5 Lies We Were Spoon-fed About Writing

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The lies society conditions us to believe can be truly damaging to a writer’s career. It’s time to step out of the limited mindset about writing and publishing and dream big, go all out, and reach those goals. Synova takes us through some of the common myths about the publishing industry. How many lies have you believed? It’s time to change those limiting beliefs.

#1. “Self-published writers aren’t good enough to be published traditionally.”

False! Many traditionally published authors struggle to make a living on the puny 30% royalties of their books and find the 70% self-published royalties much more appealing. I, for one, was traditionally published first and realized I could do better on my own. I made 100x more money and now am running a vanity publishing house of my own. And I LOVE IT!

#2. “A professional writer only writes.”

False! To be a successful author, one must learn marketing, selling, public speaking, and much more. Whether you are published traditionally or independently, writers must market their own work. A publishing house will not do it for you. The more you can learn about marketing, copywriting, and business, the better career you will have.

#3. “You have to spend years being a starving artist before ever finding success.”

False: Once you have your work published, an author platform built, and a willing audience, you don’t have to be a starving artist. Don’t use this as an excuse to quit. Instead, study, retool and get back in the game!

#4. “It takes a year or more to write a good quality book.”

False! Once you get into the habit of writing daily, the words will come easier. It took me years to finish my first book, and now I release 2-3 a year. Some authors even publish another book every 90 days! I haven’t reached that point, but it is possible to write a good book in less time than you realize.

#5. “You have to have perfect grammar to be a professional writer.”

False! Unless you have a doctorate in English, you probably don’t have perfect grammar. It’s ok. Do the best you can with what you have and then hire a good editor. Do you think all those celebrity’s books started with perfect grammar? Most of them don’t even write their own books, and then they hire editors.

#5. “Don’t post any of your writing online. Guard it with your life because someone will steal it.’

False! Although there are some unscrupulous characters out there, no one will steal your writing. I was told early on that I had to copyright all my work before I submitted it anywhere. So, I did what’s known as a “poor boy copyright” and mailed everything to myself. Nowadays, everything is electronic. When you start typing up your manuscript, it is time-stamped by the device you’re working on, whether it’s a computer, a laptop, or a smartphone. 

The Most Trusted Guide to Getting Published!

Want to get published and paid for your writing? Let Writer’s Market 2020 guide you through the process with thousands of publishing opportunities for writers, including listings for book publishers, consumer and trade magazines, contests and awards, and literary agents—as well as new playwriting and screenwriting sections. These listings feature contact and submission information to help writers get their work published.

Beyond the listings, you’ll find articles devoted to the business and promotion of writing. Discover 20 literary agents actively seeking writers and their writing, how to develop an author brand, and overlooked funds for writers. This edition also includes the ever-popular pay-rate chart and book publisher subject index!

The amazon links on this page are affiliate links and Synova receives a small commission from your purchase. This commission goes to maintain this website and blog. With your help Synova will continue to provide free writing tips and tricks on her blog for aspiring writers world-wide.

If you enjoy this content don’t forget to sign up for Synova’s Simply Biz Newsletter and get your copy of her Free Guide: Overcoming Writer’s Block.

Join Synova’s Newsletter here

If you’d like even more help with your writing business, Synova has recently launched a course for aspiring writers.

Empowering Aspiring Writer’s Course:

This course will focus on helping aspiring writers develop their craft and show them how to build a business from their writing.

For more information check out Synova’s store page HERE

For more free tips about writing check out Synova’s Simply Biz Facebook Group

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Write Your Memoir in 8 Simple Steps

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Writing a memoir can be a daunting task for many aspiring writers, but it doesn’t have to be. With these few tips and tricks, Synova shows you how to break the task down to a manageable size.

#1. Gather Ideas

Don’t start randomly writing and expect to complete a book. Instead, take your time to gather all the ideas into a notebook or word file on your computer. Inevitably ideas seem to hit me at 2 am when I’m supposed to be sleeping. Collect the stories whether you think they will fit or not. Then you can edit out the unnecessary ones later. 

#2 Discover Your Purpose:

Narrow your focus and discover why you want to write a book in the first place. Do you want to share your experiences with your grandkids, or are you looking to help an audience of trauma victims? Determine your purpose before you begin, and you’ll find this will guide you through the writing, editing, and eventually marketing processes. 

