Sell More Books With Text Messaging
December 27th, 2010
By Guest Blogger, Steve Kelley, founder of MESSAGEbuzz
www.messagebuzz.com
Text messaging is still one of the best communication methods for extending your personality. If you are an author, expert, speaker or coach imparting your knowledge and experience to as wide a group as possible, then text messaging will benefit you. Associated to this post is a radio interview and a case study of an author using text messaging to increase book sales.
To reveal one secret right up-front, book sales are increased by allowing people to easily opt-in via your social media tools, website or the audience you are addressing so they can start engaging with you. A daily connection with your followers encourages 50% more purchases compared to those that are not.
The reasons for using text messaging are plenty. First, text messages are accepted on a permission only basis. This is an extremely valuable aspect because it explicitly says your readers value what you are sharing with them. It is so important that watching your subscriber numbers change in either direction provides you with great insight. Second, text messaging is personal and in fact the cell phone in general is revered as very personal. Your content, your emotions, your personality delivered right to your reader’s hip pocket is powerful. As they say, the pocket is closer to the heart than the brain so include your emotions and convictions and people will respond. Third, people receiving text messages read them at a resoundingly high rate, especially when they come from known sources. Research touts that is it 99%, which I believe is too high but I bet it is 75%.
There are numerous tactics you can apply to connect with your tribe. This list is far from exhaustive and with a good strong coffee and 30 minutes of brainstorming, I am sure you can create tactics to help you achieve to your goals:
- Share content of value daily, weekly or monthly. A self-help author keeping people on track with powerful thoughts, a trainer who would like to reinforce the content of his seminar by sending follow-up text messages to those that attended or a word of the day delivered from their minister before their hectic day begins will ensure that the message is consumed are just a few examples. As you can imagine, the possibilities are endless.
- Text messaging can also be integrated with other communication methods. One of the most relevant is voice broadcasting because some personalities are sooooo big that you just cannot fit everything you need to say within 160 characters. Integrating voice broadcasting, referred to as VB or its big brother IVR, allows you to text your tribe and those that want more can reply. When they reply, instead of another text in return, their phone would ring and your prerecorded message is delivered. Again authors, TV personalities, CFO’s delivering quarterly financials could all benefit from this extended form of communication. Other integration possibilities are websites, social media and calendar.
- Explore Premium Short Message Service (PSMS) which allows you to bill your customers directly on their phone. By combining a package of services, you could enable your customers to sign-up at your next presentation and have the carrier pay you your percentage of the proceeds. Donations are another popular PSMS tool for collecting funds for non-profits. PSMS is a service that needs more explanation than available in this post but if this is of interest, search on PSMS providers on a shared shortcode to take your first step or feel free to contact me, avoidthedart@mobilemarketinginstitute.com. If you are in St. Louis, do not hesitate to participate in one of my no-cost Java Gyms where I would be delighted to answer any of your questions face-to-face, http://www.mainstreetmarketingcommunity.org/coffee.
- Solicit feedback by asking your readers to comment on a particular matter. Examples of this are, questions about how to increase the value of your service, surveys, prayer requests, sweepstakes or to gauge responses to a question(s) delivered during a presentation. I do not suppose I need to expand any further on the value of two-way real-time communication for both parties.
If the value you deliver involves extending your personality, then connecting with your readers via their mobile phones is a critical channel for you to consider. This is further reinforced if you are influencing people aged 14-34 that have grown up in a world of being connected. They are masters at avoiding pushed communication and prefer their mobile phones as their way to communicate.
These are just a few of the many ideas that could connect you with your readers. Taken into consideration with your goals, you will have the power to develop a significant connection and increase sales as a direct result.
If this post speaks directly to your needs, listen to my interview on Women’s Radio, Your Book is Your Hook, http://www.womensradio.com/episodes/Your-Book-Is-Your-Hook%21–Text-Messaging-Tips-and-Tools-to-Sell-More-Books/7926.html.
