Take Control of Your Interview

 

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

Whenever you are interviewed, the questions and shape of the conversation is mostly outside of your control. You can only control your answers and the stories you will tell during that conversation. In the business, this interview control is called media training.

I enjoy watching an author get interviewed on The Today Show or Good Morning America or some other program. As I watch it, I’m listening carefully to see if the author answers the questions. I notice that sometimes they do and sometimes they do not. Also I want to see how they weave the name of their book into their answer. Some authors do it too much and it becomes annoying while other authors don’t even include the name of their book. How you answer the question, what stories you tell and how you include your information is something you can control (if you think about it and take action).

Some media experts will charge large amounts of money to train an author for a six to eight minute interview on a national program. During this training, they will role play with the author, ask questions and coach them on how to talk aboutd their book and weave that information into the stories they tell. The information should look like a natural part of the answer and not something contrived. To do this process successfully takes forethought and planning for the author.

Also I’ve watched this interview process go in the wrong direction for the author and her book. Years ago on a short deadline, I wrote Vonetta Flowers’ book, Running on Ice. She and her partner, Jill Bakken, won the gold medal in the bobsled during the 2002 Winter Olympics in Utah. 

Four years later, Vonetta and Jill defended their title in Turin, Italy during the 2006 Winter Games. Katie Couric interviewed Vonetta on The Today Show. While the interview was interesting and well-done, I was yelling at my television because Vonetta made no mention of her book, Running On Ice. It was a missed opportunity when she appeared before millions of potential readers. 

To be honest, it was a failure that the publisher didn’t invest in any media training for Vonetta to help her. The author can’t weave the name of her book and availability of it into the conversation without media training. 

As I’ve mentioned in these articles, someone has to hear about the benefits of your book and the name at least a dozen times before they will decide to purchase the book. 

As authors, we need to seize each of these opportunities and take control of which stories you tell and how you answer the various questions.

Here’s some additional action steps:

1. Before you are interviewed, take a few moments to review your talking points or the specific stories and information you want to give during the interview. This review will put the action firmly in your mind and action plans.

2. Take the time to review whatever you can find about the person who is going to be interviewing you.What is the purpose of their program? Take a guess at some of their agenda in interviewing you. Then use this information to merge it with your talking points and the information you want to convey during the conversation.

3. During the interview, you take control of your answers and no matter what is asked, make sure you include your key points. 

As I’ve written in these articles, during the last six months, I’ve been using PodMatch to book conversations with different podcasters. In fact, I’ve recorded or booked over 50 interviews. In this process, I provide a list of quesions and an introduction (what I can control). The focus of each podcast host is different and nothing that I can control. 

During the podcast recording (some are live and some are recorded), I make sure my agenda is achieved. I want to tell people about my social offer where they can go to Publishing Offer and get a printed copy 10 Publishing Myths including the shipping along with over $20 of valuable bonuses. Besides this special offer, I also mention the missing 11th Myth which a listener can get for free at terrylinks.com/11thmyth. This second offer is a free way the listener can get on my email list and I can continue to build a relationship with that person. 

I want to finish this article with several resources:

1. Be aware of your control and responsibility during the interview.

2. Get Brad Phillips book, The Media Training Bible: 101 Things You Absolutely, Positively Need To Know Before Your Next Interview. Read this book and apply the information to your interviews. 

3. Several years ago, I interviewed media expert Gayl Murphy. Listen to this free webinar and get her free ebook, Interview Tactics Special Report.

When you are interviewed, are you taking control? Do you know of some other resources in this media training area? I look forward to reading your comments.

Tweetable:

As an author, when you are interviewed, do you take control of your interview and make sure you include your talking points? Get some action steps and resources from this prolific author and editor.  (ClickToTweet)

New Podcasts:

In these articles, I’ve encouraged you to use PodMatch or some similar tool to book and record podcasts. Last week two more podcast recordings launched.

Linda Goldfarb (@Lindagoldfarb) and I spoke about Publishing Myths That Ruin the Success of Writers on the Your Best Writing Life Podcast. Listen at: https://bit.ly/3EETRXi 

Nathan Bollman (@nathan_bollman) and I debunked publishing myths on the Just A Dude Podcast. Listen at: https://bit.ly/4cNghCC

Ana del Valle and I spoke about Hybrid Publishing Exposed: What No One Tells Writers… on The Novelist Studio Podcast. Listen at: https://bit.ly/3RsAaFa 

Dr. Doug Gulbrandsen (@DougGulbrandsen) and I spoke about busting publishing myths on the Inspire Vision Podcast. Listen at: https://bit.ly/44ytNaY 

Currently I’m working with my third publisher as an acquisitions editor. During these years, I’ve spoken with many authors about their expectations, dreams and desires for their books. I find many unrealistic expectations. Many aspects of the publishing process are outside of anything an author can control. I wrote 10 PUBLISHING MYTHS to give authors practical help. You can get decades of insights in 10 PUBLISHING MYTHS for only $10, free shipping and over $200 of bonuses. 

