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Seth Godin has a great blog post called, “Is Effort a Myth?” Read it and ponder this: “Am I willing to do what it takes to succeed as an author, or am I hoping for luck?”

There’s a reason some people get published and others don’t, and usually it has to do with the fact that published authors have put in the effort to gain expertise, build an audience, and actually write the book or get a good ghost writer to write it. They go through the work of putting together a good proposal, they don’t quit when they get rejected, or they self-publish intelligently.

My goal with this blog and my other resources is to give you the tools that can lead to your becoming a successful author. However, a hammer does no good in itself. Only in the hand of the carpenter does it hit the nail on the head.

Read Seth’s blog. To suggestion #2, I would amend, if you want to become a successful author, spend your 120 minutes:

• writing an article and posting it to article directories
• coming up with some free “Special Report” on your topic that you can give away to start relationships with people (ask them for their email addresses to get the report)
• setting up a blog and writing 2-3 times per week
• finding other people who are already talking about your topic (Ning groups, Yahoo groups, blogs) and enter the conversation by posting. Put your Special Report offer in your email signature line when you do post.

Everything else, listen to Seth!

If you’re on information overload…

wanting to learn how to successfully market your book and/or other information online …

confused and suspicious of all the so-called gurus out there and wondreing whom to trust …

read on for one of the HANDFUL of people and courses I can recommend without reservation.

What You Really Need is

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Here’s a question from this blog I’d like to answer. (Ask your question in the box to the right.)

Helen asks:

“I am a teacher working with kindergarten children for 50 years. I would like to publish books relating to children and others. I have no knowledge how to start. Can XSite Pro help me who knows nothing about website or the internet? Please advise, Helen”

My answer:

One of the great things about XSite Pro is that

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If you’re interested in creating easy web sites, read on.

Otherwise, move on. I know your time is precious.

Sunday at 3.p.m ET is the last webinar to explain how XSite Pro can help you build great-looking, search-engine optimized sites fast.
I was thinking about how much money XSite Pro has saved me.

I spent $110 to get the basic web site for Words to Profit designed (via someone at elance.com that a friend recommended).

And … that’s it!

With the basic design for www.wordstoprofit.com, I could create the variation you see as the header to this blog.

Then, I decided it made more sense to change the header for two of my sites, from Words to Profit design to Your Book Publishing Coach:
http://www.writingsecretsrevealed.com
http://www.writeyourbookrightnow.com

It took four clicks to change, save, and publish each site; 1 minute 22 seconds for the whole process.

And I did not need any web master to do it.

If you like the templates you’ll get with V2 (full sites, sales letters, product pages), you won’t even need a designer. Attend the webinar or just watch the video to see all the things you get “out of the box.”

If you already have a header or logo, you can just use that.

What I did NOT have to spend anything on:

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A reader who listened to my Resource Roundup #1 teleseminar asked about whether I used the web site creation program I recommend, XSite Pro, for www.wordstoprofit.com, and what I thought of it.

That got me going, because XSite Pro is one of the BEST programs I’ve EVER used. I could not do my online work without it!

Last week, I created the following web sites in a matter of minutes:

• http://www.writeyourbookrightnow.com (with all the subpages)
• http://www.writingsecretsrevealed.com
• http://www.virtualbooktourexpert.com

I also made a new site out of what was a page on my site:
http://www.virtualbooktourexpert.com

I use XSP for almost all my sites, except my blogs. Here are a few examples:

• choosingyourbestsellingtitle.com
• abundantgiftsbook.com
• jumpstartyourbook.com

(This Your Book Publishing Coach blog and my www.abundantgiftsblog.com blog are WordPress. I do like WordPress, too, but honestly–it’s easier to work with XSP.)

I just upgraded to Version 2 of XSite Pro. The latest version seems amazing, and I already think XSP is amazing. To read my full review of this software that, in my opinion, is the best software I’ve ever bought, click here. I actually describe and demonstrate some of the tasks you can do, and tell how long it took me to do them.

To get straight to the web page for XSite Pro, go here. I read every word of that site with my usual skeptic hat on. Honestly, none of it is hype. The program does all it says it does.

