Stumble It!
Your Cut and Paste Writing System…
So far we’ve covered a BOATLOAD of actionable material in teh Rich Author Video Pack to help you kick-start your career as a best-selling author…
And today, we wrap it up with what may very well be the most important video of the series.
Take a look here:
http://www.automaticbestseller.com/rich_author/
In the next few minutes, you’ll discover….
–How crucial grammar and punctuation really is to the success of your book (this one will surprise you!)…
–My copy-and-paste system for taking your book from concept to print in 28 days or less…
–2 easy steps for quickly building your credibility as a published author…
–A personal step-by-step example of how one of my ideas evolved into a best seller…
–The single most important thing you must focus on to transform yourself into a famous author (with money streaming into your bank account) in record time…
–A quick 20-second exercise to help you retain what you’ve learned in this video series…
And much more!
Pay special attention to the last few minutes…this is extremely important to creating the mindset of a
successful author.
http://www.automaticbestseller.com/rich_author/
Chris
May 13th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
I think cutting and pasting is an efficient system of a compiling a book but we must be mindful of the fact that we may commmit plagarism unwittingly. To avoid such pitfall, we must double check our material.
May 14th, 2008 at 10:03 am
Didn’t the late Stephen E. Ambrose (Band of Brothers) get accused of plagiarism because some people thought he was copying/pasting stuff from others’ works in his book Citizen Soldiers? He said he did not do it deliberately, and I don’t believe that he did, but liowc did bring up an important and excellent issue.
May 14th, 2008 at 8:48 pm
Yes Fardreamer, I definitely heard rumors about that, but never knew how true it was. A little off topic here, but in either case Band of Brothers is excellent!
May 15th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
I always knew proper grammar and punctuation would pay off someday! The copy and paste isn’t a bad idea as long as you give credit to the original author. I always like a book with some good inspiring quotes.
May 15th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
You’re right, there are times when ‘copying and pasting’ works, but you do need to be careful about giving credit to those who deserve it. Plus, citing your source gives you credibility which we want!
May 15th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
Wow, the end of the videos has come and I feel more confident than ever thanks to Chris. I found it remarkable when Chris showed the ‘evolution of an idea’. I was blown away by the graph. I just hadn’t put that together yet.
May 15th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
I feel like I’ve learned a lot throughout the videos thanks to Chris. I can’t believe how much my knowledge and understanding of the “rich author” world has improved. I feel like I am well on my way to achieving my goals.
May 15th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
I know what you guys are saying. It’s been a nice couple of weeks watching these videos and taking notes. I feel like I’m back in school again. I really hope that Chris continues to inspire others. I have learned so much.
May 16th, 2008 at 4:52 am
Yes, I have to agree with you Benji. These videos have been great. I love when he said “we should feel grateful that we have been able to bring the gift of writing to others.” That was incredible!
May 16th, 2008 at 4:56 am
It makes sense that we should “suffer the pain of discipline or the pain of regret.” He has been saying in all the videos to stay on task and focused. If not, we will regret not getting our works done. Excellent!
May 16th, 2008 at 4:59 am
I feel that way also Virginia. Chris has given me so much information and confidence. Now I know I can achieve my goal of finishing my book and making it a success.
May 17th, 2008 at 5:43 am
JakeG, sometimes it seems as if the “pain of discipline” isn’t really even pain at all. Regret is always painful though. I think that’s one of the things I’ve learned about myself while watching these videos. I want a way to be disciplined in my writing, I just needed this to help me.
May 17th, 2008 at 7:12 am
An idea is free, but that free idea can lead to you earning thousands of dollars. It is so amazing when you put it into perspective like that.
May 17th, 2008 at 7:22 am
Using inspiring quotes from other people is a great way to gain credibility and to make your book sticky. You just need to make sure that you give credit where credit is due of course, and maybe those who you quote will take a more active interest in your book.
May 17th, 2008 at 10:45 am
Fardreamer - on the other hand, it’s pretty much impossible not to create something that could be accused of plagiarism. I mean, the chances of coming up with a truly and entirely unique idea these days is pretty much … none. Heh, actually, it seems like you’re not a famous writer until you’re accused of stealing someone else’s material.
Rowling, Dan Brown, all the big names have been accused.
May 17th, 2008 at 11:40 am
I think that there are people out there who will always be looking for some famous (and wealthy) person that they can accuse of doing something wrong.
So what you do is make sure you’re following the rules and then if they accuse you, nothing will come of it. The other alternative is probably not to make any money, but I don’t think that’s what we want
May 17th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
I think that as long as the credit for the original work is given, then we don’t have to re-invent the wheel. If the content fits, use it, but note the originality. That seems more than fair game.
May 17th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
As writers, or potential ones, we have to be careful that we follow the same rules that we expect others to concerning our works. We certainly don’t want anyone assuming rights for our work. Our credibility would nosedive if we were ever found guilty of plagiarism.
May 17th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
Yes Missy, I’ve put this off for so long, and Chris has inspired me to take a look at myself and focus. I’ve felt guilty for not going forward. I am now ready!
May 17th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
It does makes alot of sense to start selling your book as an E-book before you get your cover back. He states that you have your interested lists already. Don’t you all agree?
May 17th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
Beatrice, I agree with that. Chris has been pointing out to us throughout the entire video series to keep making money off of our books. And that is one way of doing it before it is a final product!
May 17th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
Selling before you even get your cover back is a good idea. You don’t want there to be any point where you aren’t making money where you could be.
May 17th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
I almost feel kind of sad about the end of the videos, as strange as that might sound. At least I have all these notes to keep me company now, and enough advice to really start writing.
May 17th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
The cover is such an important aspect of your book, yet nobody ever really gives you the best format for putting one together, until now that is. He makes it seems so easy!
May 17th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
The cover can either win it for you or lose it for you, just like the Table of Contents. I like the example that Chris used, it has every aspect of an appealing cover.
May 17th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
How does everybody else feel about the short title? It does seem effective to have a short and promising title, but at the same time, I had always thought that a longer title might be more interesting. I think Chris is right though - a short title will sell.
May 17th, 2008 at 11:26 pm
I think that the short title is effective because it’s straight to the point. If you really want to add more to your title, make it a subtitle. I think the short title gets your point the furthest across.
May 17th, 2008 at 11:52 pm
JakeG, you mentioned the quotation
“suffer the pain of discipline or the pain of regret.” I think I want to go for discipline. I think it is the lesser of the two evils
May 18th, 2008 at 9:07 am
Being in flow, Chris I can definitely attest to them. Personally I always correct my work as I go along and when I think about it now, my flow has been disturbed, but I wasn’t even thinking there was a better way.
May 18th, 2008 at 9:09 am
The same thing has been happening to me, so I am very happy for this part of the presentation especially because I can now just write and get all my idea down on paper or in Chris case the tape recorder and then sort it out afterwards.
May 18th, 2008 at 9:11 am
I can’t say how grateful I am for this tip because I was becoming frustrated with the little writing I have been doing. I start writing and stop to correct something and there goes the idea.
May 18th, 2008 at 9:13 am
It’s really nice of you Chris to share such an important tip with us, even though it’s such a small component compared to the big picture it makes a big difference.
May 18th, 2008 at 9:16 am
I tend to get my ideas on paper in bullet points before I start adding flesh to them. Then I go back and jot things down as I go along. Sometimes it gets messy but I am able to figure it out.
May 18th, 2008 at 9:18 am
I usually try to use a word processing document so that I can write down everything under a particular heading. So I start out with bullet points and then as the ideas come I stick them under each topic.
May 18th, 2008 at 9:19 am
Mica, that sounds like a better idea than what I do, when I am only half way through I have a pile of paper that needs to be organized.
May 18th, 2008 at 9:21 am
Yes, compared to yours I will agree it’s a little better because you can always scroll down or add space as you go a long. You just have to scroll up and down to find the info you want.
May 18th, 2008 at 9:22 am
There may still be a better way, but I think I will adopt yours for the time being, I can see my desk now with a lot less paper.
May 18th, 2008 at 9:28 am
Okay…I am at the part where Chris talks about cleaning up your working by sending it out to an editor. This he said cost about $300, and that’s just the beginning, how are you guys planning on managing all those cost?
May 18th, 2008 at 9:29 am
To be honest, from what Chris has outlined, I don’t know how much money will be coming in to cover these cost. I think money will have to be invested in this project up front.
May 18th, 2008 at 9:31 am
I thought about it myself, and I figured that the fan club that I would be building while I am writing the book should be able to help here.
May 18th, 2008 at 9:33 am
So you are saying that we should be getting money by now from the list of people we have been communicating with since we started writing the book. That still sounds like more money will be going out than what is coming in.
May 18th, 2008 at 9:34 am
I think we have to see it as an investment, so since we have an idea of the funds that will be needed along the way, we will have to make proper plans to ensure these funds are available when the time comes.
May 18th, 2008 at 9:38 am
Chris had said in one of his earlier sessions that we should sell the ebook while the printed copy is being worked on. The ebook shouldn’t hamper the sale of the hard copies too much but will be able to provide funds for the printing process.
May 18th, 2008 at 9:41 am
The success of selling both ebook and printed copy of the same book will depend on how valuable the buyer sees it. So we would have to make the book very sticky to encourage this.
May 18th, 2008 at 9:43 am
Ebooks are hard to store, so if the book is good you can be assured that the person will also buy the hard copy when it comes out and also refer it to their friends.
May 18th, 2008 at 9:45 am
You could include some incentive in the ebook like a certain percentage off the actual printed copy that is only available to those who have bought the ebook.
May 18th, 2008 at 9:48 am
So you see, just by selling the ebook we should be able to cover a substantial amount if not all of the funds needed to publish the book and also further advertise it.
May 18th, 2008 at 9:51 am
I am really pumped up about this because if I follow Chris system closely then I know I will be successful. The money part had me worried for a while, but I am now seeing things a bit clearer.
May 18th, 2008 at 9:52 am
The important thing, Melonie is making sure that your book has a high degree of stickiness, if it doesn’t then you may get the ebook sales but not the hard copy.
May 18th, 2008 at 9:54 am
Yeah, and to do that, I have to write and rewrite and rewrite, just to ensure I have the right balance of everything. Wow, this is an awesome task but I am ready to attack it.
May 18th, 2008 at 9:58 am
As Dion mentioned you have to inject an incentive for them to buy both books. If they are unable to purchase both at least they will refer their friends to buying it.
May 18th, 2008 at 10:20 am
Wow, another thing to worry about!
Editors that might change the overall tone or theme of your book!
I guess that even though you have the editing outsourced, you still have to be very hands on with what you do.
May 18th, 2008 at 10:22 am
Two things, not one-the indexing too! I guess that it is not too hard to simply ask, to make sure that the person doing your index would be personally written and not just machine generated. Still, shows just how little you can let up.
May 18th, 2008 at 10:24 am
Not waiting on the e-book, that’s a good point. Although it might not be the cleanest version of your publication, you could always offer it for cheaper, or offer an ‘upgrade’ to people to the final version if they are willing to buy early. Either way it would stop you missing those early sales who might have bought from a different author by the time your book is finished.
May 18th, 2008 at 10:26 am
It’s rather a sad thought that so many books become trash before they are even reviewed by a publisher. It just goes to show that you really have to have the perfect cover, perfect selling points visible to even get to the point that you might get published.
May 18th, 2008 at 11:50 am
Kenny, you’re a wise businessman!
Yeah, you’ll have to invest your own money upfront. If you’re serious about becoming a bestseller, then hiring a professional editor is extremely important and worth the money.
May 18th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
Oh, I didn’t even think of that. Using the funds of the E-book to cover the final publishing costs. I’m glad you all are using your heads!
May 18th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
Flava, from the “Evolution to a Bestseller” that Chris layed out, you should be getting monies in from your Teleseminar and Audio sales. Those alone should be covering some of your costs.
May 18th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
I’m still worried about sending the different chapers out to people to get endorsements. What do you all feel about this? I’m sure it works, but I feel uneasy sending them out.
May 18th, 2008 at 5:31 pm
Jumpstarting the sales of your book by selling e-books is a very good idea. Like Chris says, you already have a captive market that can hardly wait for the book.
May 18th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
You know I was really surprised at how little you make of a book sale from a book store. I realise that there are many middle men in the chain that want their cut for their work, but a dollar is a tiny amount.
May 18th, 2008 at 5:36 pm
Yes, I felt the same when I heard that-but I guess that is why it is so important to get other sources of income for your book, rather than just book store sales. An eBook has a far lower production cost and so your percentage profit is far higher.
May 18th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
One thing to consider is that the sales of the e-books could cannibalise the sales of the hardcopy. I’d imagine that the magins on e-books must be phenomenal.
May 18th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
Chris said that it is important to figure out the correct price to charge for your e-classes and so on-that it will depend on the industry that you are in. But how do you figure out what the correct price is?
May 18th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
My guess would be that the best way is to compare the prices of similar products already available in that industry. It won’t necessarily tell you what yours should cost, because of course you can charge what you want but it will give you a guide.
May 18th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
I would scout around and get a general idea what the market prices are and then price my product around that ballpark average. Don’t want to price myself out of the market but don’t want to undersell my product either.
May 18th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
Pricing speaks to your credibility too. People have to at least think that they got value for their money if they are going to remain loyal to you.
May 18th, 2008 at 7:52 pm
Tony, you really don’t need to worry, even though this is going to be your first time around doing this, you really just need to use someone you know or who is highly recommended.
May 18th, 2008 at 7:54 pm
It is necessary for you to go through an agency or a corporate office setting, you could write protect your book so that if anyone should come out with the same information you would be covered.
May 18th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
That’s a good point actually-if you under price too much then yes you might win some of the budget customers, but then you might have others thinking that it’s not as good a book as other, higher priced books. You might dent their confidence.
May 18th, 2008 at 7:59 pm
Thanks Beatrice, to be honest, sometimes I just feel overwhelmed with all of this new information being poured into me. I know if I just put the steps into action I will be ok.
May 18th, 2008 at 8:00 pm
Plus you know, we need to be aiming higher-the people who have the money to upgrade to other things. Those are the people that will help build up our book ‘empires’.
May 18th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
The other thing Tony is that you could send different to different persons, even though that may interrupt the overall flow, it will act as a deterrent from stealing.
May 18th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
Flava-it’s pretty overwhelming for all of us I think. It’s a lot of work going from an idea through to actually putting books on the shelves of somewhere like Barnes and Noble.
Maybe if you slow down and look at each step in isolation rather than looking at the whole, it won’t be so bad.
May 18th, 2008 at 8:04 pm
Kenia-do you really think that stealing is a big risk? And if that is the case, how do you protect against that? Even the single chapters I wouldn’t want to lose.
May 18th, 2008 at 8:04 pm
Miranda, you mentioned how editors tend to change the tone of your book sometimes, that is the exact reason why Chris suggested we read our book after we have received it from each publisher.
May 18th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
Yes, this has been alot of information to take in all at once, but if we do it in the order that Chris layed out for us, we will have a quality product with a good flow of income in 30 days.
May 18th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
Stealing is something I had thought about occasionally. If you don’t put out the whole book them that does indeed reduce the risk, and the damage should it happen. But you can also be choosy as to who you let see your material.
May 18th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
Jake-have you managed this? I say income within 30 days-I am not sure I could even have half the work done (even if the book was written) in 30 days. I guess I am just not well organised!
May 18th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
Bridget, with the indexing, it may be kind of difficult because they may tell you a human will do it and then they use a machine, so it will be important to have some clause in the contract as to what the acceptable end product will be.
May 18th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
I have all of my “ducks in a row” and finally have the confidence to get started. I feel as if I can do it this time. Thank you Chris!
May 18th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
Organisation is key-as is accountability. That’s bringing us back to the very start-find someone to hold you accountable and then you are much less likely to let things slide.
May 18th, 2008 at 8:10 pm
A contract is in order because it would be your word against their’s when the desired results is not forthcoming. Better to have everything laid out plain.
May 18th, 2008 at 8:11 pm
Latty-is it that easy to tell whether an index has been written by machine? Can you tell by reading it-because if that is the case it would seem to be less of a worry.
May 18th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
A contract is a wise thing no matter what you are working on. There are so many things that can go wrong, in so many ways, no matter whether it is business or pleasure you are talking about.
May 18th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
Alfred, for a moment there I felt a little discouraged, but I believe it is very helpful that I know the reality of the situation, so I know I have to be very good.
May 18th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
Latty, after writing and editing and choosing cover, then I think we need to actually test the end product before sending it to the publisher. I don’t know if that can work.
May 18th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
You’re right-and self discipline is key here. Chris said it himself-you’ll either feel the pain of discipline or the pain of (I think it was) failure. I would prefer the former.
May 18th, 2008 at 8:16 pm
I think that part of the testing would be in putting out the e-book. That way you are testing, but not for free.
You can also ask trusted friends and family.
May 18th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
I agree with you Joseph, the drawback to this is, you have had to make sure all the other steps were taken and succeeded at, otherwise there wouldn’t be much people to actually buy the ebook, much less the hard copy.
May 18th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
I’m glad you brought that up, because it’s really a scientific approach Chris has laid out here for us and unless we follow the concepts of what he has said then we won’t be successful.
May 18th, 2008 at 8:21 pm
So you are saying we don’t have to follow the exact guidelines that Chris gave, but we can follow the concept and still be successful?
May 18th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
I believe that’s what she is saying. Think about it, Chris has used these methods to become successful, I am sure there are other methods that he may not have tried that can be equally successful.
May 18th, 2008 at 8:24 pm
At the same time though if you know something has worked for someone else-is a tried and tested method, then differing from that method in any significant way is a bit of a risk.
May 18th, 2008 at 8:26 pm
Right-when you know what works, why change it? If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it and all that.
Yes there are a lot of steps, but they are the ones that worked for him.
May 18th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
Miranda, there isn’t much cost involved in selling an ebook, especially if you already have a payment processor in place, the whole procedure can be automated. you will be selling the one ebook over and over again.
May 18th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
So you are suggesting that if you have followed the steps then testing isn’t such a problem because you have an audience ready made to do your testing for you?
May 18th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
That’s right, other than a place to sell it from, which you would already have set up and your payment processor, all you need to do is to upload your ebook to the where the buyers can download it from.
May 18th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
Spanky, yes I realise that. What I meant is that when you are testing it would be normal to put out copies for free to people-because people don’t often want to be part of your editing process for free.
And that is where the ebook can come in, because you can get testing, whilst still earning.
May 18th, 2008 at 8:31 pm
Payment processors-what is everyone’s preference? I have only ever worked with one, and it’s one of the biggest currently but still I hear a fair few complaints about it.
May 18th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
There’s a good number of processors available nowadays. The fees differ between each of them and that might be the deciding factor when you pick one in the end.
May 18th, 2008 at 8:37 pm
I agree with you Suzette, if it isn’t broke, why would you want to fix it especially when the steps used are tried and proven.
May 18th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
I have only use on so far and that’s paypal and I haven’t had any problems with them, I have heard horror stories from other persons though.
May 18th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
Miranda, I see your point, basically you would ask for a review or if there is anything else you would have wanted you to address and then you put that in your final copy.
May 18th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
Jordan, I believe if you make the book sticky enough then you should not have a problem selling either forms, so along with the procedures stickiness is going to be a big factor.
May 18th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
I doubt when you are a big bestseller like Chris you would necessarily use a paypal or similar payment processors, more than likely he would be accepting credit cards on his secured website.
May 18th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
That’s true, but for us who are just starting out who may not be able to set up such an ‘armed’ payment processor we may still have to use those established payment processors until we ourselves are established.
May 18th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Since the target market is wide and varied, chances are he would still have that as an option for those persons who use that medium.
May 18th, 2008 at 9:08 pm
I was watching the video the second time around and I realized that I had miss the point where Chris stressed the fact that you are able to charge a certain amount of money for your e classes or your audios. I have thought about going into the money making market, so I could perhaps charge a higher price.
May 18th, 2008 at 9:10 pm
Peter, you have to be careful not to price yourself out of the market. There is just so much competition in that area, you really have to be good and influential to make money there.
May 18th, 2008 at 9:12 pm
That’s right, and there are so many scam artist in that field that people have become so suspicious of everyone that you will really have to go all out to win their trust.
May 18th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
I have gotten to the point where I have even stop spending my precious time and reading their emails. I just file them for future reference, I have been doing that for over 2 years now and I haven’t gone back to read yet.
May 18th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
I really plan on following Chris steps and getting myself established and work continuously on building a captive audience. That way, I am sure to succeed.
May 18th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
Dion, I have a sub folder for each guru I am subscribed to and I rarely get a chance to open them, when I open them and see the sales pitch I just move on, it seem s as if that’s all they do.
May 18th, 2008 at 9:21 pm
In relation to what Spanky and Miranda were saying, if I got a good ebook to review and it is a free copy,I would be more than willing to review it and pass on my thought.
May 18th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
Chris said he wanted to create 25 book authors in 90 days. This is his strategy to upsell to the boot camp which follows, I am almost ready to sign up because I absolutely love what I have heard so far.
May 18th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
That’s right, it really would be neat if I was one of those authors, remember that exercise he led us through in one of his videos where we imagine how successful we had become and really bask in the feeling of success.
May 18th, 2008 at 9:31 pm
I am really thinking of signing up too, but I think I need at least a week to go through and digest all of this material that we just had, otherwise I will suffer from information overload.
May 18th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
He also spoke about having multiple streams of income, I guess this would come from the many book that will become bestsellers and also the other things like seminars and ebooks.
May 18th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
So we go back to the point where everything has to be properly organized and has a high reputation once the books start going out and the other programs organized properly and the presentations effective.
May 18th, 2008 at 9:41 pm
A key point I don’t want us to miss is that the books should all have residual effect, which basically is that it is left to run on autopilot, so you don’t have to put in much time and effort once it is finished and out on stream.
May 18th, 2008 at 9:44 pm
I made sure that I wrote that down and highlighted it because that is one of the main factors that will actually bring in most of the income even when you have forgotten about the book.
May 18th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
“Discipline weigh ounces, regrets weighs tons” I agree with this statement, because I find that when I stick to a particular plan I get better result even though it is really hard to stick to it sometime.
May 18th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
I have had tons and tons of regrets my whole life, but I am committing myself to shake off the past and move forward with all of this new knowledge.
May 18th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
The very last part of the video spoke about our natural lack of retention. That is so true. I have been to a few seminars and feel quite pumped up about the subject only for it to wear off after a few weeks.
May 18th, 2008 at 9:59 pm
The relaxation exercise he took us through was very stimulating. I could see myself on stage receiving all the accolades and seeing the faces of all those people out there who actually like my book….awesome.
May 18th, 2008 at 11:21 pm
Asking for endorsements. Sounds like a pain to me. I can’t see it being very likely for someone who doesn’t know me to endorse my book. Still like Chris says, you’re not losing any thing by asking.
May 18th, 2008 at 11:27 pm
Lily - I’ve been to ‘excellent’ seminars too, and left supercharged to do all sorts of things. You’re right, seemingly in no time, I’m right back at square one.
May 18th, 2008 at 11:55 pm
Looking at the figures that Chris laid out, it makes me wonder who much I’ll be able to make from teleseminars and audio sales alone. I can’t wait to find out, that’s for sure.
May 19th, 2008 at 12:25 am
I’m in the same boat as you Joseph. I don’t have connections, and can’t see why anybody would want to endorse my books. You just have to make sure that the point you are making in your book is excellent, and you may stand a chance. All they can say is no, after all.
May 19th, 2008 at 2:47 am
Usually when I go see somebody speak, I feel motivated. Unfortunately it usually only lasts me a day or two and I’m back to myself - not motivated to do much of anything. It has been different with Chris and his videos though. I feel ten times more motivated this time.
May 19th, 2008 at 2:51 am
Constance, I think that’s a way to make those connections though. Ask for endorsements from the start so that you are getting your name out to these companies. Otherwise, it’s never going to happen.
May 19th, 2008 at 2:53 am
Miranda, you do have to be careful about editors. My uncle wrote a book about his life, and his editor got a hold of it and according to my uncle, the final project was nothing at all like the original. Take Chris’ advice and just be careful.
May 19th, 2008 at 2:56 am
Yes Kenny, we should be able to cover some initial costs by selling the e-book. It’s not all about spending money in the beginning. I’m sure you’ll earn that money back almost instantly.
May 19th, 2008 at 3:00 am
I was very worried about how much this type of venture would cost me, but now I’m not quite as concerned. I like to have everything laid out for me in writing so I can really get a feel of what to expect.
May 19th, 2008 at 5:47 am
Like Sprout reiterates, editors can be a pain. Their vision for your book can be quite different from that of yours and if left alone, the outcome of your book could be quite different from what you thought it would be.
May 19th, 2008 at 5:51 am
Peachy - if you follow Chris’ plans, even in part, their is a steady stream of income coming in to you which can fund your venture right through its lifecycle.
May 19th, 2008 at 5:56 am
The relaxation exercise near the end of the video reminded me of another bestselling author’s thoughts about positive thinking. It was so motivating and energising.
May 19th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Yes, I agree with you on the relaxation exercise at the end. That is what really got me motivated to get everything together and get going.
May 19th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
I liked the relaxation exercise too. Like as for Jake, it was more a motivator than a relaxer or me. The mind is a wonderful thing.
May 19th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
I liked the relaxation exercise too. Like as for Jake, it was more a motivator than a relaxer or me. The mind is a wonderful thing.
May 19th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
Peachy, it is easy to get apprehensive especially when you really want to get ahead but you are just seeing roadblocks. Just try to take it one step at a time.
May 19th, 2008 at 5:36 pm
Chris has a flow chart on the other side of this blog that shows you how each step feed into the next. It’s a great tool if you are a visual person.
May 19th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
Yes, I agree that the chart is a nice touch. I am not particularly a visually needy person, but it does help to see how things will flow from one to another.
May 19th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
The flow chart will help you to stay organized, so you deal with each thing step by step and it gives you a clear picture as to what to expect.
May 19th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
As Latty says, it’s really important to not get hung up on things that have yet to happen. You might breeze through those perceived obstacles, without a single worry.
So don’t stress just yet.
May 19th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
Mike, since I have never published before and Chris suggested that we should reread our book each time it comes from the editor. Is there a danger in us reading over some things we should pick up?
May 19th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
I was wondering about that too. I know sometimes when I write something and read it over, then I am proned to basically reading what I think is there instead of what is actually there.
May 19th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
I have never published before either, but I think the editors will be able to pick up the grammatical mistakes. It’s the essence of the book or the storyline that needs to be preserved.
May 19th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
I agree, so when you are rereading your book you will still keep an eye open for typos but for the most part you will be just making sure the essence stays intact.