The Dream of Success
December 27th, 2010
By Guest Blogger, Shawn Edgington
Author of Read Between The Lines: A Humorous Guide to Texting With Simplicity & Style
www.shawnedgington.com
I have to admit, the dream of becoming a successful published author was never included on my bucket list – until late 2008. The fact is, I’m a CEO of a national insurance firm where my company specializes in managing risk and preventing loss for thousands of America’s businesses. I’ve been working in the insurance industry for 25+years, which has NOTHING to do with the book business, let alone the 1001 l things you need to know to become successful within the publishing industry.
I was lucky enough to pitch my book deal to the Milli Brown, the CEO of a small boutique publisher, Brown Books, which is located in Dallas, Texas. Both Milli and her team worked closely with me to get my first book Read Between the Lines written, illustrated, designed and published in early 2010. They are wonderful!
Since then, I’ve joined an author coaching program, attended numerous seminars, teleconferences, webinars, podcasts, joined e-mail lists, purchased a radio coaching program, had my website redesigned three times, turned my book into an E-Book, created The One-Click Safety Series, spoken professionally to thousands of people, completed the manuscript for my second book, The Parent’s Guide to Texting, Facebook and Social Media and attended a publicity summit in New York City where I pitched my books to over 70 producers like The View, Fox News, The Today Show and Good Morning America. I’ve been a guest on more than 80 radio programs over the last four months, appeared on Fox Business, View From the Bay, Channel 4 news and CNN. And, I’m still working feverishly to become a successful author.
In an effort to help my fellow authors striving for success, I’m offering you this small but significant bit of advice that I wish someone would have told me:
- Every aspiring author (unless you’re famous) needs a great platform BEFORE you send your book proposals and/or query letters to the publishing houses. Your platform will include a great website, your weekly blog, social media, speaking events, and anything else that makes sense for your genre. Your website should be branded to you, not the title of your book.
- Writing the book is only 10% of the work. The other 90% comes after your book is published, and it is a full time job.
- The average author sells 300 books, and makes, on average, $1.00 a book. This means you have to be way above average to make a living in this business. Keep your day job, work twice as hard, and don’t expect to sell a million books in your first year unless you’re Sarah Palin or Kim Kardashian. J
- There are great resources available to authors to help you obtain publicity – too many to mention here. E-mail me if you would like a list of where I’ve found success.
- Come up with your treasure map of additional items you can offer for sale on your website besides your book. Example: Speaking, audio programs, electronically delivered items, subscriptions to your services, games, etc.
- Hire a web designer that specializes in working with authors AND monetizing websites. This is critical and will save you thousands of dollars. Check out my site: www.shawnedgington.com. I finally found the right person to get this right, $10,000.00 later. If you would like a reference, send me an e-mail.
Wow, I’ve learned a lot, and I’m learning more and more every day! If anyone has any great tips to share, or would like more information, please contact me at: shawn@shawnedgington.com.
Shawn Edgington, CIC
America’s Leading Texpert and Cyberbullying Expert
“Perceived Value: What Is It and Why Is It Important to You as an Information Marketer?”
September 6th, 2010
By Guest Blogger, Bret Ridgway, Co-Founder, Speaker Fulfillment Services
www.speakerfulfillmentservices.com
In the information marketing world you’ll frequently hear the phrase “perceived value” uttered. Simply put, it means how much people think your product is worth. How you choose to package the information you’re selling will have a tremendous impact on how your customers perceive its value.
Let’s take a look at the relative perceived values of different products from lowest perceived value to highest perceived value. Keep in mind the content is identical regardless of the packaging.
Example 1: Single CD
Low Medium High
Paper Sleeve —-Jewel Case —— DVD Style Case
If the CD is a free lead generation tool or a bonus item then a paper sleeve may be your best choice. The price that you’re asking for the product will, to a large extent, determine what kind of packaging you want to utilize. If you’re giving it away you need to go bare bones on your packaging.
But, if the product is selling for $47, $97 or more than you need to dress up the package. It needs to be more impressive so a jewel case with full color inserts or a DVD style case with a full color outsert will be called for. Remember, the content is identical. You are influencing the perceived value of your content by packaging it differently.
Example 2: 100 Page Manual
Low Medium High
Saddle Stitched — Perfect Bound — Spiral Bound — 3-ring Binder
Again, the content is identical in each of the formats. But the public has been conditioned to equate the value of a perfect bound book with a $19.95 price or so you’ll find in your traditional bookstore. Put that same information into an 8-1/2” x 11” spiral bound document or a 3-ring binder then it appears to be more specialized knowledge and people are willing to pay more for it.
If you’re selling a multifaceted product that consists of many CDs and/or DVDs and some printed materials that going to have a ticket price of $497 or higher then you definitely want to stay toward the upper medium to high end of the perceived value scale.
How you choose to package the components of your information product is critical to how people will perceive its value. Be aware of the value scales above when you’re deciding how you want your product to look.
Bret Ridgway is co-founder of Speaker Fulfillment Services, a company dedicated to helping authors, speaker and information marketers. For more information call our Client Care Team toll-free at 888-261-8050 or email info@SFSmail.com.
“Why Storytelling Is The Hook For Your Book”
September 6th, 2010
By Jennifer S. Wilkov, host of the “Your Book Is Your Hook!” Show on WomensRadio
As authors and writers, we’re always learning about resources and industry tools that we can use to improve our book project performance and the enjoyment of our writing and marketing experiences. Today let’s talk about storytelling.
We as human beings have told stories for years. Philosophical stories, educational stories, stories of great accomplishments and stories that have kept the histories of nations, beliefs, religions and cultures alive.
By our very nature, we are born storytellers. Some of us feel more comfortable with this role than others. Some feel more confident as orators and speakers who tell stories live in person in the front of a room, on a stage or through television and film. Others feel more at ease writing their stories down in the form of an article, a blog or a book. And still others are most apt to tell their stories through video recordings or a film script. By and by, we have developed more ways to tell our stories throughout the centuries – and books are the hook for many of them.
Our stories reveal our strengths, fears, courage, cowardliness, faith, fortune and misfortune. We dash our hopes against the seas of despair only to find an unanticipated resurrection, resolution and reward for the variety of experiences we have endured throughout the journey.
As we write them down, our stories leave a legacy – beginning with the very next person who reads your book. I often like to say that “Your book is your HOOK!” because, simply put, just look at all the dead people you have lingering around on your bookshelf. Whether they are authors of scary stories, inspirational stories, historical stories, memoirs, children’s fables or films that have been adapted from a book written long ago or last year, we as human beings just love great stories. We read them again and again. When we like them, we pass them on because they’re just so darn good.
Secretly, we even read some of them more than once. I know people who have a favorite book they read once a year to remind them of something, encourage them and help them keep their perspective solid.
As authors and writers, we are the ones who give generously of our time, energy and effort – a significant contribution from our lives to humanity – to share our stories with the world. We touch the lives, hearts and imaginations of others with our books. That’s why your book IS your hook! You hook the souls and spirits of others with your book. Across the seas in so many languages, people read your story and get hooked into your imagination, inspiration and intellect.
Storytelling has been an integral part of our DNA since the human race began. Stories help us to better understand our world. They take our breath away. They make us smile. They startle us. They make us recognize what we believe in and they inspire us to stand up for what we stand for. Stories instill faith, optimism, hope and grace in others. They introduce conversations, conflicts and confrontations of our deepest beliefs and feelings.
Stories are powerful. They influence our lives and fan the flames of the Human Spirit.
When you are willing to tell your story in a book or whatever form you choose, you bless the entire human race with it – past, present and those who will come years after you are no longer here. You make a difference with it in the lives of so many, many whom you will never meet.
Tell your story and leave your legacy. And that’s why your book is your hook – for your story.
For more information on this Education Corner topic and others, please refer to www.YourBookIsYourHook.com/blog for more articles and resources to help you with your books.
The Thought Leader vs. A Leader: Why Every Leader Would Want to Have A Book
July 8th, 2010
By Jennifer S. Wilkov, Book Business Consultant, Your Book Is Your Hook
www.YourBookIsYourHook.com
Too often I get asked by people who lead others in business, society and cultures: “Why would a leader want to have a book?”