#3 What Is the Growth Experience?

Memoirs need to convey your growth experience, not just tell a story. The reader expects to see a change in you throughout the book. What have you learned from this life experience? How did you arrive at this new place of growth and maturity? How will it help the reader? Is it relatable?

#4 Narrow the Focus

A memoir is not an autobiography that tells a person’s entire life story. Instead, a memoir is about a specific life event or journey. Don’t write it in chronological order. You still need to hook your reader with a compelling first chapter. Sometimes it’s best to start at the lowest point in the hero’s journey and then cut back to the beginning. 

#5 Show Don’t Tell

As with any good writing, make sure you paint a picture in the reader’s mind with your words. Don’t merely tell them event by event in a sequential order like a textbook. Use descriptive words that relate to the person’s five senses. Express the emotions you felt during the journey. 

#6 Be Honest

Don’t embellish a story to make it more interesting. If you feel it needs embellishing, then perhaps it isn’t pertinent to the story and needs to be cut out entirely. Be honest with yourself during the planning process. You have to be brutally honest some times when writing in this genre. Are you ready to open yourself up to the critique of millions? This question you must answer when writing a memoir.

#7 Write the 1st Draft

Planning is essential, but at some point, you have to sit down and write. I encourage my authors to write in “topics.” Instead of worrying about what to write next, pick out twenty topics you want to include, and write about each topic. Then you can go back and arrange them in a logical order. For more information on this type of writing, check out my video on the subject here.

Some people find it easier to write using the “interview method.” To accomplish this, you interview yourself as a journalist would. This concept helps some writers focus and get the information down. Use whichever technique that works best for you. The important thing is to get the first draft written. You can edit and revise later. 

#8 Traditional vs. Indie Publishing

Decide how you would like to publish your book BEFORE you complete the manuscript. You will need to do different things, depending on your decision. For example, if you publish traditionally, you must follow their guidelines on word counts, topics, and publishing schedules. If you choose indie publishing, then the word counts are up to you. 

After working through these eight tips, the important thing to remember is to enjoy the journey. Don’t stress over the process. Get your message down on paper, or on a word file on your computer. You can always hire editors to spruce up your work. Remember, don’t be preachy when it comes to the “moral of the story.” Humans learn best when they come to their own conclusions. Also, remember to consider others when writing about the people in your life’s journey. They may not want to be included in such a personal story. If this is the case, you might change their name, or omit them entirely. Whatever the case may be, remember that if you feel compelled to write your story, then there’s someone out there who needs to read it. 

Recommended Reading:

We either think our lives are so special that everyone should be interested in what’s happened to us, or so ordinary that we can’t imagine anyone would care. The truth lies somewhere in between: yes, we are all special, and no, people will notcare—unless we write with them in mind.Joanne Fedler, a beloved writing teacher and mentor, has written Your Story to help all people, even those who don’t necessarily identify as “writers,” value their life stories and write them in such a way that they transcend the personal and speak into a universal story. This book shows how to write from your life, but for the benefit of others. Each human life is unique, and the meaning we each make from our joys and suffering can, if written with a reader in mind, be an act of generosity and sharing. Filled with practical wisdom and tools, the book tackles: •mindset issues that prevent us from writing •ways to develop trust (in yourself, the process, the mystery) •triggers or prompts to elicit our own stories •Joanne’s original techniques for “lifewriting” developed over a decade of teaching and mentoring •and much more”Joanne understands the writer’s loneliness,” says one such writer whose life she’s touched, the award-winning Israeli author Nava Semel. “In this book she has created a menu of encouraging possibilities on how to overcome our fears and dig deep into our souls, so that our true voice can emerge.”

This book emphasizes the process of creating your memoirs. This can help you turn writing and thinking about your life into an experience that has a new purpose. It is designed so you can write about one aspect of your life at a time, thus reducing the complexity and removing the stress of trying to create one long continuous story.You will find answers to question you never knew to ask. It is about your family history, social history, to share with your descendants and the world.Babette Jenny, PsyD says this, “As a clinical psychologist, I find this book very helpful for clients who seek a clearer sense of who they are and their personal life journey. It is very flexible and user friendly. This book can be approached from a variety of perspectives, whether it be photos and artwork, narratives, lists, or documents. It allows the user to work at their own pace, dipping in and out of memories, periods of time, events and emotion, gradually assembling a coherent whole that is the story of their life.” By Wendy Comstock, “…In addition to being a wonderful way for people to refelect on their past, this workbook is also an outstanding roadmap for younger people just starting their careers and families, reminding us that creating meaningful memoirs and recording them, in emotionally relevant ways is a wonderful way for people to connect across generations.. I envision lingering over this workbook for some time to come, reflecting, remembering, bridging significant memories, and making deeper meaning from the experiences in my life.” Wendy Comstock, MD This book is divided into 100 topic with hundreds of questions, 26 A-Z tool sheets to ask about the factual info of your life and then a life calendar you fill

