Showing posts with label writing books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label writing books. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 29, 2025
Friday, June 10, 2022
Tuesday, November 08, 2011
Book Authors Perennial Question: Where Do You Get Your Ideas?
One question authors get asked a lot is: Where Do You Get Your Ideas?
Well, here's where I got my idea for a new Kindle ebook, 101 Ways to Blog as an eBook Author. I got the idea earlier this evening while listening to Ty Cohen present his Kindle Cash Flow webinar.
I thought: Why not turn some of my blog posts into books? One of my longest blog posts is one I did on 101 Ways to Blog as a Book Author. That, in turn, was inspired by another blog post I did in response to something I saw on Ezine Articles: 45 Ways to Blog as a Novelist: Tips for Writers of Fiction.
I've been asked many times by ebook authors to write some books specifically on how to market ebooks. During Ty's webinar, I realized I should do that. I'll be writing several such books, but I thought I'd start with one that is half-written: 101 Ways to Blog as an eBook Author.
Of course, as is my usual pattern, I'm expanding the ebook to include tons of samples and some more ideas. It'll be done sometime this week or early next week.
So, I'll update the links on this page when the Kindle ebook, 101 Ways to Blog as an eBook Author, is available.
Well, here's where I got my idea for a new Kindle ebook, 101 Ways to Blog as an eBook Author. I got the idea earlier this evening while listening to Ty Cohen present his Kindle Cash Flow webinar.
I thought: Why not turn some of my blog posts into books? One of my longest blog posts is one I did on 101 Ways to Blog as a Book Author. That, in turn, was inspired by another blog post I did in response to something I saw on Ezine Articles: 45 Ways to Blog as a Novelist: Tips for Writers of Fiction.
I've been asked many times by ebook authors to write some books specifically on how to market ebooks. During Ty's webinar, I realized I should do that. I'll be writing several such books, but I thought I'd start with one that is half-written: 101 Ways to Blog as an eBook Author.
Of course, as is my usual pattern, I'm expanding the ebook to include tons of samples and some more ideas. It'll be done sometime this week or early next week.
So, I'll update the links on this page when the Kindle ebook, 101 Ways to Blog as an eBook Author, is available.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Advice to Would-Be Book Authors
Question from reader: What advice do you have for aspiring authors who are not yet motivated enough or knowledgeable enough to get started?
John's Answer: For authors who want to write a book but do not yet know how to go about it and don't quite know how to get started -- the desire is enough. If you have a passion for your topic and for your book, you can write a book. Start simply.
1. Begin by reading a lot of books on the subject you want to write about. Get educated. Discover what others have written so you can make your book better, different, or more targeted.
If you are writing a novel, then read good novels in your genre (romance, mysteries, fantasy, etc.). Read some of the classics as well as some more recent fiction. Get to know the history and current style of the genre you want to write.
Similarly, if you are working on a nonfiction book, read bestselling or highly recommended books on your specific topic. Again, read some classics as well as some more recent books.
Take notes as you read. Highlight books you own. Tear out pages and place in folders to refer back to later when you start writing. Jot down ideas as books inspire your own thoughts. The books you read should inspire the content for your book. Be sure as you read to consider how you might make the book you write even better than the one you are reading.
2. Sit down and start writing. Write one to four pages a day. Don't worry about how good it is. Just get started writing. Do this before you do step 3.
3. Outline your book. Once you've gotten a week or two worth of writing collected, begin to outline how you want to write your book. If nonfiction, outline the chapters or step-by-step description you want to focus on. If fiction, develop and outline your plot, setting, and major characters.
4. Start at the beginning. Once you have an idea of the whole shape of your book (chapter by chapter outline or a plot), now begin writing your book. Start at the beginning of the book for fiction. For nonfiction, you can write the introduction later; start with the nuts and bolts content for your book. Write something every day. Set aside some time to write.
5. Research as you write. If you find as you write your book that you need to do some more research, do that now. Then go back to writing.
6. Get feedback from someone you trust, someone who will not criticize your work but who can give you honest feedback about your writing style as well as the content of your book.
7. Don't give up. If you write four pages a day, you'll have a book in less than six months. If you write five pages a week, you'll have a book within a year.
8. Create content, no matter the format. If you can't write a book despite all this advice, then create a tape, do a video, write a blog, create a new website, interview others. Get your content and inspiration out somehow. You can always write a book later.
See the new content I've created for this blog post at BookMarketingBestsellers.com, especially Point #9 on marketing as you write: http://bookmarketingbestsellers.com/john-kremers-advice-to-would-be-book-authors.
John's Answer: For authors who want to write a book but do not yet know how to go about it and don't quite know how to get started -- the desire is enough. If you have a passion for your topic and for your book, you can write a book. Start simply.
