PhotoCredit: YanLev

Let’s face it: No one really likes change.
I get that.

Back in the 1800‘s writers resisted going from writing longhand to composing on a typewriter. Then in the 1900‘s some resisted going from typewriter, with its soothing clickety clacks, to ta computer keyboard.

Readers have (and still) resist going from the printed, held in hand, heavy book (that smells and feels wonderful), to the eReader.

Change is scary. It means we have to make adjustments to what we are used to. It means we have to learn to do something in a new way. It means we have to get out of our comfort zone.

But change can be good.

Because writers made the switch from longhand to computers, it is now much easier and faster to publish a book.

When readers embrace the eBook, they can buy books no matter where they are, and carry around thousands of books in one small device.

Change leads to better things!

AlanePearce.com is changing too! And although it can be scary and different, the change is going to be good! On June 14th, 2013, my coaching services will migrate to MyPublishingCoach.com and AlanePearce.com will later revert to being my much-needed personal author site.

MyPublishingCoach.com will have more interaction, more blogs, more articles, more focus on publishing and promotion, and additional focus on writing. There will also be a chance for you to join MyPublishingClub where you will get more help and personal coaching on the steps it takes to publish  and promote your book.

When you join the club, you will get:

• More Templates
• More Articles
• More Downloads
• Video Interviews with industry providers and experts
• Resources
• Classes
• Training
• Promotion Prompts
• Live Coaching Q&A calls
• And Much More!

Which is great because it will help you:

• Know how to publish your book
• Understand and apply the best methods to get more followers, readers and sales
• Decide which publishing option is best for you
• Make the right decisions so you waste less money and time
• Feel confident in following your dream to publish
• Understand how to let people know about your book in a way that feels authentic to you and makes your reader want to buy
• Help you set yourself up to look like and be a professional published author with books that people buy
• Get a handle on all the information “out there” and learn how to apply it to your personal project
• Ask your publishing coach questions to help you personally succeed in easily meeting your goal

MyPublishingCoach will make publishing your book easier.

{DISCLAIMER: I admit, I have a hard time with change too. It takes me a while to embrace something new or different. I  need time to get used to it–so I will give you some time to get used to the idea of better service and more interaction with me as you consider the switch to MyPublishingCoach.com. We launch in a few weeks, so get ready!}

I’m excited to have a way to help you in a more meaningful way!

So until then,

Write on!

Alane

[Did the dog get your attention? Usually dogs and kids get the most post views ! ]

So I need to ask you a favor…

I am revamping my blog/launching a new program and I want to spend time each week answering the questions you all have about writing, publishing and promoting.

Can you help me out and post your questions (big and small) below?

Then and I will not only answer your questions, but I will create programs, templates, checklists and more for you to use to solve your biggest challenges!

Thanks so much!

(by the way, if you participate here, you can get a  bonus when I launch MyPublishingCoach.com!–sound good?)

Write (and ask) On!

Alane

Richmond Authors: A Talented Bunch!

In 2009, I published my first book, Notes from the Margins (available here), which is a memoir about a period of my life that was filled with much loss and grief. Heart wrenching is what one reader called it.

I won’t go into the details of the book with you, but I wanted to share with you part of a conversation I had with my mother during that time.

While I was grieving my loss, there was a time I thought I would never  be happy again. My mother said, “Sometimes the best way to live well is to focus on others instead of your pain. And when you help others,” she said, “you’ll find that you will be happier.”

Wise advice.

It took me a while to figure out where and how I wanted to help others. I followed many rabbit trails but still felt empty inside.

Until I was writing and publishing Notes from the Margins…and realized that this world of self publishing made so much sense to me. And more than that–it made me so excited to think about the possibilities!

Authors, with messages of faith, hope and inspiration, didn’t have to wait to “be found!” Instead, we could publish ourselves and get our message out to people who needed or wanted to read it!

I found it easy to take my own experience in self publishing, combine it with my marketing background, and encourage other writers in their pursuit of writing books.

I started small–in fact I didn’t even realize it was happening. I met a few writers and I opened my home to a writers group. Soon I found I was helping writers with amazing stories of hope, faith and courage, to put together their books.

Then others heard about how much I helped writers and began to call me for advice.

And then that advice became a comprehensive coaching program where I started helping writers establish themselves as authors, creating high quality books and teaching them how to build their platform and share their book with others.

It turns out my mom was right. In helping other authors, I found purpose and happiness.

I get such joy each time I celebrate a new author. I love to hear their stories of accomplishment after they’ve opened a box containing their book fresh from the printer. I celebrate every success and I walk them through every fear and challenge. Because I’ve done it myself, I understand. And because I’ve helped so many, I’ve become better at it.

I don’t tell you all this to brag. I just wanted to let you know that I do what I do for a deeper reason.

Some companies will tell you they can publish your book–and they can. They will happily take your money, but they may not always make your personal success their priority.

What I do is different. I help you publish your book–but as I coach you on which steps to take next, I really care that you succeed. It is a priority for me. And I work very hard to make sure you have all the tools you need to be a success (the work, however, is up to you).

