“Cashing in on Book-Writing Mentors! --An Expert's How to Write a Book Step-by-Step Guide”
Here's how to get advice, insight and help from published, professional authors!
by Steve Manning
How'd you like to have half a dozen professional writers at your beck and call, ready to talk to you, answer your questions, have lunch or dinner with you monthly, pass along their suggestions, and maybe even their contacts. Here's how it's done…
Whatever genre of book you're thinking of writing, chances are very good that there's a national association that addresses just that genre and caters to authors who specialize in that area. Crime writers, science fiction, horror, non-fiction, romance, sports, graphic novels… you name it, it's out there. The power of the internet makes contact with these groups just a google search away.
These groups are almost all volunteer run and everyone knows that the major commodity offered is information, about authors, about publishers, about opportunities, about promotion and so much more. The more you know about the market that wants your type of book, the more likely you are to offer precisely what the market wants now (not yesterday) and ensure your manuscript is in just the right place at the right time.
Not surprisingly, many of these groups have chapters that are very active in your area. Here's a chance for you to meet several local authors who focus on the kind of book you want to write, they've been successful in their efforts, and they want to talk about what they like doing best… writing that kind of book.
How do you cash in on this opportunity? Join the national association, and then join, or get involved with, the local chapter, or group of members.
They'll usually meet monthly and it could take place in a church basement if there are quite a few of them (romance writers) or at a restaurant if there is only a handful (crime writers). By the way, if there isn't a local group or chapter, consider forming one yourself. If you get more than two people coming to the first meeting, work hard to make it a growing success. If no one shows up to the first meeting, well, you tried.
Time for a little unabashed, self promotion: If you haven’t asked for my Free CD, “How to Write a Book On Anything in 14 Days Guaranteed!” then you’re just plain nuts! It’s free, no charge, but you can bet this $100 CD will be carrying that price tag very shortly. How do you get it? Just email me at Free CD, Please, or CD_please@writeabooknow.com and make sure you include your name, your mailing address and your telephone number in the email. Now, back to the article…
Your first task is to recognize that fine line that everyone knows exists but has never seen. You want to be enthusiastic enough to be involved, but not so enthusiastic that you're dismissed by everyone there as a nut. (Remind me to tell you about my first meeting with an all-woman collection of romance writers.)
Get involved by being helpful. You can look after the boring stuff, like logistics, or calling people to remind them of the meeting. Your objective, as mercenary as this might sound, is to become friends with these folks. After you've done this for three or four months, come to the next meeting prepared with two or three very important questions you need answers to. Be specific, and let each of your new 'friends' know that you value their expertise and their insight on the topic.
Your questions could be as banal as, "how do you deal with daily distractions?" to "do you know the name of a good literary agent who handles this type of book?" Imagine your leverage when you call a literary agent and say, "Yesterday I was having lunch with (famous author you represent) and she suggested I give you a call."
After about six or seven months, you're one of the gang. Everyone else is pulling for your success, just as you're willing to help anyone in the group to achieve publishing success with their book. Suddenly you're surrounded by excellent mentors who want you to be as successful as possible.
While we're on the topic of strategies, and if you haven't already done so, feel free to
subscribe to my FREE on-line course, "How To Write A Book On
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Time for a little unabashed, self promotion: If you haven’t asked for my Free CD, “How to Write a Book On Anything in 14 Days Guaranteed!” then you’re just plain nuts! It’s free, no charge, but you can bet this $100 CD will be carrying that price tag very shortly. How do you get it? Just email me at Free CD, Please, or CD_please@writeabooknow.com and make sure you include your name, your mailing address and your telephone number in the email.
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