MAP Your Book: Market and Publish Your BookDear Fellow Writer,

Do you want to write and publish a book?

Regardless of whether it’s your long-time, cherished goal … or just something fun you’d like to explore …

Does the idea of successfully writing and publishing a book bring a cheek-spanning smile to your face?

If so, I can relate … and I’m here to tell you how to really, truly, and finally ACHIEVE that goal.

Or maybe I’ll wind up telling you what not to do … (I’ll explain why in a minute).

Either way, this blog will be a game-changer for writers looking to get published.

You see, for as long as I can remember, I’ve had book ideas milling around in my head.

I’ve attempted writing a book more than a few times. The closest I came was an 80K-word manuscript that’s missing its final chapter. Half a dozen other book attempts lay unfinished, only a few chapters in. Many more are just ideas, scribbled out at random.

But this year, that all changes.

This is the year I put an end to my stereotypical writer-procrastination — and follow through. Because I know exactly what’s stopping me. I call it the “Then-What-Syndrome.”

It happens when you decide to write a book. But once you’re finished … then what?

Sometimes it hits before you ever get a word on the page because you’re looking down the road at a vision of you with your completed manuscript … and then what?

It’s where a lot of would-be-successful book writers get stopped in their tracks. Maybe you’re one of them, and you’ve got a solid idea, or you’re a gifted writer, or you’ve already created a glorious masterpiece.

But, what comes next?

Technically, the answer is marketing and publication. But you don’t have to be very deep in the writing industry to know those aren’t the easiest paths to navigate. In fact, most of the marketing advice you’ll hear from the writing world is 90% “don’t even bother” and 10% “but if you want to risk it, here’s what to do.”

This blog takes a different (much more positive!) angle. Which is:

  • Yes, you can market and publish your book successfully
  • No, it doesn’t have to be painful and scary
  • Yeah, it’ll take some effort — persistence at the very least
  • And no, you might not make a million dollars (though if you do, cool!)
  • But the bottom line is — you can do this, and you can do it well!

I’ll show you that anyone can market and publish their book successfully — with the right information.

How will I do this? For starters, I’m on this journey with you. Like I said, I want to get a book published this year. And not just the kind that only my relatives buy.

So I’m going to blog about the process — the ups, downs, and everything in between. Plus, I’ll be interviewing and connecting with writers, editors, agents, and publishing houses along the way. I’ll share their insider tips and their don’t-ever-do-that advice.

I might end up with a runaway bestseller … or I might have a total flop (or ten). Either way, I invite you to join me in the creation of this soon-to-be-tried-and-tested roadmap.

No matter what stage you’re in with your book, regardless of whether it’s fiction or nonfiction, a memoir, or a how-to, this blog will help you master the marketing and publishing side of things.

  • Whether your book is already finished, and just needs to get in the hands of eager readers …
  • Whether you’re halfway through the writing process, and you want to be ready for action as soon as you wrap that last chapter …
  • Even if your book is yet to be — if it’s still a loose idea floating around in your head, or a long-cherished dream you want to breathe life into this year …

Then you’re in the right place.

And along with marketing and publishing do’s and don’ts, I’ll cover everything else related to the writer’s life. So if you’re new to writing, or want to ramp up your productivity and streamline your ability to get words on the page …

I’ll cover that, too.

By the way, if you’re wondering why I’ve decided to launch this blog in the first place, it’s because — quite simply — I’m a writer without a book. I’ve been writing professionally for seven years, making a great income from fees and royalties as a copywriter.

But now, I want to write a book. And I know from experience that setting goals, making them public, and connecting with people who share those goals is the best way to succeed.

So here’s to getting our books finished, polished, and published. And to enjoying the process along the way!

Are you with me?

Please comment below if you’re up for this, and tell me what stage you’re in with your own book. Doesn’t matter if you have yet to put a word on the page — just having an idea, or even the desire to write a book, means you’re in the right place.

I’ll be back in the next blog to talk about how to set goals for your book that are realistic and achievable. Think of it as doing the groundwork to make sure you not only succeed at getting published, but — to milk an overused cliché — you enjoy the journey along the way.

To your writing success,

mindy_sig