why Do You Write?

* Do you enjoy it?

* Could you write about anything?

* Is writing your purpose?

* Do you live to write?

What Is Your Future As A Writer?

* Will you switch genres?

* Will you have sequels, series, and spinoffs?

* Will you publish in other languages?

* Do you need a literary agent?

* Would you co-author books?

* Would you try different formats and lengths, such as novellas, short story collections, essays, poetry, or children’s books — and not just adult fiction or non-fiction?

Are You Really A Writer?

* Does it come naturally to you?

* Is it a chore or an enjoyable activity?

* Do you write well?

* Do you write with a purpose?

* What is your writing voice and style?

* Will you take courses and webinars to improve as a writer?

Do Your Writings Help Others?

* Are you looking to inspire, empower, inform, or entertain others?

* Does your message impact the life of another?

* Is your book part of a bigger movement to change the world?

How Will Your Book Be Published?

* Traditional publisher?

* Small press?

* Hybrid publisher?

* Self-publish?

In Which Format Will Your Book Appear?

* Textbook

* Coffee Table Book?

* Hardcover?

* Trade Paperback?

* Mass Market Paperback?

* E-Book?

* Audio Book?

Will You Repurpose Your Book’s Content Into:

* Webinars 

* Seminars

* Online Courses

* College Courses

* Spinoff into a book series?

* Convert into a children’s book version?

* Translated into other languages?

* Turned into TV, film, or theater?

How Will Your Books Get Marketed?

* Advertising

* News Media Coverage

* Consumer Book Reviews

* Speaking Appearances

* Social Media

* Blogging

* Podcasting

* Book Awards

* Video Channel

* Book Clubs

Who Will You Sell To?

* Specialty Markets

* Bookstores

* Libraries

* Government Agencies

* Non-profits

* Businesses

* Schools

* Houses of Worship

* Trade Groups

* Associations

* Big Box Retailers

* Gift Shops and Small Retailers

By answering any and all of the above questions you will position yourself to succeed as a writer.

Need Book Marketing 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 over 30 years of experience in successfully helping thousands of authors in all genres. Let him be your advocate, teacher, and motivator!

 

Read This!

Do People Fear Your Book Stinks?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2023/07/do-people-fear-your-book-stinks.html

 

Emails That Really Sell Books

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2023/07/e-mails-that-sell-books.html

 

The Conversations Authors Must Have

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2023/07/the-conversations-authors-must-have.html

 

Why Do Some Book Campaigns Fails?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2023/07/why-do-some-book-campaigns-fail.html

 

How Can Authors Get Attention?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2023/06/how-can-authors-get-attention.html

 

Is Reading Books Becoming A Passing Fad?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2023/07/is-reading-books-becoming-passing-fad.html

 

How Do Authors Build An Email List?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2023/06/how-authors-grow-email-list.html

 

Are You A Clickable Author?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2023/06/are-you-clickable-author.html

 

Should Authors Blame Anyone For Book Marketing Failures?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2023/06/should-authors-blame-anyone-for-book.html

 

How Do Authors Reel Readers In?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2023/06/how-do-authors-reel-readers-in.html

 

Book Marketer Brian Feinblum Interviewed By Book Shepherd Cathy Fyock

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2023/05/book-marketer-brian-feinblum.html

 

About Brian Feinblum

Brian Feinblum should be followed on LinkedIn. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2023. 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 award-winning blog has generated over 3.3 million pageviews. With 4,400+ posts over the past dozen years, it 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 2021 and 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by www.WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” For the past three decades, including 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and two jobs at two independent presses, Brian has worked with many first-time, self-published, authors of all genres, right along with best-selling authors and celebrities such as: Dr. Ruth, Mark Victor Hansen, Joseph Finder, Katherine Spurway, Neil Rackham, Harvey Mackay, Ken Blanchard, Stephen Covey, Warren Adler, Cindy Adams, Todd Duncan, Susan RoAne, John C. Maxwell, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler. He recently hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America, and has spoken at ASJA, Independent Book Publishers Association Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, and Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. His letters-to-the-editor have been published in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Post, NY Daily News, Newsday, The Journal News (Westchester) and The Washington Post. He has been featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald. For more information, please consult: www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum.