Debbie Weil's Blog

A Summer Shipping Package to Help You Finish Writing a Short eBook

2012-05-31T14:39:51+00:00

One of the participants in Voxe Media's Beta Author Boost emailed recently to ask if she was the "only one who had failed."

Eegads. No - ! No one failed. I won’t let them.

What she meant is that she got stalled or stuck writing the manuscript of her short book and hasn’t finished yet.

But it’s perfectly normal to feel overwhelmed or to procrastinate or to get sidetracked. So she hasn’t failed.

If you are considering writing a short eBook (30 to 100 pages) on a business topic this summer, I can help you refine your book idea, jump over roadblocks, streamline your writing process and move steadily forward.

By shipping (thanks Seth) I mean finishing your draft, getting it professionally edited and choosing a killer title. I.e. Doing the (Real) Work or writing the damn book. We all know that's harder than the logistics of uploading an eBook file to Amazon Kindle.

There are pockets of time you can use during the quieter summer months. I’ll help you find them and put them to maximum use so you can complete a draft of your manuscript that is ready to hand over to an editor.

My Summer Shipping Package includes the most valuable part of the popular Beta Author Boost: one-on-one coaching along with professional feedback on your writing.

>> Details here and sign up now Registration closes on Monday June 4th at 5 PM Pacific / 8 PM Eastern.

Can You Really Write a Short Book in 8 Weeks?

2012-04-27T12:46:40+00:00

Yes, if you start with a bunch of great content you can draw from: blog posts, articles, notes, lists, research. And are ruthlessly focused on shipping something in 8 weeks. But the fact is, it probably does take 10,000 hours to learn how to write well. If not 10,000, then a lot of time over a period of years.

Why a Short Book? Hint: Quicker to Write and Delivers Same Business Benefits

2012-02-08T18:30:56+00:00

The cool thing about writing a short book and self-publishing it on Amazon Kindle is that you can think of yourself as a Beta Author. Why Beta? Think of it as an Agile Book Launch. Your short book will be provocative, smart and well-written. It will have a sizzling title and a click-inducing cover.

But it may be the first in a series of books. You may want to write a longer book later. You may want to revise it. No problem. As an entrepreneurial author, you're in charge. You don't need permission from a big New York publisher.

The theory beyond agile software development and lean startups works just as well in the new world of publishing. You launch your product - or book - when it's good enough. It's in beta. You gauge reaction to it. Then you tweak and improve and change course accordingly.

Update: Only a few spots left in the second session of Beta Author Boost. If you are serious about writing a short book, I'd love to work with you. Click here to learn more and reserve your spot.

Business benefits of a short book

Forget the word BOOK in all caps. When you write an eBook it can be as short as 30 pages. Nobody can tell how long your book is when they look at the thumbnail cover on Amazon. Nor do they care. A short book, if it is a compelling read, establishes your credibility and turns you into a published author. The business benefits? A book will increase your revenues, whether you are a consultant, a creative entrepreneur or a corporate executive plotting a promotion - or maybe an escape from corporate life.

And with the new $79 Kindle in every pocket and purse, your short book can be downloaded in seconds and read on almost every device, from smartphones to iPads. Of course, you can also sell your eBook on Kobo, the Nook, Sony and Apple.

If your goal is to get a short book out into the world - and start selling it as quickly as possible - I would love to work with you. Please don't wait if you are interested. There are 7 3 spots left for this session of Beta Author Boost. I may not offer the program again until fall 2012. Deets and register here.

My Three Words for 2012: Alignment, Quiet and Compassion

2012-02-01T09:17:04+00:00

Inspired by a number of other bloggers and authors, including Chris Brogan (Temple, Untangle, Practice), Jonathan Fields (Serve, Inspire, Transcend) and Chris Guillebeau (Finishing), I am starting 2012 with three words. I was tempted to say "launching" 2012 because that's what it feels like. More about that in a minute. First, my words:

Alignment

Quiet

Compassion

Alignment

2012 is going to be a year of adventure, excitement and hard work. Oh, and lots of unknowns. Why? Because I have launched a new company, Voxie Media. Voxie Media is a new hybrid. It's a next-generation publishing company that helps up-and-coming business authors to write and publish SHORT eBooks and SHORT beautifully-designed print books. Short is the new long, for both writers and readers.

We are also a boutique publishing imprint. That means we will publish select titles under the Voxie Media imprint, just as Portfolio, the business imprint for Penguin, published the original edition of my book. Voxie's focus is on nonfiction and business books - specifically, the topics of innovation, leadership, communications, agile business and the future of work. And yes, we are what's known as an indie imprint, one of hundreds of independent publishing companies springing up to compete with the big New York publishers.