The amazon links on this page are affiliate links and Synova receives a small commission from your purchase. This commission goes to maintain this website and blog. With your help Synova will continue to provide free writing tips and tricks on her blog for aspiring writers world-wide.

If you enjoy this content don’t forget to sign up for Synova’s Simply Biz Newsletter and get your copy of her Free Guide: Overcoming Writer’s Block.

Join Synova’s Newsletter here

If you’d like even more help with your writing business, Synova has recently launched a course for aspiring writers.

Empowering Aspiring Writer’s Course:

This course will focus on helping aspiring writers develop their craft and show them how to build a business from their writing.

For more information check out Synova’s store page HERE

For more free tips about writing check out Synova’s Simply Biz Facebook Group

JOIN SYNOVA’S SIMPLY BIZ FACEBOOK GROUP HERE

Monday Motivation: Vision & Purpose

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Download Synova’s Free Gift below. Create your list of things you would love to create in your life.

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From Idea to Finished Book in 12 Steps!

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1. Clarify Your Big Idea

Many think they know what their big idea is, but find it difficult to explain to others. Take a moment, in the beginning, to get clear on the subject before jumping in headfirst. I realize your topic may not be appropriate for children, but IF you wanted to explain it to a ten-year-old, would they understand the concept? If so, then your big idea is clear. If not, then maybe you should go back and work on it. 

2. Identify & Research your genre

So many aspiring writers claim their book cannot be labeled and won’t fit into the genre mold. Every book that is published (Even self-published) must have a category. Whether it is in a bookstore or on Amazon, a book is placed in a genre so it can be shown to interested readers and sold. If you cannot label your book when you already know how wonderful it is, how will a reader? 

After determining the best genre for your book, I suggest you find the top five authors in the category and start researching them. What is their subject? Take note of their book cover designs. Do they have similar titles? Look for patterns that you can emulate in your work. Notice I said EMULATE, not copy. 

3. Create an outline

I suggest everyone have a rough outline for their fiction and nonfiction books. Now I am not talking about all those nice bullet-pointed documents we all made in high school. I suggest writers have a basic overview of where they want their story to go and how their characters will grow. For nonfiction, create a list of 10-25 topics you want to cover in the book. Having some sort of outline will give you direction and keep you from writing yourself into a corner.

4. Hook the Reader

Hook your reader’s attention in the first line of your book. Follow it up with a riveting page or two before breaking off into the content of your book. 

5. Focus on VALUE

Focus on providing value in your narrative. Remember, you don’t get paid for time or products. You get paid for bringing value to the marketplace. How is the reader going to find this valuable? Is it entertaining? Is it Inspirational or educational? Focus on providing what the reader wants, and you will find more success than just peddling books on the street corner.

6. Set goals

Set a deadline to finish your book seems like an obvious goal, but so many people don’t do it. 

They say they want to finish a book at some point in their lifetime, but they never set a date. Decide when you want to finish the first draft, when you want to have it ready for an editor, and when you want to send it to a publisher. The more goals you set, the better off you are. That is if you follow through and meet each goal. 

7. Establish a writing routine

Many people say they don’t have time to write, but they might carve out several hours to watch TV every day. Why not take one of those hours and write on your book? Even if you only have thirty minutes, take the time to work on your dream. The more you do this, the easier it will be to establish a writing routine. 

8. Set up a productive space

Having a specific place to write helps some people get into the writing mood. If you have a lot of distractions, then it might be a good idea to find a separate place away from the noise to work on your book. 

9. Keep yourself motivated

It’s easy to start your writing journey when you’re excited, but after that initial emotion expires, some writers find it hard to continue. Staying motivated during this lull is vital to your success. If you cannot do it alone, then I suggest you find an accountability partner. 

