Planning for Success
I had an absolutely wonderful lunch with my good friend, Lynn, back in December. We ate and talked for about two hours, and spent a good deal of time discussing our dreams and how we could make them come true. It all sort of came into focus for me that day. I had been waffling around about whether or not to publish my first book through a POD publisher, or whether to go through the process of finding an agent, then finding a publisher, then marketing the book, etc., etc., etc. It occurred to me that day that I was ready to move forward. I felt that I had spent too much time spinning my wheels. It was time to kick myself in the rear and take action. We decided that 2006 would be our year.
Kudos to Lynn for forming her company, Among Friends. She has come a long way in a short period of time. Check out her website and you'll see what I mean. (oh - and if you need a gift for a special person - she's the one to talk to!) I respect her a lot - she's a very strong person, who sets goals and takes solid steps to reach those goals.
It is now April and, wow, things have really happened for me, too. Just tonight, I approved my book for global distribution. I have sold 95 copies of my book (my goal was to sell 100 - I have no delusions of grandeur), and it will soon be available through bookstores across the United States - and, get this - the U.K.! Woo-hoo! Still, I have no delusions. I am a realist. I know that it takes time and, more importantly, money, to promote a book. I have precious little of both. But I look back over the past four months and I realize that what I did to get to this point was to plan for success.
It began the day I chose this path. I got a website before the book was published, and before I had any real reason for a website. I chose a pen name in order to protect my privacy WHEN I make it big (not if!). Some of what I write is dark, and some is pretty . . . saucy. I ordered books when I had no buyers. I designed flyers before book signings were scheduled.
So, what does the future hold for me now? What are the next steps toward success? I did a cover letter tonight to Barnes and Noble to request that they carry my book. I did a cover letter to Midwest Book Review to request a review of Denim & Diamonds. I sent emails to a local television station and a local newspaper to request that a story be done. What did I sacrifice to get this done, though? I didn't get the house cleaned today. Really needed to, but I settled for doing laundry and vacuuming the high traffic areas. And I managed to give the dogs their heartworm medicine and do the weekly Wal-mart run. But the rest of the day was dedicated to writing-related activities. Which is why now, at 10:30 p.m., I am ready to shut down the computer and go do dishes. Oh, what fun!
And what do I ask of you this week? Think about one dream you have that you've been putting off. Now, sit down with pen and paper and make a list of the things you can do within the next week to get your rear in gear, and get you headed towards the path of success. The things on the list can be small - but they have to be tangible things that you can actually do NOW that will move you towards your goal. Write and tell me what your list is. We'll revisit this later, or, if you want, I'll even email you personally in one week to see what progress you have made.
Happy goal-setting,
Elle
P.S. Have you seen the May issue of Writer's Digest? Check out the top 100 websites and you will see Book-in-a-Week listed FIRST!! HUGE congrats to Moe and all the other BIW'ers for a job well done!
Kudos to Lynn for forming her company, Among Friends. She has come a long way in a short period of time. Check out her website and you'll see what I mean. (oh - and if you need a gift for a special person - she's the one to talk to!) I respect her a lot - she's a very strong person, who sets goals and takes solid steps to reach those goals.
It is now April and, wow, things have really happened for me, too. Just tonight, I approved my book for global distribution. I have sold 95 copies of my book (my goal was to sell 100 - I have no delusions of grandeur), and it will soon be available through bookstores across the United States - and, get this - the U.K.! Woo-hoo! Still, I have no delusions. I am a realist. I know that it takes time and, more importantly, money, to promote a book. I have precious little of both. But I look back over the past four months and I realize that what I did to get to this point was to plan for success.
It began the day I chose this path. I got a website before the book was published, and before I had any real reason for a website. I chose a pen name in order to protect my privacy WHEN I make it big (not if!). Some of what I write is dark, and some is pretty . . . saucy. I ordered books when I had no buyers. I designed flyers before book signings were scheduled.
So, what does the future hold for me now? What are the next steps toward success? I did a cover letter tonight to Barnes and Noble to request that they carry my book. I did a cover letter to Midwest Book Review to request a review of Denim & Diamonds. I sent emails to a local television station and a local newspaper to request that a story be done. What did I sacrifice to get this done, though? I didn't get the house cleaned today. Really needed to, but I settled for doing laundry and vacuuming the high traffic areas. And I managed to give the dogs their heartworm medicine and do the weekly Wal-mart run. But the rest of the day was dedicated to writing-related activities. Which is why now, at 10:30 p.m., I am ready to shut down the computer and go do dishes. Oh, what fun!
And what do I ask of you this week? Think about one dream you have that you've been putting off. Now, sit down with pen and paper and make a list of the things you can do within the next week to get your rear in gear, and get you headed towards the path of success. The things on the list can be small - but they have to be tangible things that you can actually do NOW that will move you towards your goal. Write and tell me what your list is. We'll revisit this later, or, if you want, I'll even email you personally in one week to see what progress you have made.
Happy goal-setting,
Elle
P.S. Have you seen the May issue of Writer's Digest? Check out the top 100 websites and you will see Book-in-a-Week listed FIRST!! HUGE congrats to Moe and all the other BIW'ers for a job well done!
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