Maybe "compete" is the wrong word. The new indies happily co-exist. One of the most talked-about indies of 2011 was Seth Godin's The Domino Project. Thank you, Seth, for opening the door and clearly - resoundingly - making the point that book publishing is being reinvented and that a talented nonfiction business author doesn't need the blessing or permission of a New York publisher to launch a book.

That said, the legacy publishers do a good job for a small number of star-status business authors with a large following such as Jonathan Fields and Dan Roam. But, with rare exceptions, the legacy publishing model doesn't work for lesser-known authors. If you want a juicy, insider's look, read author Sebastian Marshall's recap of his experience with a New York publisher. I can tell you from my own experience that what he writes is largely accurate. Take it with a grain of salt, of course.

But I digress.

Why Alignment? Because in order to execute on Voxie Media's promise (our first program sold out in less than 12 hours), I am trying to focus every day, every hour, on the goals we've set for this year. I want to consciously align what I am doing with where I want to go. That means no more wandering down the rabbit holes of email, Twitter and Facebook for hours at a time. Email, frankly, is the biggest challenge for me. And learning to confidently say No to requests to "pick my brain." My new response, "Happy to have a quick chat, but if you want to pick my brain it'll cost you. <smile>."

Quiet

If there is a sub-word for Alignment, it is Quiet. I found Pico Iyer's New York Times article, The Joy of Quiet, particularly compelling. Quiet means practicing no email, no computer, no Internet. Very little work is accomplished while connected. The real thinking happens when you are away from your digital devices and from the Web. On my reading list is the new book Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking.

Compassion

By compassion, I mean forgiveness and patience. I am learning how to be more patient and tolerant of others. Others includes anyone who doesn't think quite the way I do. Or act or react, or whatever. It includes business colleagues and family members. This is hard for me. But it is so important.

I am also being more Compassionate with myself. I am pretty sure that Compassion is another sub-word to Alignment. Do what needs to be done every day. Cut out the time-wasting stuff. Decide on three things that contribute - directly or indirectly - to revenue and company growth. And focus on those things. If things go awry one day, course correct on what isn't working. And then get up the next day and try again. So while I am practicing Alignment and Quiet, I am also being more Compassionate with myself when things don't go quite as planned.

I have procrastinated big time on this blog post. I started writing it several weeks ago and here it is the 1st of February. Well, we just celebrated Chinese New Year. So I must be in alignment with new beginnings somewhere.

* Chinese New Year Dragon image courtesy of Hartanto Muliadi

Wake Up and Write For Your Existing Readers (Don’t Look for Readers Later)

2012-01-27T20:22:07+00:00

Seth Godin reminds us - again - of the new way to think about writing a business book. You are writing for the fans and followers you already have. Your tribe. They are the ones who will celebrate with you and kick off word-of-mouth sales if you set your launch price on Kindle at $0.00.

As Seth puts it: "Wake up in the morning thinking about what (you) can write for (your) readers." Not the other way around. The old mindset went like this: write your book, get it edited, get blurbs from big names, design a great cover, print, distribute, launch and hold your breath for sales. In other words, write first and then look for readers. That model is at the heart of legacy publishing. And it is broken.

Now anyone can be an entrepreneurial author: a writer and a publisher with a direct link to your readers. And also, as it happens, get a much bigger cut of each sale. If you price your eBook at $2.99 or higher on Amazon, you get 70% of each sale. That is a whopping increase from the 25% (or less) that authors with legacy publishers are currently getting for eBook sales.

This new model is hugely provocative. And perhaps a little daunting. But it does NOT mean you need 10k followers on Twitter. It could be the 300 people on your email list who follow what you do. Start small. Cultivate your readers. Think of them as your tribe. And keep writing.

Is Publishing a Kick-ass eBook for Kindle One of Your Goals for 2012?

2011-12-29T20:44:53+00:00

We're betting it is. And there are ~~one spot~~ no spots left to pre-register for the next Beta Author Boost, starting in March 2012. Beta Author Boost is a unique writing workshop that enables up-and-coming business authors to write and publish a short, kick-ass eBook for Amazon Kindle in 8 weeks.

The first Beta Author Boost sold out in less than 12 hours. The program is currently in full swing with 10 subject matter experts working on a wide variety of book topics. We are having a blast.

Writing a book, even a short book, is hard. What if a drop-dead deadline propelled you to finish your book in 8 weeks? What if you had a professional editor (aka Debbie Weil) at your side to make your writing sizzle and to point you to all the help you need to create a first-rate, polished manuscript?

Why a Kindle eBook?

