Archive for Seth Godin
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Diane
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Best selling author Seth Godin (12 New York Times etc. bestsellers) dropped a bombshell on the publishing world when he announced on his blog that he’s not going to publish “traditionally” anymore.
“I’ve decided not to publish any more books in the traditional way. 12 for 12 and I’m done. ”
Why would a successful author ditch the world that has helped create his success? (Or has he succeeded despite it?)
“Traditional book publishers use techniques perfected a hundred years ago to help authors reach unknown readers, using a stable technology (books) and an antique and expensive distribution system.” (Of the latter, I wrote a post back in March 2007 called “The Fatal Flaw in the Book Publishing Industry.” We’re finally now seeing its collapse.)
In an interview with Jeff Rivera for a Mediabistro feature, Seth elaborated: Read More→
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Diane
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Many authors are writing their books by posting on their blogs first.
It’s one way to “test” your market and your content, get feedback, and–get the job done!
Ray Edwards is one author who is doing this for his book, Breakthrough Forgiveness. He says making a public commitment and being engaged in a public writing process accomplishes a couple of things:
- “It ensures I’ll actually finish the darn book on time (my publisher can tell you stories about what happens when I’m left to my own timetable).
- “It should make the book better, because I’ll be responding to feedback from my readers while the book is in process. My ideas will be challenged and tested before they’re printed on paper.”
Another good reason to write a book online first is that it can gain you followers. As Kacie noted in a comment on an earlier post on this blog, “My book isn’t even in print yet, but I already have people looking for it in book stores and online. I hadn’t realized that while i was writing my book, i was already marketing it. It’s a great way to get started.”
Writing a book on a blog is a great way to create that all-important “platform” that publishers look for. If you have readers/followers you can point to, that impresses a publisher.
Seth Godin, the famous marketer, writes his book online first–and they become best sellers.
It’s worth considering….
And if you don’t already have a blog, look for my upcoming ecoaching course on “Easy Websites for Authors: How to Create & Maintain a Website that Sells (Even If Your Book Isn’t Written Yet).”
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Diane
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Master Leaders: Revealing Conversations with 30 Leadership Greats by George Barna with Bill Dallas
On Thursday, December 10, I conducted a Virtual Book Tour with George Barna on his new book, Master Leaders: Revealing Conversations with 30 Leadership Greats. I invite you to listen to the replay (if you don’t have a question, feel free to write “none” in the box).
If you’re an author or aspiring author, listen–you ARE a leader! In fact, I asked George a question that was submitted: “Does a leader have to have a published book?” (I’ll let you listen to what he said.)
I grilled George on the most-asked questions about leadership, and his answers were based not only on his own insights, but on the insights gleaned from these 30 other leadership greats.
For instance: Ken Blanchard, Tony Dungy, Newt Gingrich, Henry Cloud, John Ashcroft, Colleen Barrett, Seth Godin, San Chand, Mike Huckabee, Laurie Beth Jones, Patrick Lencioni, Ben Carson … the list goes on.
Sign up to get a free sample of the book and listen to the replay. There is also a very special bonus only those who listen to the VBT will know about (and it’s a limited time offer).
George Barna is founder of The Barna Group, a research and resource
firm whose clients grange from The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association to
corporations such as Ford and Walk Disney, as well as The U.S. Navy and U.S. Army.
George Barna is a prolific author (more than 40 books), but the book we”ll be discussing is what he feels may be one of his best: Master Leaders: Revealing Conversations with 30 Leadership Greats. This is a “leadership conference” in which well-known leaders from all walks of life cover the gamut of leadership topics, from defining leadership, developing leaders, team building, dealing with criticism and pressure, so much more.
I sure hope you’ll take an hour or so and listen in–George gave a lot of great nuggets such as “you get what you tolerate” and “we hire for attitude, we train for skill.” Ponder those for a while. The interview, and of course the book, is full of these golden nuggets.
Get this information now, okay?
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Diane
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Just a quick reminder: On Tuesday night, October 28, I will be interviewing Nancy Ortberg in a Virtual Book Tour to discuss her book, Unleashing the Power of Rubber Bands: Lessons in Non-Linear Leadership.
The cool thing is, you get to ask Nancy a question ahead of time! Just go to http://www.asknancyortberg.com and you’ll get to sign up, ask a question (or not), get the call-in details and see how these Virtual Book Tours work! You’ll also be able to download the first two chapters of Unleashing the Power of Rubber Bands: Lessons in Non-Linear Leadership free when you sign up, so you can get a taste of the book right away.
I recently sent Nancy’s book to Seth Godin, author of Tribes, another inspiring book about leadership. The other day he wrote back to thank me, and said he’d already bought a copy right before my book came. (I told him I’d send him a book for commenting on my blog, but didn’t tell him which one.)
So–Seth Godin thinks Nancy Ortberg is worth reading, and you will, too! It’s a terrific book. Great stories and insights. Make sure you get a copy, and if you can, listen to the Virtual Book Tour. If you can’t make the live event, you can always listen to the replay. You’ll get the link when you sign up.
(And you too will get a free book if you comment on my blog.)
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Diane
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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!
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Diane
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I received a wonderful surprise in the mail today: a book.
It was a book I had bought but … not THE book I had bought.
The note that came with it explains all. It was from Seth Godin.
Hey …
Here’s a gift.
No strings attached.
I want to thank you for believing in the Triiibe, for signing up sight unseen, for buying a book you hadn’t read yet, hadn’t heard about yet, hadn’t browsed yet.
You went first, took the lead, took a (small) chance with your money and a big chance with your time.
Thanks.
Here’s an advance copy of Tribes. An early copy, for you, before anyone else gets one. Please read a it and Read More→
