The Author Success Formula in 8 Steps
Step 1 – Know Your Genre and Who the Top Sellers and Influencers Are … It Excels Your Learning Curve
Author Success starts with knowing who the top writers and influencers are in their genre. Read them; follow their blogs and social media; attend signings and programs that feature them when possible.
Step 2 –Business Embrace that Authoring and Writing is an Ongoing Learning Process … Always
Author Success is supported with being smart. Get, read and use Stephen King’s On Writing for insight; William Zinsser’s On Writing Well for how to; Robert McKee’s Story for fiction; Helen Sedwick’s Self-Publishers Legal Handbook for smarts; Judith Briles’ Snappy Sassy Salty for inspiration.
Step 3 – Understand that Publishing is a Business … Treat It As One
Author Success comes from grasping that book publishing isn’t a hobby … it has a business plan; a marketing plan; and a P&L. If you are going to be a dabbler, you will get dabbler results.
Step 4 – Show Up and Connect with Other Authors … Support and Encouragement Understand that
Author Success requires you to participate via writer and publishing conferences; in author gatherings in your community; with where your “readers” hang out; plus where “book buyers” are. And it means you “give”—share your insights and ahas.
Step 5 – Get Help … Savvy Authors Know that They Can’t Do It All
Author Success is not a solo effort. Yes, you kicked it off with your words, stories, insights, and solutions. Remember …* you aren’t an expert in all areas—get help. My advice: don’t do well what you have no business doing.
Step 6 – Embrace Marketing … It’s a Marathon, Not a Sprint
Author Success engages in the marathon approach of book marketing versus the sprint mentality. It is easy to do a one-time book launch. Success comes with the ongoing connecting, reaching out, learning how to pitch, maintaining visibility that creates the author and book home runs.
Step 7 – Speak on Your Book and Your Expertise … It Sells Books (lots)
Author Success rolls out as you connect with groups, organizations, clubs—you name it—that have you speak to members. In-person connecting is the #1 way to move books from the case to a buyer’s hands. Attend my annual Speaking Unplugged event—two days of the how to and where to get gigs.
Step 8 – Keep Writing … Your Next Book
Author Success requires your ongoing words—blogs, ezines, social media … and more books. Otherwise, you become invisible.
Judith Briles is a book publishing expert and coach. She empowers authors and works directly with authors who want to be seriously successful and has been writing about and conducting workshops on publishing since the ’80s. Judith is the author of 36 books including Author YOU: Creating and Building Your Author and Book Platforms (Foreword IndieFab Book of the Year), Snappy Sassy Salty: Wise Words for Authors and Writers and a speaker at publishing conferences. How to Avoid 101 Book Publishing Blunders, Bloopers & Boo-Boos has earned 7 national book awards in 2017. Book #36, How to Create a $1,000,000 Speech is one you want now and just out!
Each summer, she holds Judith Briles Book Publishing Unplugged Bootcamp, a three-day intensive limited to a small group of authors who want to be seriously successful. In 2019, the dates are June 20-22. Participate in her Judith Briles Speaking Unplugged Bootcamp held in March and November. Join Judith live on Thursdays at 6 p.m. EST for “AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing” on the Toginet Network at bit.ly/PublishingShow.
Follow @AuthorU and @MyBookShepherd on Twitter and do a “Like” at AuthorU, and join the Facebook group Book Publishing with The Book Shepherd. If you want to create a book that has no regrets, contact Judith at Judith@Briles.com.
The Book Shepherd™