| Have you started your book yet? No. Don't | | | | encourage yourself. |
| think about it any longer. You know the | | | | |
| words; now say it with me. Just do it! With | | | | Keep it nearby to inspire you. Remember, book |
| the right focus and information, you can | | | | covers are the number one selling point of a |
| successfully begin, complete and even publish | | | | book. Of course, in the beginning this is |
| YOUR book within a few months this year. | | | | only a working cover. Nevertheless it will |
| | | | help crystallize your thoughts and propel you |
| More and more people are successfully | | | | toward the fulfillment of your dream. You |
| completing their books in less time. Even | | | | have 10 seconds or less to impress your |
| your competitors are getting it done. Why not | | | | potential readers to buy. |
| join them. Here's seven tips to kick start | | | | |
| writing your book: | | | | Look around the bookstores and the internet |
| | | | to get a few ideas. Look for the covers most |
| 1. Make your mark in the world with a | | | | suited for your audience. Choose colors that |
| significant book. | | | | attract them. For instance, consider red and |
| | | | blue for business books; aqua, yellow, and |
| Many hopeful authors tremble in their tracks | | | | shades of red work for personal growth books. |
| wondering if their book will sell. That's a | | | | Even so, avoid too much red; it makes some |
| good question. Who wants to invest time or | | | | feel suspicious. |
| money into a sinking ship? Don't be afraid; | | | | |
| here's how to test your book's significance. | | | | 5. Develop the back cover as a sales message |
| | | | before you write chapter one. |
| You can know your book is significant if it | | | | |
| presents useful information, answers | | | | This benefit driven outline helps give your |
| important reader questions, and impacts | | | | book direction and helps you focus on what's |
| people for the good. If it's entertaining or | | | | really important to your readers. Most books |
| funny it could go further than you imagined. | | | | will only allow for 50-75 words. That gives |
| | | | you less than 20 seconds to impress your |
| It's significant, if it creates a deeper | | | | prospective reader. Make this message |
| understanding of animals, humanity or this | | | | passionate. Focus only what sells: |
| world. With one to three of these elements | | | | testimonials (reader, expert and famous), a |
| your book is worth writing. More than three, | | | | benefit driven headline to hook the reader to |
| it has potential of making great sales and | | | | open the book and read the table of contents, |
| even to best seller status. Now, get started; | | | | and bulleted benefits. |
| write your book and make the world a better | | | | |
| place. | | | | 6. Compose your book's 60 second "billboard" |
| | | | before you begin writing. |
| 2. Find out who will buy your book and sell | | | | |
| it to them. | | | | Have you noticed a billboard lately? You only |
| | | | have a few seconds to get it as you drive by. |
| When you give your book a specific audience, | | | | So, the information is distilled into sound |
| it will hit the mark of good sales. Best | | | | bytes to be effective. Make your 2-3 sentence |
| seller books focus on a single topic per | | | | book blurbs into sound bytes. Like a |
| book. When you aim at one audience at a time, | | | | billboard where you only have a few seconds |
| each tip, each story or how-to will be more | | | | to get your message across, condense your |
| effective. Point your message to someone | | | | sound byte into a 60 second tell and sell. |
| specific and you gain a competitive edge on | | | | |
| many book writers. For many authors just | | | | Use your mini billboard at networking |
| shoot their book out to the world without | | | | meetings, in the elevator, in the grocery |
| aim. | | | | line, anywhere you only have a few seconds to |
| | | | tell about your book. Composing your ad |
| It would be helpful to create an audience | | | | should include your title and 3 top benefits. |
| profile. Are your potential readers male or | | | | |
| female? How old are they? Are they interested | | | | 7. Write your publishing goals down for your |
| in topic? What problems do they face? Are | | | | book. |
| they business people or professionals? Are | | | | |
| they techies or non-techies? Are they willing | | | | Will you self-publish or shop for a |
| to spend $15-20 on a book like yours? Do this | | | | traditional publish? There are serious pros |
| and you're on your way to selling more books | | | | and cons for either method. Find out the |
| than you dreamed. | | | | differences so you can make an educated |
| | | | choice that suits you. If you are |
| 3. Write your book's central thought and | | | | self-publishing, consider the POD technology |
| support it with your book. | | | | for your book. There are lots of good choices |
| | | | that will publish your book for you at an |
| Did you cringe at the words (thesis) central | | | | affordable price. |
| thought? For some, it brought back memories | | | | |
| of school days and writing essays. No | | | | If you are opting for a traditional |
| worries, a thesis simply means the main | | | | publisher, get an agent and a contract before |
| central thought of the book. Make sure your | | | | writing the book. Then shop agents and |
| main central thought includes the greatest | | | | publishers with 2 chapters and a knock-out |
| benefit to your book reader and you're done. | | | | book proposal. Invest in one of the current |
| | | | market guides and research the best fit for |
| In other words, it should answer your | | | | your work. It raises your chances |
| audiences' question, "How will this book | | | | considerably if you know what kind of |
| help, encourage or solve my problem for me?" | | | | manuscripts a particular company is looking |
| Write the thesis before you write the book | | | | for. |
| and stay on the path of focused, powerful yet | | | | |
| easy to read content. | | | | I admit it; getting started writing a book |
| | | | can be challenging to most. Even so, it |
| All chapters support your book's main | | | | doesn't have to stay that way. You can do |
| concept. For "Win with the Writer Inside," | | | | like the author did; use the ten tips above |
| the thesis is "How to write, complete, and | | | | and kick start writing your book. Start |
| publish your best book fast." The top selling | | | | today; complete and release your significant |
| titles often include the main thought in some | | | | message to the world. Then jump around, get |
| form. | | | | excited for it won't be long before we see |
| | | | your name in print! |
| 4. Make an inspiration cover early to | | | | |