August is dedicated to new authors.
New Author Tip#1: Please don’t expect to get rich tomorrow.
There’s a big misconception going around that if you self-publish a book you will have overnight success on your launch day, and have thousands of sales, and can take four vacations a years, buy a house and quit your day job.
While I wish this was true, it is not.
Most of the self-published authors I know (including myself), are on the marketing and promotional grind—daily, hourly. Why? Because writing doesn’t generally make you stacks and stacks of money. There are some exceptions to the rule. But unless you are one of the 1% that strike a chord with OWN network and somehow end up on Oprah’s reading list, then keep your day job or your business in full operation. Write for the message, for the love, for the experience, for the potential opportunities and write to YES make a profit but to also make a change in the hearts and minds of your readers.
If you are considering self-publishing your works, it is true that sites like Amazon, Smash words, Create space, Lulu.com, Lightning Source and Barnes & Noble make becoming an independent author much easier. Yes, you can now self-publish your books and have as much visibility to the public as Jack Canfield. But you still have to do the marketing, and you still have to write a quality book. Key words are marketing and quality. You have to start to develop your reader fan base ASAP.
Self publishing is about hitting a trend while it’s hot and riding that trend till the wheels fall off, or in our case until the words fall off the pages. The book is like your business card, your access key to really make the big bucks. So when considering your first or third book, consider the trend, the reader fan base and position you want the book to place you in when published.
May 21st was my book launch, I sold thousands of copies but the real work started 6 months before the release and now I am on double time positioning my book in a way to set me up for government contracts, workshops and empowerment trainings. The Road to Redemption is not paying the mortgage, the contracts I receive while I am on the road to redemption is.
Set your expectations and intentions right at the start, everything else will just flow.
Resource: www.shewrites.com (great community to be a part of)
Want to be a part of the next Write It Already 6 week workshop that starts in September sign up now by clicking here.
Written by : Lucinda Cross
Amen and amen again! I like to add that self-publishing is a marathon race.For those who are seeking to be writers self-publishing is a tremendous way to get your foot in the door of publishers who are positioned to pay high six and seven figure contracts. I’ve been on the phone with publishers since releasing my book discussing my plans for the next book. No big deal (yet) but that is the goal. It’s a launch pad – an expensive, one lol but a wonderful one. Getting the attention of colleges who are seeking career materials, teaching at schools etc where as Ms. Cross states is the contracts that pay the mortgage and pay for vacations.
Ms. Cross is an example of how this works – speaking gigs coming to you that you didn’t send proposals for, TV, radio appearances and fans asking or begging you “what’s next! I’m ready to spend more” for your knowledge.
Brava!
-K
You are a gem and a best selling one at that. I am looking forward to your next book.
Thanks Lucinda, great advice!