A multi-faceted question indeed – and a good one too.
Leaders, by definition, lead others. They are passionate, poised and profess their philosophies to motivate the people who follow in their stead. They have wonderful stories that they tell to inspire and empower their disciples and they also share them with those who are interested in why they are so successful and what they believe.
Oftentimes, leaders are actually dubbed “Thought Leaders” as they rise through the ranks because of their beliefs, ideas, thoughts and strategies. Their way of doing things has provided them with the tools to succeed and no one leader does it quite the same way. In fact, if you put a group of ten leaders in a room and asked them for advice and guidance, chances are, they would all give you different answers.
The leaders who invest the time to put their philosophies, stories and strategies in a book are the ones that stand out from the crowd. Let’s face it: leaders who are authors have a leg up on credibility and appear as an authority in their respective worlds.
Not only does it provide them with notoriety and publicity, it pulls people into a conversation with them. Readers are interested in what leaders think and how they profess to lead others and succeed. They also want to know what works and what doesn’t.
More than this, leaders leave a legacy of their ideas and allow their life’s work to live on when they share their knowledge, wisdom and insights with others through a book. In fact, the book lives on years beyond the leader’s own lifetime.
Take a look at this list of leaders from various walks of life…they all have taken the time to write a book:
Richard Branson – Business Stripped Bare: Adventures of a Global Entrepreneur; Reach for the Skies: Ballooning, Birdmen and Blasting Into Space; Screw It, Let’s Do It: Lessons In Life and Business; Losing My Virginity: How I Survived, Had Fun and Made A Fortune Doing Business My Way
Donald Trump – Think Like A Champion: An Informal Education in Business and Life; Trump University Wealth Building 101: Your First 90 Days on the Path to Prosperity; Think Big: Make It Happen In Business and Life
The Dalai Lama – The Art of Happiness in a Troubled World; Toward a True Kinship of Faiths: How the World’s Religions Can Come Together; Becoming Enlightened
Martha Stewart – The Martha Rules: 10 Essentials for Achieving Success As You Start, Build, or Manage A Business; Martha Stewart’s Cooking School: Lessons and Recipes for the Home Cook; Martha Stewart’s Dinner At Home: 52 Quick Meals to Cook For Friends & Family
Jack Welch – Winning; Jack Welch Speaks: Wit and Wisdom from the World’s Greatest Business Leader; Winning: The Answers: Confronting 74 of the Toughest Questions in Business Today
Carly Fiorina – Tough Choices: A Memoir
L. Ron Hubbard – Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health; Scientology: The Fundamentals of Thought; Self Analysis
Dr. Mehmet Oz – YOU: The Owner’s Manual, Updated and Expanded Edition: An Insider’s Guide to the Body that Will Make You Healthier and Younger; YOU: Being Beautiful: The Owner’s Manual to Inner and Outer Beauty
Lou Holtz – Winning Every Day: The Game Plan for Success
Larry Bossidy – Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done
And the list goes on and on and on of leaders who have books. The difference between you and them is that they get more gigs, are noticed more by the media and have more opportunities than you do if you don’t have a book.
Authors who go on to become speakers often get more placements and appearances because their credibility as an author soars head and shoulders above the rest of the candidates.
Even politicians these days use books as part of their own marketing campaign and messaging strategies. Our own President Obama used his books, Dreams From My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance and The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream, to inform the American public about who he is, where he came from and what he believes.
From the White House to the first leaders of the thirteen original colonies and from women and men who lead in every walk of life, there are leaders and then there are Thought Leaders.
Which one are you?
And, more importantly, where is your book?
