For the Smart Money Cookie

Every part of your book can be a sales tool. When you include the below tips, you will have a roadmap to follow to keep your writing organized and compelling, and you’ll sell more books than you ever dreamed of!

1. Write for your one preferred audience. Not everyone wants your book. Find out what audience wants/needs your book? What problems does your book solve for them? Create an audience profile and keep your audience’s picture in front of you as you write. Ask yourself, is my topic narrow enough? The Chicken Soup For The Teenager, For The Prisoner, and other specific groups sold far more copies than the original Chicken
Soup.

2. Write a sizzling book title and front cover. You have 4-10 seconds to hook your potential buyer. The cover itself sells more books than any other part. Bookstore buyers buy mainly by cover designs. Your title must compel your audience to buy. If you want an agent or publisher your title and subtitle are vital.

3. Write a thirty-second “tell and sell.” You only have a few seconds to impress the media, the agent, the bookseller, and the individual buyer. Include your title, a few benefits, and the audience. Include a few sound bites that grab attention. You may also want to compare your book to a successful one. “Passion at Any Age” is the “Artist’s Way” for seniors.

4. Write your back cover before you write your book. This is the second most important sales tool your book has to offer. Here you put compelling ad copy, benefits, testimonials, and a small blurb about you, the author. If your potential buyer likes it, they will buy on the spot. If they want more information, they will look inside at the introduction and table of contents.

If you write an electronic book (eBook) you can apply this information to your Web site sales letter.

5. Write your book introduction. Include the problem your audience has, why you wrote the book, and its purpose. In a few paragraphs include more specific benefits, and how you will present it (format). Keep it under a page.

6. Create a table of contents. Each chapter should have a name, preferably a catchy one. If your reader can’t understand the chapter title, then annotate it. Add some benefits or a sub title. In Passion at Any Age, the author put the word “passion” in each title. Which attracts you more? “Open Your Mind?” or “Attracting Passion?”

7. Reach out to opinion molders. After an initial contact of asking for feedback, resend them the same chapter and the table of contents of your book. Ask for a testimonial then. These influential contacts’ testimonials will make your back cover an important sales tool.

Designing every part of your book to be a sales tool and a beacon to writing a focused, compelling, understandable, and enjoyable book is a must, before you write a single word.

Judy Cullins, 20-year book and Internet Marketing Coach, Author of 10 eBooks including “Write your eBook Fast,” and “How to Market your Business on the Internet,” she offers free help through her 2 monthly ezines, The Book Coach Says…and Business Tip of the Month at http://www.bookcoaching.com/opt-in.shtml and over 140 free articles. Email her at mailto:Judy@bookcoaching.com

[From our deconstruction of hundreds of Hollywood blockbusters and sitcoms at www.clickok.co.uk; 188 stages of the Hero’s Journey you need to know about…]

The Hero’s Journey is the template upon which the vast majority of successful stories and Hollywood blockbusters are based upon. In fact, ALL of the Hollywood movies we have deconstructed are based on this template.

Understanding this template is a priority for story or screenwriters.

The Hero’s Journey:

a) Attempts to tap into unconscious expectations the audience has regarding what a story is and how it should be told.

b) Gives the writer more structural elements than simply three or four acts, plot points, mid point and so on.

c) Interpreted metaphorically, laterally and symbolically, allows an infinite number of varied stories to be created.

and more…

The Hero’s Journey: The 40 Year Old Virgin (2005) basic deconstruction

FADE IN: Ordinary World: Andy’s apartment.

Meeting the Hero: Andy in bed.

Challenge: hard-on; no one to have sex with; alone etc.

Ordinary Behaviour: working out; bath; breakfast;.

Devolved State: still a kid on a bike; that boy needs to get laid.

Push out of the Ordinary World and from Ordinary Self: when are you going to get a car?

Refusal: Survivor; tonight; are we on?

Challenge Statement: that boy needs to get laid.

Devolved State: biking to work.

Professional Ordinary World: walking into the store.

Devolved State: I’m not a salesman.

Meeting the Mentor: Cal went to Tijuana.

Challenge: what did you get up to? I boiled a dozen eggs.

Meeting Allies: David wants Paula to take Michael McDonald off the TVs.

Meeting Allies: Jay and Mooj argue.

Call to Adventure: we need five guys to play a decent game of poker.

Refusal: Cal thinks Andy’s a murderer.

Conscious Decision: Andy says yes.

Warning: Paula won’t like it that they play poker in the shop.

