PLAN to WRITE

Face it, we are all busy. Kids to take to games and school, work pressure, friends and family that all demand out time and energy. I work with books and the process of publishing everyday and as I am so busy with all the things that are normal in life and because of my job I find it getting harder and harder to write.

I got into this because I love to write, in face I make a living doing just that. Is it the perfect life? Close. But like most people taking the time to write for me, to work on my own books is very hard. So here are some tips on how to get going and plan to write.

First, have a plan. What time will you write? How long? Is it going to be a word count goal or a time goal? Will you write every day or once a week? Make a plan, if you don't you will never do it, as life will take over.

Once you have the time set and how long and all that junk, do it. One thing I have to do is on my writing day or the time before I write I must NOT check my phone, Facebook ,Twitter or any social media. It is to easy to get pulled into this world and miss out. I will end up working and not do what I was going to do...WRITE!

Don't get frustrated, go easy and just write. If you are not feeling it maybe work on a short story or on a different book. I write two books at one time that way if I get stuck I can go to the other book. Don't worry about how much you did, just do something! It all adds up.

So, have a plan, stick to the plan and don't check on social media. Get in your bubble, listen to music or go somewhere you can focus. And chill, enjoy the process and have fun. Before you know it you will be cranking out another book or your first book. The only difference between a published author and a writer who never finishes, is one had a plan and worked the plan.

This is simple but hard to do. I know I am not telling you anything new but it does work. I write my first book at the kids nap time and after everyone was in bed. If I can do it, so can you.

Now quit reading this blog and go write!

Write, Publish, Market workshop!

Write Publish Market:

Cutting Edge Information for Writers, Bloggers,

Authors and anyone who wants to publish a Best Selling Book.


Time: 10:00-4:00 Saturday May 21, 2011

Country Inn and Suites, 3355 East Pine Avenue

Meridian, ID 83642

Click here to sign up.



Special Price $79 –

Regular price for this workshop is $199.

Absolutely no refunds however if you are not able to attend, you can transfer your ticket to a friend.

This workshop is limited to the first 44 who sign up.


What to Expect:

A hands-on workshop that will teach you how to navigate the publishing industry, get you started in your book writing process and explain how you can make money by marketing your book and integrating it into your business. Bring your laptop.

Walk away with:

* Techniques that allow the even the busiest people to write a book in 10-30 minutes a day
* Your publishing myths dissolved and understand why anyone can publish
* Writing tips for print and eBook that will save you hundreds of hours
* A publishing plan for the books you have always wanted to write
* An understanding of how writing a book makes you the instant expert in your field or industry
* The ability to turn any speech, article or conversation into book content
* Cutting edge tips and tricks to make money writing, even if you are only a mediocre writer
* Key tips on marketing your book beyond your friends and family
* Clarity on the fact the next three years may be the best time in history to publish and make money in publishing

Write- Publish- Market Agenda:

9:30 Registration and networking

10:00 Breaking the Myths of Publishing and Making your Publishing Dream a Reality

10:45 Break

11:00 Breakouts: #1-Turning any speech, blog/article or conversation into book content, #2-Behind Every Great Writer is an Editor

12:00 Lunch (on your own) Speakers will be available to answer questions

Break to grab lunch or bring your own.

1:00 The Magic of Marketing and Social Media: Turning your Writing hobby into a global business with a zero dollar budget.

3:30 Developing your Writing and Publishing Action Plan


Maryanna Young

Maryanna Young is the CEO of Aloha Publishing and the co-founder of Idaho Book Extravaganza, Idaho’s premier publishing show. She is the author of four books including Blank to Book: From Idea to Amazon in 150 days. Maryanna is passionate about bringing out the potential in others as a publisher, speaker and professional business coach.

Aaron Patterson

Aaron Patterson is CEO of StoneHouse Ink and best selling author of four books including Amazon’s best selling series Sweet Dreams, Dream On and his new teen book, Ariel. He is an expert in eBook marketing and passionate about sharing the tools that helped him transition from the construction industry to a full time writer.

Kelly Antonczak

Kelly Antonczak is the COO of Aloha Publishing, author of Significance Breakthrough and the co-founder of the Idaho Book Extravaganza held every year in Boise, Idaho. She holds a degree from Boise State University in Communications and Public Relations and loves to be on the cutting edge of social media techniques and maximizing free global website tools such as Amazon for author marketing and book sales.

Allison Mewes

Allison is the owner of Blue Bamboo Project Services and married to a deployed solider in the US Army. She professional marketing project manager with 13 years of agency and client-side project related experience including an emphasis in social media strategies. Allison’s first book is Top Secret however she may reveal the contents at an upcoming workshop.

Click here to sign up.

Guest Post by Estevan Vega: Adapt or Die

As the World Turns…Adapt or Die
By Estevan Vega

I thought the first part of that sentence was way too cheesy and hugely soap of me to leave as is; the cute little tag at the end makes it really shine.
Glad you agree.

For those of you who don’t know, the world is changing. But it doesn’t stop there. Yes, along with a number of floods, earthquakes, tornadoes (minus Helen Hunt or the ever-charming Bill Paxt…wait), and shady politicians, the world of commerce is changing. The world of information. The world of books.

