We sometimes talk about the purpose of your book. I urge authors to think about their reason for writing their books, and you really need to know the purpose of your book. Without some clear sense of these two things, you’re likely to find yourself floundering in a sea of competition with no clear sense of how to proceed.
It’s easy to get a book produced today. Anyone can write (or even hire someone to write) a book and arrange to have it published. More people than ever before are experiencing the high that comes with seeing their name on the cover of their very own book.
This is a good thing and a bad thing. It’s a good thing if the author did his homework before going into the business of publishing—just as he would do if he planned to open any kind of business. It could be a good thing if the author made decisions based on two very important things. Reason and purpose.
Before you plunk down a sum of money to have your book produced or before you start approaching publishers—even before you decide to self-publish (establish your own publishing company), consider the reason why you want to produce this book.
Is it for bragging rights? Do you hope to make a lot of money? Are you interested only in presenting your opinion or telling your story? Or can you seriously see a need for this book? Do you have something of real value to share and the credentials to back up your material? Have you always written fiction and you finally want to see your work published? Would a book give you more credibility in your field?
It’s important that you get to the truth in your desire to publish this book—the reason why you are pursuing it. If your reason is valid, go ahead with it. If it is questionable or even frivolous, you’d be wise to reconsider your project.
Maybe you are writing this book in order to help people with Alzheimer’s. But, after evaluating your reason, you realize that your true audience is probably those who care for Alzheimer’s patients. You may dream of publishing a book on parenting for abusive or neglectful parents. Unfortunately, your true audience for a book on parenting—those who will actually read it—is probably the conscientious parent.
What is the purpose of your book? If it is to educate, enlighten, encourage and/or entertain a segment of society, then you may be on the right track. If, on the other hand, your purpose is to change minds and hearts, for example, you may be heading for trouble.
I’d like to offer a FREEBIE today. Because so many authors are struggling with books that aren’t selling I’d like to offer my 27-page ebook, The Author’s Repair Kit (regularly $5.95) for FREE to the first ten (yes, 10) people who email me. Put “Author’s Repair Kit” in the subject line. For those of you who haven’t been following this blog for long, this ebook is designed to help you heal your publishing mistakes (in case you brought your book with the wrong purpose for the wrong reasons) and breathe new life into your book.
PLFry620@yahoo.com.
Learn more about the book here:
http://www.matilijapress.com/author_repairkit.html