May 19th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
How do I get my first endorsement? Maybe, through a corporation, have an influential person read through the book, and then sell the idea to the staff members, that would be a start.
May 19th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
Initially I thought that the endorsement has to come from another author, but I am now thinking, it could also be from an influential person or company.
May 19th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
Well, endorsements can come from another author, which would be quite helpful, but corporations would be able to help you sell more books on a higher level sometimes.
May 19th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
Well of course there’s always going to be the possibility that you’ll pass over something when you’re reading, but it’s important to read your work anyway. You don’t want to miss something obvious. There will always something that slips by, just make sure it’s not something big.
May 19th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
Yes there are some costs up front, but at the same time, they aren’t going to be extremely un-doable. It is definitely going to be worth it in the end. I plan on saving up some money before I completely start this venture though.
May 19th, 2008 at 9:59 pm
Joseph and Antoinette, I think that you are both right about pricing. You want to make sure that the price you charge isn’t too cheap - that could make readers think something is wrong with your book. You also want to actually make a profit from it. A higher price would probably turn away the most potential readers though.
May 19th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
I never really concerned myself with what could with happen with a low price. Price is definitely always a factor for me when I buy books, especially online, so it’s a good point to consider. Great pointers!
May 19th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
How do you all feel about having a different price for the book online and the book sold in stores? How much more or less do you plan on charging for each?
May 19th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
I’m still not exactly sure what to do about pricing. I want to first write my book and see how many pages it is. Then I would really like to sit down and analyze it, maybe ask around how much people would pay for it.
May 19th, 2008 at 10:28 pm
Because the cost of the book plays on so many factors, especially on the potential buyer’s possibility of buying the book, it’s something that you really should take the proper time to think about. You don’t want to make a snap judgment.
May 19th, 2008 at 10:38 pm
I think that Chris has so far made great points about not making decisions and judgments too quickly. You should be sure to think over everything - editing, pricing, marketing technique.
May 19th, 2008 at 10:53 pm
Chris has been a great help to me, teaching me to make the right choices and what things to consider before I make those choices. I really like that Chris doesn’t ever leave you hanging when you need advice the most.
May 19th, 2008 at 11:04 pm
I think that Chris does a great job of letting us know about everything that we’re going to be encountering in our “careers” as writers. He really lets us know what we need to survive amongst the sharks.
May 19th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
“Surviving amongst the sharks” is right - I’m a bit scared to go out on a limb and get out there, but at the same time I know I’ll have to eventually if I ever want to make that name for myself.
May 19th, 2008 at 11:22 pm
With the way Chris is talking, you might actually get to be one of the “sharks” one of these days, so get out there and don’t worry - everybody started as a beginner.
May 19th, 2008 at 11:32 pm
If you think about it, even Chris was once a newbie to the writing world. He didn’t know how to market, but he had the guts to get out there and do it. Look how successful he is now.
May 19th, 2008 at 11:38 pm
Yep, Chris was in our shoes once, thought it may be hard to believe. He’s up there now though, and I really would take his word on anything he told me at this point. He’s done a great job.
May 19th, 2008 at 11:40 pm
It really is hard to believe, isn’t it?
What has been the most important aspect of the videos to you? What has been the most significant thing that you’ve learned thus far?
May 19th, 2008 at 11:42 pm
I don’t know if somebody like Chris would use something like Paypal, but it seems more like he’d be up to getting paid through credit cards. Just my opinion on that whole aspect.
May 19th, 2008 at 11:43 pm
Hmmm the most important thing I’ve learned?
I would say that the most important thing has to do with marketing. I was really unsure of whether or not to advertise through email, and now I know that I should, so long as I’m targeting my audience efficiently.
May 19th, 2008 at 11:46 pm
Definitely the most important video I have seen was the video about how to build a large and dedicated fan base. That’s important stuff to know if you plan on being in the public eye at all.
May 19th, 2008 at 11:47 pm
I feel like the most valuable piece of information that I am taking from this would be to just do it. If I don’t finally give in to my passion of writing, I’m not going to start. I’m not getting any younger after all!
May 19th, 2008 at 11:51 pm
Lily, I have a problem retaining some of the motivation I have after I watch a video or hear somebody speak. I think it’s way different this time though because I feel renewed, and very inspired.
May 19th, 2008 at 11:53 pm
I think that you feel renewed and inspired because unlike other motivational speakers, Chris actually gives you a plan. He doesn’t lift you up with false promises. He follows his own advice - that’s proof that it works so well.
