Happy New Year! Are you ready to start the first day of the rest of your life? And what dreams will you live beginning this month? Let’s forget about those resolutions that you half-heartedly list each year. When you think about your future, what do you see? A happy, satisfied, contented you? Or the you who is still struggling, still yearning?
Have you been putting off your dream to be healthier or more sociable, to give more back, to learn a new skill, to enter a new trade, to be more involved or to simply gain a deeper understanding of a topic or the world around you? Of course, you can start at anytime, but what time is more perfect for new beginnings, attitude, perspective or action than the first day, week or month of a new year?
Many of you reading this blog want to start or maybe complete a writing project. I’d love to have a show of hands—leave a comment and let us know who is ready to start a writing project or career. How many of you have been trying to finish a book for a few or several years? Is this the year that you will succeed? Will your actions and choices in 2009 lead to your particular dream?
Why? Why not?
The holiday season is typically my slowest of the year. I don’t hear from many potential clients, SPAWN members or customers. This season, however, I’ve already heard from 6 individuals who are either completing books, want to start one or who hope to launch a career as a freelance writer. These 6 seem determined and motivated. Two took my article-writing course and have had articles accepted already. One has shifted into high gear with his novel with his sights set on a 2009 publication and distribution. One has a nonfiction book almost finished and the others are just starting to feel their way through the process of producing a book. Hopefully, they are following my advice to read my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book, in order to educate themselves about the industry before getting involved.
I’ve sold more copies of this book throughout December that usual. I believe this is due to my articles appearing in The Toastmaster Magazine and others recently. I mention this as another reminder to you that if you are promoting a book, articles in appropriate (related) magazines and ezines and websites are good tools for reaching and attracting your audience. If you aren’t sure how to prepare an article and how to proceed in the article-writing field, consider signing up for my online article-writing course. You can take it when you want to take it, as long as you will accept lectures and assignments during consecutive weeks.
http://www.matilijapress.com/courses.htm
In fact, at my website, you will find the tools you need no matter where you are in the publishing, freelance writing or book promotion process. If your book sales are down, order my ebook, The Author’s Toolkit. This book is designed to help you heal a failing or struggling book. If you want a sense of the whole writing scene—a bit of a smorgasbord, if you will, for the dabbling writer, read my book, The Successful Writer’s Handbook. (Or receive this book FREE when you join SPAWN, Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network.) http://www.spawn.org
If you need help promoting your book, read the last portion of my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book and/or sign up for my newest online course, Book Promotion Workshop. http://www.matilijapress.com/courses.htm
If your book sales are lagging; if you aren’t writing as often as you would like; if your book project is stalled and has been for months; if you are not earning the amount of money you would like to be earning through writing/publishing by now, don’t continue doing what you’re doing. If you’re not satisfied with the results, change your approach.