10. Don’t rush the ending

During the long days of writing, it can become tempting to hurry the ending. Most of the time, the writer already knows the ending and finds it exciting. To avoid this problem, I suggest you go ahead and write the ending. Then you can set it aside and get back to writing the middle of the story. The last thing you want to do is rush the ending and leave your readers hanging with questions. 

11. Get feedback

Many aspiring writers go to local writer’s groups and have them critique their work. I do not suggest this. I know it sounds harsh, but in many cases, these groups are a bunch of local aspiring writers who know little more than you do. Instead, find someone who knows the business of writing in your genre and have them read your manuscript. Get feedback from friends and family, but keep in mind that their opinions are just opinions. Don’t let them discourage you if they are negative. 

12. Publish your book

Now that you have finished your book, it’s time to get it published. You can choose to publish traditionally by submitting a submission package to a publishing house, or you can upload it to Amazon yourself. 

If you’d like more tips and tricks about the business of writing, check out Synova’s Simply Biz Facebook group and sign up for Synova’s Simply Biz Newsletter.

If you enjoy this content don’t forget to sign up for Synova’s Simply Biz Newsletter and get your copy of her Free Guide: Overcoming Writer’s Block.

Join Synova’s Newsletter here

If you’d like even more help with your writing business, Synova has recently launched a course for aspiring writers.

Empowering Aspiring Writer’s Course:

This course will focus on helping aspiring writers develop their craft and show them how to build a business from their writing.

For more information check out Synova’s store page HERE

For more free tips about writing check out Synova’s Simply Biz Facebook Group

JOIN SYNOVA’S SIMPLY BIZ FACEBOOK GROUP HERE

This 1 Thing Will Put You in the Top 3%:

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This 1 Thing Will Put You in the Top 3%:

What if I told you one thing that would put you in the top three percent of Americans and put you ahead of the pack? This simple procedure will determine your future success more than almost anything else, and yet a staggering 97% of people do not take the time to do it. What is it, you ask? Goal Setting.

I know you’ve probably heard of goal setting a thousand times, but have you created your list of goals? Probably not. I know it sounds harsh, but most people have a vague idea of what they want, but never actually sit down and decide what they want. So many people say they want to write a book and make more money. Ok. Well, here you go. Write the book, upload it to Amazon, beg your mom to buy it, and now you have more money. I’m sure that’s not what you meant, but it technically achieved the vague goal you set, didn’t it?

A well thought out goal is like a compass. It points you in the right direction; it keeps you on target and helps clarify your dreams. So what kind of goals do you need to be a successful writer? Well, that depends on how you define success. A New York Times Bestselling author has a different set of goals than a grandfather writing a children’s book for his grandkids. Decide today what exactly do you want and then write it down. 

Start your goal setting session on a positive note by writing down five things that you’ve already accomplished in your life. Then spend the next few minutes creating a list of desires by answering this question, “What would I love?”

Remember when we were all kids, and someone asked us what we wanted for Christmas? We didn’t think of practical things. We wanted a flying car, a purple pony, a rainbow unicorn, etc. After a while, we become more cynical and stop asking for our desires and ask for practical things. A lot of times we don’t even ask at all. For this goal setting exercise, I want you to step out of the practical and get back into that childlike imagination. It’s still there somewhere deep within the recesses of your mind. Dig it out, dust off the cobwebs and put it to use.

What would you love if I had a magic wand, and everything worked out perfectly? Include desires from every aspect of your life. Make sure to include relationship goals, spiritual goals, financial and personal. Don’t miss any area of your life. Write for a solid half-hour if need be. Let it all out without holding back. Then you can look back over your desires and start setting goals and creating plans.

Remember what Les Brown said, “Shoot for the moon. If you miss, you’ll still be out there among the stars.”

Download Synova’s Goal Setting Worksheet here

Goal-Setting-with-SynovaDownload

If you’d like more tips and tricks about the business of writing, check out Synova’s Simply Biz Facebook group and sign up for Synova’s Simply Biz Newsletter.

If you enjoy this content don’t forget to sign up for Synova’s Simply Biz Newsletter and get your copy of her Free Guide: Overcoming Writer’s Block.

Join Synova’s Newsletter here

If you’d like even more help with your writing business, Synova has recently launched a course for aspiring writers.

