| The "writing and publishing" sections of most | | | | easily applied to not only writing books, but also |
| bookstores are filled with books intended to help | | | | writing query letters, book proposals, and the |
| individuals improve their book writing and book | | | | marketing materials that authors must create |
| marketing and promotion skills. Many of these books, | | | | following their book's publication. |
| such as the ones by Dan Poynter and John Kremer, | | | | The Story Factor, Annette Simmons |
| have become classics in the field. | | | | Annette Simmons' The Story Factor: Inspiration, |
| However, I often feel that most books about writing | | | | Influence, and Persuasion Through the Art of |
| and publishing are too specialized, too task-oriented. | | | | Storytelling reminds authors that information must be |
| Often, they focus on specific tasks and perspectives | | | | accompanied by story if it is to be read, |
| at the expense of providing a helpful, balanced | | | | remembered, and acted upon. |
| approach to cultivating the skills necessary to plan, | | | | No matter how much an author may know about |
| write, promote, and profit from a published book. | | | | their readers and their topic, their messages are |
| The following 5 books, however, teach lessons of | | | | destined for deaf ears if they are unable to tap into |
| lasting value and universal application. They provide a | | | | the power of story to engage readers and keep |
| broader perspective than simply "how to write a | | | | them engaged. |
| book" or "how to promote" your book. | | | | Letting Go of the Words, by Ginny Redish |
| The Power of Focus, Jack Canfield, Mark Victor | | | | Although the subtitle of Ginny Redish's Letting Go of |
| Hansen, and Les Hewitt | | | | the Words is Writing Web Content that Works, her |
| Although not written just for authors, The Power of | | | | book has great relevance to all authors planning, |
| Focus: What the World's Greatest Achievers Know | | | | writing, and promoting their books. |
| About the Secret of Financial Freedom and Success | | | | Ginny is a website usability expert that helps firms, |
| can do more good for authors than dozens of | | | | organizations, and government agencies around the |
| specialized books. | | | | world improve the effectiveness of their documents |
| The Power of Focus's valuecomes from its simple | | | | and websites. The usability techniques and tools, like |
| premise: "Your habits determine your success" and its | | | | visitor personas, that she describes for evaluating the |
| description of 10 focusing strategies that can help | | | | effectiveness and usability of websites can be used |
| authors develop the habits needed to successfully | | | | by authors who want to write a book their market |
| plan, write, promote, and profit from a book. | | | | wants to read, instead of writing a book that may |
| It's value also comes from its structure, which | | | | be peripheral to the intended reader's information |
| includes exercises, questions, visuals, and worksheets | | | | needs. |
| that engage the reader's attention and invite their | | | | Beyond the Bookstore, by Brian Jud |
| involvement. | | | | Brian Jud's Beyond the Bookstore: How to Sell More |
| Profitable authors are often not the best writers. But, | | | | Books Profitably to Non-Bookstore Markets is |
| inevitably, they are the ones who have cultivated the | | | | important because it reminds authors that bookstore |
| habits of successful writers: planning, daily progress, | | | | sales typically represent just the tip of the potential |
| balance, and relationships. | | | | sales iceberg for most nonfiction titles. |
| Made to Stick, Chip Heath and Dan Heath | | | | Authors can often make more money through |
| Although written primarily for copywriters and others | | | | quantity sales of non-returnable books to association, |
| interested in more effective business | | | | business, and government departments than |
| communications, Made to Stick's lessons are as | | | | concentrating entirely on retail bookstores (who can |
| applicable to authors writing books as they are to | | | | return unsold books). |
| those preparing letters, memos, proposals, and | | | | This implementation guide has shown generations of |
| presentations, in a business environment. | | | | authors how to approach and profit from |
| Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others | | | | non-traditional sales opportunities. |
| Die is based on 6 universal principles that can be | | | | |