Your success is important to me because it makes me happy!

And being happy is why I do what I do!

…and now I will get to do this every day when I launch MyPublishingCoach.com in June! Could it get any better?!

Write On!

Alane

I was excited when I saw that within an hour of posting that question, 33 people answered. But when I started reading their responses, I was very sad for the writers who responded. (Only a few writers were reporting any success with their efforts.)

Here is  a sampling of their answers…

• Not that much
• Probably not enough
• I Need some Ideas!!
• I’m finding it extremely difficult to get book exposure
• Oh, a little bit of social media and relying on word of mouth
• I’ll let you know when my book comes out!

That last one frightened me the most! If an author is waiting until their book comes out to promote it, they are starting too late! (Those of you who have followed me for a while know I’ve talked a lot about this before on my blog).

Fortunately for my 1:1 clients, while we are developing their book I work with them every week on ways to promote, and most of my clients sell 7-10 times more books than an author who is going it alone (and winging it when it comes to marketing).

But these Facebook interactions have added more urgency to my newest idea.

I’m more convinced than ever that authors need some serious direction when it comes to publishing and promoting; yet I don’t have time to work with as many authors as I’d like to–and some authors don’t want to invest in themselves with a 1:1 coaching program.

But the problem remains that most authors are at a loss when it comes to applying marketing strategies to their books. So they throw their book out into the world and hope that enough people will talk about it so it will get some traction.

If this is you--you know that you need to promote your book but you just can’t figure out how to apply all the information “out there” to your specific book–then hold on to your hat! I have the perfect solution coming to you in June. It is a way for you to get great coaching and help creating a personalized plan for your book–with information that is easy to apply and available to you 24/7! I can’t wait to launch MyPublishingCoach.com in June so more authors can learn how to publish and promote their books in a way that feels authentic and sells more books!

We are closer than ever to creating a great community on MyPublishingCoach.com!

So….

Write On! (and hold on to your hat!)

Alane

Ahh summer! Longer days, more things to do–picnics, boat rides and pool parties. The kids are home, and vacations are scheduled…but what about your writing? Where does that fit into the plan?

I was doing some research today about how much accountability matters to writers–especially because writing can be such a solitary endeavor. All the plans or schedules you make to write your book will never come to anything if there is no one to hold you accountable. After all, if no one knows you were supposed to write 1,000 words today, and you didn’t do it, what does it matter? You can always do it tomorrow, right? Or will you?

Sometimes, accountability–the state of being obligated to or accepting personal responsibility for your actions (or lack thereof)–is the only way a writer will prioritize the task of writing.

There are a few ways a writer create accountability for their writing.

1. Track it. There are some smartphone apps that help you create new habits or track goals. iTunes has HabitList and HabitMaster–both apps that give visual reinforcement of whether or not you are meeting your goals.
2. Talk about it. When you tell other people about your goals–specifically your writing goals, two things will happen.  First, people will ask you how you are doing with it and second, people will give you the room you need to make it happen. If you aren’t writing because of family or work demands, tell your family what you want to accomplish. More often than not, they will be supportive of your plans and give you the time you need to make it happen.
3. Take it to a group. Writing clubs or critique groups are a terrific way to impose a deadline for and accountability on your writing. When you meet with a group every month, and you are expected to bring some of your writing each time, you will most likely get that writing done, won’t you?
4. Try it online. If being in a face-to-face group terrifies you, then an online group, forum, writing or coaching site might be your answer. You need something that provides plans, tips, tools and other people with whom to talk. Maybe a site that has a writing and publishing coach available to help inspire you to meet your goals and answer your specific questions. Sound appealing? Then stay tuned! Such a site, filled with everything you need to successfully write and publish your book, is on its way! In June I will launch MyPublishingCoach.com, which will offer you coaching and tools to help you meet your writing and publishing goals. So the countdown is on! Check the sidebar for the countdown to the launch of MyPublishingCoach.com!

The bottom line is this: if you want to take your writing seriously, you need to be serious about making the time to write. And for most people, accountability–taking personal responsibility for getting to the task of writing–is the way they can get it done, meet their goals and one day, see their name on the cover of a published book.

Write On!
Alane

Now there is an answer to that question: Finally there is a tool to help turn text into images! You can use this app to turn quotes into images for posts, covers, and more. You simply select wording, select the font you want, and select the background. You can even use editing tools to add your own personal touches. I’m loving this tool and think every author should use it for their blogging and their social media.

You can learn more at QuotesCover.com (and no, they did not pay me to tell you about this. I just really think it makes it easier for you to succeed in promoting yourself and your book!).