Empowering Aspiring Writer’s Course:

This course will focus on helping aspiring writers develop their craft and show them how to build a business from their writing.

For more information check out Synova’s store page HERE

For more free tips about writing check out Synova’s Simply Biz Facebook Group

JOIN SYNOVA’S SIMPLY BIZ FACEBOOK GROUP HERE

The Haters Are Wrong About You!

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How many times have you been told that you’re a failure, and you’ll never amount to anything? How many times have you been told you will never be a successful author? How many negative things have you told yourself? Well, stop believing it!

Some of the greatest, most influential writers of all time have suffered rejection. Here are a few examples for you to look at when you get discouraged about your writing.

Animal Farm, by George Orwell, received this scathing review from a publisher. “It is impossible to sell animal stories in the U.S.A.” This book went on to be named one of the 100 best English-language novels by Time Magazine. It was number 31 on the Modern Library list of the Best 20th Century Novels. It won a Retrospective Hugo Award and is included as one of the Great Books of the Western World.

The Diary of Anne Frank, by Anne Frank, was given this horrible review. “The girl doesn’t, it seems to me, have a special perception or feeling which would lift that book above the curiosity level.” Frank could have taken that review personally, but she pressed on until she found a publication that would publish her award-winning book. 

If you have found yourself dealing with critics in any area of your life, then take heart. Usually, critics only attack those with which they can’t compete. You can write your book and be a great success if you choose to. It’s up to you. You can choose to become the next author millionaire, or you can let the comments of the narrow-minded critics stop you from achieving your dreams. 

“You can have excuses or results, not both” – Arnold Schwarzenegger. 

What will you choose? Excuses? Results?

If you’d like more tips and tricks about the business of writing, check out Synova’s Simply Biz Facebook group and sign up for Synova’s Simply Biz Newsletter.

If you enjoy this content don’t forget to sign up for Synova’s Simply Biz Newsletter and get your copy of her Free Guide: Overcoming Writer’s Block.

Join Synova’s Newsletter here

If you’d like even more help with your writing business, Synova has recently launched a course for aspiring writers.

Empowering Aspiring Writer’s Course:

This course will focus on helping aspiring writers develop their craft and show them how to build a business from their writing.

For more information check out Synova’s store page HERE

For more free tips about writing check out Synova’s Simply Biz Facebook Group

JOIN SYNOVA’S SIMPLY BIZ FACEBOOK GROUP HERE

P.M.A. for Authors

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What is P.M.A.?

P.M.A. is an acronym for Positive Mental Attitude. This concept was first introduced in 1937 by Napoleon Hill and has been adopted as the key to success by all the greatest motivational speakers from Tony Robbins to Zig Ziglar. So, how does this concept relate to a professional writer or a published author?

“Life is 10% what happens to you, and 90% how you react to it.” – Charles Swindoll

A successful author’s life can be difficult, and without a positive attitude, most fail miserably. Some aspiring writers face a pile of rejection letters as tall as a stack of books. This type of disappointment can be devastating if you don’t have a positive mental attitude prepared to deal with the rejection.

The great literary master, Henry James, began each day by repeating the following affirmation in front of the mirror twelve times.

“I am the best writer.”

I highly encourage you to do the same. Add in your genre and repeat it every day. By telling yourself that you are the best fantasy fiction writer every morning, you are slowly programming yourself to become just that.

P.M.A. will carry you through the dreaded “author slump” that occurs during the book writing process. Many people don’t realize that after the first 8,000 words, the excitement wears off, and it’s hard for some writers to keep going. Unfortunately, 8,000 is not a completed book, so having a positive mental attitude during this slump will pull you through this slump.

There is a great book titled, “As a man thinketh” by James Allen. This book dives into the concept that we, as humans, become what we think about consistently. If we always think about the negative things, then this will snowball into a giant mess. How many of you can relate to this? I’m sure you all can. It’s human nature to dwell on the bad and completely ignore the good.

What people don’t realize is, your thoughts determine your emotions, your emotions determine your actions, and your actions become your reality. So thoughts truly shape your world.

Thoughts —> Emotions —> Actions —> Reality

What if you could completely change your world by developing a positive mental attitude? What would your world be?

