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SACRED COWS MAKE THE BEST BURGERS

3/29/2018

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Here’s an ode to one of my favorite book titles: Sacred Cows Make the Best Burgers. It’s all about change and slashing through the things that continually hold once. He was still talking about burgers and he reminded me of a story he shared about surfing and change. As I think about his works, they fit perfectly with today’s author. 

Having dinner with my husband and a group of church friends a few Sundays ago, as ½ of us devoured a new favorite–the Sweet Cheeses hamburger at Red Door Wood Fired Grill in Brookside, I was again reminded of Bob’s title, Sacred Cows Make the Best Burgers.
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Huge “waves of change,” are barreling in from every direction and shaking up the basic foundations of everything we thought we knew and know about publishing. There isn’t a week that goes by that some new tidbit has come to the surface. For some authors, that new tidbit has the capability of capsizing them.
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With the “e”volution of a decade ago, these publishing change waves will continue to increase and come at a faster rate. Traditional publishers are finally acknowledging that a Nor-eastern is in their midst. The good news is that the independents are more adaptable and can maneuver across the waves. We may not have the credit lines the big boys have; what we do have is the ability to stay in front of the waves. Traditional publishers traditional wait for the wave to move. We small guys are moving within the wave—a huge difference.
Here are few Surfer Rules … adapting them for publishing include:
Surfers Do What They Love … Be Passionate
The best surfers live and breathe their sport. The most successful authors live and breathe their books, their vision, and their commitment. It all starts with Passion. Passion is a Factor. If you don’t have a fire in your belly about your book equally matched with a giant helping of enthusiasm, the waves and riptides of publishing will crush you. The Passion Factor is the high octane of your fuel system. The hiccups you will run into become minor obstacles … many can turn into opportunities.
Surfers Look to the Outside … Authors Must Anticipate What’s Coming
The next wave, or the next, next wave could be the “big” one. Authors have to anticipate what’s coming along. That’s why the authoring commitment creates a life-long learning opportunity. The huge mistake that most authors make is that they think that once the book is printed/published, the world comes to them. That’s where the Wipe-Out factor comes into play. The publishing world continues to morph; the Internet delivers a variety of new ideas and opportunities (as well as crashing waves) on a weekly basis.
Once you put your toe into the authoring wave, you now must commit to continuing education. Schmoozing with other authors, attending conferences, absorbing the latest trends is essential if you are going to continue to ride the publishing waves.
Surfers Have Flair … Push Your Limits with Flash
If you do whatever other author is doing, is writing about, is speaking about … what you get is boring. You are bored … and so is the audience. You’ve got to bring some pop and pizzazz to your voice and your words. You’ve got to bring the same pop and pizzazz to your presentations and marketing. Are you up to it?
Top performers in any area are never satisfied and thus they’re constantly pushing their limits. Good surfers are continually trying innovative new moves, new equipment, new places and going for bigger waves and longer rides. Staying ahead of a wave demands taking risks, trying new approaches and constantly challenging yourself and those around you.
Surfers Wipe Out … and So Do Authors … Expect It
If you think you are going to catch the perfect wave every time, you are in for a rude awakening. No one does. Surfers have to be patient. They know when the big one is coming in. They sense it; they feel it; they have prepped for it. So must an author.
If you think that everything that you will do, and that you engage others to do, will be perfect—that’s an “oh-oh” moment. They aren’t. Many authors get frustrated with what they perceive as failure of a marketing plan. Maybe it was; maybe it wasn’t. Marketing isn’t a one-time shot. It’s patience, over time, loaded with commitment and a game plan. Some marketing works, some doesn’t.
Surfers Don’t Surf Alone … Authors Shouldn’t Publish Alone … Ever!
One of the traits of successful authors and indie publishers is that they’ve learned that they don’t, and can’t, do it alone. Nor does the savvy surfer surf alone. Determine who you need on your team—book designer, cover designer, printer, editor, book coach … who else. Get them engaged as you scan the publishing horizon.
Surfers Don’t Just Sit There … Authors Must Keep Scanning the Horizon

If you’ve even watched a surfer; he starts paddling long before he is in the wave. Publishing is no different. If you wait to long to get into the wave—to get your book going, you will get caught up in the backwash—sometimes knocking you down in the process and stopping you cold. In publishing, the author usually has to get into the wave—move—before it overtakes him or her. Yes, maybe one more interview will add more flavor to your book, or one more study. But, could that be the next book?
It’s not uncommon for authors to get caught up in “one for the money, two for the show, three to get ready, three to get ready, three to get ready.” Catch the wave!
To Your Success,
MG
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Need Email Help? Look No Further

3/22/2018

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21 EMAIL IDEAS FOR AUTHORS
What is the biggest reason why authors aren’t using email marketing to build a fan base and stay connected:
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“I don’t know what to write about.”
Many nonfiction and fiction authors don’t have ideas for content they can offer in their emails—like juicy tidbits that tie into their expertise, topic or books. Yet at publishing conferences, they hear speakers and book coaches recommend that they build an email list. Most authors have no clue ​
Here are some examples of authors who are using email to stay in touch with their fans. I’ve included some fictional examples, too, so you can see how email can be a powerful marketing tool for authors in any genre.
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For a Freelance Writer
Freelance writer Elizabeth Cottrell writes about four key topics at her blog at Heartspoken.com: “the connection to self, to others, to nature and to God.” Two important topics are the importance of handwriting sympathy and thank-you notes. In her emails, she can share:
  • A short template for a sympathy note.
  • 3 things NOT to say when sending a sympathy note to a friend who has lost a loved one. (Example: “You’ll eventually get over this.”)
  • Her favorite three websites or Pinterest boards where people can find inspiration for writing thank-you notes.

