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San Diego State University Writers Conference – 2010 some things I learned

March 10, 2010 by Patricia Brooks

Some Things I Learned at the

 

San Diego State University

 

  

Writers Conference – 2010

 

  

and more things I know and share with you!

 

Patricia L. Brooks, author, writer, speaker, publishing consultant, faculty  www.plbrooks.com www.blog.brooksgoldmannpublishing.com

“Connecting readers to authors is the Primary Goal” here for this weekend!

TAKING A LOOK AT PUBLISHING:

·         You must have a good concept and/or a great story first.

o   Readers have a lot to choose from and demand good work.

·         You must have good writing skills.

o   Readers are an educated and intellectual – give them what they want!

·         You must know the market – our readers are a savvy bunch.

o   Research with interviews, online, library sources and personal observation.

·         You cannot quit – be resilient and persevere.

o   If you write, you have to write.

·         You must be open to suggestions from various sources.

o   The best information comes from surprising voices – be open.

·         You must be professional in all you do.

o   Do not take short cuts; take time to do it correctly up front.

·         You must be genuine in the writing and promotion.

o   You get what you give out, give it your all.

TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR MANUSCRIPT:

·         It must be clean and revised several times before the editing process.

o   Don’t throw your book together in haste, show the editor respect.

·         It must be enough for a book – consider first a short story.

o   Take a hard look at your topic then do your outline and table of contents.

·         It must be more than a regional piece if you have lofty goals.

o   Honor our global society and allow yourself all the opportunities out there.

·         It needs goals, objectives and strategies in a well written plan.

o   Write out the steps you will take to your destination and the action needed.

·         It needs an author who is willing to take risks to make it a success.

o   Remember launching a book means always believing in your project.

·         It needs to find a place beyond its initial comfort level on your blog.

o   Respect the audience is looking for what you have to say – so say it!

TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR MARKETING:

·         Research every aspect of the niche, primary and secondary markets.

o   Understand you have readers you may be unaware of, give it some thought.

·         Prepare a synopsis of the book chapter by chapter.

o   Be prepared to share your work when called upon by an agent or the media.

·         Write an Author’s Platform for your book – regardless of genre and topic.

o    See my blog for a sample – a good practice for all of us!

·         Prepare a Book Proposal – regardless of how you plan to publish.

o    Decide if it will be independently or traditionally – this helps you get organized!

·         Always have a couple of fully revised chapters ready for review.

o   Remember, somebody may agree to do a peer review for you – be ready.

·         Develop a full Marketing Plan – this is your product.

o   Request this outline from me and get started; no one else will do it for you.

·         Read reviews of books currently coming out regardless of genre.

o   Peruse the newspapers everyday – you will learn from these commentaries.

·         Compare your book to current titles to know where to position your book.

o   Don’t be afraid of the 300 books published every day – just be ready.

·         Determine immediately what is unique and different about your book.

o   Practice your 30 second commercial so it rolls off your tongue easily.

·         Extol the virtues of your book and how it will entertain, inform or educate the reader.

o   Do something to be competitive – readers want value for their time.

·         Toot your own horn – no one else will do it as well as you will.

o   Forget shyness – you are now promoting a product and yourself.

·         Be fully aware of who is the reader/buyer of your book.

o   Do surveys, interviews or give away chapters for feedback to learn more.

·         Be very clear on the angle and/or twist of the book.

o   Be sure it is clear to you, so it is even clearer for the reader – keep it simple.

·         Be unwavering on why we “need” to buy your book and read it.

o   Remember you want readers to read the book and tell their friends about it.

·         Be absolutely sure of where the “hole” is that you can fill in the market.

o   Address this quickly, step back and take a strong approach to your plan.

TAKING A LOOK AT A MARKET ANALYSIS:

·         Who is the true audience for this book?

o   Is it broader than first anticipated; has a new trend come to light?

·         How big is that audience?

o   What are the demographics, the statistics to back your information?

·         Who is the target market for the book?

o   Have you considered all options for the first line of readers?

·         How will you find them?

o   Are they online, in bookstores, at events, in organizations or in corporations?

·         Are you being brutally honest with yourself about your market impact?

o   Is there more that you can do to make yourself successful?

·         What genre will this book fall into first?

o   Have you had a peer review to be sure you are seeing the big picture?

