There is a myth about being a first time author I’d like to blow apart. It is not just for the elite, you do not have to face hundreds of letters of rejection from publishers, you can afford to self-publish, and you do have time to write it in your busy schedule! I can show you how easy it can be and share a unique method to create and organize your first book.
We all have a story inside of us worth telling whether it is about your travels, your memoirs or a business book to support your business. How many shoe boxes are full of photos, letters and research material and book ideas hidden in the closet or under the bed? How much writing already exists that you have used in newsletters, promotional material and blog submissions which you could turn into a book? For business people who already give workshops, seminars or speaking engagements the material is already written! So why not turn all that material into a book? Because most believe it is beyond their reach to achieve that and they don’t have time to do it!
I know this because I recently self-published my own first book, successfully sold it into all the local bookstores, and received credibility and respect as a first time author. Since publishing my book my business has blossomed, the local media here in Victoria B.C. the capital of Canada, jumped at the opportunity to report on a local author. I have been interviewed by Shaw TV Daily show (and it’s already been repeated 3 times) Local radio shows including CFAX1070AM radio who have interviewed me over 6 times and the local press have run several articles. In fact it has had such a huge impact on my life, my mission and purpose now has become to inspire and motivate other people to tell their stories and become first time authors.
Why is it that so many people feel overwhelmed by the challenge of writing a book? First understand it IS a time-consuming process and it does require lots of research and quiet reflective time, a precious commodity so few of us have. It actually took me 18 months to write my first book, but now I have developed a method to make this process easier, and my second book will probably only take a few months to complete. The other key is giving yourself the reflective quiet time to start, and to do this you must commit to taking yourself away from your normal environment where you will be distracted by the normal routine of life (family, emails, TV, constant interruptions). I strongly suggest you start by choosing a writing retreat for your vacation or a weekend workshop or writing group that meet on a regular basis. If you don’t have to time for any of these, the least you should do is take your laptop or notepad/binder to your local coffee shop twice a week to work on your book. Here in Victoria we have a large book store called Chapters that has a wonderful coffee shop on the premises, authors can work on their book while being inspired by other authors surrounding them!
I run workshops for first time authors in a “retreat” environment, away from the daily interruptions of life; my choice is a beautiful inspiring environment like Vancouver Island, B.C., the perfect environment to get away from it all! The more I thought about that, the more I realized the mobile binder system I had developed to organize the book writing process was perfect for traveling! A favorite pastime when we go on vacation is to read a book, why not WRITE a book while on vacation, away from those distractions and with plenty of contemplative and inspirational time.