Get these articles on your email: 

Since 2004, I have blogged about The Writing Life over 1,700 entries and one of the top 27 content writers. With this simple form, each week you can get my new articles, encouragement and insights at: https://t.co/W6uU64u6aA

The Necessity of Asking for Help

    

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

As writers, I’ve learned that almost nothing successful happens on our own. I understand and also have the desire to accomplish something on my own. Maybe it is the value we give to self reliance and independence which is a prized value in the culture. It’s easier and often more straight forward just to handle something myself instead of asking someone else to be involved and get their assistance. 

Thoughout my decades in the publishing world, I’ve learned that we need the help of others to succeed. To get help, you have to understand your need, then have the personal courage to reach out and ask others. If you don’t ask, then that other person doesn’t know you need their assistance.

In this article, I want to use my new book, Pivot Driven Devotions as an example of what authors can do to get help from others.  I wrote this book on a fast-tracked deadline and it had a quiet launch without a launch team or any book reviews. 

Book reviews are important for every author. In this article (follow the link), I mentioned author and psychologist Robert Cialdini (Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion), 98% of people who purchase a product (not just a book) online have read a review before they buy it. I hope this statistic motivates you to have reviews for your books--and not just on Amazon but on different online websites. 

As an author of Pivot Driven Devotions, I received some author copies per my contract. Instead of leaving these copies inside a box in my garage, I decided to take action and ask several family members and friends to write an honest review on several different websites. After these individuals agreed to read and review my book, I pulled a book, printed a short form to help them write a review (follow the link). I tucked this form into the printed book. Also I signed and personalized each book as I packed and put it into the mail. 

From my past work on reviews for books, I understand that not everyone who agrees to review the book, will actually get it done. Often it is only about 50% of the committed people who read the book then write an honest review. I know from personal experience that I receive way more printed books from authors and publishers that I can possibly read and write reviews--even if I did it fulltime (and I only do it in my off time and without charge). 

For several people, I wrote emails and asked them directly. For others, I posted online (including last week in these Writing Life articles). In each case, I got some people responding to my requests. Also in my asking, I created some limitations saying I only needed 10 people and they had to be in the United States. With this limitation, I avoided mailing books overseas and placed some boundaries on the number I needed. From my perspective, it is better to get the books into people’s hands for reading and reviews instead of the books sitting in a box in my garage. When someone agrees to read the book and review it, I sent them a note of appreciation but in this email I included specific links to the three sites where I need a review. Hopefully with these links, I made it easy for each person to write their review then post it on these locations. 

Each day, thousands of new books enter the marketplace and are published. As authors, it is our responsibility to use courage and ask others for help, then give them the tools to accomplish what you need. The process is not easy for any of us and involves taking action and asking for others to help you.

What steps do you take to get help? Let me know in the comments below.

Tweetable:

According to this prolific author and editor, every writer needs help from others to succeed with their books. Read this article, to learn the details to get others to help you.  (ClickToTweet)

Let’s Meet In Person

As I often say in these articles, who you know is as important as what you know. 

Over the next three months, I’m going to be traveling to three conferences. On April 26th, I will be in Frankfort, Kentucky (follow the link for details). In late May, I will be teaching at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference a continuing class on how to sell books and also giving a keynote at the event. (follow the link for details). Finally in late June, I will be in Canby, Oregon for the Cascade Christian Writers Conference (follow the link for details). I will be teaching a continuing workshop and meeting with authors. I hope you will invest in your writing life and we can meet in person at one of these events.

As I’ve worked in the publishing world for years, I’ve spoken with many authors about their expectations and dreams for their books. I’ve found many of these authors have  unrealistic expectations about what will happen with their published book. Many aspects of the publishing process are outside of anything an author can control. I wrote 10 PUBLISHING MYTHS to give authors practical help and take actions no matter what the publisher does for your book. You can get decades of insights in 10 PUBLISHING MYTHS for only $10, free shipping and over $200 of bonuses. 

