I'm Not Famous ... Why Would Anyone Read My Book?

People have long had a fascination with the famous among us. From the early days of moving pictures, broadway shows, and sold-out baseball games or concerts, the “regular” people -- meaning those who paid to see others perform -- have always wondered what it would be like to be famous. You remember how the popular TV show, “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous,” gave us a glimpse into the daily activities of celebrities. That morphed into “Cribs,” “Real Housewives,” and other shows we now call “Reality TV,” where we get to see how famous folks live. 

Often, these celebrities write tell-all books that become bestsellers. And that causes would-be authors -- the regular people -- to believe that if they aren’t famous, their book will be a flop and end up on the shelves of their local Goodwill store with a $.25 cent price sticker. Bummer! Well, I’m here to tell you that you don’t have to be famous to be a successful author. What you need is a story, a hook, a platform, and a plan. 

Fame doesn’t guarantee the success of your book. Many a celebrity book has met with less than enthusiastic reception. HuffingtonPost has a roundup of some of the recent flops ... and trust me, there have been many, many more. So how does fame figure into your book project? Think about it this way, if writing a book was critical to being famous, the book would come first, right. We all knew of Paris Hilton before she wrote her tell-all flop, “Confessions of an Heiress: A Tongue-in-Chic Peak Behind the Pose.” I bet you’ve never heard of her book. Celebrities don’t become famous because they write a book. They’re famous first, and then they write the book in hopes of staying in the spotlight. 

Of course there are many famous authors. For real authors like Dean Koonz, Amy Tan, David Baldacci, Alice Walker, Anne Rice, Deepak Chopra, or John Grisham, fame came as a result of their books, not the other way around.  

People don’t buy your book because you’re famous. People buy your book because you can help them solve a problem, feel better, escape from reality, be more efficient, get rid of their “baggage,” live healthier, envision a better life, become more successful, learn something, get outside their comfort zone, etc. You get the picture. Your book is the answer to the question some people have asked themselves for years, or the answer to the question many never thought to ask, but now that you’ve brought it up in your book, hmmmm, that’s pretty interesting!

Although people are drawn to books by famous authors and celebrities, remember that bookshelves in libraries and bookstores, and listings on the websites of online booksellers are filled with books by lesser-known authors. And these are some great books! Well-known authors may have the advantage of name and fame, but there’s always room for more good books. 

So what’s my point? Get over the idea that you have to be famous to be a successful author. Get over the idea that your book will make you famous. If you want to be famous, learn to twist your body into a weird pose and then go on “America’s Got Talent.” If you want to be a great author, write ... don’t whine! 

Leverage Your Book By Giving It Away

We’ve all heard the saying that it’s better to give than to receive. Well, when it comes to your book, giving is one of the best ways to capitalize on your expertise. Hold your horses ... I’m not suggesting you scrap the idea of book sales and just give all of your books away. But giving away your book can mean extreme exposure, especially when you can leverage that giving to help achieve your ultimate goal. 

I tell authors all the time that book sales is but one measure of the success of your book. Ultimately, you should seek to leverage your book to achieve a broader goal, such as positioning yourself as an expert, promoting a cause, building your “A” list of prospects, or selling a higher priced product or service package. But you must be strategic in your giving. The whole idea behind giving your book away is to get to the next level. 

Here are four things to consider when giving away your book:

Sample: Everyone loves a sample, a taste, or a preview. Think about when you go to the big-box store for that one item that’s located way in the back of the building. You inevitably have to pass several sampling stations. It’s hard to resist: cheese, salsa, meatballs ... yummy! By the time you reach the item you came for, your basket is full of the other items you sampled. Sampling is a great way to earn followers, readers, clients, or buyers. As with any form of sampling, you are giving your audience a tidbit, a taste, an idea of what your book is all about. Sample your book by sharing excerpts on your website, reading from it at speaking engagements, turning sections into blog posts for your blog or for other popular industry blogs.  

Share: Give your book to industry icons and experts. When you read about a public figure who expresses an interest in the topic your book covers, send that person an autographed copy of your book. Perhaps you know of potential business partners who could add value to your business offering, or whose products or services are a good fit with yours. Send them a book as an introduction. Do you know of an event that needs “goodies” for their guests? Share your book with them, but make sure the audience is reflective of your ideal readers. Remember, you are being strategic with your giving.

Donate: There are hundreds of thousands of charitable and non-profit organizations that seek creative fundraising strategies. Why not make your book one of them? Select a time -- maybe around a specific national observance or a time of year -- and donate a portion (or all) of the proceeds from your book sales to a charity. Promote this on your website, blog, social media sites, and during your presentations. People generally feel good when they know they are contributing to a worthy cause, and this often spurs them to buy the book. One caveat: be sure to discuss this with and get permission from the organization before you begin this fundraising venture.

