Whether you’ve decided to write a book to entertain, inspire, inform, or just because you felt like it… You, as a self-published author will need knowledge, strength, and faith to endure. Here are helpful tips to keep you moving along the road of success.
As
a writer, your own personal library should include:
-Books
by authors of other ethnicities (broaden your field of topics and/or characters)
-Books
from different literary genres (add variety to your writing style)
-Self-help/inspirational
books (help to keep you focused on your goal and limit your stress)
-At least 2 instructional books on writing (may contain something you didn’t already know about writing)
-At
least 2 instructional books on publishing
Just
as you feel the need to tell a story or provide certain information, so do other
authors. All authors do not have
the same writing style and all readers do not have the same literary
preferences. The reader who
absolutely adored your book may have the same feelings about the work of an
author whose work you don’t like. We are all individuals, writers and readers,
who are entitled to express ourselves creatively in our own ways and to enjoy
the creative expressions of others. There is no need to be critical of
someone’s work unless they contacted you directly for your opinion.
*If
someone asks you to review a book that is not of your preference, simply decline
the offer, pass it on for someone else to review, or write a brief objective
paragraph summarizing the book’s strong points.
Competition
is best left to sports teams as it can do more harm than good to an author.
There are billions of readers around the world and none of them will read
just one book and then stop reading forever.
People who read are always looking for the next good book.
Your job is to make sure that they know about yours.
The
Universe is infinite and has an everlasting supply of ideas.
If you get writer’s block in the middle of one project, don’t be
afraid to receive a divine idea to take the project in a different direction OR
start a whole new book! The
Universe is a great supplier, and there is a supply for every demand.
Use prayer, meditation, affirmations, or a general optimistic attitude to
get your answers.
*True story: I started and got stuck on 3 different novels in the past year. It wasn’t until I called on Divine Inspiration to get me out of my writer’s block that I got a wonderful idea. Instead of getting story ideas for my works of fiction, my mind was flooded with information for a non-fiction book. The words poured out on paper almost faster than I could keep up! The result: How to Be Queen of the Universe, in select stores now!
Stay
out of industry drama.
The literary community is small.
This means that your experience in it can be like that of family (with
its love, support, and encouragement) OR like high school (with its
he-said-she-said rumors, meaningless popularity contests, and fake friends).
When speaking of another author or anyone who is related to the book biz,
try to remain positive. It is
EXTREMELY difficult, but please just try. Make
sure that your name can never be associated with drama and that you don’t get
sucked into the author “cliques” that spring up and divide themselves every
day. Any negativity will drain the
energy you need for writing, promoting, and selling.
*Join writer’s
groups at your own risk!
Don’t go out of your way to seek approval from reviewers, booksellers, and other authors.
If
someone reads your book and likes it, he/she will automatically tell others.
If one of these people contacts you directly to tell you how much they
enjoyed it, ask them for a “blurb” to add to your promotional items. (A copy
and paste of their email will do.) Do
not waste time/money by sending free books to every well-known author and media
outlet you can think of. (They
receive so many books; they usually just give it to a family member or someone
at the office. When they want your book, they’ll buy it or contact you about a
media review.) Instead, send Press
Releases and Media Kits. A good way to get
reviews is to contact other authors (self-published, especially) and offer to exchange books
and “blurbs”. Be friendly and
cordial in all of your communications, but know the difference between positive
networking and going out of your way to seek someone's approval.
*Beware
of people who contact you asking to do a review of your book.
Before you give them a free book, check the credibility and influence of
their publication. Many people play
the “book reviewer” game just to get free books for their personal
libraries.
Take
reviews… or leave them!
As
you will see, many reviews are based solely on its writer’s opinion and 9
times out of 10, that reviewer has not written a book AND is not affiliated with
a noteworthy, credible or influential media outlet.
A clever person once said, “Reviews are like a$$holes, everybody has
one.” Take what you feel to be good advice from writers and readers
whom you respect and admire. Anything
written maliciously about you should be ignored because it is just one insecure
person’s way of trying to feel important by criticizing others.
Don’t limit yourself to the literary world.
Network
in every possible situation! Readers
come from all walks of life and are involved in countless professions.
There is nothing wrong with sharing information about yourself and your
book with the attendees of: Lawyers’ conferences, teachers’ conventions,
vocal talent showcases, and flea markets – just to name a few.
*Like
the Divine Ideas coming to you from the Universe, your promotional possibilities
are endless!
This “Seminar for the Soul” was put together especially for you by Tahira Chloe Mahdi, author of God Laughs, Too: Incidents in the Life of a Black Chick and How to Be Queen of the Universe. See the Tour Schedule for the next time she will be in your area and get info on self-publishing.
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