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Jennifer S. Wilkov: Media personality, host and producer of the #1 radio talk show “Your Book Is Your Hook!” on WomensRadio. Jennifer is a best-selling award-winning author who has been published five times, an award-winning freelance writer and a respected book business consultant in her business by the same name, “Your Book Is Your Hook!” She has both self-published and been published by a traditional publisher. Jennifer has been called the quintessential writer and teacher for the 21st century. She supports first-time and seasoned authors in their book writing, publishing and marketing endeavors through coaching and training in her “Your Book Is Your Hook!” consulting practice. www.YourBookIsYourHook.com
An Author Who Was Rejected Nearly 100 Times & The National Writers Association
June 21st, 2010
By Jennifer S. Wilkov, host of the “Your Book Is Your Hook!” Show on WomensRadio
www.yourbookisyourhook.com
This week on the “Your Book Is Your Hook!” Show, find out more about the National Writers Association, a 73 year-old writer’s service organization. Sandy Whelchel, the Executive Director of the association, will talk about some universal problems that keep writers from getting published and why some never make it. She’ll also provide information about the contests offered to writers throughout the year.
You’ll also enjoy a candid discussion with author Bertha M. Davis who was rejected nearly 100 times for her book, Growing Up In Mississippi. Ms. Davis will talk about what was happening in her head as she continued to get rejection after rejection from agents, publishers and editors. Her positive approach will inspire you to stick with your project and get it published. She did get published and went on to become a bestseller for her publisher, win awards and even got invited as a guest on C-SPAN’s Book TV.
Ms. Davis will also comment on how important it is to share your personal story with others through a memoir and what has happened for her locally in her community as well as nationwide. Her book and story take place during the time of the Civil Rights Movement and she is a living legacy who touches the lives of everyone who reads her book.
10 Roadblocks to Getting Published
June 21st, 2010
By Guest Blogger Sandy Whelchel, Executive Director of The National Writers Association
www.NationalWriters.com
Are you wondering why that piece you wrote just came back from another publisher? Maybe you’re making the same mistakes over and over. Those mistakes can act as a barrier to success. See if perhaps you’re making some of these fatal errors:
1. Is your manuscript double-spaced on one side of clean paper? Is the paper wrinkle and smudge free? No editor wants to feel like they are receiving a shopworn submission.
2. Is your manuscript free of typos, grammatical errors, and misspellings?
3. Is the submission well edited?
4. Did you research the publication to make certain it publishes the type of work you are sending? Surprise! Popular Mechanics doesn’t take recipes.
5. Is your query letter, if you’ve included one, addressed to the correct person? Editors move around; you need make sure you are addressing your query to the right editor.
6. Is your query letter one page or less?
7. Did you make sure the publication hasn’t recently printed a piece similar to yours? Check the library and research at least six back issues.
8. Does your piece have an outstanding hook or lead? Editors receive hundreds of submissions per week. You need to hook them and keep them reading. They are the toughest readers you will encounter.
9. Is the piece presented in a logical sequence? Or if it is a fiction piece, does it have a beginning, middle, and an end?
10. Did you include your contact information so the publisher can contact you if they have questions?
All writers make mistakes, but presenting your work to the publisher as error free as possible means it will have a greater chance for publication.
Growing Up In Mississippi – A Memoir That’s Making A Difference
June 21st, 2010
By Guest Blogger Bertha M. Davis, Author and full-time Writer
www.BerthasBooks.com
Growing Up In Mississippi is a vivid and descriptive biography that grips at the very core of every human emotion as memories of growing up in somewhat painfully poor social conditions in Mississippi do not deter the family, but bond them together with the unified strength and triumph most prevalent in top movies like Soul Food, or even to overcome travesties as in The Color Purple. You will be intrigued by the strong development of characters like the wayward Uncle Wigley, a cursed character among many black families who resorts to inflicting abuse on family members. The relationship between Jay and Tish is a classic example of how women in the past wound up with larger unplanned families because love conquered all back then and even poverty.
The reader feels as if they are in the story and watching without speaking. It is evidenced that life was slower paced, but more fulfilling even with the absence of television. This is a modern day tale with a happy ending and heralds the rise of our families of the past through political and social upheavals as prevalent as The Civil Rights Movement.