Threshold Guardian: Mooj has to leave before Andy can play.

First Threshold:

Outer Cave: the guys find out Andy’s a virgin.

Middle Cave: bag of sand, how can you be so stupid.

Foreboding of the Inner Cave: riding to work worried.

Inner Cave: everyone knows he’s a virgin.

Pushed from the Inner Cave: Andy runs away.

Pursued: David follows.

Refusing the Transformation: I have a fulfilling life; playing the trumpet; painting soldiers; playing games.

Trial: arguing with the Haziz.

Allies Challenge: David relates his girlfriend problems in the café.

Push to the Transformation: come out with us this weekend.

Foreboding of the Belly of the Whale: all he sees is sex and women.

Foreshadow of the Resolution: the Eruption sign.

Belly of the Whale: Andy thinking about his sexual attempts.

World of the Transformation: the bar.

New Clothes / New Self: this is too yellow.

Trial 1:

Outer Cave:

Mentor: show me your instinct.

Fish out of Water: I don’t feel comfortable hitting on drunk bitches.

Moving around and using his peripherals.

Middle Cave: the girl’s party; talking to the blonde.

Inner Cave: driving home; she throws up on him.

Talking about the experience in the back of the shop.

Refusing Further Trials: this is so over.

Trial 2:

Meeting the Romantic Challenge: Trish needs some advice.

Transformation: Andy is a stock supervisor.

Overcoming Refusal: Andy persuades Trish.

Transformation: Andy gets Trish’s number.

Trial 3:

Outer Cave: the guys have dinner; go for some hood rats first.

Middle Cave: getting drunk; dope; peeing in public.

Inner Cave: seeing Trish’s number on the fridge, calling but hanging up.

Trial 4:

Outer Cave: do you think I’m good looking.

Middle Cave: Getting his chest waxed.

Pushed to the Inner Cave: Cal tells Andy to talk to ask Beth questions.

Inner Cave: Asking questions works.

Transformation: phoning and talking this time; but she thinks he’s a telemarketer.

Refusal / Drawn back to the Old World:

Outer Cave: David brings over some porn.

Middle Cave: Andy doesn’t want the porn.

Forced to the Inner Cave: David forces the porn on Andy.

Preparing for the Inner Cave: lighting candles etc.

Inner Cave: masturbating but preferring the sitcom.

Regression: Andy back in the tech box.

Reiterating All Challenges:

Developing Characters and Relationships: Jay selling a TV; Paula would fuck Andy in a NY minute.

Pushed Forward: David invites Andy to the Date-a-Palooza.

Resisting: Andy doesn’t want to do this.

Developing Characters and Relationships: Andy dates; David meets his Amy; Cal has a go at Amy.

Resisting: Andy passes the eBay store.

Ally’s Challenge: Jay’s girlfriend confronts Andy.

Ally’s Challenge: David shows his ass on the TV.

Foreshadow of the Transformation: Paula gives Andy David’s job for the day.

Meeting the Oracle: Andy is invited to a party.

Developing Characters and Relationships: the Indians complain.

Andy confronts a Transvestite.

Trial: Andy has a go at the guys in the office.

Developing Characters and Relationships: Beth sees Andy.

Seizing the Sword: Andy goes into the eBay store and asks Trish out on a date.

Developing Characters and Relationships: David and Cal playing games.

Near Death: Andy can’t pick up Trish because of the bike.

Near Death: Andy’s apartment is too embarrassing.

Reward:

Trish is accommodating and picks him up.

Andy gets a kiss at dinner.

Atonement: on her bed; they’re going to have dinner; Andy doesn’t know how to work the condoms.

Apotheosis: Trish has a daughter.

Comedy / Tragedy: Andy can’t get rid of the erection; the phone call to India.

Ultimate Boon: Paula wants to be his fuck buddy.

Refusal: you don’t want any baby Daddy dramas; tell her you’re a virgin.

Andy practicing telling Trish while painting soldiers.

Transformed: Joe and Sarah see Andy go on a date.

Developing the Apotheosis: Andy and Trish over dinner; she tells him she has three kids..

Denial: we should hold off having sex.

Magic Flight: running when Marla walks in.

Divergence: Marla puts Andy down; he doesn’t have a car and he does magic.

Andy tells Cal she’s a Grandma.

Transformation: Andy is promoted to Floor Manager.

Ally’s Challenge: Cal interviews for Andy’s job.

Ally’s Challenge: Jay’s wife has left him.