Tony Robbins has a great saying that I have taped to my mirror. He says, “Where Focus Goes, Energy Flows.” When trying to explain this concept to my fellow writers, I ask them this question. What is life? Your life consists of energy. You only have so much of it before your eyes grow dim, and life ends. When you focus on negative, you are literally giving that negative person or situation a piece of your life. Think about it. Does that hateful coworker deserve a part of your life? Does that problem deserve a portion of it? The answer is a resounding, NO!

How To Develop A Positive Mental Attitude:

  • Visualization

  • Affirmations
  • Gratitude
  • Optimize Your Environment
  • Transform Self-Talk

What is visualization, and how can it help you to develop P.M.A.? Visualization is simply using your imagination to visualize what you want instead of using your imagination to blow the negative out of proportion. Take a few moments to imagine what life would be like if you were a New York Times bestselling author. What would that do for you? How would it feel?

Next, create a vision board of things that you want to have in your life, whether it’s a new house or a significant other. If you’re going to be a New York Times Bestseller, print out the image and post it on your vision board. When the board is complete, place it where you will see it every day.

How can affirmations help a writer? It’s merely a matter of subconscious programming. If you tell yourself that you are a N.Y.T. Bestselling author, you will start to behave like one. Your actions will then lead to the fulfillment of that reality, whether it takes one year or ten, the affirmations will lead you to your desired outcome.

Gratitude is the key to flipping from a negative mindset to a positive one. When you find yourself in a bad situation, it’s hard to be positive. There’s an old proverb that says, “In everything give thanks.” Well, people have taken this out of context, and an say we should be thankful for everything. It doesn’t say that at all. It says “IN” everything give thanks. It means despite the negative situation, we should look around and find something that makes us grateful.

Optimize your environment is a phrase I heard when I started studying with my multi-millionaire coach Christan Mickelsen. He talks about how you need to optimize both your physical environment, but also your human environment. Who do you spend the most time around? Are discouraging your dreams, or are they pushing you towards them?

The last way is to transform your self-talk. Tomorrow I want you to take note of all the things you tell yourself. We have this voice in our heads, and it can ruin your day, your year, and even your life when it’s negative. Take note when your self-talk is negative and flip it to a positive thought. If you keep this up long enough, you will reprogram that inner voice to look for the positive.

If you’d like more tips and tricks about the business of writing, check out Synova’s Simply Biz Facebook group and sign up for Synova’s Simply Biz Newsletter.

If you enjoy this content don’t forget to sign up for Synova’s Simply Biz Newsletter and get your copy of her Free Guide: Overcoming Writer’s Block.

Join Synova’s Newsletter here

If you’d like even more help with your writing business, Synova has recently launched a course for aspiring writers.

Empowering Aspiring Writer’s Course:

This course will focus on helping aspiring writers develop their craft and show them how to build a business from their writing.

For more information check out Synova’s store page HERE

For more free tips about writing check out Synova’s Simply Biz Facebook Group

JOIN SYNOVA’S SIMPLY BIZ FACEBOOK GROUP HERE

How to Finish Your Book Despite the Distractions

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This is something I am dealing with right now, and I know all of my fellow writers can relate. Writing a book is hard enough when you don’t have any distractions. But, how are you supposed to write when you’ve got monkeys, oh, I mean children, climbing the walls around you?

Here are five tips to help you overcome quarantine distractions and get your book written:

#1 As much as you are enjoying the extra sleep, set your alarm for a regular time each morning. Let your children sleep in while you work on your book.

#2 Schedule time each day where you can barricade yourself in your room and write for an hour. It may be a struggle at first, but if you keep up with it the children will learn the routine.

#3 Give yourself some tough love. Create a daily discipline and make yourself stick to it. Don’t give yourself an excuse to back out or put off your writing time.

#4 Find yourself an accountability partner. This can be a friend that will keep you in check, it can be a fellow writer, or even an author coach. The important thing is to find someone who will keep you on your toes.

#5 Set a deadline. While it’s easy to procrastinate, if you set yourself a hard deadline you will find you’ll reach your goals.

If you’d like more tips and tricks about the business of writing, check out Synova’s Simply Biz Facebook group and sign up for Synova’s Simply Biz Newsletter.

If you enjoy this content don’t forget to sign up for Synova’s Simply Biz Newsletter and get your copy of her Free Guide: Overcoming Writer’s Block.