If you want to learn more about writing, publishing and getting people to read your book, watch for my new super easy, super affordable coaching program and platform for writers who want to become published and best selling authors called MyPublishingCoach.com. Launching 06.13.

credit: dreamstime.com

I hear from writers all the time who have a book idea but just don’t know how to start it, or how to develop it, or how to get it published. The answers to those questions could be a book itself! But, their questions got me thinking…how can I provide help to more writers? I think I am coming upon a solution–and I am really excited about it! But I’d love your input on some questions so I can develop this idea to really meet your needs. Think about this and let me know…

• Do you want help with just writing, or just publishing, or just promotion, or a combination of all three?
• How many hours a week do you devote to your writing?
• Do you ever want to publish, or do you just want to write?
• Do you have time to take short classes that would help you develop your craft or meet your goals? How many lessons would you ideally have time to do?
• Would you want specific genre help, or generic writing assistance?
• What would it be worth to you to get some clear coaching on writing, publishing and/or promoting (without having to invest in an expensive program or buy a product?)

If you have any input for me so I can better meet your needs, I would appreciate it if you would comment below or on my Facebook page!

Thanks, and Write On!

Alane

credit: dreamstime.com/free

I want to give you some encouragement with a true story that shows how hard work and persistence pays off.

When the novel Mama by Terry McMillan was published in 1987, her publisher did very little to promote the new author. Terry wanted her book to succeed so she wrote 3000 letters to book stores, colleges, clubs and groups asking them to sell or promote her book. She also volunteered to do readings whenever they had time or space. She booked herself at events in 39 cities across the country, she received rave reviews and became an immediate best selling author.

So you can get the word out about your book if you are committed. But you usually need to start that buzz yourself. And doing that in 2013 is much easier than it was in 1987 because of the interwebs!

One of my authors had a similar experience as McMillan. When we first started publishing her book, she was adamant that she didn’t want to promote the book. By the time the books came from the printers, she was so excited about her book, she took promoting it seriously. She spent time every day sending emails, press kits, and previews; she also made phone calls to everyone she could think of. She asked everyone she knew to please spread the word about her book. As a result, she has been featured on her local news, invited to events to share about her book and she has even been featured in a national magazine. She sold nearly 1000 books in less than a year!

It just goes to prove that if you have a plan and doggedly work it, you can make things happen.

What is your plan?

Write (and Plan) On!

Alane

However, as with anything in life, in that mix of questionable coaches, there are good coaches. The ones who can really help you ask and answer the hard questions. The ones who will help you focus and direct what you are trying to accomplish. They are the coaches who have developed systems and programs to help you figure it out.

There are many author coaches, publishing coaches, and writing coaches out there. Some are amazing. Some are not. I like to think I fall more on the amazing side of coaching, but I’m not the kind of coach everyone would like to work with. Because of that, not everyone will think I am amazing.

The people who do work with me love what we accomplish together. I like to keep you moving forward and working toward your goals. I don’t like to work with authors who don’t want to do the work of learning how to promote their books. I like to work with writers who want to constantly improve their craft and make each book better than the last. I like to work with writers who care about their message and know there is a niche of people out there who will care about it too. I like to work with those who are willing to work.

If that is you, I hope you will read the information on the links below. There are two articles–one from CNN and one from The Harvard Business Review–that talk about how a coach can help you do what you are having a hard time doing yourself.

What Can Coaches Do For You? From the Harvard Business Review

And here is the article from CNN: Can coaching kick-start your career?

I’d love to hear what you think…Do you know of anyone who has worked with a coach? Did it make a difference for them? Do you think working with a coach can help you get your book published? Let me know in the comments below!

Write On!

Alane
(Your Publishing Coach)

From my mailbox:

Dear Awesome Publishing Coach,

Pinterest, Google+, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Goodreads, Youtube, Shelfari…there are so many social media outlets!!! How do I know which is the best?

Signed,
Socially Confused

Dear Socially Confused,

I don’t blame you, dear one, for being overwhelmed. While social media is a very important part of building your platform and gaining readers, too much of a good thing can be, well, not good.

No one has the time to be present and active on every social media outlet–and it is even worse to be present but not active on a social media outlet. Your best option is to find one or two social media platforms that you can become actively involved with–and then add Goodreads and Google+ to the mix. I’ll explain in a bit.

Here’s what I recommend to my clients.

1. Determine who your ideal reader is. When you know your ideal reader, you will know where they are most likely to hang out online.
2. Determine who uses each social media outlet. For example, if your reader is a business person, they will use LinkedIn as their primary social media venue. If they are a mom, they will be on Pinterest and/or Facebook. If they are young they will be on Twitter. (You can always search “Who uses [this social media]” and you will get some great information.)
3. Set up a profile on the platform where you will find most of your ideal readers and start interacting.

Next, add Goodreads to your mix. Goodreads is where die-hard book enthusiasts hang out and recommend books. And Goodreads has been developing amazing tools for authors to promote books as well. They are quickly becoming a favorite place for independent authors.

And finally, think about adding Google+ to your mix. Why? My favorite thing about Google+ is the hangouts. Hangouts allow you to interact with your readers by doing a reading or a q/a session with them…or even by hosting an author-led book club. The possibilities are endless. And I know for sure that whenever you can hang out with your readers its good for both you and them!

And so, Socially Confused, it can be overwhelming. But if you consider your reader, you can narrow down your choices and have more valuable interactions with people who would really benefit from your book.

Write On!

Alane