·         Where will bookstores shelve this book for the best sales?

o   Peruse bookstores and visualize your book on the shelves and ask booksellers.

·         Are you willing to role play your approach to bookstores?

o   Practice with a book seller; tell them your book will be out soon.  Take notes.

·         Do you have all the questions and objectives, all the answers prepared?

o   Practice dealing with “no” and with “yes” – anticipate the situation.

·         Do you understand the market trends playing a part in your book launch?

o   Read the newspaper – research online – understand the book business now.

TAKING A LOOK AT THE PR/MARKETING PLATFORM:

·         How will you create “Book Buzz” – word-of-mouth FREE marketing?

o   Can you write a Hot 100 Hit List of close friends and contacts?

·         How will you share your expertise to enhance your book’s PR?

o   Do you have a credibility statement on yourself?

·         How have you become an authority in your writing?

o   Why did you choose your topic?  What made you knowledgeable?

·         Are you willing to speak to groups with your book?

o   Be preparing a talk – even 20 minutes for a non-profit to boost sales.

·         Are you willing to blog faithfully about your writing or your book?

o   Be keeping a log of blogging ideas that relate to your topics.

·         Do you have a current bio, website and/or business card to enhance your image/PR?

o   Start collecting these from other authors and visualizing the same for you.

·         What is the angle you will use to get good PR immediately?

o   Review PR and media releases on other author websites in your genre.

·         What is distinctive about you and your book that would make for good PR?

o   Begin journaling while writing the book or promoting it – talk to yourself.

·         Do you have a critique partner you trust to read all your PR/marketing materials?

o   Join a writers group and critique group – trust other writers.

·         Are you willing to attend writing/publishing conferences to improve yourself?

o   Do at least one or two a year – and be a writer/author.

·         Do you read at least a dozen or more books a year in your genre?

o   Read to write – no excuses; if you don’t read, your readers won’t read either.

·         Are you willing to show your passion for your book by doing all of the above?

o   Pace yourself – pick three for the first month and add as you go – good luck.

GENERAL REMINDERS FOR ALL OF US:

·         Think of your book as a business or commercial entity.

·         Pick a subject you have expertise in and write on it with fierce abandon.

·         Inform yourself on how many books are written on your topic.

·         Create an audience for yourself.

·         Understand what your book means for other people.

·         Study “smaller” competition too – not just the best seller list.

·         Write what you know.

·         Listen to advice you hear again and again.

·         Trust your writer’s path, the stories that haunt you, the unique stories.

·         Believe these stories pick you; you are here for a reason, so write to some degree daily.

ENJOY – AND HAPPY WRITING – PATRICIA

Filed Under: Blogroll, brooks goldmann publishing, business consultation, conferences, marketing consultation, PUBLISHING PICKS, WRITING TIPS FOR YOU Tagged With: agents, author's platform, book buzz, book proposals, editing, editors, independently publish, marketing your book, public relations and your book, publishing, San Diego State Univ writers conference, traditional publishing, viral marketing and your book, writing

PUBLISH YOURSELF AS THE EXPERT – Business Women’s Boot Camp

February 10, 2010 by Patricia Brooks

}  PUBLISH YOURSELF AS THE EXPERT!

}  Patricia L. Brooks, MAOM – www.BrooksGoldmannPublishing.com

}  ENTREPRENEURIAL WOMEN’S BUSINESS BOOT CAMP – FEB 6th, 2010

}  Chaparral Suites – Scottsdale, AZ 10:00-3:00 p.m.

}  www.businesswomensbootcamp.com

}  Understand What Moves You

?     Don’t think about the READER as you write

?     Don’t think about your past SUCCESSES

?     Envision what you want the BOOK to be

 

}  Understand What Moves Them

?     Remember it’s not what they HEAR in your work

?     Remember it’s what they are EXPERIENCING

?     Remember they want a passionate TEACHER

 

}  Develop a Book Proposal/Outline

?     Get out of your COMFORT zone

?     Learn to deserve your AUTHORITY

?     Make it VIABLE

 

}  Honor for Whom you Need to be a VOICE

?     Evaluate your ideas in terms of your AUDIENCE

?     Note how they will be impacted in a POSITIVE Way

?     Show your PERSONALITY, let them get to know You

 

