What are your dreams as an author? Prior to releasing my first book, I dreamed about topping the charts in sales, of sipping a fancy drink on a beach while the money poured into my accounts, and of the glory of being, Jane V. Blanchard, the author. In reality, seven months after release, the book occasionally ranks in the top 100 in Amazon in a several catagories, the money trickles into my accounts, and I find little glory in public recognition. Sound familiar? Are your dreams as an author still that…dreams? If so, don’t be ashamed…dreams are motivators. If you really want your dreams to come true, you have to pay the price.
“Happy are those who dream dreams and are willing to pay the price to make them come true.” ~ Anonymous
So, how do you turn dreams into realities? By setting realistic goals, creating strategies that fit your style, and working diligently. Many bloggers advocate starting the process before writing the book. Doing this, they say, will help you identify the audience, determine what value the book will have for that audience, define the best layout for delivering the value, and, if done properly, help create a stir for the book before it is released.
The first time I heard this I thought, Writing is a joy. All this planning and contrivance makes it work. It is not the way I write. Then, I listened to the webinar “6 Keys To Outrageous Success As An Author” with Jack Canfield, author of Chicken Soup of the Soul, and I started to see the value of identifying the audience and creating value for the reader. It is all about writing a marketable book. And, who does not want to do that? The more that I thought about it, the more it made sense. Defining the audience, the value, the structure, and format does not diminish from the creative process; it may, in fact, strengthen it.
Like many authors, Jack Canfield dreamed of being the number one seller. He made his dream a reality—over and over again. His first step to success is to set big goals. You cannot set big goals without having big dreams; so don’t stop dreaming.
If your dream is to make money as an indie author, you might want to check out Dave Bricker’s post “Reality Checklist for Self-Publishers.” He discusses how to assess your potential for making money with your books and gives steps for publishing with realistic expectations. He writes, “Understanding where you lie on the spectrum between artist and entrepreneur is critical to publishing success. Success for the business investor is measured on a balance sheet. Success for the artist corresponds to personal satisfaction with the finished product.”
I agree with Dave Bricker: to be successful, you need to set realistic goals AND make a plan. This plan can be called a business plan, a marketing plan, a writer’s platform; whatever you call it, it must define your strategy for promoting your book. (See The author platform—a long-range career growth tool for information on how to build an author platform.) Make it yours. Do things differently from other writers and you will stand out. Make your strategy enjoyable. For example, if you don’t like tweeting, find another social media tool to connect with your readers. Don’t underestimate word of mouth; making this personal connection with readers is paramount. Be patient. According to Guy Kawasaki, “It takes a year to build a marketing platform.”
Making your dreams come true
- Think big; create a best-seller mindset
- Commit to making your dream come true
- Be strategic; develop a well-defined platform that is fun for you and includes schedules and measurements
- Discipline yourself; do something each day to move the plan forward
- Redefine your limitations; if you don’t know how to do something, get help, do research, or get training
- Persevere; never stop working towards your dream
- Be patient, attaining your dreams can take time
“A dream doesn’t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work.” ~ Colin Powell
What are your dreams and how are you making them come true. Please comment.
