10 Excuses for NOT Authoring an eBook!
Most people at one time or another have said to themselves, "Someday I'd like to write a book." or "I only wish that someone would write a book about ______." or "I think there would be a lot of people who would be interested in what I have to share about _____ ."Before the existence of eBooks (electronic books), writing and publishing a book would have been a daunting task. Not so with the marriage of creative writing and eBook technology. eBooks make writing a book relatively easy, affordable, and doable without the need to sell your sole to the publishing devils!eBooks have advantages that standard books do not. The author can control the entire process from creating to writing to publishing to marketing to sales. eBooks have only a reasonable investment involved in their production and distribution. eBooks provide passive income; a positive reputation as an author; tax breaks as a self-employed entrepreneur; the ability to target niche markets that otherwise would never be considered by standard publishers; act as catalysts for further sales of products and services; access to a world-wide market 24/7; a boost to personal and professional self-esteem; and for many, a fulfillment of a life-long dream ? authoring an eBook.Despite all the advantages to writing an eBook, only some of them listed above, there will always be individuals who like to make excuses for not doing what they really want to do.With tongue firmly planted in cheek, here are some excuses for not writing an eBook that are really very good reasons for experiencing the adventure known as the eBook authoring journey.The following 10 excuses are presented in no particular order of importance. They are part of a much longer list.Excuse # 1I crave anonymity. I like being the "unknown wannabe author". Who needs fame anyway! I'd rather be nameless and faceless in the crowd. I've never made a name for myself so why start now!Okay, whoever you are! This excuse speaks to several attitudes prevalent among those not seeing the true value of becoming a published author. Bringing positive attention to oneself doing something that others will appreciate is a powerful incentive to discard that cloak of anonymity and step in to a world of "niche recognition". Do it for others. Do it for you. Seek fame among the "minority" (and maybe fortune too).Excuse # 2Money isn't everything you know. I've got enough money so the opportunity to make residual income with relatively little work on my part holds no particular allure.Okay, Donald Trump, we get the message! Even Donald, with all his money, recognizes that making money is a worthwhile endeavor. Finding ways that can meet your needs at a personal/professional level and combining them with making money is the true "entrepreneurial spirit" upon which civilizations have prospered. But I get carried away! There is nothing wrong with making a profit being one of your motivations for writing an eBook!Excuse # 3Nobody helped me get to where I am today. I didn't learn anything from mentors who helped me. I didn't read anything written by experts in the field who acted like mentors to me. I did it all by myself so others can do the same thing.Are you serious? What about all those text books and self-help books you read? What about owners' manuals, special interest classes, supervisor's assistance, courses and training sessions, colleagues?? "No man is an island." You didn't get to where you are today without the help of others. eBooks are an opportunity to give back to that pool of attitudes, skills and knowledge that you learned from others and add to it your unique insights, experiences, and reflections. Leave a legacy of your accumulated wisdom for others. What you give comes back a hundred fold!Excuse # 4I just don't have that entrepreneurial spirit. Being self-employed with all its tax breaks and income after retirement is just not "real" for me.Everybody has an entrepreneurial spirit. Remember those childhood days when you sold "Kool-Aid" at the curbside to the guys who were putting in the sewers. You loved collecting all that money. And spending it. eBook authoring is much the same. Only the profits will be after expenses not without expenses like in the "Kool-Aid" experience where Mom and Dad supplied the capital. Not like the "Kool-Aid" days. The world of small business (eCommerce) is a fascinating place to be. It teaches you an appreciation for so much that goes on behind the scenes of our commerce system. It makes you an active player. It's exciting.Excuse # 5I'm not passionate about anything. I have trouble carrying on a conversation about things I feel passionate about so I know I can't write an eBook. After all, if I can't talk I can't write!Think back to the last time you got an opportunity to talk about something you really care about. Was it your hobby or interest, your project at work, a 'cause' that is beneficial to others, an event currently in the news, a life-long pursuit, a 