}  A Winning Writing Plan – THE DO’S

?     Remember the opening is the immediate HOOK

?     Begin in the right place with the BEST material

?     Give them good stories – include your EXPERTISE

 

 

}  A Winning Writing Plan – THE DON’TS

?     Don’t open with anything but the TRUTH

?     Don’t bore us – get to the POINT

?     Don’t push HUMOR, let it flow naturally

 

}  A Winning Writing Plan – THE BRAIDING

?     Do an element of SURPRISE for the reader

?     Use THREE topics or approaches in Braiding

?     Allow for “NATURAL” organization in your structure

 

}  Five W’s of Good Reporting – the Five P’s for SUCCESS

?     Who, What, When, Where, Why

?     Patience, persistence, perseverance, perception, perspective

 

}  GOALS – steps to consider

?     Write a book that is VISUALLY appealing

?     Produce a GOOD Product then GOOD Marketing

?     LISTEN to advice you hear over and over again

 

}  OBJECTIVES – destinations to seek

?     Develop a STRONG Author’s Platform

?     Connect to your readers with HEART and SOUL

?     Think commercially and KEEP them

 

 }  STRATEGIES – action plan ideas to ponder

?     Consider a co-author for COLLABORATION

?     Be both analytical and emotional – LEFT/RIGHT

?     Keep a distinct TONE and PACE

 

}  Research for YOU

?     Look to the Future – and observe TRENDS

?     Seek RISKS – but stay true to your voice

?     Press Ahead – yet MONITOR your plans

 

}  Develop a Pre-marketing PLAN

?     Get a “BRAND” – situate your work

?     Get a business “MINDSET” – make comparisons

?     Be “CREATIVE” – where is the hole in the market?

 

}  The FINAL Analysis

?     Why are you the EXPERT – the authority?

?     What is your EXPERTISE – the topic?

?     Are you willing to be AUTHENTIC to create “buzz”?

 

 

My Offer ONE FREE HOUR of consultation on publishing or writing or editing

?     Patricia L. Brooks, MAOM        CELL – 480-250-5556

?     EMAIL – [email protected]

?     www.blog.brooksgoldmannpublishing.com

Filed Under: Blogroll, brooks goldmann publishing, business consultation, marketing consultation, PUBLISHING PICKS, WRITING TIPS FOR YOU Tagged With: author's platform, book proposal, brooks goldmann publishing, business womens boot camp, editing, editing and revisions in writing, marketing your book, pre-marketing plan for your book, publish yourself as the expert, publishing, revising, self-publishing tips, writing and publishing, writing plan, writng

The Arizona Book Publishers Conference – The Author’s Platform and the Web

March 8, 2009 by Patricia Brooks

The AZ Book

 

Publishers Conference

 

 

 

Your Author’s

Platform and the Web

The AZ Book Publishers Conference www.azbookpub.com 2009 offered a lot of great ideas, tips and techniques thus allowing me to take my clients/writers to the author stage in new and different ways.  The result of this day well spent is positive and productive.  I share some of that now with you. 

Here are my comments and analysis from my notes on the first talk addressing the author’s platform and the web.   Please take what works for you and contact me via comment or cell 480-250-5556 for a first hour consultation FREE to writers/authors.   Look forward to hearing from you – enjoy!

·         Why do buyers buy your book?

o   They have a specific genre and topic in mind and have enjoyed this area for a long time, or have discovered it recently and it fits them.  They are seeking your topic for research, education, information or pure enjoyment.  Give them what they want and make it easy for them to find you – Marketing 101.

 

o   They are interested in what you write because you have “touched a nerve” and you are someone they know or believe they can trust for information.  They may have been inspired by your other writings.

 

o   They have heard of your book through word-of-mouth, friends, family, co-workers, social networking sites and so you have inadvertently started your “author’s platform” and made yourself available to them and them to you – congratulations!

SIDE BAR…There is no more effective way than to have someone say “I just read ……..and I loved it, and I think you would love to read …….”   That is why when I read a good book, and I read about 2-3 a month, I love to tell people by putting it on my www.twitter.com/PatriciaBrooks  or by writing a review on Amazon for that book.  For my authors, it would be a book review online on my Facebook  http://profile.to/patricialbrooks or my blog and telling my friends, family and colleagues in any form needed. 