Distribute: Use creative distribution methods to get your book out. One great way is how you package your book. The Happy Meal is one of the best known package deals around. People like having things packaged together rather than sold separately, especially when there’s a nice little “goody” included. Make your book the goodie. Package your book with other products (yours or those of a partner who is an industry expert). Perhaps when potential customers or clients purchase a mid- or high-priced item, they get your book for free. Maybe when people respond to a query or survey, your book is their reward. Or perhaps, those who purchase your book are entered for a chance to win a valuable package. In this way, you can sell your book and upsell clients on your higher priced products and services. 

Beyond the bookstore appearances, book fairs and festivals, or listing with an online bookseller, there are so many other ways to gain visibility for your book. Be open to giving your book away. You might find that giving is one of the most strategic and effective forms of gaining exposure.

Do I Need A Literary Agent?

Self-publishing may be easy and affordable, and it’s certainly gaining respect within the publishing industry. With a good story, practically any author can have her book published and begin the process of marketing and promoting the book and the author. But there is another publishing option that authors might consider. 

If you believe your manuscript has what it takes to gain the attention of traditional publishers – you know, the big guys you hear about who operate from the hi-rise office buildings in New York City and force writers to produce under unbelievably tight deadlines with the promise of a sales and marketing dream team to help you make millions in the big leagues among the ranks of Michael Creighton, Toni Morrison, J. K. Rowling, and Stephen King (yeah, those guys) – you might consider hiring a literary agent. 

What is a literary agent? These are the people who represent authors to big publishers. They are often former authors themselves, who have been in the publishing business for years. Many have worked for large publishing houses, they know the marketplace and know what makes a successful book. They know what publishers are looking for, how to pitch manuscripts to publishers, and how to negotiate contracts for the benefit of the author and the publisher. Before you get too haughty and think, “heck, I could do that myself,” think again.

Oh sure, you could try pitching your manuscript to the big publishers with an immaculately produced book proposal. And then you could try your hand at negotiating a contract that ensures you, as the author, get every bit of what’s owed you, no strings attached – from a seven-figure advance to a whirlwind international book tour to film and foreign rights, and royalties that’ll keep you writing from your vacation villa in Tuscany for years to come. You do have the skill to pull that off, don’t you? Most likely you do not, and that’s okay; most authors don’t. That’s why those who aspire to be represented by a traditional publishing house typically use a literary agent.

Anyone can claim to be an agent, and there is no watchdog service to monitor potential scammers. A good agent will not need to advertise, will have a client list with recognizable author’s names that have been published through large traditional publishers (not with a vanity or subsidy press), will want a manuscript that has been professionally edited and is ready to go to press, and will not require payment from you. The agent’s job is to represent you and to find a publisher that will publish your book and pay the highest advance and royalties possible. After all, it is in the agent’s interest to find the best deal for you. The agent is your ally and a knowledgeable, experienced force to have on your team.

A literary agent has relationships with many large publishers, and will know the best company to publish your book. A good agent is well known and trusted by publishers and any book they recommend will often jump to the front of the line for the publisher’s attention. The agent acts as project manager for your book – negotiating contracts, managing the schedule, and earning anywhere from 10 to 20 percent of the royalties on the sale of your book. Before you gasp in horror, consider the work that a literary agent does on your behalf and you’ll realize that your gaining 80 percent of royalties is well worth having a literary advocate on your side.

Resources:

Guide to Literary Agents
GalleyCat
PublishersMarketplace

What Do Writers Read?

Umberto Eco, an Italian philosopher, literary critic, and novelist, was quoted in the UK Guardian (May 24, 2011): “I’m a writer, not an author.”

Can you imagine a chef never tasting another’s cooking? Or an artist never drinking in the beauty of another’s creation? What about a musician never listening to music of any kind? There is something about celebrating others who do what you do -- other writers, authors, experts, and authorities. By celebrating others and supporting their work, you gain a higher level of appreciation for the craft you are honing.

Oftentimes, writers think that if they read other books in the same genre or with a similar subject matter as theirs, that it will somehow taint their ability to write effectively. These writers are afraid that they might unwittingly incorporate the storyline, twist of suspense, phraseology, or other writing technique of another author. That is a fair concern. However, most often the reality is quite the contrary. 

Reading the works of other talented authors serves to sharpen your own writing style, your storytelling ability, and your grasp of the language. I get inspiration and satisfaction from reading an eclectic mixture of materials, including those in the same genres in which I write. Not only does reading feed my soul, it also builds my intellect and boosts my skills. 

So why should you read?