Unless you’ve been hiding in a cave the last decade, you have noticed a significant hiccup in the routine. You used to be able to waltz into a record store (I know, what’s that?) and purchase a CD, or second scenario, you hoped to God they carried your favorite artist in a Wal-Mart/Best Buy. If you were looking for a Friday night flick, you hopped into your car and sped to Blockbuster. But in case you are one of the few humanoids who can’t read the apocalyptic signs, allow one with the third eye to help out. Record stores, made famous for ridiculously high prices, have all but become obsolete. Likewise, many Circuit Citys have been chased out by Best Buys. And more recently, Blockbuster has suffered a devastating blow, now forced to close hundreds of stores, many near my house. Very inconvenient. I mean, aggravating. I mean, sad.

But it doesn’t stop there. More good news. For many. Borders filed bankruptcy earlier this year. Are times-a-changin’ or what? I never thought I’d actually see such heavy hitters knocked out. But it happened. Why? Because just as the music and DVD herd have thinned, other forms of entertainment are thinning. Books. One of the last great treasures, are losing value to many. For years, the industry has been down-sizing, hurting publishers, but even more so, killing the species known as genus author. Now, of course, this is much more frustrating than witnessing the demise of my childhood escape store, Blockbuster, because I am an author. No, seriously, I am. You don’t have to check Google or anything. But what am I to make of this ever-changing, ever-turning world of entertainment?

Well, to put it simply: it’s time to adapt to the times.

While I still have a deep appreciation and love for print books, e-books are the machines storming into Zion right now, and guess what, Neo’s not here to stop them. But this is not all doom and gloom for the author. No, in fact, it’s dank. Or, awesome. Like never before, authors can connect with fans the way artists have been forced to connect with crowds at a rock show. People may not be shelling out cold, hard cash for records, but they’ll see a band light up the stage come Saturday night. Similarly, a customer might hesitate to buy an expensive hardcover but be more inclined to click a button and have that same book at the mercy of their fingertips in seconds, without ever leaving their couch.

Like being able to change the channel without getting up, e-books are changing the face of the industry, the face of entertainment. They’re immediate. They’re now. If an author is going to make it, he/she must establish an online presence; find some niche, some way to connect to your audience. Find what your audience needs and give it to them. If a three minute song can make a person laugh, and if a 90-minute romance can make a chick forget she just got dumped, then a book, delivered on time and by an ever-sexy Amazonian website, can change even the most primitive author into an adversary to be reckoned with. Perhaps writers have just been given a get-out-of-begging-for-your-big-break card.

This is the future. Adapt or die.

-evega


Estevan Vega grew up in Connecticut and published his first book by the age of fifteen. His writing has been likened to that of Stephen King and Ted Dekker because he is known for penning stories that bridge the gap between the ordinary and the supernatural. Arson is his third novel and book one in the Arson trilogy. Look for its re-release this summer, as well as the upcoming release of book two in the series.

Let's talk numbers.

Unless you have been living under a rock you know that Vincent Zandri has made some waves and is selling like crazy on Amazon. I wanted to go over the numbers with you so you can see what is going on and to get the inside information most publishers and authors will never give out.

Here is what we IE Vincent did. First, he is active on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and other social media sites. He went on a blog tour for his book "The Remains" and the numbers did good but not anything to write the New Your Times about.

Next up was "The Innocent" for a blog tour. If you do not know what a blog tour is Google it. But in short, it is a tour of bloggers that review your book and post it all in a month time frame. Maybe one every other day or every day.

In January Here is what Vincent's books did. The Remains 100, The Innocent 50, Godchild 12. Now we see the next month after tour for Remains in February. The Remains 350, The Innocent 400, Godchild 30.

Tour for Innocent is on and here is what happens: The Remains 1000, The Innocent 22,000, Godchild 2,200. See how the tour one month after built this movement? Again, this is some skill and a ton of luck. These things cannot be planned but you do what you can and see what happens. With this Vincent ended the month in the top 10 on Amazon with The Innocent and in the top 50 for Godchild and top 150 for The Remains.

Now for last month. The Remains 7,000, The Innocent 80,000, Godchild 20,000.

I will take a moment to let this all sink in.

Hmmm, I like coffee, Coconut coffee. Yum.

Okay, we good?

These are not the exact numbers but very close and rounded. This does not include the UK or other eBook sites like B&N, just Amazon US. His print sales went up as well and we find that eBook numbers will tell us how the print book will do.

Now for these titles the price of the eBook on tour is set at .99 and The Remains is as 2.99. We changed The Innocent to 4.99 for this month as Godchild is now on tour. We are going to play with the numbers and see if the wave will hold. If it does well at 4.99 Vincent will make a paycheck that will be bigger than most publisher advances.

Vincent also has a new book coming out at the end of the month called "Concrete Pearl" This will add to his list and will also give us more to work with on the pricing cycle. We hope to run some on sale, get them up in the ranking and see if we can get more out of them at a higher price. I will let you know how it works at the end of the month.

The combo, Good Cover, Good Writing, Good Description and Good Marketing. Will it work for you? I don't know, but it can't hurt.