I love reading a writing-related newsletter or visiting a publishing Web site and seeing my own face smiling at me. This means that either The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book has been reviewed again or one of my articles has been published. I smile back and think, Ka Ching.
When I get a chance to talk to authors, I often ask them why they write. I challenge them to explore their motivation for writing a particular book and wanting to go public with it. Sometimes our deep down reasons surprise us. Sometimes we don’t fully understand or appreciate our reasoning until the book is published. A book that you first envisioned being a self-help book for others may, indeed, become a healing experience for you. An author’s desire to share her story with a few, might develop into the need to create a charity organization to help many.
I wrote my first few writing-related books because I knew that I had something valuable to share, but I also wanted to further establish my credibility in my field. Besides, writing is my passion, my livelihood and my future—hopefully, it will continue to support me in my retirement. (Do writers ever retire?)
I’ve since written 8 writing/publishing-related books and about 400 articles. I still like receiving profits. I love having a project to work on. But I have discovered that I also love, love, love knowing that what I write is making a difference for other authors. Guiding hopeful authors and keeping them from making heartbreaking and expensive mistakes has become as important to me as the profits and royalties that keep the roof over my head. And I like hearing from authors who are reading what I write.
Friday, alone, I received two emails from soon-to-be authors telling me what a blessing and a help my books have been to them. One of them said, “You are giving a great gift with your information and experience.â€
And then I opened an email containing the September edition of Publishing Basics Newsletter and there, alongside Peter Bowerman, Fern Reiss and Brian Judd, was my picture and my article, Market Your Book Before it’s a Book. If you want to read it, go to http://www.publishingbasics.com Click on my name (in the middle of the page). I have already received three positive comments from folks who read that article.
I have two questions for you this week: Why do you write? Why did you decide to write the book you are currently working on?
If you are writing a book, you have already written your first book or you are just thinking about writing a book, please do yourself a favor and purchase The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. This is the most complete guide to authorship that you will find anywhere. And this book comes with a limited amount of personal help. When you purchase this book (or any of my other titles) and, after reading it, you have specific questions, I invite you to email me and I will respond.
Order your copy of The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book today. It encompasses 312 pages, costs $19.95 and it is for any hopeful or struggling author whether you want to self-publish (establish your own publishing company), land a traditional royalty publisher or go with a fee-based POD publishing service. http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html