Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Hi Craig:

You`re absolutely right. 

I can`t even tell you how many times before my book was published that I said, "Awwwww, who gives a rip?!?"  Then I`d go back and read parts of it again and I`d say, "Dang it, this is good.  The world needs to know this." I`d go off and try to forget about it.  Then I`d suck it up and get writing again.  It`s a crazy making process - especially without support and someone knowledgeable to tell you you`re NOT going crazy.

You`re creating something out of thin air when you write a book.  Especially when you have something original to say.  You think you`re a little out of your mind because it hasn`t been done before - at least not in the way you want to do it.  And you`re giving yourself "permission" to be an expert or authority in the biggest way and THAT takes cahunas.

Craig, to finally finish my manuscript I went to a B&B in the mountains (twice) for four days each time with the snow and the fireplace and wrote and edited like the wind.  I finally went through it all over and over and over again.  Ernie brought me tea, M&Ms and and carry-out Chinese as I wrote.  I filled in the gaps.  I got rid of anything even remotely fluffy.  I`m not a fluffy writer any way - but that book is lean and muscular like a Ferrari. 

Yes, Craig, a good editor is essential because you get to the point where it`s hard to SEE it anymore.  When you`ve read it so many times you`re pretty much blind to the tiny nuances and details.  My mentoring clients always want me to help them with the editing and I`m great on the first big pass through - for sentence structure and overall structure.  But my 49 year old eyes seem to miss little tiny things like a comma instead of a semi-colon and other such stuff.  I advise them to get an editor for that. 

All the best,

Denise Michaels, Author, "Testosterone-Free Marketing"

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PS: Does the thought of marketing drive you to chocolate? I`m looking for a very special woman who loves her business but hates selling and marketing. Tell me about your business and your challenges and I`ll tell you how I can help you have more fun, feel more confident and make a lot more money. All my marketing mentoring clients get results. Visit me at http://www.MentoringwithDenise.com

I just got a call from my ol` buddy (and client) Bill Barnett.  Bill is the author of a best-selling book and I mentored with him I think about five years ago.  It`s funny because this morning I thought I should call Bill and see how he`s doing.  I hadn`t talked with him since right after I got married last summer.  Surprise!  He called me.  I told him about what I`m doing and he said, "Would you like me to write you a testimonial?"  I said thanks, yes.  This is what he emailed me just a few minutes ago...

“Thank you...Thank you...Thank you!  Your mentorship through the writing and sales process of "Are You DUMB Enough To Be RICH?" was and continues to be invaluable to me.  Our phone time together working out all the details of structure, content, design and marketing allowed this book to happen.  I have no doubt; I would not be a Best Selling Author today were it not for your support. Thanks again and forever indebted.”

Yours in prosperity and friendship,

Bill Barnett
Author, “Are you DUMB Enough To Be RICH?

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PS: Does the thought of marketing drive you to chocolate? I`m looking for a very special woman who loves her business but hates selling and marketing. Tell me about your business and your challenges and I`ll tell you how I can help you have more fun, feel more confident and make a lot more money. All my marketing mentoring clients get results. Visit me at http://www.MentoringwithDenise.com

Let`s not forget that a good editor, and/or a good agent also tends to have some objectivity and can be in the cheering section. When the author starts thinking "this blows, nobody`s gonna read it," the editor can step in with experience and numbers. "Sure they will! You should see some of the other stuff I`ve seen! This is great!" :-)

If writing a book were easy, everyone would be doing it. But that applies pretty much the same way to starting a business. There too, the entrepreneur is creating money out of thin air. The same passion and stick-to-it-iveness comes into play.

Hi Denise!  This is the first time I`ve been on SuN, I had the priveledge of listening to the Sloan Brothers in Phoenix recently, and they were so inspiring!  I`ve been teaching a laser class for the last 2 years.  I`m the didactic instructor and most of the course is taught out of my head.  I work with people who want to use lasers for aesthetic purposes (hair reduction, photofacials, etc) and want to write a book that is basically my class.  There aren`t any books out there that deal with this subject and none that explain it in the way I do with my class. 

Somepeople say I need a publisher right away, and I`ve only got a portion of it written.  Other people say it`s almost impossible to get it done, (which just makes me more stubborn!)  What are your thoughts on this?  Just keep writing until it`s all done?  Start looking for an editor, pubisher?  Since this is non-fiction, does that make a difference?  Thanks so much for your input!  I have to say, I`m very excited to have found my place in the SuN!  I think I`ll submit that to the merchandising blog!

