TIPS for Authors (Existing or Soon-to-be Authors)
TIP #1. Writing a book is good for your soul and will cause you to feel better about yourself (it is a confidence builder)
TIP #2. Your book/words will live long after you do (leaving a legacy)
TIP #3. Writing a book makes you look like an expert
TIP #4. Writing a book can help you get more clients/business
TIP #5. Writing a book will lead to a source of income or multiple sources of income
TIP #6. A book can be a lead generator and used solely for building your clientele
TIP #7. The only pre-requisite to becoming an author is “desire”
TIP #8. Your book could positively impact others (perhaps even millions)
TIP #9. You could earn a credential such as “best-selling author” to add to your resume/business card
TIP #10. You can write anything - you have full creative control to write any kind of book you desire
TIP #11. There are multiple ways to write your book including recording the content
TIP #12. Know and believe that writing a book can be a fully enjoyable experience (it is a choice)
TIP #13. Writing a book allows you to be a part of a billion dollar industry and there is no limit to what you could earn
TIP #14. A book can be a door opener for publicity/media/exposure
TIP #15. You can become a “celebrity/influencer” that people look up to
TIP #16. Earnings from being an author could replace your existing income or supplement it
TIP #17. You don’t have to travel anywhere to create success as an author - you can do it from the comfort of your home
TIP #18. Your message can be shared with the 5 billion people online anywhere in the world (not limited geographically)
TIP #19. You can write and launch your book within a very short period of time (in as little as 30 days if you wish)
TIP #20. It isn’t an expensive endeavour to become an author - very little investment required to complete your book
TIP #21. You don’t have to be a great writer to be a successful author
TIP #22. People do judge a book by its cover - have a great title and a professional cover
TIP #23. There is no end to what you can earn
TIP #24. Writing one book will likely lead you to write another
TIPS TO OVERCOME ADVERSITY
1. Find the blessing in the experience (ask yourself: "What is great about this?")
2. Ensure you have a goal that inspires you
3. You do not have to know HOW you will accomplish your goal
4. Using your imagination, go the "place" in your mind where you are on the other side of the challenging situation
5. How will you use this lesson/experience to help inspire others
6. What will you do differently now that you have an expanded awareness?
7. One of the most powerful questions you can ask yourself is: "What would I love?"
8. What would you tell your best-friend/child/someone you care about, if they were going through this scenario?
9. How can you be compassionate right now?
10. What would love do now?
11. What are you grateful for in your life?
12. What do you look forward to?
13. Understand that this too shall pass
14. Forgive. Forgive yourself. Forgive others.
15. Let it go
TIPS FOR STARTING THE WRITING PROCESS
1. As Don Shula brilliantly said: “It is the start that stops most people.” Get started today by dedicating some time to begin your book.
2. Set a deadline for completion before you begin and allocate time in your agenda for the writing/creating part.
3. For a non-fiction book, create an outline covering off all of the topics you intend to write about in your book.
4. Organize the outline of your book into a logical flow.
5. Add bullet points to the outline so that you have a clear idea of the direction your book is going to go in.
6. You can start with an outline and begin to write.
7. The logical place to write is from the beginning to the end however you can begin writing anywhere if you feel drawn to.
8. You do not have to be a great writer to be a successful author. Know there are editors who can help with the final product.
9. Imagine that you are having a dialogue with one other person when you are writing.
10. Common sense plays a big role in the writing process. After writing content, ask yourself: “Does this make sense?”
TIPS ON EDITING AND PROOFREADING
1. Every author, no matter how great of a writer they are, needs an editor.
2. Editors are experts/professionals who can make your work so much better.
3. Before you send your manuscript to an editor ask a friend/colleague/relative to review it as a potential reader and offer feedback.
4. When editing the content of your manuscript be sure to also include your acknowledgements, the foreword (if you have one) and any of the testimonials you have collected.
5. Your book is going to be a representation of you, therefore you want to ensure you have produced a quality product. You get one chance to make a first impression.