Get these articles on your email: 

Since 2004, I have blogged about The Writing Life over 1,700 entries and one of the top 27 content writers. With this simple form, each week you can get my new articles, encouragement and insights at: https://t.co/W6uU64u6aA

Connections Can Sell Books

 

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

In the pages of these articles about The Writing Life, I’ve encouraged you to keep building new connections--in person at live events but also online through places like LinkedIN. If we aren’t connected, let’s get connected. In this article I want to tell a couple of stories about how connections helped authors sell large quantities of their books.

Recently through my work at Morgan James Publishing, I heard about a children’s author, Amanda Kline who sold 10,000 copies of a picture book called Kenny’s Bright Red Scooter. This sales number is unusual for a picture book. A solid sales number would be 300 to 400 copies during the lifetime of a picture book. They are not easy to sell--unless the author gets involved and uses their connections to facilitate the sale of their book. I asked David Hancock, the founder of Morgan James how this happened.

This story highights a veteran and the different branches of the United States military. Amanda Kline had a connection to the Navy and worked that connection to get her book into every commisary throughout the world during December last year. The story is perfect for Christmas giving and took off. The success happened because of the author’s actions combined with working with the right publisher. Such sales do not just “happen” but the author has to take action with the idea then use their connections to make the sale. 

Years ago when I worked as an acquisitions editor at David C. Cook, I contracted a book from Henry Gariepy called When Life Gets Tough. Although my colleagues were skeptical about it, the Salvation Army purchased 10,000 copies of the hardcover. The only modification between the book sold in the bookstore and their book were the words on the back cover along with the Salvation Army symbol. These types of books are called White Label or a special sale. Publishers love these types of sales because the sales are final and even when the books are discounted the books are never returned (a big problem inside publishing). 

In each of these cases, the author was the connection or sparkplug to stimulate these quantity book sales. Most authors never think about these types of volume sales but if you do and build the possibility into your book proposal (pitch), you will be different and appeal to publishers. 

What sort of connections do you have to sell your book in volume? To learn more about this area of publishing, I recommend two books:  Beyond the Bookstore & How to Make Real Money Selling Books (both from expert Brian Jud) I encourage you to read these books then apply the suggestions to your books. Many authors never explore these options but they can become a critical way to boost the sales and income from your book--if you take action. Beyond the Bookstore is out of print but you can track down the CD version and get the used copy.

If you want to learn more of this type of information about actions you can take which will help you sell books, I encourage you to attend my continuing class at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference in Asheville, North Carolina May 26-30th. 

Through these stories, I’ve shown how your connections can sell books. What actions are you going to take for your books to make these types of connections? Let me know in the comments.

New Podcasts:

In these articles, I’ve encouraged you to use PodMatch or some similar tool to book and record podcasts. Last week another podcast recording launched.

Nicolette Nierras (@nierras_nic) and I talked about publishing and the Dangers of Relying Too Much on AI on the You’re Worthless Podcast. Listen at: https://bit.ly/3FWl7kC    

I Need Your Help

Last week I had a new book launch called Pivot Driven Devotions:

Are you willing to write an honest review? If so, please email terry@terrywhalin.com with your mailing address. I’m limiting this offer to the first ten people in the US. Thank you in advance for your help. 

Tweetable:

Your connections can sell books. How do you use them and what actions do you take? Get ideas in this article from this prolific author and editor.  (ClickToTweet)

When I’ve worked with different publishers on a variety of  books, I’ve learned the hard way that much of the publishing process is outside of anything an author can control. As an editor, I’ve spoken with different authors about their books, I’ve found many unrealistic expectations. There are actions every author can take with their books. I wrote  10 PUBLISHING MYTHS to give authors practical help. You can get decades of insights in 10 PUBLISHING MYTHS for only $10, free shipping and over $200 of bonuses. 

Let’s meet on April 26th at the Bluegrass Writers Coalition in Frankfort, Kentucky. I will be speaking at the general session and meeting with authors. Get registered and more details at: https://bit.ly/41QGw5X 

Get these articles on your email: 

Since 2004, I have blogged about The Writing Life over 1,700 entries and one of the top 27 content writers. With this simple form, each week you can get my new articles, encouragement and insights at: https://t.co/W6uU64u6aA

Keep Your Dreams and Hopes Alive

 

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

As writers and communicators, each of us are on a journey. Numerous times in these articles on The Writing Life, I’ve pointed out there is no one-two-three step formula for success. At least I’ve been looking, studying and reading for years and have yet to find it. If you know the secret, reach out to me or let us know in the comments. 