·         What is an Author’s Platform?

o   You need a “team” to help you spread the word in this highly competitive marketplace.  It is extremely unlikely that a direct mail piece; and I still believe they have their place, will be enough. It is really rare that a press release and a one-time article in the paper will be thing that “pushes you through the eye of the needle”, again I love media coverage.  Remember, you must fall in “love with your laptop”, “work the web” and “ink the internet” with as much writing as you can by obsessing on you and your book.

 

o   People who know you is only the start of it.  There is a world out there of people who (1) think like you, (2) believe like you, (3) socialize like you, (4) grew up like you, (5) read what you read, (6) live their life like you do and (7) want to know you.

 

o   Your work, family, friends, Facebook, Twitter, blog, website are your “teammates” and all of them and their connections and friends are your team along with your database that you are building.  We called it our “Hot 100 Hit List” decades ago when I embarked on a sales career and collected business cards and kept in touch with people regularly, while building my Rolodex, I still do that and keep one for back-up.  Guess that comes from being in Camp Fire Girls, we always had a plan B.  My contacts, friends and family always know where I am and what I am doing.

SIDE BAR… Life in the world of writing and publishing is now about social networking as much as anything and keeping in touch in all the electronic ways out there, or at least 2 or 3.  I prefer my blog and my Twitter, my LinkedIn page and now my FaceBook to compliment my two websites and those business cards and emails I have been collecting along the way.  I fondly refer to them as “my tribe”.  Sometimes I feel so connected I wonder if I have to wear lipstick to take out the trash! 

·         Why do I need an Author’s Platform?

o   Determining if anybody knows you is the easy part because of course many do.  By making a list of all the organizations you have been involved in, all the places you have worked, all the clients you have worked with, all the events you have participated in and all the places you have lived curing your adult life you will have a pretty good list as a starting point.  For me, it is 30 plus years in business in AZ in several careers that have lead to other things including two home-based businesses and memberships in several key organizations.  The books that have come from those personal experiences, as well as professional wisdom and contacts seem endless and for that I am most grateful.  It will be that way for you too.  You just need to start writing your lists and checking them twice!  Start from today and go backwards and list everyone before you screen them.

 

o   Your credibility statement is already partially out there with your bio and resume and vitae, but it can be condensed and fine-tuned, polished and made better with a professional editor.  You want to be sure you “shine as bright as the North Star” and are showing your true colors as you project yourself to the world.  Do not be afraid to show your personal side.  Remember:  People do business with people, not companies and they buy products from people they know and like. 

 

o   Selling online is critical to your success and paramount to your being able to compete in today’s world.  If you are squeamish about being on social networking sites or are afraid to “toot your own horn” because you are a shy writer read “The Shy Writer” By C. Hope Clark www.fundsforwriters.com  and hire someone to help you with your marketing and PR.  You need a good web person like my friend Danita with www.DLWebWorks.com.

 

SIDE BAR…“You are nobody ‘till somebody loves” your blog, email, Twitter, online newsletter, Facebook, website “so find somebody to love” and they will love you back.  That is the way this social networking works and happens.  It is like “online dating” when you don’t want to be dating and dislike dating and love being married, like me and my husband, but we are on Facebook and Twitter and have websites and a blog.  It is reality and you do want to live in reality don’t you?

 

·         Who are they and how big can “it” get?

o   Friends and family, colleagues, co-workers, trade organizations and anyone else who has crossed your path in your life qualifies to be in your “social network” and should be if they will be a positive force for good in your life.  Subscribers to your blog are the “most beautiful people in the world” so pay attention to your list and it will make you a player online.  Barbra Streisand was right, “People who need people are the luckiest people in the world” so make your services needed, leave good content online.

 

o   Those who bought your last book are the breath in your step, the song in your heart and the most valuable source for keeping the “buzz” about you going to catapult your next book to a new level and take the first one along for the ride. 

 

o   Those who read your online newsletter are your loyal tribe of do-gooders who will be relentless in telling people about your writing.  They should have found many great things in your newsletter that have helped them and so your book will be even more beautiful in their eyes if you pay it forward.

 

o   Those who have attended past events/engagements are part of your delegation because not only will they come to you online in their home, but they will get dressed and drive to you and participate and be in attendance because they believe in you.  Do not dismiss the importance of this special group that is like no other.

