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This week’s new article is about … well, articles!

About how to build your book (or other information product) starting with articles.

But it’s not just about writing them.

It’s about USING articles to test your market.

And, perhaps, even leverage them to convince a publisher to publish you.

It’s all explained at http://www.publishingcoachweekly.com.

As usual, I suggest ways to take action, because Successful Authors Take Action.

One of the ways is rather time sensitive, so please go read the article now and consider if Resource/Action Step #2 is right for you at this time. (Hint: It’s called BAM Secrets. Doesn’t that intrigue you?)

As always, you can ask your question. I’ll be answering questions on this blog and in the next Publishing Coach Weekly teleseminar.

One of the most common questions I get is, How do I create a platform for myself?

Well, I just came across a most exciting new resource to help you get exposure in, perhaps, The Washington Post or New York Times.

Could that help you in any way, do you think?

I’m talking about a service called Help a Reporter. Sign up with your email address and three times a day, Peter Shankman will send you a list of all kinds of things reporters are looking for. (Thank you, Peter Shankman–and Bonnie Dillabough,founder of the Yaktivate.com podcasting network, Cookie Cutter Group teacher and Internet marketer extraordinaire, for telling me about this!)

Here’s what Peter served up tonight, to give you a taste.

Read the rest of this entry »

There’s quite an interesting discussion going on about “creative imitation”–what it is, and whether it’s good or bad.

I just posted a couple of comments on Alex Mandossian’s blog (Jeff Herring’s post), and Stu McLaren’s.

I don’t quite get why Jeff Herring is backing someone who is obviously doing more than “creatively imitating” him.

What do you think? Comment here, please.

Someone asked an interesting question:
“What if I want to become an author but I don’t really like to write?”

Well, that got me to thinking about why we might not like to write, even though we feel we might have something important to say.

I think a lot has to do with whether or not we’re operating from within our own natural style.

Work from within the way you’re wired–in anything, not just writing–and it will automatically be more enjoyable.

Work against your preferences, and the task becomes a chore.

Sort of the difference between letting the current of your natural wiring carry you down the stream almost effortlessly, or fighting against the current.

So in this week’s Publishing Coach Weekly article, I show you how to begin to assess your natural writing styles.

Read it, please, then come back here and comment!

No doubt you’ve heard the term “Web 2.0″ bandied about, almost so it’s already become a cliche.

What does it really mean?

Two definitions I like.

One is that it’s your content, on your audience’s terms.

Audio/video content they can download and listen to when they want, where they want, how they want.

Printed material in various formats (ebook, blogs, articles, print book) that people can read as they want.

Your message in printed AND audio forms (perhaps video too), so that people can consume your info exactly how they want.

“Give unto others as THEY want to receive it.”

Which brings me to the other piece of Web 2.0.

Read the rest of this entry »

The audio is now up and ready for your listening pleasure here.

HIGHLIGHTS

Quote of the call:

“I learned that you should feel when writing, not like Lord Byron on a mountain top, but like a child stringing beads in kindergarten - happy, absorbed and quietly putting one bead on after another.” –Brenda Ueland

That really became the theme, as I answered the first question and talked about how to make writing more fun.

Also covered were the ins and outs of protecting your work from people stealing your ideas (can it even be done?), and how to market an ebook (or any book).

And–you’ll see why “you don’t have to get it right, you just have to get it going.”

Listen … and please, send me your feedback! Comment below.

It’s almost time for Publishing Coach Weekly, where you get to have your questions answered in what amounts to a free coaching consultation.

Here are the questions I plan to answer:

• “What do I do if I feel that I need to write some kind of book (etc.) but don’t feel that I enjoy writing?!” (Nicole)
• “My book manuscript is almost complete. At what point should I try to protect my manuscript from misuse by others (get it copyrighted, get an ISBN #, etc.)? I’d hate to send it to editors, publishers without protection.” (Eric)
• “I’ve written an eBook on a subject for which I am an expert. Now, how do I market it?” (Ron)

The call is at 1 pm Eastern tomorrow, Thursday, Sept. 18. Get the details, access the webcast and ask YOUR question here.

Hope to “see” you on the call. Remember, call (or log) in a bit early so you can get some extra publicity (mention your web site, book, blog–whatever you want to promote.)

Ever wonder if anyone wants to read what you want to write?

The latest Publishing Coach Weekly article addresses a question from last week’s teleseminar, and expands on another aspect of testing whether there’s an audience for your book.

The article is called “Test Your Book Idea Using Keywords ” and I give you a great tool to get familiar with.

If you don’t have a book yet, use this to help you hone your idea–and even come up with new ones!

If you do have a book you want to market, use this to find other ways to find the people who want to find you!

Don’t forget to ask your question if you have one–I answer questions on the Publishing Coach Weekly teleseminar.

I hope you can attend the teleseminar on Thursday at 1 p.m. Eastern. If you missed last week’s you can also listen to the replay at the Publishing Coach Weekly teleseminar replay page .

The edited replay for yesterday’s Publishing Coach Weekly call is ready!

Questions answered on this call:

• “Are there any ways to test the idea(s) one would have for a book? No sense working hard on a manuscript if it wouldn’t have market
  appeal.”-Barb
• “What are some good strategies for determining market interest as well as gaps in the existing book market? Especially the children’s
  book market.”–Lynne
• “If you were to write a book, how would you rank the most important things to spend time and money on? (Topic would sell or not, market, title, cover, content, etc.–not marketing, website, etc.–just the book…)”–Johnny

I also talked about why this is the BEST time to be an author, and what the most important quality is for becoming successful as an author.
(Hint: It’s related to this article.)

The call is just over 35 minutes. Please print the Resource Guide to get the most out of the class.

Just got a nice surprise in the mail: copies of my book, MotherStyles: Using Personality Type to Discover Your Parenting Strengths, in Korean an “Complex Chinese”!

Janet Penley, with whom I wrote the book, labeled which was which–I sure couldn’t tell! (Though the covers were vastly different. Korean went with a cartoonish cover, while the Chinese went with something similar to the American version–Moms and kids. Tried to find a picture on line–no luck.)

In the Publishing Coach Weekly teleseminar I did today, I mentioned some of the satisfactions of being a published author (before I got the mail). This is one of them: holding in your hands a book you helped write that will reach people halfway across the world.

I’d love to hear from you–what is most gratifying to you about being an author? (Or, what is it that spurs you on toward achieving the dream?)

Remember, if you comment, you get a free book!