To Write, Publish (and Sell!) My First Book

Posted by Greg Provance on October 3, 2007 11:53 PM PDT

Recommend this? YES NO

This is a creative venture for me. I have employed my creative talents in many ways throughout my life so far with a good amount of success: art, performance, music and business...now the written word. I have begun the task of writing a memoires of sorts that I hope will inspire those who identify with my personal struggle and my methods of attaining health, inner peace and abundance.

I am never one to refuse support, so anyone with any experience at all with writing a book, getting published and especially hitting the best seller lists (all of which is more than I have experienced thus far) is encouraged to comment or give advice...it is all greatly and humbly appreciated!

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6 Comments

Greg,

You've set your intention and that is perhaps the most powerful step. Next, make space for this to evolve in your life. So often we set a goal but never make room for the manifestation to occur.

Start telling people: use your elevator speech - you'll be surprised how many people have information that may be useful. There are also a few really great books that can walk you through the steps of getting an agent (or not)setting up your book proposal and marketing.

Lastly, consider setting up a website where you publish pieces of the book drawing attention and building momentum.

Good Luck and Happy Writing!

Posted by Teri Johnson on October 5, 2007 7:25 AM PDT

Thanks, Teri for the wonderful advice.
I have started telling people as you suggested, which I recognize as being a tough thing for me...superstition, I suppose. Listing it here as a goal was big-made it very real. (Easy for me to coach others on this-tough to take my own advice at times:)
LOVE the website idea-something I have considered but not committed to taking action on...until now.
I'll let you know when I have something up.
Please let me know how I can support you...
Greg

Posted by Greg Provance on October 5, 2007 3:15 PM PDT

Greg-

Kuddos on setting this goal! Writing a book is a huge self growth project. You will be delighted at how much you grow through the process.

I've written 4 and helped quite a few coaches write and publish books. One of the best tips I can give you is to set up a blog right away with a way to collect names and email addresses of interested readers.

This blog will serve a couple of purposes:
1. It will get you writing daily. The more you write, the easier it gets.
2. Blog posts are conversational in tone and so are the most successful books. If you write your book like a PhD dissertation, it will not connect with readers at the heart level.
3. You can post ideas and start a conversation with potential readers. If you post something that generates lots of comments, that's a hot idea that people are vitally interested in.
4. Collecting names and email addresses of blog visitors in exchange for a special report/ sample chapter/ free teleclass/ or other valuable item gives you the chance to generate an early buzz about your book and learn about the needs of the people most likely to be your first readers.

Please share your progress so that we can celebrate with you!

There are people just waiting to read your wisdom.

Love and blessings,
Lynne

Posted by Lynne Klippel on October 6, 2007 9:22 AM PDT

Hi Lynne. Thank you so much for the insight. In an effort to prioritize, I am tackling the outline now...I will have a storyboard complete by the end of the week. I thought I would throw up a small web site specific to the book, and add a blog section, along with a few excerpts, as you suggested, so it's all together in one spot. My struggle is balancing the marketing of my coaching company with the book-I suppose an integration is what is called for here.
Thanks again for the kind support!!!
Greg

Posted by Greg Provance on October 9, 2007 2:16 PM PDT

"an author should never conceive himself as bringing into existence beauty or wisdom which did not exist before, but simply and solely as trying to embody in terms of his own art some reflection of eternal Beauty and Wisdom."

Whenever I'm thinking about writing or actually writing, I've found that inspiring quotes at my disposal are a big help.