The cool thing about publishing a book for Amazon Kindle is that you can think of yourself as a beta author. Forget the word BOOK in all caps. When you write an eBook it can be as short as 30 pages.

These are what establish your credibility as an author and lead to fanatic readers and book sales. And with the new $79 Kindle in every pocket and purse, a short book can be downloaded and read on almost every device, from smartphones to iPads.

If your goal is to get a short book out into the world - and start selling it as quickly as possible, you will love the Beta Author Boost workshop.

BONUS for those who pre-register for March 2012 Beta Author Boost

In order to kickstart your book project, you will receive inspiration, information about eBook publishing and at least one easy-to-complete writing assignment from me before the program officially begins on March 8, 2012. Click here for all the details ~~and to lock in your spot now.~~ and to be notified when registration opens in January 2012.

Context vs. Content: What Sells Your Book?

2011-12-21T13:12:21+00:00

Context is one of those words that sparks a multidimensional image in your head. That is key to understanding why context (who, where, how, what, why) has as much to do with the success or popularity of a new book as does the actual content of that book.

Who recommended the book to you? That counts for a lot. You tend to trust recommendations from friends who are discerning and on top of what's new.

Where did you hear about the book? Were you online, on a social network like Facebook or Twitter, where it required no more than a couple of clicks to download the book in digital format to your favorite e-reader? Were you reading a print newspaper or an in-flight magazine?

How do you prefer to read a book? Are you comfortable with digital reading? How important is instant gratification when you hear about a new book that captures your interest? If you prefer print, it means a trip to the bookstore (if there is still one open near you). Or ordering from Amazon and waiting a couple of days for delivery. That's OK if it's your preference.

What was the message about the book, its title or perhaps the design of the cover that grabbed you? Visual cues are more important than ever. As Seth Godin writes:

"[There] will be a new set of cues. We’ll look a lot harder for reviews and cover art and inbound links."
- Seth Godin writing on The Domino Project blog, Dec. 16, 2011

Why did you decide to purchase this book right now? Was it the $.99 price? Was it the availability of an (instant) free sample?

Context is linked to reading device

How and Why are the most important pieces of context these days. And they are device dependent.

After hearing about your book, online or off, how fast can readers get their hands on it?

About 5 seconds if it's a Kindle eBook. Readers can dive in via multiple devices: smartphones, iPad, Kindle Cloud Reader and Kindle. That's why Voxie Media's Beta Authors are writing a short Kindle eBook. To shorten the distance between author and reader.

There are too many steps (hurdles) to start reading if you post a short book to Scribd, for example. You may be offering it in different e-reader formats (.mobi for Kindle, .epub for almost everything else, PDF for those not using e-readers) but you are asking your readers to do extra work. Each format has to be downloaded and/or uploaded to its respective device.

* Illustration credit: Context drawing above courtesy Berg design consultancy in London.

Free for 36 hours: The (Updated) Corporate Blogging Book is $0.00 on Amazon

2011-12-14T20:59:56+00:00

Amazon is capturing headlines again as the company bullies its way into book publishing - as distinct from book selling. But there are some bright spots for self-published authors. You can run occasional (very occasional) $0.00 promos for your book.

That's what's happening right now on my Amazon page - but only for the next 36 hours.

Download The Corporate Blogging Book (Updated Edition) for $0.00.

I think you'll like the new preface. My premise is that blogs, far from being overshadowed by Facebook or Twitter, are the hub of an effective content marketing strategy.

The book is updated throughout. My favorite chapter is still Ten Tips to Write an Effective Blog. Hint: always package your blog posts - write about 10 Tips, 7 Mistakes, 5 Rules, etc.

Other news about Voxie Media

The Beta Author Boost program I launched a few weeks ago - to help a small group of subject matter experts write a kick-ass Kindle eBook in 8 weeks - SOLD OUT in less than 12 hours.

I was amazed. Turns out a lot of folks want to write a SHORT eBook to establish credibility as an author and expert, to make instant sales and to connect directly with readers (aka potential customers).

With the new $79 Kindle in every pocket and purse, and the ability to read Kindle books on smartphones, iPads, computers and in the iCloud, an eBook is a marketing tool that your fans will pay for.

If you'd like to be the first to hear about the next program in 2012, I encourage you to join the waiting list. Sign up here.

And stay tuned for more exciting news about the publishing programs and services that my new publishing company, Voxie Media, will be offering in 2012.

Attention Beta Authors: Get a Professional “Boost” to Publish a Kick-ass Kindle eBook in 8 Weeks

2011-12-01T01:09:13+00:00

[Sold out in less than 12 hours.]