Andy and Trish work up to their 20 dates.

Push to the New Self / Freedom to Live: Andy tells Trish he wants to open his own store.

Goodbye to the Old Self: packing his toys.

Allies Challenge: the new girl likes David.

New Self: Andy in the new uniform.

Rescue from Without:

Trisha calls; Marla locked herself in the bathroom.

Going to sex education.

Convergence: Marla knows Andy’s a virgin; they begin to get on.

Ally Transformation: David sells a TV.

Ally Transformation: Jay looks at his son’s scan.

Resisting the Crossing: Andy and Trish argue.

Resisting the Crossing: David resists talking to the new girl.

Andy drunk at the party.

David talks to the new girl.

Andy meets Beth.

Marla wants to see Trish happy.

Trish goes to Andy’s place.

Andy can’t do it with Beth.

Andy finds Trish in the apartment.

Crossing the Return Threshold: Trish runs and Andy follows.

Master of Two Worlds:

Catharsis 1: Andy tells Trish he’s a virgin; it’s just that I was waiting for you.

Catharsis 2: all the guys challenges resolved.

Catharsis 3: The Wedding.

Freedom to Live: sex.

Learn more…

The Complete 188 stage Hero’s Journey and other story structure templates can be found at http://www.clickok.co.uk/

You can also receive a regular, free newsletter by entering your email address at this site.

Kal Bishop, MBA

**********************************

You are free to reproduce this article as long as no changes are made, the author’s name is retained and the link to our site URL remains active.

Kal Bishop is a management consultant based in London, UK. His specialities include Knowledge Management and Creativity and Innovation Management. He has consulted in the visual media and software industries and for clients such as Toshiba and Transport for London. He has led Improv, creativity and innovation workshops, exhibited artwork in San Francisco, Los Angeles and London and written a number of screenplays. He is a passionate traveller. He can be reached at http://www.clickok.co.uk/

Being a creative writer has never been easy. From learning
the craft, to practicing it, to selling your work.

But that enthusiasm we felt sparked into passion as we got
more involved in it and it continues to ignite us through the long
and hard road of getting published.

We are ready to make money from our writing. And it stands
to reason that we should. We have already perfected our profession.
Shouldn’t the money follow?

It doesn’t because being a good writer does not guarantee a
publisher will notice you. So as the rejection letters begin piling
up you begin to question whether being a writer was actually a
good idea or should you have hit yourself over the head.

Being a writer is the most wonderful thing. And there isn’t just
one road to success.

If you are submitting your work to publishers and getting nowhere
all you have to do is one thing. Change your mind.

Stop and think for a moment. You write. The product is yours.
So why do you need someone to sell it for you? Why do you
need to perfect those dreaded query letters just to get noticed?
And why do you have to suffer for your art?

Because the only way you can sell it is through publishers?

Wrong. Very wrong.

Put in the same amount of hard work you are putting in submitting
to publishers and actually get somewhere in your life.

The truth is writes have had a gut full of the whole publishing process…

o We can’t write what we want but have to cater to markets
o We have to make further changes when requested by publishers
o The amounts we get paid never justify the work put in

It is any wonder then that writes are becoming independent? They realize
their product is theirs so they don’t need anyone to sell it for them.
And most of all? They don’t need to suffer anymore.

So they put in all their effort to create their own business and sell
that product on the internet.

And know what? They make it.

The internet is an uncut diamond that we can shape into a fine jewel.
The audience is wide and it just asks something from you.

Be unique. Me-too’s don’t’ get anywhere on the net. This is where
readers turn for something different. Are you different?
Are you daring? Do you not beat to anyone’s drum but your own?

A business on the net is ideal for you.

I’m not talking about submitting your work to e-publishers.
I’ll taking about building a website and selling your work
straight from there.

Become your own boss because you can. Be the free spirit you always
wanted to be. Writers are known for their uniqueness. Don’t mould
your style to suite anyone. Unleash your creativity now because the
opportunity is out there waiting for you.

Take it and make a difference.

Writers have made their own success stories.

Do you want to make yours?

About the Author

Georgina Stath is a creative writer who took matters into her own
hands. She runs her own business. She writes what she wants. She keeps
all the profits. You can do it too. Just change your mind.
Join the ‘Entrepreneur Creative Writer’s Course To Success.’ It’s free
and highly informative. Send a blank email to
subscribe@beyond-short-story-writing.com
http://www.beyond-short-story-writing.com