Writings Wrongs: How to Become a Famous Writer
Because this
is a blog about writing I’m often asked why I write so many posts about
business and marketing. There is a good reason although it does separate my
readers into two camps.
Those who believe
in the integrity of the art form and those who write simply to make a buck.
You can do both. In fact it is essential that you do
both and I’m going to explain why.
Those who only write for artistic reasons
aren’t really writers, they are hobbyists. They have allowed their massive ego
to co-opt reason to insulate themselves from the massive rejection they feel
they must endure to “Pay their dues” or “Suffer for their art.” They warm
themselves with the belief their work will eventually be discovered (likely
after they’re dead, if at all) and their body of work will be celebrated as
genius.
This belief comforts that massive ego and shores up their “See, I told
you so!” psychosis.
These people
need to be smacked in the head. As John
Wayne once said “Life is hard. It’s even harder if you’re stupid.” I assume these
people get some comfort in the thought of looking down from the heavens and feeling
vindicated.
Seriously!!??
And the
ironic part of all this is that for a long time I was one of those people!
That changed
however when I met the people who write simply to make a buck and discovered
that these people, who have no writing talent whatsoever are making thousands
every month in royalties.
WHAT A
FRICKIN EYE OPENER THAT WAS!
Here is the
first thing I learned from them. You
will ONLY get a book deal if they (publishers and agents) believe that the book
you have written will appeal to a large book buying audience. Do not, I
repeat, do not attempt to prove me wrong by pointing out some novel about
Elbonian folk dancing that became a national best seller. That was a fluke!
That would like countering my statement that you will never win the lottery, by
pointing out the few people that have.
Ask yourself
this question. Who is more likely to
become rich? The person who saves money, makes business contacts,
researches what businesses are most likely to succeed and then learns
everything they can about that business and then opens that business in an area
that has a lot of traffic, or the person who maxes out their credit cards and
savings to open a business selling something that interests them in the empty
store down the block?
Want to
set a fire under your ass? Want to put a gun to the head of that insane ego of
yours? Stipulate in
your will that any of your work that is unpublished at the time of your death
be destroyed.
As that
great American philosopher Groucho Marx once said: “Posterity? What do I care
about Posterity? What has posterity ever done for me?”
The second
thing I learned from them is that publishers
aren’t interested in writers who don’t have a strong following. If they
sign you and publish your book they have to invest a considerable amount of
money to publicize and promote it. They need to make money with that investment
and if you don’t have a following they
aren’t going to take a chance regardless of how great the book is or how
enthusiastic you are.
Here’s what
I did. I created a strong following through this blog and others (This blog has
had over thirty thousand readers) I discovered that fiction books outsell
non-fiction books but fiction requires a great deal of advertising and
promotion to build a buzz and generate sales. And that costs a lot of money!
To sell
non-fiction books however, all you have to do is find a topic people want to
know more about and write a book on that topic. For example: Once I learned all
the ins and outs of writing a book that sells and creates a loyal following, I
wrote The Best Book on How to Write,
Publish and Market Your Novel into a Best seller to help fellow writers who
aren’t having any luck getting published, by explaining to them exactly what
they need to do to turn things around. It is selling very well on all three platforms, as an e
book, paperback and audiobook. You
can get a copy by clicking on the picture on the right. The e book is under 5
dollars. The paperback under ten.
Seeing I was
onto something, I started thinking about writing another non-fiction book. Then
realized that, like me, millions were downsized during the 2009-2010 recession
and as a result were floundering emotionally, physically and financially. So I
wrote The Best book on How to Start Over:
Rebuild your Mind, Body and Finances. And BINGO another hit on all three platforms.
Again you can click on the image on the right to read a sample or buy the book.
Now here’s
the thing, when writing the financial section of that book I realized that I would
need to write an entire other book to properly explain how to make money
online.
So I did.
And the result was The Best Book on How
to Make Money Online. In it I explained the most lucrative niches to get
into and how to generate income from them. When researching the book what
stunned me the most was how much money
can be made and that the biggest hindrance to success is people spreading
themselves too thin. Again another hit on all three platforms. You can get your
copy by clicking on the book image on the right.
But the most
successful of them all was the book that came out of the most miserable and
soul-crushing experience of my life.
My divorce.
I had been
married for 25 years. Thought everything was going fine. Then BOOM, it was
over.
Never entered
my mind to write a book about it, thought it too personal, too painful.
THEN I
DISCOVERED THAT NEARLY EVERY MIDDLE AGED MAN I SPOKE TO WHO WAS GOING THROUGH A
DIVORCE, OR HAD ALREADY BEEN THROUGH A DIVORCE TOLD THE VERY SAME STORY, HAD THE
VERY SAME EXPERIENCE.
Like me,
none of those men saw it coming. It was then I realized that I had to get the
word out so guys who were going through what I went through could protect
themselves and prepare for what was going to happen. So I wrote DIVORCE: The Middle-Aged Man’s Survival Guide.
I honestly believe
I have written a number of great fiction books. They have all received very
positive reviews, but the MOST Important Book was DIVORCE: The Middle-Aged Man’s Survival Guide. Because some men
have told me that book literally saved their life. One guy described it as a rescue boat when
trapped on a desert island.
Now here’s
the take away from this post. Should I wish to have my next fiction book
published through a traditional publisher, I can begin my query letter by
pointing out that I already have a large number of readers, have several non-
fiction books that are selling very well, have great reviews and have proven
that I am a prolific writer who can provide consistent high quality product AND
KNOW HOW TO MARKET THEM!