The cool thing about publishing a book for Amazon Kindle is that you can think of yourself as a Beta Author. It's easy to take the plunge and commit to publishing a digital book, knowing you can update your book later.

And forget BOOK in all caps. When you write an eBook it can be as short as 30 pages.

Nobody can tell how long your book is when they look at the thumbnail cover on Amazon. Nor do they care. A sizzling title, an eye-catching cover, a compelling topic and the quality of the writing are what matter. These are what establish your credibility as an author and lead to fanatic readers and book sales.

And with the new $79 Kindle in every pocket and purse, a short book can be downloaded and read on almost every device, from smartphones to iPads.

That's why I decided to launch the Beta Author Boost program. If your goal is to get a short book out into the world - and start selling it as quickly as possible, you will love this workshop.

Click here to reserve your spot for Beta Author Boost (limited enrollment)

It's for a small group of writers committed to completing a short Kindle eBook on a business topic - in 8 weeks.

Get an exclusive Beta Author Boost with this unique workshop

I will be your professional editor, offering one-on-one coaching to shape and define your book, as well as providing 2 high-level edits of your manuscript. Also included in the Beta Author Boost program:

- Small-group teleclasses to answer all your questions about eBook publishing

- PDF handouts with step-by-step writing instructions to propel you forward so you are never stuck

- Access to a private Facebook page where you can upload your manuscript and get group feedback from your fellow Beta Authors

Don't wait if you are interested. Enrollment is limited to only 8 spots. Registration closes in a few days.

Newsjacking: David Meerman Scott’s New Book on Real-Time PR Is Released in Real-Time

2011-11-14T20:18:41+00:00

David Meerman Scott often writes with great clarity about stuff that the rest of us are thinking about but haven’t gotten around to articulating. His newest book, Newsjacking, released today, is no exception.

Two things are notable about Newsjacking: 1. it is being released in almost real-time in e-book format only (for Kindle, iPad and soon, Nook and Sony) and 2. the topic is real-time PR and how to get it.

I read about the book release on his blog. Seconds later I had downloaded the free excerpts to both my Kindle and iPad. That sounds like a real-time book to me. I decided to buy it for my iPad ($6.99) so I could see what it looked like in color. More on that below.

The gist of Newsjacking is that to be successful in securing PR for your company you have to be highly attuned to breaking news so you can inject your own idea or product or newsworthy tidbit into the unfolding story. Makes sense, doesn’t it? As always, David packs the book with spot-on examples like Oakley giving Oakley Radar sunglasses to each of the 33 Chilean miners when they first emerged into daylight after 69 days underground.

Oh, and in keeping with the real-time theme, the book is a quick read (about an hour) - for which David makes no apologies. Note: the iPad version says that it is 64 pages long.

Real-time Q & A with David Meerman Scott

Here’s our Q & A that we did moments ago via Twitter. David’s receiving email inbox is down today so I submitted 140-character questions by DMing him.

1. DW: Does e-book only release mean that you are adopting a Real-Time Book Publishing model? If so, why?

DMS: Newsjacking is only available as an ebook and not via dead trees. There are a few things that this model allows, and one of them is I can get the book out faster and the examples can be fresher.

But I don’t see it as an either / or. I’m not abandoning traditional publishing and I’d like to go on record saying that I do not predict the death of print. Heck, I subscribe to the daily print Boston Globe, and print magazines including the Week, Surfer, Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair and a few others.

TV didn’t kill radio. It is a both / and not an either / or.

2. DW: I’m reading your new book on my iPad. It looks nice (color chapter headings, a few charts, embedded links) but not revolutionary. What’s next?

DMS: Actually, for a business book it is quite new. Most business books are just long bits of text. I know you’ve done some work with interactive books but that is a distinct minority. Most iPad and Kindle books are just black and white copies of the print book.

I do think that the interactive nature of the current generation of ereader provides some great things (like linking to content I talk about in the book) but it does not mean the end of paper.

3. DW: Re the topic of "newsjacking" as a way to get publicity for your company, this seems like common sense. Why don’t companies get this stuff??

DMS: The biggest barrier is fear. The lawyers and PR people at many companies insist on countless review cycles and this means that people within that company cannot get information into the marketplace fast enough.

4. DW: Your new digital-only book is published by Wiley, your traditional publisher. Were they resistant or gung-ho about doing it this way?

DMS: Wiley was very excited to try this as an experiment.

5. DW: Did you consider self-publishing?

DMS: My main goal is to get many readers, not to make more money. So I knew I wanted to go with Wiley (as the publisher). Wiley got the book into the various formats (Apple, Amazon, B&N, Sony, Scribd, etc.) so it had lots of reach.

Thanks, David, for a quick Q&A in almost real-time.