This book is also about an African-American girl growing up with a single struggling mom of four who had to anchor the storms in her life to survive and take care of four children alone. Searching for food when there was none, working in the Mississippi hot sun from sun-up to sun-down, and haunted by racism are just a few obstacles one had to overcome. This book is certainly a book of history and you can listen to a sample of Growing Up In Mississippi Audio Book at: www.berthabooks.com on Bertha’s home page.
Additional comments from Bertha M. Davis about writing this book:
YBIYH: What was like to write the book and reveal your personal experiences with others in your life?
B: It was like revealing history to our future youth. In the beginning, my idea of writing “Growing up in Mississippi” (my personal experiences) was for my children and grandchildren so they could read about the struggles my life encountered as a child. I didn’t want them to have any excuse for fulfilling any dream life offered them. I certainly didn’t want them to get hung up on the crippling words, “I can’t.” Since my life had so many disadvantages, I felt compelled to tell them about my struggles and see my life as an example of how you can succeed in spite of obstacles. After only a portion of my book was read by family members, friends and book reviewers, I was encouraged to take it a step further so all readers could read my story.
YBIYH: Were you nervous about writing about other people whose actions and behavior would be exposed in your book?
B: No not really! People’s actions and behavior were already exposed in the towns and over the television during the Civil Rights Movements and before desegregation. If it wasn’t by personal contact, research was conducted before finalizing my book.
YBIYH: Also, what is it like for you now when you speak to others about your story? How does it feel for you? What do you see in them … in their faces? Do they say anything to you?
B: Sharing my life’s story with others is a challenge; history is reborn. I don’t live in the past. I live in the present but I never want to forget the days of defeat that God has allowed me to conquer. I feel honored to tell my life story, especially to the school children……I see in them a desire to learn more about the past….Their faces light up in amazement…..The students always say, “Thank you for coming and sharing your story with us.” The adults react differently; some of them will purchase a book because they want to know what is said, or they simply just like to read a memoir. There have been those who had sadness in their faces and most of them will say, “You are a strong woman,” or “You’ve been through a lot.” Some of my readers will send me a note to say how much they enjoyed reading the book.
YBIYH: What has been the most meaningful part of your experience with sharing a story that’s so personal and yet is benefiting so many?
B: One of the most meaningful parts of my experience while sharing my personal story and benefiting so many was when I went to Key Learning Junior High School here in Indianapolis to speak with fifth and sixth graders. It blew my mind. After my presentation, the students thanked me for coming, but a young frustrated girl came up to me and said, “I have been so ungrateful to my mom for the things she does for me and I sometimes talk back to her. But after hearing about your life and struggles, it gave me more of a sense of appreciation,” she said. About a week later, the young girl’s mom brought her by my house to buy her a book. It was so overwhelming just to get one child’s attention. She even emailed me several times to say hi and let me know that she really enjoyed reading Growing up in Mississippi.
Another meaningful experience was when Growing up in Mississippi was taught to fifteen students at Southwest Education Center in Phoenix, Arizona in 2006 during Black History Month. (15 books were ordered) The children who attend this private day school range between the ages of thirteen and eighteen and they absolutely enjoyed the book. The majority of the students came from a variety of ethnic backgrounds and had difficulty with reading but Growing up in Mississippi was comfortable enough for them to read without causing them any major frustration. “Growing Up In Mississippi has truly given some of my students the will and motivation to try to achieve a more prosperous destiny.” These words came from the Lead Teacher/High School Facilitator there.
Getting Rejected
June 21st, 2010
By Jennifer S. Wilkov, host of the “Your Book Is Your Hook!” Show on WomensRadio
www.yourbookisyourhook.com
As authors and writers, we’re always learning about resources and industry tools that we can use to improve our book project performance and the enjoyment of our writing and marketing experiences. Today let’s talk about getting rejected.
As authors, we open our hearts and pens to share stories. Some we dream up and craft into clever and courageous novels. In others, we talk of real life experiences in either a memoir or a how-to book so we can share the knowledge we’ve gained with others.
Sometimes, we choose to share a piece of our nostalgia with children everywhere by taking a song, poem or story that delights our own children and giving this gift to the world by sharing it through a beautifully illustrated book.