• Read for fun! As you read just for the sake of reading, you will subconsciously notice innuendos, twists in the tale, or attention-grabbing prose that will help sharpen your own writing style.
• Read to get new ideas. Even if the subject of the book you are reading now is not related to the book you are presently writing, you’ll still get fresh insights.
• Read to keep your mind sharp. Reading is never a waste of time – if you aren’t learning something constructive, you may still learn something NOT to do in your own writing.
• Read to enhance your knowledge and your conversation. Talking about an interesting book is always a good conversation starter – but don’t give away the ending!
• Read and write alternatively to find your own style. Experiment until you find what is natural to you.
• Read to expand your vocabulary. Make note of new or unfamiliar words you read. Practice using them in your own writing.
• Read for sheer enjoyment and entertainment. There is pleasure, relaxation, humor, suspense, drama, revelation, knowledge, and so much more to be found on the pages of a good book. Let reading become your preferred form of entertainment.

I agree with Charles W. Eliot who said, “Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.”

The Name Game

No matter how wonderful the content of your book may be, if it isn’t packaged with pizzazz, your book may never sell. What makes anyone pick up a book when browsing the bookshelf? Color and design play a big part, but the title is usually what catches anyone’s attention. When the title is intriguing, the reader is tempted to pick it up and turn to the back cover for more. 

How many words are too many when it comes to your book’s title? Is one word too short to get the message across or to pique the interest of readers? Although there is no tried and true formula for naming your book, you can learn a lot from studying other book titles. How do these popular book titles grab you?

The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration, by Isabel Wilkerson

One Drop: My Father’s Hidden Life – A Story of Race and Family Secrets, by Bliss Broyard

The Color Purple, by Alice Walker

It, by Stephen King

Think and Grow Rich, by Napoleon Hill

The Power of Intention: Learning to Co-create Your World Your Way, by Wayne Dyer

As a self-publisher, you have more control over your book’s title than if you were using a traditional publishing house. You also have 100 percent of the responsibility for knowing your ideal readers, what they want, and for developing a title that will attract them immediately.  

Keep these tips in mind as you mull over the Name Game:

Captivating  – Use your creativity to make the title stand out. Use double entendre, puns, or other grammatical tricks/gimmicks to make readers curious enough to pick up your book. Using rhyme or alliteration will also add interest.

Imaginative – Choose descriptive words for your book to evoke mental imagery and give readers a taste of what’s inside.

Informative – Use a subtitle to give a clear description of your book's content if the title doesn’t give an obvious meaning. You don’t want purchasers to think they are buying a cookbook, when the content is really about rocket science.

Target – Keep your target audience in mind. If your book is serious in tone, don’t use a title that is cute or funny. 

Test – Develop several possible book titles and invite friends, colleagues, or a sample group of your target audience to choose their favorite title. This informal survey could prove helpful in selecting a great title.  

A lot of brainstorming, creativity, and experimenting is involved in crafting a title that says the most in the fewest number of words. Apply these tips and stay committed to creating a title that let’s your book shout “Read me!”

Writing Mistakes to Avoid

Writing is a skill, it’s a talent, and some might even say it’s a gift. Still, there are others who would call writing a chore; and it can be if you have difficulty expressing yourself in print. For many authors, one of the most difficult parts of writing is keeping the content fresh and interesting for readers. In the effort to do so, authors sometimes develop habits that threaten the effectiveness of their content.

Most authors may be aware of some common writing mistakes to avoid, such as poor spelling, incorrect punctuation, and fragmented sentences. But have you considered these more obscure slip-ups that might prevent your book content from having the impact you want it to have?  

Repetitive catchwords. You know those favorite phrases or words that pop up repeatedly throughout your book. Most likely, you also use them when you speak. You might not notice them, but a good copy editor will. Avoid using these as a crutch. 

Redundancy. Using two words when only one will suffice. It sometimes takes a keen editing eye to catch these words.

Know the difference between show and tell. A descriptive sentence that tells what the reader sees can either make or break the scene. Instead of saying “a tall, blonde,” be specific and say “ a 6’2” willowy figure with hair flowing past her shoulders.” Play on the senses, so when readers close their eyes, they can envision what is being described. One word of warning: be stingy with your words when describing a character or scene. Less is more.

Dialogue. Sometimes, dialogue is used when narration or description would be better. In writing, the rule is to “Show, dont’ tell.” Avoing using dialogue as a crutch to describe a scene. Use dialogue to give insight into a character’s personality that will not be evident with description alone. 

Modern lingo. If you use current idioms, your book will quickly become outdated. “Neat” was a “cool” word in the 60s, but means nothing to today’s young folks.

To be or not to be. Avoid all forms of be (was, is, etc.). Instead use active, engaging verbs.

Too many words. Minimize extraneous material. If it has no direct relation to the plot, leave it out. Eliminate details that don’t enhance the story.

Character overload. Too many characters tend to clutter a story. It can be confusing and difficult for readers to keep up with a plethora of characters in any type of book. Keep it to a handful of well-developed characters.

