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3 Things I have learned in my first year of publishing: Part 1
1. Become an Entrepreneur It is all in the mind.
You have to visualize success. Whatever you put into the mind will come out in the world. Some people call it law of attraction, but I prefer manifestation. After I first published "The Tragic Tale of Teddy Woven," I began to imagine other novels on my book shelf. Intuitively, I knew that this was not the last book I would publish on Amazon. There were moments when I would close my eyes and imagine future book cover, long before I had ever completed the manuscript. I knew it was important to keep pushing myself! To chase my dreams. Yes, the task of completing a long manuscript like "Awakening" was daunting, but I kept at it. So, the first step to becoming a successful writer is to use the power of manifestation and envision the success that you want to achieve in the future. But that is just the first step, because once the dream you imagine is put into the world and becomes a physical representation of your goal it is time to buckle down and put on your "entrepreneur hat." Admittedly, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I knew the books would not magically sell themselves, but I was not prepared for the amount of daily work that is necessary to succeed. You have to realize that as a self-published writer you are forced to wear many hats: writer, editor, designer, marketer, social media influencer, blogger, and the list goes on. It is your job to put your work out there, so that means working crazy amount of hours a day. You can sit on your ass and hope for success, or you can chase it. If you are feeling stuck or lack of motivation, I recommend you listen to videos of "Gary Vaynerchuck" on YouTube. He understands the difficulties of entrepreneurship, and gives you tips on how to motivate yourself to take your business to the next level. I also recommend a book by Joel Stafford "The First 100 Days of Your Book." It was the first book I picked up last year that really taught me about the business of self-publishing and the steps you need to take to succeed. To be an entrepreneur you need to have a lot of skills, but I think the most important thing I have learned is to pursue your passion and enjoy the process. Yes, there are days that are hard, but if you love your "work" it does not feel like work. I have written stories for free for YEARS online, so no one is pulling my leg to write a full length novel. The entire process of being a self-published author does not feel like work to me, it is more of a hobby where I can make some money on the side. I am living my dream right now! I wake up everyday and I am excited! It feels like I am flying on cloud nine, and I have no desire to settle back down yet. Already, I am mapping out books that will come out in the year 2022 and 2023, and this is just the beginning I have said this before, but I want to state it one more time: success does not come instantly. I have a five year plan, but that might not mean I will be an ultra successful writer by 2026. Every day will be a grind, but it can still be an enjoyable one. When you are an entrepreneur you have to enjoy the process, otherwise there is no point in it. On Friday (June 18th) I will share "Real Talks: Part Two"
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I am excited to inform you that "Adfectus" has been officially launched this week. My poem "Lover's Lullaby" is featured in this anthology, along with sixteen other poets from across the globe. You can learn more by checking out my Instagram post below. Interested in buying a copy, simply click on the "BUY" button at the bottom of this post. Happy reading everyone!
What is your idea of success?
Everyone has their own preconceived notions of success, it can range from being a billionaire to living a life full of peace and happiness. Lately, I have been contemplating my own idea of success; goals that I want to achieve in the next five years. The key to success is discipline, drive and a hunger to achieve your goals. It is living for the now. To chase your dreams, and not have to look back on life and be full of regrets. So, how do you achieve your own level of personal success? The answer is simple: pursue your passions. In the Youtube video above, Jeff argues that when you have a passion it will feel like a calling, and all the "work" will not feel like work to you. I never really understood this concept until I stepped into the self-publishing world. It has been fulfilling, it feels me with pride that I am finally achieving a life-long dream. Jeff Buzos' Amazon Kindle has given me the wonderful opportunity to self-publish my novels. Jeff believes that every-day people should be allowed to pursue their passions- to not have the door shut on them. I don't people realize how easy it is to publish books on Amazon. You simply upload your manuscript on Kindle Create, it immediately formats the document for you in seconds and suddenly you are ready to publish your book online. That's it! There is no middle-man, no person standing in the way because they don't like your manuscript. I am almost certain I would have never been able to publish "The Tragic Tale of Teddy Woven," if I took the normal publishing route. Why? It is because "The Tragic Tale of Teddy Woven" does not fall into the "normal" genre, it is a dark romance story with paranormal, suspense, and mystery. Gothic-romance is not the cliche novel that everyone desires to read, but that is okay, because I am able to publish a novel that fits into a genre that I absolutely adore. So, where am I going with all of this? I wanted to take two minutes of your time to let you know that it is not to late to achieve your dreams. There is still time! You are never too old to change your life. If you are not happy with where you are in life, it is not too late to step onto a new path. Take classes online, educate yourself through books, network, market yourself. On my journey so far as a self-published author, I have faced difficulties, failings, but all of it has helped me become a better writer. I am learning how to market myself, and to understand the role of an entrepreneur. The books will not sell themselves, but when has life ever been that easy? I understand that I have to reach out to potential readers, to build up my business, and publish books that are meaningful to my readers (and myself). Rome was not built in a day. I think there is a strange disillusion in society now-a-days that success will come overnight, and maybe it does for a special few, but for most of the population it takes time. Jeff Buzos was not successful overnight, nor was Steve Jobs nor Elon Musk. It is personal and career failings that make a person grow stronger. It a person's character that defines their destiny. I hope that this short blog post encouraged you to pursue your passions. Find a way to make money off your hobbies. Don't settle in life, it is too short. Be the person that you were meant to be in the world. Author Interview with Instagram Influencer @_book__blogger_ Q: As an author, what are you trying to communicate to the world?
A: I want to show the world morally grey characters. The same old story of heroes versus villains is tiring and contrite to me. As a child I found it hard to root for the hero, mostly because I was emphatic towards the villain. I knew their terrible actions were a result of loneliness, despair, or revenge to sooth away their pain. There is always a “back story” to the villain, another tale that is lost to the reader. As a writer, I try to explore these themes, which can be seen in my latest novella “Far from Home: Book One.” The audience is led to believe one thing about the shady character, McVeigh, but it is not until the third novel that the audience understands the true reasonings behind his actions. You see, there is a story behind every action, a cause and an effect, or a mask behind a person’s identity. My job as a writer is to reveal these truths and show some small glimmer of the human’s soul. *You can read the rest of the interview on @_book__blogger_ or click on the READ button down below. If you are interested in reading her review for "Awakening," simply click on the REVIEW button. |
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