My first book was a failure! And that hurt!
When I published my first book in 1997, I had no idea what was involved in the writing and publishing process. I made so many basic mistakes that, even after years, I still find it hard to believe that the book is available for anyone to read. The magic of that first book quickly became a kind of shadow that followed me for years. If my career depended on that book, I would be screwed.
Yes, my first book was a complete failure. I don't question what is written there, because we always write with the ground we are standing on at the time. To question the message would be even more atrocious than what happened with the entire writing and publishing process.
If I do what I do today as an Author Mentor, it is because I have already gone through all the essential experiences, good and bad, regarding writing and publishing a book. I assume that, to do something well, we have to experience the facts firsthand. I went from being an author who didn't sell anything to a successful author.
I currently work hard to help people become successful authors. People who see their works published with all the quality criteria and who have a positive impact on their readers. Fortunately, I was able to give new meaning to my past as an author.
I don't want the authors I mentor to make the same mistakes I made,
but may they shine with their books and be at peace with their work.
What were these mistakes that haunted my first book? There were so many, but today I want to tell you about 6.
1. A meaningless and boring title
When a title doesn't tell the reader anything, they won't even approach the book. A book must have a title and a subtitle.
The title should arouse noticeable curiosity. In other words, it should make the reader feel curious and encourage them to learn more about the book.
The subtitle should specify what the reader finds in the book.
Sometimes we have titles that only make sense to us. A beautiful title for us can be just that: beautiful for us.
Remember: your sales cannot depend solely on your friends and family!
2. Writing without consistency or fluency (writing only for yourself)
A book with confusing writing is not healthy for the reader. Reading is an experience. If the writing is inconsistent and lacks fluency, we are creating noise in the reader. The consequence may even be that the reader does not get past the first page.
3. No benefit to the reader
Even if we are dealing with a work of fiction, we must always consider what the reader will gain from reading our book. We cannot write just for ourselves. It is crucial to be clear about what benefits we are going to give our readers.
4. Poorly organized information
Making the reader get lost in a book because it is poorly organized is truly a “literary crime.” The book should have a structure that allows the reader to experience it in the best possible way without getting lost along the way.
5. No defined target audience
Writing for everyone can be a nightmare. Most authors want everyone to read their book. In fact, one of the secrets is to give “a face to the reader”. It is important to know who will read our work. Defining the audience is really important.
6. Accept the first hypothesis that appears for publication
Nowadays, publishing a book is easier than it seems. There are several options (through a conventional publisher; self-publishing; vanity system; etc.). However, we must be wise in our choices and demanding. A book must be of quality and positioned in the market in the best possible way. Therefore, choosing the publication method should always respect what you want for yourself and your book.
The mistakes I made were far more than these. Since I started this journey in Author Mentoring, I have learned a lot. But one of the most significant lessons I learned was the one I received when I went through the experience I had with writing and publishing my first book. So, I really strive to ensure that the people I mentor follow a less winding path.
If you are thinking about writing a book, or even if you are already writing one, keep going. I want you to avoid the mistakes I made and succeed.
May your goal of writing and publishing a book come true!
ps.: the title of my first book is “When the earth is dark and light is the answer"
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