Kris

The more I talk with folks about writing books, the more it seems to me that the main rule ought to be "Write the Book." :-) Or, as Larry the Cable Guy would say, "Git `er Done!"

It`s true that some writers can set up a proposal, get one or two chapters, send it out and get a contract. Not that it`s a hard process, but that they have the discipline to then actually write the rest of the book. But most people I`ve spoken with, myself included, tend to let time drift along.

One argument is that with a contract and deadline, it pushes the writer to write, regardless of how lazy they feel. The downside is that they might write lower quality stuff because they`re under pressure.

On the other hand, if the book is done, it`s a product. Going out to find an agent or publisher, they`re going to ask how long will it take? If the book is written, then timing and deadlines become a whole lot easier to handle. That`s especially true if there are various editing cycles involved (copy editing, technical editing, etc.).

My thinking is get the book written. Then go out and deal with publishing and distribution.

Hi Kris:

First, I want to say kudos to you for coming up with a great idea for a book.  I`m 49 and as the hands of time keep marching forward I`m fascinated with what can be done in the area of anti-aging with lasers.  Whenever I see that stuff on TV I`m just riveted to learn more. 

Since I`ve been out of school I really haven`t been a sun worshipper and I`ve taken pretty good care of my skin - but time keeps marching forward and the skin that was peaches and cream ten years ago - just isn`t that way today.  And women today (and increasingly men) really want to hold back the hands of time.  And, I`d never heard of this but last week I read an article in a little local publication about an application for laser for weight loss.  Hmmmmmm....

The most important thing you need right now Kris is a book proposal.  Because as I said early in this thread - your book proposal is like a business plan for your book.  It will lay the foundation and make the book easier to write.  Also, happily enough the book proposal and one or two sample chapters is what literary agents and publishers (acquisition editors) want to see.  So get your book proposal done.  Start sending it out.  And, while you`re in that process - as Craig says - keep writing.  Keep developing your product. 

Re-writes are sort of an inevitable thing.  So even when you think you have the very best book done possible - changes are an editor will want some tweaks and shifts.  Don`t take it personally.  Just take a deep breath and do it.  That`s why if a publisher wants to sign you to a contract and you`re only halfway finished - that`s fine.  You`ve got a good chunk out of the way - but you`ll benefit from their editorial support and suggestions.

all the best,

Denise Michaels, Author, "Testosterone-Free Marketing

Visit me online at http://www.MentoringwithDenise.com and be sure to click on "Book Mentoring."

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PS: Does the thought of marketing drive you to chocolate? I`m looking for a very special woman who loves her business but hates selling and marketing. Tell me about your business and your challenges and I`ll tell you how I can help you have more fun, feel more confident and make a lot more money. All my marketing mentoring clients get results. Visit me at http://www.MentoringwithDenise.com

Thanks Denise!  I`m in my early 40`s and I refuse to act or look my age!  They are using lasers for all sorts of stuff including liposuction!  It`s very cool what these machines can do and how they work.  I think my friends get sick about me talking laser physics, but I am in love with these machines!  I tell my students that I`m going to marry my intense pulse light and sometimes I`m not kidding! 

How do you know what direction to go when it comes to finding a publisher?  Google publishers?  Look at the big ones?  Small ones?  One`s that lean towarad non fiction or textbooks?  Is a book proposal like a table of contents?  Sorry if I sound ignorant, I`ve read a ton of books, just haven`t written one!  I really appreciate your input on this and your encouragement!

Kris

Hi Kris:

Finding a publisher is slightly like finding an ideal customer.  You need to target.  You don`t want to send your proposal to a publisher of children`s books or romantic novels.  You want to target and find publishers of books for consumers having to do with medicine and/or check to see if there are publishers out there that really like books that have to do with anti-aging topics.

When I work with book mentoring clients I have strategies to locate some of these publishers.  Part of it has to do with finding books on similar topics - those are going to be publishers that are more likely to publish your book.  But I have strategies I have my clients do that help them to fine-tune even more.

Contact me Kris if you`d like to find out more or go to my website and click on "Book Mentoring."

All the best,

Denise Michaels, Author, "Testosterone-Free Marketing"

Visit me at http://www.MentoringWithDenise.com

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PS: Does the thought of marketing drive you to chocolate? I`m looking for a very special woman who loves her business but hates selling and marketing. Tell me about your business and your challenges and I`ll tell you how I can help you have more fun, feel more confident and make a lot more money. All my marketing mentoring clients get results. Visit me at http://www.MentoringwithDenise.com

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