You know you want to write a book. I can help.
I don’t have a dresser.
My clothes are in a stack of boxes, turned on their side, tops toward the bed. Big ones below, smaller ones above.
More than one person has offered a dresser, but I still don’t have one, for the same reason Terry and Virgie still don’t have kitchen chairs.
… more … “And Here’s Why “Good Enough” is Killing You”
Control over launching. Nobody has to wait to be picked.
Control over quality. You choose the editor, cover designer, interior layout, marketing. All of it.
Control over profits. You have a hope of affecting sales by the other things you control.
Expectation. Publishing a non-fiction is rapidly becoming an expectation for an entrepreneur. I frequently ask folks who’ve shared something brilliant “Where can I buy your book?”
Next question: When are you going to do something about it?
(Because this is such a short post, I’m including an incredibly cute photo of my Little One from a long time ago.)
It’s terrifying, sharing your art with other people for the first time. I remember one of the earliest songs I wrote for my Best Beloved, who practically worships the water I walk on, so a positive response was essentially guaranteed.
Fail. Couldn’t do it. I had to sit in a chair around the corner so I couldn’t see her while I sang. (I’d done pub gigs where I played and sang for 4 hours, so it’s not shyness, believe me.)
How on earth can you ever share your art with a critique group? You know, those people who think you want their feedback?
… more … “Critique Groups: Be Afraid?”
I had a lengthy conversation about publishing. My half seems to make sense even without the questions, so I’m posting it here.
If you’re ready to even talk about getting your book out of the “someday” box, well, let’s talk, eh?
Both Tchaikovsky and Somerset Maugham are credited with saying “I write when inspiration strikes. Fortunately, it strikes every morning at 9:00 when I sit down at my desk.”
There’s an excellent book by Dr. Richard Wiseman, The As If Principle. Research shows that when we behave as if we believe something, we begin to believe it. When we behave as if we have a quality, we develop it.
Set a schedule you can keep, and keep it. It’s the single strongest way to build the writing habit.
Now, what most people do is go off and plan to write 3 hours a day, 7 days a week. That lasts about 4 minutes.
… more … “Building the Writing Habit”
Want more time for writing?
Stop doing other stuff.
Nearly everyone suggest that you can write more by sleeping less. In a society of sleep-deprived zombies, it’s the dumbest advice there is.
… more … “How Can I Find Time for My Writing?”
I’ve been a web developer for almost 25 years, so this is not simply from the perspective of an author, though I have published 18 books so far and show no signs of stopping.
An author without a website and blog is like any other business without a website.
The first place people go for information these days is the web. If you’re considering a new mechanic, and this one has a good website and the other has nothing, don’t you lean toward the one you can find out about online?
… more … “Why Authors Must Have a Blog”
Head on over to the NFAA blog and read my article about how to review a book.
Dan Pink shared 4 lessons from Manage Your Day-to-Day in his newsletter. Number 1 has been on my radar since a recent chat with Mark McGuinness (who wrote one section of the book.)
“The single most important change you can make in your working habits is to switch to creative work first, reactive work second. This means blocking off a large chunk of time every day for creative work on your own priorities, with the phone and e-mail off.”
I posted the graphic a couple days ago. Here’s the detail:
… more … “Planning My Days Around Willpower”
I find this attitude so very frustrating.
Do not wait to be picked.
Do not wear rejection slips like badges of honor.
Most of all, sweet merciful heavens, do not go to your grave wishing you’d been allowed to write your book.
You do not need permission. There is no gate, only an open field awaiting all those with the good sense and courage to venture into it.
Don’t let fear dictate to your dreams.