'calling'?? There are few among us who don't have at least one thing about which we are passionate. About which we could talk forever. If you can talk about it, you can write about it. eBooks are informal in nature and conversational in form. All you need is a niche market of people like yourself who share your passion. Passion makes good eBook authors.Excuse # 6There is already too much information out there! Information is the same today as it was yesterday. Nothing really changes. It's the same old, same old, all the time.Where have you been? The Internet is viewed as the source of information in the information age. Combine the information age with the technological advances and you create tremendous problems. People are busier and more productive today than they have ever been. So what's the problem that eBooks can solve? With your experience, you can sort through the over-abundance of information and help direct that information to solving your niche market's problems saving them time, effort and money. And they are more than willing to pay you for this! Use the Internet and eBook technology to reach those who appreciate it most ? on the Internet. With eBook technology, updating information is easy and affordable making your eBook a living, growing document.Excuse # 7I have nothing new to add to the subject of my interest ? no new material, attitudes, experiences, problem-solving approaches, information, philosophies, theories, perspectives, knowledge, skills, attitudes? nothing!Do you really believe that? Are you not a unique individual? Do your unique experiences not bring something new to the subject? Think back to when you first became interested in the topic for your eBook. Think about your journey to where you are presently. Think about others and their journeys which may be just beginning or are being bogged down and need some rejuvenation. What can you offer to these people? How have your successes been forged? Shouldn't others know how you did it? Your USP (Unique Selling Proposition) is what makes you different from others. It's not that information isn't available - it's just that your uniqueness in sharing your information is what others want and need.Excuse # 8I'm not up to the challenges. Boredom is ok with me. Change is bad!Climb out of your rut. You've been stuck there too long. What ever happened to the thrill of experiencing new adventures? What happened to your childhood reckless abandon? What happened to your life? Take up a new challenge that will change you forever. Embark on an eBook authoring journey that will provide you with an opportunity to take a good hard look at yourself. Change is inevitable. Embrace it. Take advantage of the opportunity to share your passion with a world-wide audience. Change their lives while you yourself undergo a change. eBook authors get more out of writing the book than the readers do in reading it! Create your own 'reality' show. Get on with it!Excuse #9I only care about myself. Why would I want to make a difference world-wide 24/7 when all I care about is me right this minute. I live for the minute. My minute.My world is small. My influence is confined. My fame is restricted. My ambitions are limited. My aspirations are within easy reach. My life is? Imagine the thrill of seeing your published eBook cover on a web site. Imagine the excitement of someone purchasing your eBook. Imagine your amazement when customers from hundreds of different countries download your eBook. Imagine the feeling of receiving emails seeking your advice, of encouraging you to write another eBook, of expressions of appreciation for what you have done to help solve someone's problem. Imagine an income in retirement or a new career built around your eBook. Expand your horizons. Look "outside" and "inside" yourself. Write your eBook!Excuse #10I have trouble committing to getting up in the morning. I'd have to commit to a life-altering experience if I wrote an eBook and right now getting up in the morning is plenty hard enough.While we can empathize with you we can't sympathize. We all have trouble getting up some mornings. But you can't make that your excuse forever. One of the biggest steps in the eBook authoring process is the Commitment step. It is at this point in your journey that you publicly must announce your intention to write an eBook. You must be prepared for the feedback that will inevitably come your way. Making a commitment to something is a learned behaviour. Once you share your ideas with others, a marvelous thing happens. People want to help you. They want you to succeed. You suddenly have a team where not long before there was only you and your dream. The journey begins with a single step. Public commitment is often the most important step.You may have a few other excuses you might like to use. Go ahead. But remember, there are convincing arguments against every one of them. Don't believe me? Ask someone who is successful.No more excuses. Get on with it. Write your eBook.
