In April, I will have my next book available: How to Avoid Book Publishing Blunders, Bloopers and Boo-Boos. One, by one, I’ll reveal all 101 of them … below is your next Tip for this week:
Avoid AFS – Author Fatigue Syndrome: Get a Virtual Assistant
What is your time worth? What do you love to do and what do you want to avoid like the plague? Start making a list and then open yourself up to hiring a “task doer” to bring some sanity to your authoring life. A Virtual Assistant—one that takes over the tasks you either don’t have time to do, don’t know how to do or don’t want to do—becomes a pain and stress releaser.
The more time authors spend on tasks that frustrate them or are not a strength, the more time authors are taking away from writing their book, marketing their book, building their brand, selling their book … or just taking some time off.
Having a Virtual Assistant—a VA—may be one of the best investments you make. He or she make take over your social media; handle all the technology side; assist your with creating blogs, articles, newsletters, slides, flyers—you name it, skills you need are all buyable. You want to partner with one that allows you to focus on your strengths and achieve successful results faster. And “partnering” is the right word. A VA becomes a sounding board for new ideas and new tools. At your side—whether across town or on the other side of the world.
Tip: Make sure you interview “deeply” for a VA you are interested in engaging. Get pricing; how they work (does it match how you work); their accessibility; what their skill level is (knowing social media and technology are musts—the question is: what types of technology are a fit for what you do?); and they should be adept in using WordPress for your website. Before your interview, make a list of all the things you currently do that you would like to pass to another to do for you (be reasonable—the VA isn’t going to cook and clean).
I’ve done several podcasts on how to work with VAs. Here’s one of my favorites from the AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing radio show: http://bit.ly/AuthorVAs. It is loaded with “tips” on what to ask a potential VA in your interview.
Source: How to Avoid Book Publishing Blunders, Bloopers and Boo-Boos by Judith Briles©2016.
Judith Briles is a book publishing expert and coach. She empowers authors and is the Founder of Author U, a 
membership organization created for the serious author who wants to be seriously successful. She’s been writing about and conducting workshops on publishing since the 80s. Judith is the author of 34 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. Book #34 was published this summer: The CrowdFunding Guide for Authors & Writers. Get your copy.
Become part of her inner circle by joining the Author’s Ark and exclusive monthly webinar and coaching event. Each summer, she holds Judith Briles Book Publishing Unplugged, a three day intensive limited to a small group of authors who want to be seriously successful. In 2016, the dates are June 23-25th. Her audio and workbook series, Creating Your Book and Author Platform is now available. Join Judith live on Thursdays at 6 p.m. EST for Author U – 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 Judith Briles – TheBookShepherd on Facebook. If you want to create a book that has no regrets, contact Judith at Judith@Briles.com.
Author U is a non-profit membership organization dedicated to the author who wants to be seriously successful. Monthly education programs delivered face-to-face and online, The Author Resource ezine, BookCamps and the annual Author U Extravaganza are tools designed for authors pre, during and post publishing of their books. Join AuthorU.org today.
If you are looking for FREE author and book coaching … call in to Judith’s Author Monday Mornings at NOON Eastern each Monday. The number is 218-632-9854; Access Code 1239874444 … have your questions ready–there’s a full hour to ask and listen.