There are some webinars coming up that will make even clearer all you can do with this program. Check it out and sign up here.

If you want to create web sites where you can post your own articles (search engines love this), sell your products, and get known–easily, quickly, without even having to understand how blogs work–get this program. Honestly, it’s one of the best products I’ve ever bought in my life. Certainly the best software package. (The most profitable one, too!)

My friend and colleague Terry Whalin has been busy doing some terrific teleseminars I thought you would want to know about.

Tonight, he’s doing one on book proposals. There will be a replay, if you get this late, so head on over to www.askterrywhalin.com.

There you can ask your question, listen to the live call or replay, and download a great new Ebook he just created, his Book Proposals
That Sell Extra Special Report. I’ve seen it, and it’s a goldmine of
valuable info on book proposals, writing–you name it.

It’s also well worth the $40 to access the interviews he did with 8 top publishing professionals. Why? Because you’d never in a million years have access to these people yourself, and I doubt they’d be as honest as they were with Terry. Each editor or publisher gave a slightly different perspective on what they look for in a book proposal. Check it out.

If you’re interested in writing Christian fiction or writing for children, you can catch the replay of the call Terry did last week with editor and author Andy McGuire at www.askandymcguire.com. Listen to the questions Andy answered from the teleseminar–it’s very enlightening.

I want you to know that, because of some “life stuff” happening, I was unable to remind you that the price for “Writing Secrets Revealed: How to Write Your Book in 45 Minutes a Day or Less (Even If You Think You’re Not a Writer)” is going up.

(I’ll spare you the details, but let’s just say it can be summarized in two
words: “computers” and “water.” Thankfully,neither situation is disastrous.)

So, fair is fair! You get 3 extra days to get this audio and the accompanying Action Guide for $9.95, before the price goes up to $14.95. Price will go up on June 27 at 9 pm Central.

And in my opinion, $14.95 is still a steal for what you will get.

Here’s what a couple of attendees had to say:

“Diane, Thanks for the Brainstorming technique. I already have 5 article titles just waiting for me to develop. This is an excellent idea! They may even be turned into whitepapers for my customers. Thank you, thank you, thank you!” –Patricia Hubbard, Virginia Beach, VA

“I knew about mind mapping but never was it put so simply like you did.” –Racheli Smilovits, www.loans-4-u.com

You also get the Action Guide with my filled-in notes, including the exact “outline” I used to plan that teleseminar in 6 minutes.

Plus I answered questions people asked.

More info here. If you want to become a writer–even a prolific writer–very quickly and easily, you must learn these simple techniques! If they don’t work for you, I will refund your money!

Tuesday’s teleclass on “Writing Secrets Revealed: How to Become a Prolific Author in 45 Minutes Day or Less (Even if You Think You’re Not a Writer)” was so much fun for me!

Most important, the participants loved it.

Here’s what Patricia Hubbard of Virginia Beach wrote to me at the end of the call:

“Diane, Thanks for the Brainstorming technique. I already have 5 article titles just waiting for me to develop. This is an excellent idea! They may even be turned into white papers for my customers. Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

If you want to know what we covered, and get access to the replay and the Action Guide with my filled-in notes, go here.

I shared the two exercises, and four brainstorming techniques, that I use virtually every day, for everything I do.

One technique allowed me to outline my whole teleseminar in 6 minutes.

On the Action Guide you will see the exact “outline” I used (though it won’t look anything like any outline you learned how to do in school!).

These techniques are easy to understand and do, and I can just about guarantee they’ll turn you into a prolific writer, too!

(One of them even has the added benefit of being a great stress reducer; I’ve been doing this for 12 years without missing one day, not because I’m disciplined, but because of the tremendous benefits I get from it.)

I also answered questions that were submitted.

Before 9 p.m. (Central) on June 23, you can get the audio and Action Guides (both the blank one and the one with my notes) for $9.95. After that, it’s $14.95.

I think that’s a steal for a class that can literally revolutionize your life as an author.

Oh yes–there’s also a Special available to anyone who listens to the call.

People come to me and say, “I have an idea for a book, but I don’t know where to start. I’m not even sure I’m a writer.”