Instead as writers, we have hopes for what will happen in our writing life. Besides hope, we have dreams about our future. Finally we are storytellers and want to tell others the story. In this article I want to give encouragement and remind you know the discovery process happens or stops. 

Persist in Taking Continued Action

As the author, you have the greatest passion for your writing. Dip into this passion to be consistently taking action and telling others about your book. Stress the benefits of others reading your work. Use their reviews and endorsements. There many different tools and ways to promote. It's important to accept the responsibility for your own success and take continued action. It doesn’t have to take a lot of time but must be consistent.

If you need ideas, pick up a copy of John Kremer’s 1001 Ways to Market Your Book or Raleigh Pinskey’s 101 Ways to Promote Yourself. Each of these books are filled with tested and tried ideas.

Make and Foster New Connections

Last week I had coffee with a local author who is a podcaster that turned down my pitch to be on his program. We met and exchanged some ideas. Will it lead to something? I don’t know but I’m happy to have made the relationship. Look for local writer’s groups where you can participate, exchange busienss cards and make new connections. Again the consistency will pay off and open doors you can’t imagine.

Be Open to Different Possibilities

Are you looking for a traditional book deal and a literary agent? To be realistic, at the moment that path may be a difficult one for you. Can you find another way to get your book into the marketplace with a company like Morgan James Publishing? You can’t know about the details if you don’t pitch (submit) then consider the details. 

If you are writing books, that’s great. Are you writing for magazines? You can reach more people with a magazine article than most books and promote your book in the process. Magazine editors tell you what they want from writers in their guidelines (use google to find it). Pitch them what they are asking for and you will be more likely to get their acceptance. Yes, it is that simple. 

Get Feedback Before You Submit

One of the most difficult things for any writer (including me) to see in their writing: something that is not there. Maybe you are missing a critical component. Possibly you need a different title. Maybe you are missing a key factor in your book proposal. The list of possibilities can be endless. Get help from somone before you submit. It can be an outside editor. It can be your critique group or another writer where you have an accountable relationship. 

A key part of the way to keep your hopes and dreams alive is to consistently take action. Continue learning but use that knowledge to reach more people. There is an endless list of things that needs to be accomplished. Yes, I have one too and stop every day with more to do than I can get done. Yet I keep chipping away at accpmplishing the work. There is only one person that I can handle--me. 

As Mark Twain said, “The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and starting on the first one.”

No matter what you are writing I encourage you to perservere and continue. If you stop, then the dreams stop and hope stops. As long as you continue, it continues.

Get to a live event (follow this link to see my speaking schedule), invest in yourself and don’t just go to the meetings and then to your room. Throughout the event, meet as many people as you can. Ask questions, learn about their dreams and hopes and get ideas for your own writing. 

What actions are you consistently taking to stoke your own dreams and hopes? Let me know in the comments below.

New Podcasts:

In these articles, I’ve encouraged you to use PodMatch or some similar tool to book and record podcasts. Last week another podcast recording launched.

Paul Nelhart and I had a great conversation about: Secrets to Getting Your Book Published Successfully on The Intrinsic Mindset Podcast. Listen at: https://bit.ly/3YdAjzO 

Caroline Biesalski (@inspiredcast) and I talked about Demystifying Publishing: Terry Whalin’s Insights and Strategies for Success on The Inspired Choice Podcast. Listen at: https://bit.ly/4clmVzI   

My Articles in Other Places:

In these articles, I encourage you to guest blog and write for other places. Here’s a recent published article:

On the Kill Zone Blog I wrote about Why Self-published Books Are Rarely in bookstores at: https://bit.ly/3R0BT4d Be sure and read the comments as well as the article for additional information.

Tweetable:

As writers, we need to keep our hopes and dreams alive. This prolific author and editor tells some stories and gives specific action steps for your writing life. Read the details here.  (ClickToTweet)

For many years, I have spoken with individuals who want to publish a book. I’ve listened to their plans and found many of them have an unrealistic idea about the details of publishing. To sell books and succeed, these details are important. 10 PUBLISHING MYTHS is a practical easy reading book to help you. Get my decades of insights in 10 PUBLISHING MYTHS for only $10, free shipping and over $200 of

bonuses. 

Get these articles on your email: 

Since 2004, I have blogged about The Writing Life over 1,700 entries and one of the top 27 content writers. With this simple form, each week you can get my new articles, encouragement and insights at: https://t.co/W6uU64u6aA