May 19th, 2008 at 11:54 pm
That’s an excellent point Luxor. He really does give us a plan, he’s not telling us what we should be doing and then leaving us behind to work on his own. He’s sharing actual ideas and strategies with us.
May 19th, 2008 at 11:56 pm
The strategies that Chris is sharing with us are ones that he himself has already used and proven to be successful. If he didn’t think that they would work, then he wouldn’t be telling us about it.
May 19th, 2008 at 11:57 pm
Tony, I feel a bit uneasy trying to get endorsements too, but I realize that I really need to do it or else I’ll have a much harder time being successful. It takes a lot of work to be a bestseller, but it’s worth it.
May 19th, 2008 at 11:58 pm
You are right Missy. If you want to be a bestseller you have to get the endorsements, or at least try. You have to take risks or else you really didn’t earn your title. Chris has definitely earned his.
May 19th, 2008 at 11:59 pm
You just have to do it guys, it’s not going to be easy. I think that if Chris could do it, we can all do it. There are tons of companies out there that might want to help you out, be aggressive!
May 20th, 2008 at 12:00 am
If it’s one thing that I’ve learned, it’s that you really have to be aggressive. Remember the video about marketing? Some of those strategies were very aggressive, but there’s a reason for it!
May 20th, 2008 at 11:49 am
Great information. Believe that it can definately make a difference in my writing. Making sure that we do not infridge on any other persons writing is very important to any writer.
I often find that many people think it is ok to use others material and credit them. I think that if you are really a writer then that would be only a last resort that would not be used unless you absolutely have to.
Pre-selling is a good way to start making money right away. You just have to make sure that you have a hook that will get them in to pre-buy.
Having a cover that is appealing and take the reader right away is very important.
May 21st, 2008 at 11:28 am
This is a very informative post. I think it is extremely important that you use original material. A lot of people feel pressure to meet deadlines and end up using other peoples work. This is unfortunate fact but it is true.
Guys, learn to relax and enjoy your writing. And have some ethics when you are doing this. Also, try to eliminate your distractions so you become more efficient, which is what this post is trying to teach you.
The idea is not necessarily to finish everything quickly but rather to use your time wisely and cut down on things that won’t do any benefit in the long run.
May 26th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
On the discussion about endorsements, I know when I pick up a book in a bookstore I look to see who’s made comments on it. If it’s an author I already know, then I’m more willing to buy the book. Same thing for ebooks — if someone I know says they’re good, I’m more inclined to pay for them.
May 28th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
I will go along with Chris’ copy/paste idea, but I still would urge writers to be very careful and to make sure they attribute and give credit to the original authors. One of my favorite historians died in 2003 with a cloud of suspicion because he had been accused of copying others’ works without attributions.
May 28th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
About accusations of plagiarism…I remember once when I started writing online reviews at one website, I had to basically make sure I wasn’t borrowing too heavily from my own Amazon reviews because some muckity-muck thought I was plagiarizing. In a sense, I might have been, but I was basically doing something known as cross-posting rather than engaging in true plagiarism.
May 30th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
I guess the golden rule is when in doubt, attribute.
And don’t borrow too much. And if you do, paraphas and check your work with the original and ask yourself objectively whether they are substantially different.
June 1st, 2008 at 12:34 pm
Anyone guilty of true plagiarism knows fine well they did it. There’s a huge difference between those who do it deliberately and those who don’t.
If something you read long ago sticks in your subconscious and you subsequently use it years later thinking it was your own thought, that’s a far cry from lifting something directly from a book and saying it’s yours. If you’re writing for the web, run it through Copyscape and see if it comes up as a double check.
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:05 pm
I don’t know if universities use that Copyscape or something else, but a lot of term papers and such are run through a checker these days — to see if they’re an obvious plagiarist.
There used to be stories about kids who copied directly from encyclopedias — and I think some of them are doing the same thing online now. Lots easier, really.
June 5th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
Grammar is pretty much the most important thing, but knowing when to mess with the rules is also important. If you have your own way of writing, it gets you some renown.
Editors that are zealots when it comes to grammar are a scourge though. I used to write articles for one site, but when they started nitpicking when it came to ?! vs !?, I just took all of my articles off the site, cause I’ll be damned if you’re gonna mess with my writing style.
July 22nd, 2008 at 12:17 am
I couldn’t understand some parts of this article t and Paste Writing System… | Automatic Bestseller Inner Circle, but I guess I just need to check some more resources regarding this, because it sounds interesting.
August 18th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
I couldn’t understand some parts of this article | Automatic Bestseller Inner Circle, but I guess I just need to check some more resources regarding this, because it sounds interesting.