Archive for Productivity tips
Learn What Makes a Winning Book Proposal, and about Writing Children’s Books and Fiction
Posted by: | CommentsMy friend and colleague Terry Whalin has been busy doing some terrific teleseminars I thought you would want to know about.
Take the one he did on book proposals. You can listen to the replay if you head on over to www.askterrywhalin.com.
There you can ask your question, listen to the 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.
Writing Secrets Revealed–Get Your Book Outlined in Minutes–Today!
Posted by: | CommentsI 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!
A Class that Could Launch You as a Prolific Author
Posted by: | CommentsTuesday’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.
Start Your Book–the Easy Way (Special Invitation)
Posted by: | CommentsPeople 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.”
How I Overcome Information Overload
Posted by: | CommentsDo 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?)
Call-In Details For Tonight’s Teleseminar On Best Resources …
Posted by: | CommentsI hope you’ll join me for tonight’s “Resource Roundup for Authors” teleseminar.
I will be answering questions AND going over some of the best resources for starting your book, getting published by a traditional book publisher, and starting up a website and/or blog so that you can sell stuff.
For the teleseminar, you will have your choice of listening on the phone, or via the Web. You may also ask more questions right online, during the
call, via a form you fill out. (Cool, huh?)
Here’s the call-in information:
DATE: Tuesday, May 27, 2008
TIME: 5 p.m. Pacific, 8 p.m. Eastern
CALL-IN NUMBER: 218-486-3696
Use Conference ID: 821610#
TO ATTEND THIS EVENT ON THE WEB, CLICK THIS LINK.
Make sure you get the Resource Guide. You’ll want that as a handy reference. Even if you don’t need all the resources at this moment, chances are you will at some point.
Call in a few minutes early to introduce yourself! (Free publicity for your site or book.)
The call will be for approximately 60 minutes, and then if there’s time I will answer questions from those submitted on the live call.
If you can’t make the live teleseminar, this link will still get you to the (unedited) replay.
(But I hope you can make it on the live call!)
“See” you on the call!
Starting Your Book, Setting Up Websites (Easily), And More–Tuesday Teleseminar
Posted by: | CommentsI hope you enjoyed your weekend!
Just a reminder that you’re invited to my first “Resource Roundup for Authors” teleseminar.
It’s tomorrow–Tuesday, May 27, at 5 p.m.Pacific, 8 p.m. Eastern.
You may ask your question and signup here:
http://www.askyourbookpublishingcoach1.com
Here’s what I plan to cover:
- a cool tool that will help you be more productive (no cost)
- how to start your book or information product, in such a way that it will sell
- access to experts on book proposals, including a guest appearance by literary agent and book proposal expert Terry Whalin. Got a book proposal question? Make sure you ask it!
- how to start a website and/or blog: software to use, and other resources to help you get your site up quickly, easily, inexpensively, and effectively–and manage it yourself! (You really don’t need a webmaster with these tools.)
- Cathy Perkins, “the WordPress Wizard” who customized and showed me how to optimize my my blogs (and taught me how to manage it myself), will be a special guest. If you have a question about blogging, ask it, and she’ll do what she can to answer it on Tuesday. (Plus you’ll find out how to get your questions answered on a weekly basis.)
- how to set things up so you can sell online
I will be answering questions pertaining to these issues, so ask yours now if you have one.
Tomorrow I’ll remind you and send the call-in information (which you’ll get instantly if you sign up).
Please plan to attend the live call, which will be on Tuesday, 5 p.m. Pacific, 7 p.m. Central, 8 p.m. Eastern, okay?
There will be a replay if you miss the live call, but you have to sign up to get it. Please plan now when you’ll listen to the replay. And make sure you get your Resource Guide. There’s a bonus only available to those who know about it through the call and Resource Guide. I’d hate for you to miss it!
One Excellent Way To Establish Your Author Platform (and Write Your Book Painlessly)
Posted by: | CommentsI want to share with you a resource that could make a huge difference for you in just a matter of months.
All authors want to become bestselling authors.
All would-be authors want to know how to get published.
The answer to both longings is the same: You have to get known.
There are lots of ways to get known and build your audience.
One of the best ways, however, is is through Read More→
My First YouTube Video (A Lesson on Starting)
Posted by: | CommentsOkay, it’s not at all perfect, but I did put up a YouTube video of me reading a story from my book, Abundant Gifts.
I told you I would enter that Simpleology “Be The Next BestSelling Author” contest, and I did. (Haven’t heard whether I won, or when I would hear. If you submitted a video, too, please comment and tell us where it is.)
The rules were pretty tight: You had to read something from a book you wrote, that is either the funniest moment of your life, or the most life-changing–all in less than 2 minutes.
Truthfully, my story isn’t about THE most life-changing moment, but it is A life-changing moment I could tell in 2 minutes.
I have two versions. You’re welcome to click on them and weigh in. Version 1 is on my Abundant Gifts blog, and Version 2 is the one I submitted (accidentally-it’s not the better one).
The lesson here: Don’t wait for perfection before you try something new!
This of course applies to many other things: starting your book, writing and posting an article to promote (or create) your book, setting up a web page. I made these words clickable because I give help on each of these, so there really is no excuse not to start!
Have You Ever Wanted to Learn How To Draw?
Posted by: | CommentsWhen I was a kid, I would break out into a cold sweat whenever I had to draw anything for school.
To this day, I feel I can barely draw a stick figure.
I found a blog in which other totally bad artists made me feel like I’m in good company.
It also made me feel like there was hope.
I was totally fascinated to learn about Jacques Fresco and his approach to teaching drawing. Read More→