 

SIDE BAR… Online networkers are those crazy, lovable people who cannot wait to check email, collect things for their Twitter and keep making notes for their next blog.  They are always looking at other websites for ideas and fell in love with Facebook the first time a friend from their class of 1968 found them – yes that is yours truly and it will be you too if you are receptive to giving it a try to sticking with it and making it work for you!

 

·         Why is Online more attractive than Offline marketing?

o   Easier and less time consuming is the obvious answer, but it is also what the majority of people are doing these days.  We need to be willing to compete and keep up, or go more than the extra mile and exceed all expectations.  You deserve your rightful place in the world of publishing as much as I do, or anyone else.

 

o   Less expensive is good in this case, but Online should be supplemented with Offline ideas to personalize your overall marketing efforts.  No one idea is the “end all” for you and with a good marketing plan in place, you will make the right decisions to balance your marketing budget and put forth your best efforts.  Do the footwork and it will pay off in the end.

 

o   Easier to do and lasts longer are two of the components that make Online so attractive.  You do not need to be anywhere but in your home office with your laptop and you can teach yourself most of the areas we have discussed so far.  The last longer part is true because the web is somewhat like a sponge, it soaks up everything, and lets it out when you release it, but it will not allow anything to dry up, even if you remove it from your web world. It is there for the duration, be careful what you wish for in this case.

 

SIDE BAR…You will be able to grow your network to be of value to your long range goals while savoring your experience when you are away.  This is my favorite part because the Twitters keep chirping and the blog comments keep blowing my way and the Facebook entries keep funneling into my life and I love it.  I can leave one for a couple days and go back and visit and everyone is still there and basically happy.  My email will keep me aware of what is going on in my “web world”.  It is as if the party never ends!

 

·         Why do I need Websites and Blogs for my Author’s Platform?

o   Technology can show you off in a way that you could not have imagined just a few years ago.  It is moving very quickly and is ready everyday to make you look better.  You must take advantage of most of it to compete. 

 

o   Blogging must be faithful because if you expect loyalty you much be loyal, just like any relationship, trust and loyalty are the keys to building that solid foundation.  They will not leave you if you do not leave them.  No abandonment issues in blog life.

 

o   A good money investment if maintained because you are not paying for an expensive four-color brochure that needs to be updated every year because the numbers or people or addresses or products have changed.  You can do most of this yourself, or hire a web person like I do to help out and be another set of eyes to make things better and generate more ideas.  Looking professional and competing with the “big guys” is now possible for a fraction of the cost we once knew.

 

o   Search engines are critical and are the caboose to your cause.  “The Little Engine that Could” was one of my favorite books as a kid.  It comes to mind because it is the story of optimism and the American Dream.  If you have not read it you should and you will understand all there is to know about search engines, online marketing and why you should keep going despite today’s challenges.

 

o   Track hits, sell product; keep notes, finish project.  Pretty much the same thing said in two different ways.  If you do not know what is happening in your life, how can you use this valuable information to the best of your ability? Why would you throw away the present and keep the box or the wrapping paper?  Why would you not at least look at all the ideas given to you before making a decision?

 

SIDE BAR…Social networking is “touchy feely” and we can learn to love it and think we can handle it because somebody loves us, but we must know what you are doing. All of the social networking arenas have “how to do” info pages and instruction, and yes a lot of information, but take it one item at a time.  When all else fails, read the instruction book.  This is a learning curve item like many others; you can do business math, you can change the tire on your car in an emergency and you can learn to be a good social networker!

 

 Thank you Grael Norton

Your ideas stimulated my ideas at the conference and helped me create this blog.  I have developed further my Author’s Platform proposal for my next book and one for several clients who will publish this year.  Again, thanks for the “teamwork.”

How to Use the Web to Sell Your Book” – Grael Norton, Speaker – 2-28-09

[email protected]  

AZ Book Publishers Conference, Phoenix, AZ  

Filed Under: AZ BOOK PUBLISHERS ASSOC, Blogroll, brooks goldmann publishing, PUBLISHING PICKS, WRITING TIPS FOR YOU Tagged With: Add new tag, arizona book publishing association, author's platform, authors, blogging, books online, brooks goldmann publishing, facebook, linkedin, marketing online, twitter, website technology workshop, writers, writing and publishing

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