1. Begin by reading a lot of books on the subject you want to write about. Get educated. Discover what others have written so you can make your book better, different, or more targeted.
If you are writing a novel, then read good novels in your genre (romance, mysteries, fantasy, etc.). Read some of the classics as well as some more recent fiction. Get to know the history and current style of the genre you want to write.
Similarly, if you are working on a nonfiction book, read bestselling or highly recommended books on your specific topic. Again, read some classics as well as some more recent books.
Take notes as you read. Highlight books you own. Tear out pages and place in folders to refer back to later when you start writing. Jot down ideas as books inspire your own thoughts. The books you read should inspire the content for your book. Be sure as you read to consider how you might make the book you write even better than the one you are reading.
2. Sit down and start writing. Write one to four pages a day. Don't worry about how good it is. Just get started writing. Do this before you do step 3.
3. Outline your book. Once you've gotten a week or two worth of writing collected, begin to outline how you want to write your book. If nonfiction, outline the chapters or step-by-step description you want to focus on. If fiction, develop and outline your plot, setting, and major characters.
4. Start at the beginning. Once you have an idea of the whole shape of your book (chapter by chapter outline or a plot), now begin writing your book. Start at the beginning of the book for fiction. For nonfiction, you can write the introduction later; start with the nuts and bolts content for your book. Write something every day. Set aside some time to write.
5. Research as you write. If you find as you write your book that you need to do some more research, do that now. Then go back to writing.
6. Get feedback from someone you trust, someone who will not criticize your work but who can give you honest feedback about your writing style as well as the content of your book.
7. Don't give up. If you write four pages a day, you'll have a book in less than six months. If you write five pages a week, you'll have a book within a year.
8. Create content, no matter the format. If you can't write a book despite all this advice, then create a tape, do a video, write a blog, create a new website, interview others. Get your content and inspiration out somehow. You can always write a book later.
See the new content I've created for this blog post at BookMarketingBestsellers.com, especially Point #9 on marketing as you write: http://bookmarketingbestsellers.com/john-kremers-advice-to-would-be-book-authors.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Writing Is a Business
Are you writing as a hobby, profession, or business? Your answer makes all the difference in the world.
Self gratification comes from a hobby.
Wages come from a profession.
Profit comes from a business.
It's your choice. One must understand the ramifications of the choices. Don't believe for a moment that you can do one and get paid as the other. It really doesn't work that way. No matter what Tooth Ferry you believe in.
Here are insights from publishing industry insiders about the business of writing.
"In today's market, writers can't just be writers. They have to be performers and publicists as well." - novelist Joshua Henkin, "Writer with a Roadshow", New York Times, July 5, 1997
"Publishers lavish promotion on books likely to sell, written by bestseller writers." - Jeff Lippman, Wall Street Journal, September 2, 1997
"Everyone else pretty much has to fend for himself." - Robert Crais, author of the Elvis Cole mystery series, quoted in the Wall Street Journal, September 2, 1997
Many artists are confused about the model they are using and wind up operating their art as a hobby and wondering why they aren't making any money. I made this mistake for many years. You don't need to.
To change your income, first, change your operating basis.
Click here to read the elements of fiction writing, starting with a discussion of the writers product.
-- Richard A McCullough, the Rich Writers Coach, is the creator & editor of http://www.write-better-fiction.com, the fiction writer's source for writing better fiction faster and selling more of what you write.
Self gratification comes from a hobby.
Wages come from a profession.
Profit comes from a business.
It's your choice. One must understand the ramifications of the choices. Don't believe for a moment that you can do one and get paid as the other. It really doesn't work that way. No matter what Tooth Ferry you believe in.
Here are insights from publishing industry insiders about the business of writing.
"In today's market, writers can't just be writers. They have to be performers and publicists as well." - novelist Joshua Henkin, "Writer with a Roadshow", New York Times, July 5, 1997
"Publishers lavish promotion on books likely to sell, written by bestseller writers." - Jeff Lippman, Wall Street Journal, September 2, 1997
"Everyone else pretty much has to fend for himself." - Robert Crais, author of the Elvis Cole mystery series, quoted in the Wall Street Journal, September 2, 1997
Many artists are confused about the model they are using and wind up operating their art as a hobby and wondering why they aren't making any money. I made this mistake for many years. You don't need to.
To change your income, first, change your operating basis.
Click here to read the elements of fiction writing, starting with a discussion of the writers product.
-- Richard A McCullough, the Rich Writers Coach, is the creator & editor of http://www.write-better-fiction.com, the fiction writer's source for writing better fiction faster and selling more of what you write.
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