I get excited when I hear that, because I have a technique I can teach them that I KNOW will work.

For decades, I’ve used this technique for virtually everything I do.

When I write an article, I use this technique.

When I plan a teleseminar, I use this technique.

When I plan a course, I use this technique.

I outline all my books using this method.

Heck, when I plan a vacation, I use this technique!

It gets my ideas out quickly, in an organic way, and I quickly see how the ideas need to be organized.

In fact, one client said she used this to map out her book’s revision in 12 minutes!

The beauty of this is, it works for ANYONE.

Whenever I sit down with someone and show them this simple method of brainstorming, within MINUTES, they have ideas down on paper and a big smile on their face.

I want to reveal this to you, along with two other brainstorming techniques, and one suggestion that will possibly make writing (almost) as natural to you as breathing.

(I’ve been doing this for 12+ years now and it’s not only a way to make writing feel very natural, it’s a tremendous stress-buster. I’m positively addicted to it!)

So next Tuesday, June 17, I want to reveal these tips I’ve used for years (though one I just learned and love)-tricks that make writing very fast and natural and enjoyable for me.

Please join me at 8 p.m. Central for this teleseminar in which I will happily reveal how to make writing easier than you imagined.

It’s possible that, by the end of the call or shortly thereafter, you will have your book idea all outlined!

I’m so excited to share this with you. In fact, I may just have to write an article about one of these techniques, just to whet your appetite.

If writing is not as easy as you wish it was, yet you still want to get your book and articles out of your head and heart and into the world, don’t miss this teleseminar!

Here’s the call-in information:
EVENT: Start Your Book–The Easy Way
DATE & TIME: Tuesday, June 17th at 9:00pm Eastern, 8pm Central, 6pm Pacific
Phone-Number to Dial: 218-486-3696
Use Conference ID: 821610#
FORMAT: Simulcast! (Attend via Phone or Webcast — it’s your choice)

TO ATTEND THIS EVENT ON THE WEB, CLICK THIS LINK.

Go here now to print out the reminder. If you have a question about getting started writing, ask it now. I plan to answer as many as I can!

Note: Do your best to attend this live, because I’m not sure I’ll be making the replay available at no cost. Also, those who attend will get access to my new Special Report, “Write Your Book Right: 12 Questions Successful Authors Always Answer.”

Do you ever feel paralyzed when you look at your email inbox?

I sometimes do. There’s just too much to keep up with.

I sometimes long for the days before email, blogs, all the information over-glut. (Gee,what was that like?)

Yet, I have learned much through all the available media. It’s a double-edged sword.

The complication is, how do you know whom to trust? There’s so much HYPE, especially on the Internet.

So, here’s what I do.

I decide on a few “most trusted advisers.” I test them out, and if they’re “the real deal,” I tune in to them, and I tune out the rest.

I read their newsletters, blogs, emails.

I only read them after I get my own most-critical tasks for the day done. (If you take Simpleology, you know that Joyner advises you to take care of your daily targets before even reading email. When I follow that advice, I get much more done.)

If I never get to them–oh well. They pile up, and maybe I read them, maybe I don’t.

If I miss something important–oh well. At least I’m focusing on my most important targets.

I learned from Michael Masterson (one of my mentors) that you just have to pick your “gurus.” Find the experts in whatever field you happen to need to learn about, people with whom you resonate, and let the rest go.

I have my Internet marketing mentors, my publishing mentors, my business mentors.

I’m very selective about whom I add to my list. I look for people whose style resonates with my own, who operate with integrity, and whose results are real-world.

I hope, of course, to become one of your “most-trusted advisors” concerning writng, publishing, marketing and promoting books and other information products.

The people I recommend are my own “most trusted advisors.” People I know personally, and whom I’ve had the opportunity to “test.”

I hope I, and the people I recommend, will help you cut down on “information overwhelm.” No hype, no fluff, just the real deal, as best as I can judge.

By the way, one such mentor is Alex Mandossian. Find out why here–and how you can get more than $14,600 in marketing education from Alex and me, for 1/10th of the price.

(Comments, anyone? How do you handle information overload? Who are your most-trusted advisers?)