n  INTRODUCTION – publishing your book can be an effective and efficent process if you make it easy on yourself by asking for help from a “Book Shepherd”

 

l  Do less by letting things go that have no value to the final project such as holding on to old stories or photos that you know do not add to the work. 

 

Work smarter by prioritizing your timeline and organizing a schedule so you can

achieve success such as how long by addressing such items as how long will it

take you to do the first revisions, the second revisions?

 

l  Organize your work by taking the time to set-up a plan that will work for

you and one you will stick with to the end such as writing three hours a day or

the first three hours of the morning to complete the revisions.

 

Prioritize what you will actually do to get the end of the project by not allowing

distractions to come in such as less writer projects and by doing the revisions

correctly the first time, cooperating immediately with the designer and asking

all the needed questions up front of your “Book Shepherd.”

 

l  Take Action by working on the highest priority at the time such as making

decisions on the photos or illustrations when the designer needs them so they 

will be used and evaluated promptly before you finish your part in the plan.

 

Determine if you should proceed in that manner again or if some of these items

should be eliminated by being flexible and willing to listen the designer.

 

  

n  “I would rather be a failure at something I love to do, than a success at something I hate.”

 

l  George Burns, actor

 

 

n  PARKINSON’S LAW

 

l  “Work expands to fill the time available for it’s accomplishments.”

 

 

n  REFLECTION

 

 

l  “Why is there never enough time to do it right and always enough time to do it over?”

 

 

n  PERSONAL MISSION – critical to the success of your book, your commitment

 

l  Your most vital activity is publishing your book and sharing your voice

l  Make it positive by visualizing your successful launch at all times

l  Keeps you focused on the goal, makes it memorable

l  Chooses your path, don’t take it lightly, a book is being born

l  Becomes your roadmap to how you will market your book and celebrate

 

  

n  “If it were not for the last minute, nothing would get done.”

 

l  My Mom, the philosopher

 

 

n  RELFECTION

  

l  “The better decisions are not necessarily the result of waiting for more facts.”

 

 

 

n  TWO GOLDEN DAYS but we only have today, live in the now, don’t project

 

 

l  Yesterday and tomorrow are for the memories, not for the job at hand. 

Dont waste time dwelling on what might happen if one member of the team

does not perform because worrying will deprive you of a wonderful experience

now and you will miss publishing’s wisdom.

 

l  The battles of just one day are enough when launching a book, keep your

eye on the ball and do not make things more difficult than needed.  You have a

team helping you, take advantage of the sources of information.

 

l  Stay in the now and enjoy the publishing process, be willing to learn from

it so your book is compliant and a successful launch is possible. 

 

l  Enjoy one day at a time because this is a learning time. but an enjoyable

time as you see your book go from a written piece in the laptop to a printed

form in a book with a beautiful cover.

 

l  Seize the moment! This is your chance to do it right if you are ready and willing to make it good for you and are available to the “Book Shepherd”, the designer of the cover and the printer.  Be a strong part of the team!

 

 

 

n  “Even if you are on the right track, you will get run over if you just stand there.”

 

l  Will Rogers, humorist

 

 

n  REFLECTION

 

 l  “We must not confuse urgency with importance.”

 

 

 

n  UNDERSTANDING TIME means it is elusive and we all only have 24 hours

 

 

l  What is it but an intangible that can help us with the tangible such as our

book if we see it (time) as our friend and use it wisely.  Make it work for us by

learning all we can about what is going on with our book every step of the way

in publishing.  Ask questions and be teachable.

 

l  Where does it go if not round and round for all of us, so take it (time)

seriously.  Know that three to four months is critical to the launch of your book

and that time should not be wasted as the process of taking your book to

fruition has a flow to it that must be followed.

 

l  Take control of yourself and be in charge of your process, but remember

the “Book Shepherd” is there to serve you and get you through the

publishing process.

 

l  Make habit decisions such as working with the team of editor, cover

designer, page layout person, illustrator, photographer and printer with a good

attitude. Your moves impact all of the others involved in finishing the book to

your liking.