Join Synova’s Newsletter here

If you’d like even more help with your writing business, Synova has recently launched a course for aspiring writers.

Empowering Aspiring Writer’s Course:

This course will focus on helping aspiring writers develop their craft and show them how to build a business from their writing.

For more information check out Synova’s store page HERE

For more free tips about writing check out Synova’s Simply Biz Facebook Group

JOIN SYNOVA’S SIMPLY BIZ FACEBOOK GROUP HERE

Do You Have A Market For Your Book?

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So many writers I’ve met over the years struggle with one major problem. They have written their heart and soul into a book and now no one will buy it. It’s a heart-wrenching struggle that I have been through myself. Now, as an author coach, I bring this question up to anyone who is starting on this journey. I want you to start your journey in a better place than I found myself 10 years ago.

I had written my book and taken years to do so. I spent another couple of years begging and pleading for it to be published. I was traditionally published and then I was left alone to drown in the storm of publishing and marketing. I had no idea what I was doing and I floundered rather quickly. You see a big publishing guru once said, “when your book is finished and published, your work is only 5% complete.” That’s right. Marketing your book takes 95% of your effort. And if you’re not willing to do this, then continue writing as a hobby.

I know that sounds harsh, but it’s the truth and sometimes the truth hurts especially for writers. This is another question I ask a new writer.

Does your book have a market?

You see people are under the assumption that you get paid for time and you get paid for products that you sell. This is not true. You do not get paid for time or you would get paid to sit and do nothing. You do not get paid for selling products or you wouldn’t have to do anything. The product would automatically sell itself and money would end up in your pocket.

I want you to realize that you get paid for bringing value to the marketplace. Your book needs to bring value to the potential reader. If the reader cannot see this potential value, they will not purchase the book even if it were available to 10 million people tomorrow.

People buy perception. People buy what they think they will get out of a product. Does your product aka your book, bring value to your potential reader? 

How can a book bring value to a person you might ask. Here are a few examples. Your book can bring entertainment value to those who are looking to escape the realities of life. J.K. Rowling and Harry Potter are a perfect example. She has created an entire alternate reality around fantasy fiction. Your book may also inspire people. Perhaps your writing will inspire people to better themselves to lose weight, to grow spiritually, or perhaps to inspire them to reach for their dreams

The other way a book can provide value is to educate. Perhaps your work will teach someone how to bake a cake as good as Grandma’s. Maybe it will teach them how to care for themselves or care for their family. Or it could help the reader grow with a bit of wisdom and personal development. 

Whatever the value may be a reader must see the potential value before they purchase your book. Now you might say, how is this book valuable to my mother who buys every book I write? Well, she values the relationship she has with you whether she values the book or not. So, when you ask your friends and family to buy from you whether you are selling cosmetics or you’re selling your book they usually buy from you not because they see value in the product but they see value in their relationship with you and they want to support you. 

Whatever the case may be, when creating your book you need to ask yourself is there a market for this book? Is there a group of people that would benefit from this book? If the answer is “no,” then perhaps you should write something else.

Say you want to write a book of haiku poems. Ask yourself this. Is there a market for books of haiku poems? Then research that market. If there is a market for haiku poems, I am not aware of it. It would be a very niche market.

You have to find the target audience for haiku readers and market directly to them. I’m not saying it’s impossible to write whatever you want. But, depending on what you call success you need to have these things in mind before you start. 

Now if your idea of success, is to have your book published and to give it to friends and family or to sell it at a local library at an author event, then so be it. Do it. Go for it. If your idea of success is broader in scope and nature then perhaps you need to study the market and ask yourself if there is a market for your book.

I started out writing a book and found out the hard way that there was a market for my book 10 years ago but there wasn’t when my book was published. I grew up reading a certain genre of book, so my first book fit perfectly in that genre. Unfortunately by the time I was an adult publishing my work, that genre was almost dead. You need to keep this in mind when you write.

If you want to write for the sake of writing, then, by all means, write what you please. But if you are wanting to find a level of financial success in your writing career then I suggest you write for the market.

If you’d like more tips and tricks about the business of writing, check out Synova’s Simply Biz Facebook group and sign up for Synova’s Simply Biz Newsletter.

If you enjoy this content don’t forget to sign up for Synova’s Simply Biz Newsletter and get your copy of her Free Guide: Overcoming Writer’s Block.

