What is your biggest question or concern when it comes to being a book author?
Some business owners who sell their wisdom and experience will take what they do to the next level and become a book author. Yet so many questions swirl around when it comes to taking this step. From choosing a topic to writing, publishing and marketing - the task seems daunting. What questions do you have?
51 Comments
1.2k Views
Answers (1-10)
I know this is "slightly" off topic, but a longtime journalist (newspapers, magazines etc) I've written a children's book I'd like to e-publish but I have no clue where to begin. I actually want to turn it into a series. I also need an illustrator. Any recommendations would be most welcome!
After having 20 books published so far, with several more at various stages of production, my biggest concern is deciding which ones to focus on for my frequent speaking engagements, book signings, and personal appearances. There are six or seven books on which I tend to concentrate my activities, but some books don't get the support that others do.
For me, it is whether my readers will love reading my books as much as I loved writing them? I have 16 books on Amazon and elsewhere, and like my children, I can only hope that they all do well during their lifespan. Are the covers compelling enough to draw readers? Will that first page I rewrote so many times HOOK readers? Did I catch every typo? Is my main character (POV) really as terrific as I thought? YIKES! Did I lose focus in chapter ten?
Writing fiction for children, or for any other age and genre is a passion that consumes. To not write, for such an author, is unthinkable! For non-fiction writers it is a love of research, truth, and putting the facts they gather into paragraphs and pages that enlighten and educate. FAKE FACTS are not an option! RESEARCH is the name of the non-fiction game!
RESEARCH is also a safety precaution when looking for a publisher, an illustrator, or a formatter, if you are self-publishing. Make sure you check all recommendations thoroughly. The Internet might be a terrific place for research, but it is also an awesome hunting ground for those who wish to clean out your wallet.
Magic Carpet of Books — Skype Author Visits
Manuscript "Content" Edits
http://www.margotfinke.com
I understand completely. I've invested seven years in my company to make this an easy process. We have a great deal of "ego" and hardship around writing. We have expectations about getting a publisher and changing everyone's lives. That may be true in some cases, but you have to drill down deep to ask a question. that question is, "If just one person was changed by reading your book, then is that enough?" If the answer is, "yes" then you are moving beyond ego into heart space and write heart memories. Communication - making it easy and accessible. I've struggled for seven years to take your recorded voice, transcribe and edit it and offer it to you in an efficient time frame (after you've proofed it) and a reasonable price. I have many options available to the entrepreneur who has knowledge, wisdom and some great stories to tell. I suggest you contact me so we can schedule an appointment to talk about your thoughts for 15 minutes. I'd love to answer some of your questions and concerns.
Can tragic events in one's life can be turned into a book that may can help others? Where could help be found to start such a long process?
Finding the elusive answer to how to effectively (successfully) market and promote.
I am a veteran of many authored books now but still I find the idea of writing a new one challenging! But as I see it, unless you're purely writing objectively for 'profit only' reasons, you really do need to write about something that is closest to your heart's desire. If not, then the challenge can be extremely daunting. Moving beyond that sole requirement however, next ask yourself... what is my potential market and what is the one burning question that market will like an answer for? If you can arrive at those conclusions then I think you're ready to write your book. This primarily applies to non-fiction, rather than fiction - although not always so. Hope this helps Denise? :)
I have a lot of questions and new ones pop up every day. I guess my biggest is how to promote my books and my services (editing and freelancing) in a cost-effective way that will gain the most exposure. I've tried Facebook ads for my books and gotten no results. Now what I mostly use is Facebook groups, interacting with other authors and editors. I also utilize Alignable and other professional networking groups.
Marketing options; especially when you have no money to invest in promotion.
my biggest question is always ... have I connected with the reader