On occasion, we’ll include something out of the ordinary with a book like an audio recording, tickets to an event, or opportunities to subscribe to more of an author’s knowledge or upcoming projects.
Not every person who wants to be an author makes it. Many get rejected. Some get rejected over and over and over again.
As a result, some quit and lose their tenacity to stay in the game and keep pitching their project.
Others continue to take criticism and guidance, re-craft their project and then trot it out again to see if they got it right the next time.
And there are those won’t listen to the advice sometimes offered in a rejection and continue to take the same package to another person, hoping they’ll see the merit in their project and want to take it on.
It is a privilege to be a published author. Although there are hundreds of thousands of books published every year, there are hundreds of thousands more that have been denied and authors that have been disappointed and perhaps discouraged.
As an author, getting rejected may be a part of your publishing path. It’s not uncommon. Rejection is often a part of the process for many of us. Heck, even Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen, the co-authors and co-creators of the Chicken Soup for the Soul® books and who were acknowledged by the Guinness Book of World Records for selling millions and millions of books, started by getting over 130 rejections before connecting with the publisher that would pick them and their book up.
The guest author on today’s show, Bertha M. Davis, got rejected nearly 100 times before taking on a publisher that wasn’t necessarily so well-known, but nonetheless would publish her. Who knew that Bertha’s book would go on to become a bestseller for her publisher? So many before Infinity, a print-on-demand publisher, had said no. Who could predict that Bertha and her book would be featured years later on C-SPAN’s Book TV? Not the agents, publishers or editors who told her “this is not for me” and “I can’t take this on.”
Ask yourself: Do you really want to work with someone who wants to reject you and who doesn’t feel good about your project? Not really. It’s not good to have to work with anyone who isn’t as crazy and gung ho about your project as you are. Although the truth is no one will ever be as dedicated to it as you are, you want someone who is passionate about your project and wants to see it published.
Take rejections for what they are:
1) An indication that perhaps something in your project is not ready to be published. If advice is offered, consider it because it is what is keeping that publisher or agent from taking it on. Weigh it properly and don’t let your ego get bruised by it. Heed the advice you feel is helpful.
2) A sign that you may not have the right format or you may need assistance with crafting your pitch. If you’re not sure why you got rejected and didn’t receive an explanation, consider having your package reviewed by an experienced consultant or editor.
3) Encouragement to test your fortitude, commitment and courage to stay the course with your project.
Authors are a wonderful mix of emotional strength, creative force and incredible transparency. They give us permission to see inside their hearts, minds and imaginations. Few are rewarded for revealing themselves.
Look at the rejection you received today as a stepping stone that will lead you to the rewards you seek tomorrow.
Webinars & An Executive Coach and Author Says “Just Ask Leadership”
June 14th, 2010
By Jennifer S. Wilkov, host of the “Your Book Is Your Hook!” Show on WomensRadio
www.yourbookisyourhook.com
This week on the “Your Book Is Your Hook!” Show, discover what you need to know about attendee-funded webinars so you can stop speaking for free. Lee Salz, the recognized authority on attendee-funded webinars and the author of the book, Stop Speaking for Free!, will clarify what content to put in a webinar that’s free and one that for a fee. He’ll also discuss why webinars seem to be everywhere and why doing one for your project could create that additional income stream you’ve been looking to build.
You’ll also enjoy a candid discussion with author and executive coach, Gary Cohen, who co-authored
the book, Just Ask Leadership: Why Great Managers Always Ask the Right Questions (McGraw-Hill). Gary talks about accepting the challenge to write the book after being encouraged by Time Magazine’s youngest editor, even though Gary has been diagnosed with three learning differences. Find out how he got to interview four-star generals and Fortune 100 CEOs for his project and how long it really took him to complete it. He’ll also share his experience of going to Book Expo America when he met the publishers and got picked up by McGraw-Hill as well as how he’s using his book as his hook to attract more speaking appearances.
Join me as I talk with Lee Salz and Gary Cohen this week on the “Your Book Is Your Hook!” Show on WomensRadio.