Join Synova’s Newsletter here

If you’d like even more help with your writing business, Synova has recently launched a course for aspiring writers.

Empowering Aspiring Writer’s Course:

This course will focus on helping aspiring writers develop their craft and show them how to build a business from their writing.

For more information check out Synova’s store page HERE

For more free tips about writing check out Synova’s Simply Biz Facebook Group

JOIN SYNOVA’S SIMPLY BIZ FACEBOOK GROUP HERE

Hooking Your Reader

on By

“Grab them by the heart and pull them towards you” – Synova

Back in the days before Amazon became a publishing house, there were these shadowy figures in our society called gatekeepers. These unnamed individuals were in charge of sorting through thousands of manuscripts submitted by hopeful writers. Each publishing house had these employees, and on their desks were piles of documents known as the slush pile. How could an inspiring writer possibly stand out from the crowd?

The gatekeeper would read the title of the manuscript and then read the first paragraph. If nothing enticed him, the manuscript would be thrown in the trash. I know it sounds cruel, but that’s the way it worked back then. Although Indie publishing has done away with the gatekeepers, it also has flooded the market with books.

Now an author must hook the reader directly. You do that with a beautiful book cover, a compelling title, and an intriguing back cover summary. Visualize this.

You’re at a book signing table in a busy bookstore. What will draw a reader to you? A nice table display, and then what? Your book cover is the next thing that draws the eye. After the cover, they read the title, the back cover summary, and finally, the first paragraph. The reader has just completed the very same cycle as the gatekeeper.

How do you make sure the reader buys your book? While the answer to that varies with in-person sales and online sales, there are some basic principles to ensure your success.

First, you must have a beautiful cover. Beyond that, you must hook the reader. Start this process with an intriguing title and follow it up with a compelling back cover summary and an incredible first paragraph.

How?

First, you must remember that the reader does not buy a book. I know that sounds strange. But, you must realize that a reader buys the emotional connection to the book. Jim Brown makes it very clear in one of his many speeches. You do not get paid for the time. You do not get paid for products, aka books. You get paid for bringing value to the marketplace.

This concept also applies to You’re writing business. You do not get paid for books, e-books, podcasts, etc. You get paid for bringing value to your readers. The reader will buy your book when they perceive it has value to them personally. That value may be entertainment education or inspiration.

So how does all of this help you sell more books? Think about it this way. When you are writing the back cover summary of your book, you want it to be enticing you want it to bring value. You also want it to compel the reader to buy the book.

When writing nonfiction, I like to include a startling statistic or a startling quote to the very beginning of my back cover summary. For fiction, you want to entice the reader with a bit of action and a bit of conflict.

Keep this in mind when writing your manuscript. You do not have to start at the beginning. You need to start at the point of chaos. When you start with a little bit of drama it entices the reader to keep going a lot of books will begin with a little bit of drama then they will cut it off with a cliffhanger, and then they will start at the beginning of the book then they will build back up to that crescendo of chaos.

I always start my fiction books with a little bit of action. This process compels the reader to continue reading.

When trying to entice a reader to pick up your book and to pay for your book, you want to really understand your target audience. What is your perfect reader looking for in your genre? What are some trending topics? The better you know your reader, the better you will be able to provide the value that they are seeking.

Now that you know what your reader wants to serve it to them on a silver platter of emotion. Readers buy an emotional connection. So literally use your words to reach into their chest and pull their heart towards you. That kind of hook will not only give you a book sale. It will give you a reader for life, and it will build a connection with that person, and you will have a true fan for the lifetime of your writing career.

If you’d like more tips and tricks about the business of writing, check out Synova’s Simply Biz Facebook group and sign up for Synova’s Simply Biz Newsletter.

If you enjoy this content don’t forget to sign up for Synova’s Simply Biz Newsletter and get your copy of her Free Guide: Overcoming Writer’s Block.

Join Synova’s Newsletter here

If you’d like even more help with your writing business, Synova has recently launched a course for aspiring writer’s.

Empowering Aspiring Writer’s Course:

This course will focus on helping aspiring writers develop their craft and show them how to build a business from their writing.

For more information check out Synova’s store page HERE

For more free tips about writing check out Synova’s Simply Biz Facebook Group

JOIN SYNOVA’S SIMPLY BIZ FACEBOOK GROUP HERE