Let's Talk About YOU!
Can you relate to the following conversation?
“I think your manuscript looks great,” I tell the author. “Let’s move it into copyediting. You’re only two or three months away from launching your book.”
“Ohhhh…[awkward silence], I don’t know if it’s ready just yet. Let me keep working on it.”
Here’s another variation on the theme.
“Your book looks great!” I tell the author.
“Just wait until you hold the hard copy in your hands. It's exhilarating! When are you going to hold your book launch party? I want to put it on my calendar so I can be there!”
“I’m not having a book launch party,” the author replies.
“Why not?!?”
“Ohhhh…[awkward silence], I don’t know. I just feel awkward promoting myself.”
I swear, sometimes I feel like I’m stuck in a Groundhog Day loop.
What is the problem and how do you overcome it?
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Illumify Media Global
Platform-Building Intensive
October 15 (NEW DATE!)
8:30 am - 5:00 pm
The Real Factory Events Center
10488 W. Centennial Rd
Littleton, CO 80127
https://publishingpossibilities.com/
It's All About YOU!
You what's the biggest obstacle for you as an author?
YOU.
YOU know what I'm talking about. Self-doubt. Lack of Self-confidence. Overthinking. Insecurity. Fear of what people will think. Fear of a negative Amazon review.
I (try to) write a post for the Power Writers Report every week. My goal is to give you solid, practical tools—and encouragement—to help you write, publish, and promote your book.
After every email send-out, I monitor the number of hits that particular post registers on our email server. I'm interested in scratching where you itch.
And you know what topic consistently registers the most hits?
Mindset.
“We have met the enemy and he is us,” as Pogo once said in a timeless comic strip.
YOU. ARE. YOUR. OWN. WORST. ENEMY.
Don't beat yourself up. It's true for all of us.
And you know what's so crazy about this? It has nothing to do with writing ability.
Here’s what makes addressing author mindset so elusive: it’s different for every one of us.
And I understand.
Here's An Example of My Struggle
At the moment, I’m writing this post from South Sudan. Yes, I’m back for a second helping. If you didn’t read my original post about my crazy first trip, click here.
Two days ago, I was sitting with our writing team, preparing for
our interview with the president. I learned that morning that we were ghostwriting the president’s autobiography. Originally, I was told we were writing the official history of South Sudan, a country only eleven years old.
Now, ghostwriting a book isn’t that big of a deal for me. I’ve done it more than twenty times. It’s old hat. But then the leader of our team said something that set my mind spinning.
“Mike, he said, “As the lead writer, you’re going to be the one asking the president the questions for tomorrow's interview.”
Suddenly, I felt a ton of pressure coming down on me. I broke into a cold sweat. I took a quick drink from my water bottle (never, ever drink the tap water in a developing country!) and tried to
act natural.
“Not a problem,” I replied.
The rest of the day I was freaking out.
What if I make myself look like a fool in front of the president of South Sudan?
What if I mess up so bad that our leader fires me?
What if I don't know what the heck what I'm doing?
That night, I went to bed at 11:00 pm and woke up at 2:00 am. So much for sleep the rest of the day.
Mindset. We all struggle with doubts and "stinkin' thinkin'.
Incidentally, the interview went very well and later this week we're meeting with him for a follow-up interview.
From the moment we begin writing through the book promotion process, our mindset either thrusts us forward or stops us in our
tracks.
That’s why we’re beginning our October 15 Platform-Building Conference by addressing mindset.
Because mindset changes
everything.
That morning, I'm going to share "The Six Beliefs of
the Platform-Building Mindset." Trust me, I need to hear this as much as you. It's a message we need to hear over and over and over.
You need the right mindset when you start writing your manuscript and you need the right mindset to promote your book.
Don’t just circle the date. Register NOW so you don’t miss out.
Illumify Media Global
Platform-Building Intensive
October 15
8:30 am - 5:00 pm
The Real Factory Events Center
10488 W. Centennial Rd
Littleton, CO 80127
FREE headshots for every attender!
https://publishingpossibilities.com/
