No author plans to fail; what he or she does is fail to plan. -Snappy Sassy Salty by Judith Briles
When I completed Snappy Sassy Salty: Wise Words for Authors and Writers, it was woven with quotations to kick-start and propel you forward. If you are going to succeed in this writing, authoring, publishing arena, you need to be kick-started and refueled to propel your forward.
Most of us have resolutions at this time of the year, loaded with good intentions. By mid-January, they begin to dwindle.
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 Kindle best-seller is totally possible; being a best-seller on Amazon is totally possible; 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 best-seller list possible? Maybe … probable … hmm, not so sure. Necessary…no.
If you don’t know where you are going, you’ve chosen to go nowhere. Any road will do. – Snappy Sassy Salty
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 2014, here are a few tips.
1 Be realistic. You might want your book to sell 20,000 copies … do you have a GamePlan 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 special amount of percentage increase).
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.
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 2014! Now, benchmark, track and see how you do.
Wake up. Kick ass. Repeat. Don’t you love it? -Snappy Sassy Salty
Judith Briles is known as The Book Shepherd a book publishing expert and coach. She 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 31 books including Author YOU: Creating and Building Your Author and Book Platforms, Snappy Sassy Salty: Wise Words for Authors and Writers and a speaker at publishing conferences.
Become part of her inner circle by joining the Author’s Ark and exclusive monthly webinar and coaching event. 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 http://tinyurl.com/AuthorURadio . Follow @AuthorU and @MyBookShepherd on Twitter and do a “Like” at AuthorU and TheBookShepherd on Facebook. If you want to create a book that has no regrets, contact Judith at Judith@Briles.com.