 

l  Use your Intuition when you made decisions about how much you will

accept from the editor and cover design people for your final work.  It is still

yours and you have the flexibility to say no this is what I want done.

 

l  Do not make decisions by default because this is your baby and being

assertive in the publishing process is paramount to the success of your book.

You may not pass this way again, make it the best book the first time.

 

l  Remember, there is no deadline if you plan ahead and set priorities for the

team in what you expect in your front and back cover, your layout and the

printed final product and what you will do to take your manuscript to

fruition.  Be a part of the teamwork!

 

 

 

n  “The whole point about getting things done is knowing what to leave undone.”

 

l  My Conscience, the last word

 

 

n  SIX PIECES OF THE PIE means your goals need to be in place from the start

 

 

l  Set Goals (steps) for your book launch and marketing efforts that relate to

the budget you have planned and the time and energy you have alotted.  This is

now a business and you must break it down into the six areas of most concern

such as budget, promotion, PR, charity, advocacy, and other areas that pertain to

your particular work.

 

l  Visualize Objectives (destinations) such as what you will do in the first 90

days, 120 days with regards to media, bookstores, online promotion, specialty

marketing etc.  You must see yourself as a successful author.

 

l  Develop Strategies (action plan) to make what you want to do

understandable in how you will do it such as:

(WHAT) reaching 12 TV media outlets in 30 day

(HOW) by sending out media packets to 100 contacts and follwing up with a

phone call for a 33% return on investment.

 

l  Make the Right Kind of List that works for you if you are interested in

online marketing as a priority versus face-to-face contact, or specialty

marketing to airports versus work with an association or foundation.

 

l  Commit to a “Not to Do List” by addressing the things that do not appeal to

you or do not work with your book and would be a waste of time such as calling

on bookstores cold in lieu of a media pack mailed in advance and a planned

phone call later.

 

 

n  REFLECTION

  

l  “Is what I am doing or about to do getting us closer to our objective?” 

 

n  “Work is the greatest thing in the world, so we should always save some for tomorrow.”

 

n Earl, retired and happy

 

 

n  PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT is always about what is working for you and why you chose to launch a book in the first place.

 

 

l  Motivation covers many things, but whatever it was for you be sure that you

do not waver in remembering we write for ourselves first.  This book is a

personal commitment to you and your future work.

 

l  Passion represents the things you hold dear and your launch and marketing

efforts should reflect those feelings and be critical to your “Book

Shepherd” and the rest of the team.

 

l  Desire to have a successful book launch is an integral part of every author’s

dream and with your book it should be no exception.

 

l  Time Line is yours only so be sure when you plan the launch and all the

meetings to get to that point that you make them yours.  Your book will be

better for it and so will you.

 

l  Zoom into your future with the attitude that this is what you are supposed

to be doing and that you are not concerned about all the other books being

published this year.

 

 

n  LIVE HAPPILY WITH LIFE’S LIMITS because the book business has its share with independent books stores closing and printing costs rising, more books being pubished to add to the competition and fewer opportunities for the best seller list.

 

 

l  We cannot do it all and that is why we need a “Book Shepherd”.

 

l  We are not perfect and there will be mistakes, but with the professionals on the team, especially the right editor, your book can compete well in any genre.

 

l  See Interruption as opportunity if your editor says “go back to the drawing board” as this is usually a good time for reflection.

 

l  See delegation as growth and birth that baby with the editing process and be open to the ideas that will come your way.

 

l  See procrastination as an omen that you have waited too long to do this and when you are stuck on your revisions, the time is now to have an editor take a look.

 

 

n  SELF-MANAGEMENT is the only way the life of the lonely writer works.

 

l  Plan for results and expect only the best from the team.

 

l  Visualize success and your book in the hands of a large audience who has just listened to your every word as you read from your work.

 

l  Make a commitment that you will not give up and that you will try any and all marketing ideas that are out there, or at least consider them seriously so you are fair to yourself and your book such as the social networking sites.

 

GOOD LUCK AND HAPPY BOOK LAUNCH 200(!