Ah, the sweet smell of success: your book is finally a household name, the topic of conversation in coffee houses and the subject of toasts in fine dining establishments. Just yesterday, you turned down a media interview due to your busy schedule. Tomorrow you’re off to Barbados for a quick dip in the salty surf, then a date with a …
No Way….Write a Book in a Month?
November is National Novel Writing Month, affectionately known as NaNoWriMo. Around the world, more than 300,000 authors will attempt the impossible: to write an entire book in a single month. If you’re not sure what I’m talking about, here’s a little background. NaNoWriMo is not really a writing contest, but an event. You might say it’s a contest… with yourself. …
Book Awards – Resting On Your Laurels and Other Thoughts on Winning Book Writing Competitions
Competing for a writing award is an often-overlooked tactic in the book marketing list of “To-Dos”. But is it worth it? Let’s take a look. Back in the day – I mean way back – citizens of the Greek Empire knew they had made it big when they were crowned with a wreath made from bay laurel leaves. You know …
Big Exposure for Authors – Trade Publication Reviews
Of all the tactics an author can use to become noteworthy, getting your book reviewed by the New York Times is right up there. A thumbs up from the likes of Publishers Weekly or the Library Journal is not just some stroke for the author’s ego. It can translate to big bucks in terms of buy-in for your book. The …
The Write Stuff – Choosing the Best BISAC Genre for Your Book
In the beginning, the world was void – formless, nameless, unreadable. Then everything got categorized, and we’ve been trying to file it ever since. It makes sense, doesn’t it? So too with books. Just as soon as an author writes something, somebody comes along and categorizes it. The most successful authors categorize their work first, then write it. When you …
How to Write a Press Release for a Book Launch
For authors seeking that elusive “best-seller” status, self-promotion can be your best tool for driving laser sharp traffic and increasing book sales. Of all the self-promotion options available, distributing press releases is probably the most overlooked method. It’s unfortunate because it can be highly effective – especially if your press release is picked-up by a major news outlet, journal or …
Captivate Your Audience: Storytelling at Its Best
When you write—whether it’s a keynote speech, an article, or a book for publication—your material has to be relatable for your audience. You’ve got to draw them in and keep their attention. Nothing does this quite as well as using the story as your format. A number of religious texts are written this way for one compelling reason: it works. …
I Could NEVER Write a Book!
by Bryan Heathman Did you know that over 70% of people have written down “writing a book” on their bucket list? As such, I get business executives frequently asking me on planes or at the gym about what is involved in writing a book. Years ago, I was one of these people who wanted to write a book but didn’t …
Sheer Poetry: Composing Text, Email & Social Posts for Epic Effect
by Bryan Heathman Have you ever gotten an electronic message and wondered when the author was going to get to the point? It hurts, doesn’t it? It’s not that they were trying to waste your dwindling time with turgid prose reminiscent of Longfellow’s epic Song of Hiawatha. It’s just that you simply couldn’t fit their rambling stanzas about “the shores …