For a Children’s Educational Curriculum Writer

Author Rosemarie Pagano created a fun vocabulary series called FAB VOCAB for kids, designed to teach students about unusual words. She created a character named Robin Bird to make learning fun and easy to understand. She has a weekly blog series called FAB VOCAB and she’s creating “The Worm Whisperer” series, all about good worms, bad worms and yucky worms.

She told me about these three ideas can share:
  • A “word of the week” and the history of the word, with a download link to a printable image the child can hang on a wall or collect in a “FAB VOCAB” index card box. She can cross-promote from the blog to the email tips and vice-versa. 
  • A request for students to send her a word they find interesting, gross, confusing, etc. What a great way to engage readers!
  • A monthly “word search” diagram that challenges students to “find the word” hidden in a word puzzle she will create. Note: Rosemarie is creating a lot of her own content. But you don’t have to do everything yourself. In addition to your own content, you can link to other people’s articles, blog posts, etc. 
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For a Children’s Fantasy Author

You’ve written a book for children, about a secret forest inhabited by fairies. Share:
  • Instructions on how to make a fairy costume. These don’t even have to be your instructions. You can link to someone else’s.
  • The 5 most famous fairies in history, and a short explanation of their origin (the Tooth Fairy, the Sugar Plum Fairy, Tinkerbell…)
  • Your favorite online stores for games, costumes, puzzles, books, calendars, posters and music about fairies. 

For a Contemporary Romance Author
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A romance author can write:
  • Do’s and don’ts for online dating. 
  • Her favorite three places in Denver for a fun first date. She can use this same idea for other cities in future emails.
  • The benefits of marrying late in life. 

For a Gluten-free Cookbook Author
Your book is about how to make gluten-free desserts. You can share:
  • A funny story about the biggest mistake you made when learning how to bake gluten-free. (Readers love this!)
  • The following week, ask readers to submit their funniest story to you with permission to share them with your other readers. 
  • Your three favorite foodie TV shows, even if they aren’t about gluten-free cooking.For a Murder Mystery Author
You write about murder mysteries. You can share:
  • An interview with a forensics expert.
  • A character, a scene, a chapter or a sub-plot you created and then decided to eliminate from one of your books—and why. 
  • Facts about the most puzzling real-life murder mystery of all time, with a link to a book, video or podcast about it.
For a Relationship Expert
You write about murder mysteries. You can share:
  • You write about how to create healthy relationships that lead to a lifelong marriage. You can share:
  • An example of a celebrity marriage that has endured for many years—and why. Offer their tips and your own.
  • How TV shows like “The Bachelorette” harm young people.
  • A mistake you made in your own marriage, what you learned from it, and how your readers can keep from making it.

To Your Success,

MG
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You’re Not Insane, Stop acting like it…

3/15/2018

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You’re Not Insane, Stop acting like it…
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Authors sometimes don’t want to hear what works in creating a successful book campaign—campaigns that include the creation, the marketing and the sales of a book … they would rather keep doing the same thing … the thing that has produced no results. Which is usually sitting on their still. Or if they did try “something” and it didn’t work, that they then choose to sit on their buns because nothing else will work. Or, if they had cost overruns in creating the book (and just who is responsible for that?—yes, dear author—look in the mirror), they refuse to do anything to support/market their book once they have all those books sitting in the garage.
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Stop the Insanity … And please, pass me the barf bag so I can continue …

Great—you’ve got a book. What’s next? What’s next has to be marketing and selling of it. What’s next is teaching it and you how to connect with others. What’s next is telling the world. What’s next is to stop rationalizing, making excuses and justifying why you can’t market it. What’s next is for you, dear author, to commit—recommit—to your book and yourself.

“I’m tired.” So … we all are.  The creation of a book can lead to Book Fatigue Syndrome—I get it, you need a rest. Take a week or two off … but then, it’s back to work.

“I’ve already committed so much money, I can’t put another penny on my credit card …”  What were you thinking in the first place—that if you just held a copy of your finished book that the world would flock to the stores, the Internet, your website, your front door, you ,to get a copy? Get over it—you need expert marketing help … starting right now.

“I just want to write …” This is so yesteryear. No author gets to do the ostrich bit these days. Part of authoring is connecting with potential and ongoing book buyers. It means marketing, marketing, and more marketing.

“I hired the wrong person …” Yep, it happens. Lick your wounds—determine what went wrong in the process—then get back to work.

“I don’t know how to do all this social media stuff…” Welcome to the crowd … but there are those out there that do … and guess what—they are part of the book marketing campaign—your book marketing campaign. Your book budget.

Too, too many authors abandon the book ship early in the process. And what do they do? Many start another book—maybe a variation of what they just did. And what will happen when they finish? Most likely, abandonment. In effect, you’ve become an unfit author/parent. What are you thinking? Stop the insanity. Today. Now.

To Your Success,
​
MG
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