The Only Thing Keeping Me from Publishing a Book…
It’s estimated that 80% or so of people believe they have a book inside of them. If they really put their head down and focused they could write and publish a book that would be of value. So why don’t you?
Chances are it boils down to another belief - I’m not a writer. Even more, I’m not a good writer. So how do you get over this hurdle?
Should I Narrate My Own Audiobook?
Undeniably, audiobooks have never been in such demand. It’s certainly an additional source of revenue and expands your audience. However, creating an audiobook is also a strategic consideration, as well as who should do the narration for your book.
Sending a Letter vs. Diary to Your Ideal Reader
Too often books lack the influence the writer was hoping to have—the writer treats his book more like a diary than a letter. A diary is a book written by the writer for the writer. It’s written to satisfy the creative itch or cathartic healing that takes hold in the author’s soul and isn’t meant for other’s eyes.
A letter is the exact opposite. A letter has an audience. A letter is written for the reader. It’s written with both parties in mind. In fact, the recipient of a letter is defined long before the contents are written.
A Good Storyteller vs. Good Writer
I have been told by many mentors, “I’d rather work with a good storyteller than a good writer.”
Aha! is One Letter off from a Joke
What is your Aha! ? If you don’t know it right off the bat, this is where collaboration is key. Often what authors think is their Aha! isn’t. It may be interesting, but it’s not what readers and their audience will cling to in your book. That’s ok. It’s perfectly normal, but it’s something that needs to be ironed out prior to hitting “enter” on your new book’s printer.
Looking through the Lens
What lens do you want to tell your story? The lens is the view of the world you’d like your readers to see. Who’s lens is it-yours, another character’s, a third party’s or your readers’ ? The chosen lens in your book will set the tone, the pacing, the style and cerebral and emotional engagement, reaction and impact. A discussion of this lens is just as vital when writing a book as it is when making a film.
Your Art, Your Coffee Table Book, Your Legacy
The process is so much more successful if you have a publisher who is also an artist and understands the nuances.
No One’s Ever Got Talker’s Block
Have you ever sat in front of a blank Word document to type something and nothing came out? Like, literally not a single word. You start a sentence, delete it, start over, and just ugh.
“Writing is the Painting of the Voice”
Readers are looking for authenticity. Does your collaborating writer capture your signature phrases, personality and spirit? Does this person “get you”? Can he or she paint the scenes, locations and characters in your story? Can you visualize that person capturing your “lens”, seeing the story through your eyes?