Write Your eBook Fast: First Steps to Finishing Line
Why write an eBook?You want ongoing, lifelong multiple streams of income. You want to raise your credibility and trust ratings with clients or customers. You want to get your message out so the world can be a better place.You want to spend only a little time on it. (Would you be willing to spend 4 hours a week?) You want to get it out fast (Would 4-8 weeks be OK?) You want to market for a low-cost investment. And, for some of you, you are ready to be innovative and even take a small risk to get your eBook read by hundreds of thousands, rather than hundreds!Where are you now?You have an idea for your eBook; you have a lot of ideas! Take a moment and decide which one you are most passionate about now and will be for the next year or two. Focus on one great idea, where you know what the audience needs or wants-- your solutions to their problem.Or, do you have your eBook well on its way, but aren't finished. You need advice on how to get it done, what's needed to publish (not much!), and how to distribute it to pull continuous monthly sales that can be 1/3 to 1/2 your income?Who Should Write an eBook?If you want to share your unique message world-wide to help people create a better life.If you are ready to invest a little to reap a great deal.If you are a business person who want to expand your business and be a leader in your field.If you are willing to move much faster than traditional publishing to sell faster, more, and create more cash flow for marketing.What do I Need to Know Before I write this eBook?1. To help make your eBook successful apply the essential "Seven Hot-Selling Points." These include title, table of contents, thesis, "60 second tell and sell," one preferred audience, introduction and the back cover.Why? Every part of your book can be a sales tool. When you include the above "hot-selling points" you will have a roadmap to guide you to writing a focused, organized, compelling book that you will only have to edit a few times.2. You also need to know how to write a focused, organized, chapter each time. Think format. Each chapter should have approximately the same number of pages if it is a self-help book. Each book chapter may need an introduction, an opening few questions or shocking facts to hook the reader to keep reading, a few stories or analogies to illustrate your how-to's, and an ending that may be a summary, questions to ponder, or action steps to take.Designing every chapter and knowing your essential "hot-selling points" are your eBook's 24/7 sales team and a beacon that brings out your best: writing a compelling, easy to read, inspiring and informational eBook that hundreds of thousands of buyers will want.About The AuthorJudy Cullins: 20-year author, speaker, book coachHelps entrepreneurs manifest their book and web dreamseBk: "Ten Non-techie Ways to Market Online"
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Shorten Your Journey to Book Success with Teleclasses - Part 2
Are you an author who wants your book to be a success? Have you read books, but still need some handholding on how best to promote your book? Are local seminars on book marketing and promotion just not available to you?Something wonderful has happened with our flattening world. We can now give and attend seminars over the phone. As a presenter, I send by email ahead of the teleclass the workbooks and how to materials. If you have joined an eNewsletter like Dan Poynter's "Publishing Poynter's" or Judy Cullins, "The Book Coach Says..." or John Kremer's "Book Marketing Tip of the Week, you probably have seen teleclasses offered in them.Part one of this article is available at www.bookcoaching.com/freearticles/article-182.shtml or article-182@bookcoaching.com.How Long are the Teleclasses?Most teleclasses offer you a 55-minute or one hour format. That is a good listening time for most. It allows for 4-5 major points and discussion.You may join a teleclass that is longer too--maybe 1 1/2 to 2 hours, depending on the format. Presenting a marathon of questions and answers can take from 1 1/2 to 2 hours with people coming and going as they want. When I offer this kind of teleclass I ask for questions via email before the phone session, and am sure to answer those on the call.You can also join a group of one-hour teleconferences spread out every two weeks for a total of five or so sessions. These are sometimes called Small Group Coaching such as "The Book Achievers Small Group Coaching" or "The Marketing Achievers Small Group Coaching." These are even more interactive, and your fellow participants on the line can talk to each other and the presenter. These groups do peer editing by email as well as getting feedback from the coach.How to RegisterLearn how to register when you visit a particular site. They give you step-by-step instructions. Then, you give them ordering information: They offer several ways to prepay for the teleclass such as a credit card or toll-free number. Once you are paid, you are registered and emailed the bridgeline and the handouts or workbooks for the conference call.The Benefits of Teleclasses Over In Person SeminarsNo dress code, travel, traffic, parking problems, computer, time wasted, or large expenses. Many top names charge $2000 for a weekend seminar--one in which you get too much information and little hands one. A teleclass is inexpensive, and is as easy as picking up your phone and talking to a friend! Get expert guidance from professional coaches and other presenters and learn from all on the call if you want to boost your book writing, book publishing or book promotion skills.Over the past five years, people attending my teleclasses have come around to loving teleclasses.. With a personable teacher, you feel you are "there." With a presenter who knows that hearing is important, you can relax and learn--with the back up of follow up email as well as email sent before the program. It's a good thing, and some times the only way you'll get to meet top people for your book writing and marketing needs.Teleclasses are the most cost-effective, quickest, and easiest way to stay on top of your book, business, and marketing skills. They don't replace one-on-one coaching, but they can shorten your learning curve before you spend money on a coach.Judy Cullins