While there is no “right” way to write, as everyone has their own style, there is, however, a clear, hampering habit that exists with beginners and professionals alike: the penchant for slipping into editing mode when writing a first draft.

As Robert Mankoff recently pointed out in an interview on Big Think, it’s important to understand that the analytical mind is not the creative mind.

So with apologies to Mignon Fogarty, the Grammar Girl, whom I regularly rely on for grammar tips, free yourself. Don’t get too bogged down with syntax, spelling, and other technicalities on your first run-through. It tends to stifle your creative momentum. Get your ideas on paper in an unencumbered fashion. Save the editing for later. Till then, "Screw grammar. Just write."

Looking for more insight into the writing process? Give us a shout; we'd be happy to hear from you.

In trying to generate more leads, create more prospects, and convert more sales, people often apply a backward strategy. They focus on their own needs rather than on what’s ultimately most important. Even the best marketing and sales professionals need to be reminded once in awhile that if you want to grow your business, you need to focus on the needs of your target market.

Let’s say you want to create a free report that is accessible from your website, a great way to generate leads and gather contact information -- after all, how do you think you ended up here! Here’s a customer-focused exercise and approach that can quickly translate into dollars:

Grab a piece of paper or your laptop, and try crafting a headline or banner that will grab the attention of your intended audience. Don’t wait until you know exactly what to say, just start writing. Really focus on what your customers want. As you attempt to hone your message, you will be able to see what falls flat and what has some snap to it. Words like FREE, NOW, and YOUR are powerful tools. As you write, remember, you are trying to lower the threshold to get people to take action.

Even if you have no idea where you are going when you begin, chances are, as you craft your message, you will notice the ideas starting to flow. Before you know it, you will have created a valuable concept of interest for your target audience. Now all you need to do is sit down, write up the report -- or hire an expert to write it for you -- and make it available in exchange for some basic contact information. There you go. You now have a customer-focused lead generator.

The key to all of this is to not let the fact that you don’t originally have an idea stop you from taking the next step. The ideas will come. But you must first find a way to tap into your creativity. The process of crafting a concise message is an excellent way to do that.

While we are often unable to see what lies around the bend, if you take just one more step, your view will change and your path tends to become clear. And you’ll be a little further down the road toward bringing in those new customers.

Looking for other ideas to bolster your business? Give us a call; we’d love to help. 

 

1. A tale shall accomplish something and arrive somewhere.
2. The personages [and episodes] in a tale shall exhibit a sufficient excuse for being there.
3. When the personages of a tale deal in conversation, the talk shall…be talk such as human beings would be likely to talk in the given circumstances…have a discoverable meaning, also a discoverable purpose…be interesting to the reader, and help out the tale, and stop when the people cannot think of anything more to say.
4. Say what you are proposing to say, not merely come near it.
5. Use the right word, not its second cousin.
6. Eschew surplusage.
7. Don’t omit necessary details.
8. Avoid slovenliness of form.
9. Use good grammar.
10. Employ a simple and straightforward style. 

Based on his critique of James Fenimore Cooper’s, The Deerslayer. (From The North American Review, July 1895.)

If you have an idea for a book and you’re feeling a little stuck, there is no shame in hiring a ghostwriter. Lots of people do it. More than you may know. In fact, the majority of nonfiction books -- and even some works of fiction -- have a ghostwriter or collaborator working behind the scenes, even if it comes in the form of an “editor.”

So how do you go about hiring a trusted, competent professional? Ask a lot of questions. There exists a wide disparity out there when it comes to service, quality, and price, so you have to know what you are comparing.

Let's take bidding environments like Elance and Guru. These sites are filled with providers willing to write a full-length book for less than $1,000. Now I ask you, regardless of your understanding of the writing process, do you really believe you will get top-notch writing services for less than $0.01/word?

With countless writers looking to break through, it’s not surprising that many are willing to give away their services for next to nothing -- literally nothing in some cases. And while I certainly don’t begrudge anyone for lowering their threshold in order to do what they love to do, as a consumer, you have to ask yourself, “What am I really getting for this price?”

Depending upon the length and complexity of the project, a fully collaborative effort with a qualified ghostwriter will run you about $30,000 (highly sought after celebrity ghostwriters command much, much more). I’m not saying you can’t get quality services for less; you certainly can. But there are a lot of factors that should go into your decision. Here are just a few:

·        What is the writer’s track record?

·        What specific experience does the writer have with the subject matter?

·        Can the writer produce any relevant samples? 

·        What is the writer’s process?

·        When is your deadline?

·        What is your rapport with the writer? 

Here’s something else to consider: if you are on a tight budget, and you’d like to try doing the bulk of the writing yourself, you may want to hire a writing coach. In this situation, you can find a qualified professional to help you navigate the process, offer suggestions to improve your work, and guide you through to completion.

Whatever you decide to do, you should always do your research so that you can make an informed decision. Most importantly, when you are assessing ghostwriters, be sure you are comparing value and not just shopping for the lowest bidder.

Have specific questions? Give us a call; we’d love to hear from you.

 

The next time you turn on your radio or TV, and you’re flipping through the stations, take note of how many authors you encounter. Whether it’s a politician, an athlete, a philanthropist, or an entrepreneur, everyone seems to be promoting a book.

Why is that? Well for starters, radio and TV hosts need experts to weigh in on the events of the day. And who do they look to? Authors. But what you’re seeing is a mutually beneficial agreement. While the host gets to say, “Joining us now is the author of the book, Fill in the Blank," the author gains quantifiable exposure in the form of not only book sales, which are often quite minimal, but, more importantly, in credibility and back-end growth from whatever he or she is selling, be it a product, program, or idea.

If you are a business professional looking to expand your business, there is no better way to do it than by establishing yourself as an expert in your field. And there is no better way to make that happen than by turning yourself into a published author.

Think of it this way: when’s the last time you tossed a book in the trash? Now ask yourself the same question about a business card. If you’re looking for a way to craft your brand and leave a lasting impression, look to the nearest book shelf. Here’s another question for you: What is the last nonfiction book you read? Now think a little deeper. No matter how great the book was, no matter how much you enjoyed it, no matter how much the book may have helped you, there is no question that it helped the author more. Not in the existential sense of "when you help others you help yourself." But in the literal sense of serving a specific purpose for the author.

Now, the mere mention of self-publishing opens up an often heated debate as to whether you can truly be considered an author if you decide to go this route. Well, aside from the fact than many renowned authors began by publishing their own books -- Mark Twain comes to mind -- as a business professional, you really have to stay focused on your goals. There’s no question that you will achieve an added measure of prestige from having a major publishing house invest in your work, showing the world that you’ve arrived. That’s just the way it is. And if that is one of your goals, then by all means pursue it. But if it doesn't work out, don't let that stop you.

First, you should never let anyone else determine your own self-worth. Second, aside from the fact that when you self-publish you maintain control of your work and keep 100% of the profit, when you’re sitting across the table from a talk show host, he or she is going to be focused on the content and the name on the cover, not the name that appears in the front matter as the publisher.

If you want to increase your credibility and establish yourself as an expert, there is no better way to do it then by becoming an author, parlaying your efforts into seminars, speaking engagements, workshops, and other events that will bring your profits through the roof.

My advice? Leave the sniping about who is considered a legitimate author to those on the sidelines. Focus on your goals. Self-publishing just may help you achieve them.

Have questions about the publishing process? Give us a call; we’d be happy to learn more about your goals.