Many writers believe in
their ability to pen a very good book. They may have quirky hangups and
insecurities in other aspects of their life, but they know they can write and
manipulate a sequence of words to say something profound, funny, shocking,
inspirational, or instructional. But what happens when writers meet other
talented writers and see their competition up close? What happens when they
read other great books from their contemporaries?
They either get humbled, maybe even depressed to
learn that they are not superior to other elite writers. Or, they get motivated
by the competition and work harder, longer, and smarter to rise up to the
occasion. Either way, there comes some level of acknowledgment that there is a
greatness spectrum, and you are but a point on it, and not at the very top of
it.
Here is something to chew on. There were three
million new book releases last year. If you think you are better than 90
percent of them, that still leaves 300,000 books that are better than yours. If
one reads 300 books a year — almost one a day — it will take 1000 years — or a
dozen lifetimes — for them to get to your book. After reading the 300,000
better books (and that is if they ignore the 1000 years of producing another 300
million better books).
Ok, let’s say you are better than 99 percent of
what was published last year. That still leaves 30,000 books ahead of yours.
It is time for a reality check: Are you as good
as you think you are? Can you take steps to do more, be better?
Now, whatever you do to be a better writer, even
if you do pen the very best book in the world, will mean little unless your
book marketing is executed effectively. In fact, better book marketing can even
help books that are good, but not great. It is a powerful equalizer.
To succeed as a writer the formula is: Merely write
a good book and market like crazy. The sooner you understand and embrace your
reality, the quicker —and better equipped — you will be able to pursue the
fulfillment of your goals.
Look at other aspects of life where one can’t
just rely on a natural talent to experience fulfillment. Women who feel
insecure with their looks or body will work harder in bed to please their man.
Some good-looking women can be sexually lazy. Same is true for guys who aren’t
packing the biggest gun. They will work harder to service their women by other
means, while stud-looking guys won’t even think to go the extra mile to make
sure she feels satisfied.
Or, take your job as an example. Being smart or
skilled in one area may get you so far at work, but you need to make an extra
effort to befriend your boss, volunteer for extra work, or help make a
colleague better in order for managers to see you as worthy of a promotion. In
other words, being great at what you do may not be enough; you have to do more
in ways that you may not have even thought were important.
I started playing pickleball in the fall, taking
a weekly class of instruction and play for beginners. I quickly became one of
the best players in the group. Ok, I was being modest. I was a monster out
there, winning almost every game no matter who I partnered with. I felt like I
was good enough to play against anybody. So, I moved up to a higher level.
I discovered I was only better or as good as
half the group — and inferior to the rest. It is going to take more practice,
better execution, and a savvier strategy to beat those who outplay me. I am up
for the challenge. But it was a reality check to suddenly come upon a wall and
realize I will need to do more to break through.
Just how good of a writer are you? How about
your book marketing prowess? Start making the changes that you will need to
advance to another level.
Do You Need Book Marketing & PR Help?
Brian
Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning blog, with over four million page
views, can be reached at brianfeinblum@gmail.com He is available to help authors like you to promote your
story, sell your book, and grow your 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!
About Brian
Feinblum
This
award-winning blog has generated over four million pageviews. With 5,000+ 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.” Copyright
2025.
For
the past three decades, Brian Feinblum has helped thousands of authors. He
formed his own book publicity firm in 2020. Prior to that, for 21 years as the
head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and as the director
of publicity 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.
His
writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s
The Independent (https://pubspot.ibpa-online.org/article/whats-needed-to-promote-a-book-successfully).
He
hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America several years ago, and
has spoken at ASJA, BookCAMP, Independent Book Publishers Association Sarah
Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association,
Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, Morgan James Publishing, and
Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. He served as a judge for the
2024 IBPA Book Awards.
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. His first published book was The
Florida Homeowner, Condo, & Co-Op Association Handbook. It
was featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald.
Born
and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids,
and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog, and El Chapo, a pug rescue dog.
You
can connect with him at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum/ or https://www.facebook.com/brian.feinblum
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