Writing a Book is JUST the Beginning

Writing a book - I've long thought about it, and even had offers in the past. This year I wrote TWO books on Blogging, Podcasting, and Business (OK, 1 1/2 books. Blogging for Business I co-wrote).

I knew it was long and hard work before I started, but no harder than I believed.

Here's what I learned:

Writing the book is the easy part!

1) After writing you need to promote - full time if possible. It's your job, not the publishers. Lots of media interviews, both blog, newspaper, magazine, radio, podcast, etc. Oh yeah, you NEED to learn how to set those up yourself, or pay big bucks for PR. Or let the book languish.

2) You get invited to speak a lot -- for free. Hey, if convenient I'll do it folks, but I need to support my family and my expensive hobbies :) I had more paid speaking gigs BEFORE writing the books. Go figure?

3) Lot's of people want help, but many can't afford it. Some of the coolest people who could really use help can't afford to pay me much, and there is only so much time.

Due to demands for advice, I'm recording a 3 CD and booklet set on "More Effective Efficient and Profitible Blogging" at a price that anyone can afford. And they'll be follow on stuff, depending precisely on what people want.

4) Mentor program. I started one without knowing! I should have formalized it before it started -- that's coming VERY soon.

5) All the above stuff is FUN FUN FUN, but TIME CONSUMING!!!

6) Even if you write two books, you're still a nobody. No complaints here!

This post is part of Ben Instigator Yoskovitz's group writing project.