No author plans to fail; what he or she does is fail to plan.
-Judith Briles
Snappy Sassy Salty-Wise Words for Authors and Writers
Goals-identify them … a good thing to do for any author who wants to be seriously successful!
A few “authoring and publishing” years ago, I completed and published Snappy Sassy Salty: Wise Words for Authors and Writers. It still stands as one of favorites. Why? Because it is woven with quotations to kick-start and propel authors and writers forward. The goose many of us need to rejuice ideas, add inspiration, get motivated, to move forward … the list is endless.
This week launches a New Year … one that countless millions have been praying, wishing, doing almost anything to cross into. It’s a year that so many have “hope” for–be it personal, professional, healthwise, for the community–you name it, the word “hope” is at its core.
If you are going to succeed in this writing, authoring, publishing arena, you need to be kick-started and refueled to propel forward. That means YOU.
Most of us have resolutions at this time of the year, loaded with good intentions. By mid-January, they begin to dwindle. Most likely, when February hits, they become nothingness.
Let’s not do that. First, start with realism. Not pie-in-the-sky … reaching to stuff that is more fantasy and fiction vs. “yes, this can happen” approach. Becoming a best-seller is totally possible; being a best-seller on Amazon is totally possible; earning book awards–sure; getting in front of media is totally possible; having an awesome book event is totally possible; speaking at an event and selling lots of books is totally possible. Is being on the New Times bestseller list possible? Maybe … probable … hmm, most likely not. It’s time to get real and start adding “notches” to your pushing achievements.
Being realistic is critical to tying in with success for you and your book. It’s goal-setting time …
To set you and your book into a positive book strategy mindset for 2021, here are a few tips.
1 Be realistic. You might want your book to sell 20,000 copies … do you have a Game Plan in place to initiate and support it. Do you have the time to support it? Do you have the energy? Do you have the network? If not, perhaps it’s not a realistic goal for you right now.
Stop living your fears … live your dreams. If you believe your book will be successful, it’s the first step. – Snappy Sassy Salty
2 Determine if your Goals are measureable and make them so they are. Don’t be vague or up in the air. Put numbers, facts by them. Don’t say “Get on TV” or “Sell more books.” State what TV show you will get on … how many books you will sell (a specific number).
3 Get a Goal Pal. Someone you connect with once a week…a someone who will help hold you accountable and be an encourager as well.
4 Create a visual Goal Board. Write yours down. It’s time to get the sticky notes out and start noodling ideas.
5 Create an Action Plan for you and your book. Once you get these in writing, “ahas” happen. It is also a crucial and realistic checkpoint.
6 Review as the year flows. Tweak here and there. If they have become unrealistic, move them off your Goal Board and let your Goal Pal know. Stay on track.
7 Revisit your Goals. Record your accomplishments as the year progresses. It keeps you “goosed” and IDs what’s working … and what is not.
8 Celebrate when you achieve a Goal. And here’s the fun part… you design the celebration around what you want to do.
Ta Dah! Here’s to reaching all of your personal and book marketing goals in 2021!
Wake up. Kick ass. Repeat. Don’t you love it? –Snappy Sassy Salty
Judith Briles is known as The Book Shepherd, the Author and Publishing expert and the Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of AuthorYOU, a membership organization created for the author who wants to be seriously successful. She’s been writing about and conducting workshops on publishing since the 80s and is known as The Book Shepherd. Judith is the author of 37 books including her latest, When God Says NO-Revealing the YES When Adversity and Loss Are Present. Her other books for authors and publishing include: How to Create a $1,000,000 Speech, Author YOU: Creating Your Book and Author Platforms, Snappy Sassy Salty … Wise Words for Authors and Publishers, The Authors and Writers Guide to CrowdFunding, How to Avoid 101 Book Publishing Blunders, Bloopers & Boo-Booso — all are available on Amazon. Join Judith live on Thursdays for the AuthorU – Your Guide to Book Publishing podcast on the Toginet radio network and available on 9 podcasting platforms. To date, over 4,000,000 downloads have been heard. ListenHERE.