Clichés. We’ve all heard them enough times. Be imaginative and make a tired cliché exciting.

Good writing takes practice. Keep at it, watch for the above common writing traps, and experience your writing gift evolving. The more you do it, the better you’ll become. 

Procrastination is a Thief

Procrastinate: to defer action; delay; to procrastinate until an opportunity is lost.

We’ve all done it. In fact, most people continuously do it. You know what I’m talking about. Procrastination. You put off for tomorrow – or next week or next month – what you really should be doing today. Sometimes you put it off forever. You delay, forget, avoid, and make excuses all to sidestep doing that thing you either need to or want to do, such as starting or completing your manuscript, getting published, or designing a publicity plan for your book. But why do you do it?

There many reasons why people procrastinate. I would venture to say that more often than not, those reasons are mental rather than tactical. It’s the thought of the thing that stops you in your tracks. You know how to do it and what it will take to complete the task, but you just can’t wrap your mind around getting started or getting it done. What are some of your mental blockers?

• Uncertainty: Are you unsure of the next step to take? Do you need help or information?
• Fear: Are you afraid of failure, success, the unknown, what “they” will think or say? Do you cringe at the thought of what will be expected of you when your book is complete? Are you afraid your next effort won’t compare to this one?
• Doubt: Do you doubt your ability or your expertise?
• Process: Do you focus more on the process than on your progress? Do you stumble mentally because you can’t envision the finished product and the results you want?

Moving beyond procrastination takes more than just “getting over it.” You really have to do some self work and determine which of the above blockers – or some other – is keeping you from accomplishing your goal. Think about your book project and the times you’ve procrastinated with it. At what point in the process did you stop moving forward? Was it during the planning, the writing, or some other part? Did you freeze up when trying to decide the main point of your book? Did you reach a point when you were not certain how to explain a concept or describe an incident? Did you get stuck when researching professional copy editors to review your content? Were you afraid you wouldn’t have enough money to complete the self-publishing process or to hire a publicist? Did you talk yourself out of approaching an organization to inquire about speaking to their membership about your book? What was it?

Next, determine the behaviors you typically exhibit when you procrastinate. Do you hoard, avoid phone calls, focus on busy work, overindulge in social media sites, go shopping, watch television, nap, eat, drink alcohol, or do something else? Identifying your avoidance behaviors is critical to stopping the cycle of procrastination. Most often, you know when you’re procrastinating, but you fill your time so thoroughly with other activities that you convince yourself that doing those things is more important than accomplishing the goal of completing your book.

The next time you find yourself procrastinating, stop. Consider why you are procrastinating and notice the behaviors in which you’re indulging. Then, consider these tips to help you move beyond procrastination and into progress.

Envision
Think about the grand goals you have for your book project. How will you feel once your book content is complete, expertly edited, professionally designed and printed, and in your hand as a finished product? How exciting will it be to speak to audiences about your book, to sign copies in the back of the room, to fulfill bulk orders, to get more business, to make more money, to donate proceeds to charities, to inspire other authors, to live the life of your dreams?

Break your project into smaller, manageable tasks

Maybe you put off writing because it’s such a huge project that you feel there’s no way you can ever complete it. Split the project into achievable milestones, and mark off your progress along the way. Set weekly goals. Decide on one of the following: how many words, pages, or chapters you will write each week.

Make an appointment with yourself

To help you stay on track with your milestones, schedule writing appointments with yourself – and stick to them. You would think twice before breaking an appointment with a friend, colleague or professional. Give yourself and your book project the same respect and priority.

Stay focused

When you sit down to plan, write, or make contact with people who can help with your book project, stay focused. It’s tempting to check email, review a news site, text someone, or browse your favorite social media sites – and you can still do those things ... as soon as you accomplish what you set out to do. Remain focused on the activity at hand. Do not become burdened with feelings of depravity, thinking that if you work on your book now you won’t be able to do other things. Staying focused on your objective and completing the task can actually relieve you of stressful feelings about other, less important activities.

Be accountable

Find a friend or family member to give you the support you need to stay on track. Is it words of encouragement, a firm taskmaster, a listening ear, an honest reviewer, or a reality checker that you need most? Tell your accountability partner what you’ll need him/her to do along the way. Be honest and check in regularly. Your partner should be strong yet loving enough to keep you on course.

Take breaks

Allow downtime in your schedule for resting. Burnout is a real possibility if your timeline is too rigid. But don’t take breaks that are too long because it may be hard to get back into your routine.

Give yourself a break

As tempting as it may be, don’t berate yourself for procrastinating. If you miss a deadline, or get off schedule, pick yourself up and head for the next milestone. Life happens and things come up that sometimes get you off track. But keep your vision in mind and you’ll find it easier to accomplish your goals.