Writing and Publishing News

A colleague contacted me this week to discuss the possibility of him collaborating with other authors on a project. At least that’s what I thought he meant. Turns out, he only needed a few resources.

I found the concept of collaboration for authors an interesting one, however, and decided to run with it in today’s blog post.

I recommend collaboration for an author who is struggling with a live presentation, a book title or even a storyline or book marketing ideas. Bring friends together and brainstorm ideas. It can be fun and productive.

Collaboration occurs naturally in writer critique groups when everyone jumps in to discuss how a certain passage could be made better or whether or not the main character is believable.

We sometimes engage members of our online or real-time writers’ groups to hash out questions and come up with ideas and resources in an automatic sort of way.

But how about creating a collaboration group of people you trust and respect to discuss the various issues that come up throughout the planning, writing and production process of your next book project. They might be able to help you determine the best route for your story to take or a better approach to your nonfiction book. Together, you might come up with a better cover design or fine tune the interior of your book.

I especially like the idea of a book marketing collaboration group. Just imagine how successful you could be with your book if you had the ideas and support of others who actually care. Of course, you would have the opportunity to help your colleagues out, as well. And just knowing that you have this responsibility, can prompt you to become a better researcher and a more astute student of publishing/book promotion, etc.

For more on collaboration and networking for authors, be sure to read my latest book, Publish Your Book, Proven Strategies and Resources for the Enterprising Author. For additional ideas to bring to your networking or collaboration group, purchase the print or digital version of Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author. Both are available at amazon.com and other online and downtown bookstores.

Opportunities come in all shapes, sizes and flavors. If you have a book to promote, you must learn to recognize opportunities when you see them. And then you must know which ones to act on and when.

It seems that when you decide to turn writer, you must also hone your social, networking, marketing, Internet, organizational, public speaking and psychic skills. Why?

• Bookselling opportunities are often revealed when you network socially as well as in business situations.

• Without an inkling about marketing and promotion, you won’t even recognize opportunities, let alone know how to act on them.

• The Internet has much of the information and resources you need in order to publish and market your book. You must use it to learn, reinforce your skills and to research individuals and companies before getting involved.

• Organizational skills are a must for any busy author and if you are an author and you are not wildly busy, you are doing something wrong. I’d bet, for example, that you aren’t selling many books.

• I believe strongly that personality sells books. It follows that, as an author, you should be out there meeting your public in person, of course, but also via your website, blog, newsletters, articles, etc. Every author should be prepared to speak one-on-one as well as to a group of his or her readers.

• And we need to use our intuition in order to make the right choices when presented with opportunities. Not all of them will move us forward along our path to success. I can tell you, however, that I’d rather you say “yes” to an opportunity that doesn’t take you very far than to decline and reject every opportunity that appears on your radar.

What skills have you honed since deciding to write a book or since publishing one? Are you pursuing new skill challenges? Are you remembering to use the Internet to research companies and individuals before becoming involved? Do you use research skills to keep your finger on the pulse of the publishing industry as well as the genre or topic of your book? Are you out there meeting people and learning from them? How often do you use your intuition? Or do you consider it logic? Perhaps one person’s logic is another person’s intuition.

I would like to hear from newer authors on this topic. I think it would make an interesting article. Here’s your chance to be featured in an article (or, perhaps, a book). It’s an opportunity to get exposure as an author and exposure for your book.

I have been writing for publication and publishing books for so long it is part of my DNA. I grew up automatically honing these skills, so it’s difficult for me to isolate which ones I’ve leaned on more than others. I guess for me and my long-standing colleagues, technology has been our biggest challenge. For me, after 20 years of running my writing/publishing businesses the old-fashioned way, I had to learn a whole new way of operating. This required a major shift in the entire operation of my businesses—how I approached my projects and contacted and related to people; having access to greater opportunities due to wider exposure; everything happening momentarily rather than taking days or weeks to accomplish; a new skill base and way different marketing techniques. It has been an interesting ride.

If you’d like to learn about publishing from professionals in the industry—those who have the experience—order my latest book, Publish Your Book, Proven Strategies and Resources for the Enterprising Author. It’s at Amazon.com and other online and downtown bookstores. You can order it at my website, as well. http://www.matilijapress.com

I pour knowledge from my nearly forty years writing and publishing experience into this book and I’ve included advice and anecdotes from around 24 additional authors and publishing professionals. I designed it to be a one-stop shop for authors at any stage of their projects.