When You Feel Behind...

  

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

It’s a common feeling but rarely discussed--feeling like you are behind and can’t get caught up. I often have this concern and in this article I want to give you some ideas and action steps for your writing. 

I encourage you to recognize that each of us have overwhelming days when there is more to be done like:

• More email to answer. 
• More editors to pitch. 
• More places to speak and podcasts to pitch. 
• More books to read and write reviews. 
• More articles to write for magazines.
• More conferences to attend.
• More new connections to make and explore.
• More follow-up calls and emails to send.
• More social media posts. 

You get the idea: everyone feels like there is more to be done.

I encourage you to realize everyone (including me) feels like this from time to time. Each of us have the same amount of time in a day and limitations on what we can do. Every day we are making choices how we spend our time. Here’s some ideas for actions each of us can take.

Take a hard look at what you are doing. 

Can you ask someone for help or hire someone to help you? Can you say “no thank you” to an opportunity? Recently a long-term writing friend asked me to endorse or blurb her forthcoming book. She offered to write it for me and gave a short deadline for when she needed it. Also she followed up reminding me of her deadline. I didn’t want someone else to write my endorsement and I passed on the opportunity. I recognize the choice and each of us make them every day.

Write shorter emails.

I want to be a good communicator and answer my emails from authors and others. My actions in this area are a simple way to stand out from other editors who ghost writers and do not respond. I can’t answer all of my emails so some of them do not get response. Also I can write shorter emails and responses. These actions can help me to answer more emails.

Repurpose Your Writing. 

Each month I have a series of deadlines for guest blog posts and articles. I understand the value of these articles because others read them and follow my links and advice. One option to complete these deadlines is to repurpose or use writing that I’ve done in other places. For example, I’ve written several how-to-write books. I can take a portion of this writing and repurpose it into a guest blog post with only a little revision. If you have written a nonfiction book or a devotional or a Christian living book which contains your stories, you can take these stories and submit them to magazines. When you get them published, they will likely reach more readers than your books and could lead readers to know (and hopefully buy) your books. You can be wise about how you repurpose and use your writing but you have to be thinking about these aspects.

Take a break during the day.

It’s easy for me to sit long hours at my keyboard and work on different aspects of my writing life. Also throughout my day, I need to take care of myself as a writer in this process. Maybe I need to drink more water or walk around the block and get outside. When I take these breaks, I am taking care of physical self but also often return to my keyboard with an increased enthusiasm for my work.

Revise your writing goals.

This week a writer asked me how long it would take to write her book. It's a common question that I hear and answer in an unexpected way. I do not give a word count or page count for the author because each of us are different. I may write a complete book in a few weeks where another author will take all year to write that same amount of material. Each of us have to carve out the writing time, select a word count goal that works for us then do it over and over. If you aren’t meeting your writing goals, then you need to revise them. It's that straightforward.

To wrap up this article about feeling behind, I want to recall the fable of the race between the rabbit and the turtle. Who won that race? The rabbit raced ahead and took a nap but the turtle keep moving forward, passed the sleeping rabbit and won the race.

I encourage you to take the long view of your writing. It is not a sprint but a marathon. Keep chipping away and moving ahead with the work and eventually you will succeed. The only way to stop the progress is to quit.

What actions do you take when you feel like you are falling behind? Let me know in the comments. I look forward to reading them.

Tweetable:

As a writer, do you feel like you are behind? This prolific writer and editor also feels behind. In this article, he gives a series of insights: https://bit.ly/477aerc #writinglife #pubtip  (ClickToTweet)

From my years in publishing, I find many authors have unrealistic expectations about publishing. It doesn’t matter what type of book they are writing—fiction, nonfiction, a children’s book or a coffee table book. Each type of book contains its own challenges and complexity. No matter how you publish, 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. 

 $200 of bonuses. 

Subscribe to Terry’s Newsletter:

During the last year, once a week I’ve been sending a short free newsletter. Just follow this link to subscribe. When you are added to the newsletter, you will receive a FREE 87-page Ebook which is packed with insights for every writer.

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

Choose a Path and Persist

  

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

As writers, we have a lot of uncertainty when we choose our path to publication. As you make these choices, there are many different options and paths to succeed with your book. 

The three basic paths to publication are traditional, self-publishing, and hybrid/ independent publishing. If you are exploring these options I encourage you to get a free copy of The Babylon Blueprint for Authors by David Hancock. The book includes 40 pages of detailed comparison of these three paths. If you have chosen your path, here’s another reason to get this book. It includes detailed low cost or no cost strategies to market and sell your book. 

David is the founder of Morgan James Publishing, one of the top independent publishers and where I’ve worked for the last 13 years. In 21 years, we’ve published over 6,000 titles, sold over 20 million books and many bestsellers (which you can’t do unless you are selling in the brick and mortar bookstores--which we are). 

Beyond the publishing paths, after your book is in the marketplace you need to choose which path you will take to gain readers and tell others about your book. Every author has this responsibility--whether they take it or not. Their choices in this area will affect their sales and level of success. 

In December 2004, I started blogging about The Writing Life. Here’s the link to my first article about changing. Blogging was new and a number of people reached out to me and cautioned me not to be blogging. They said things like, “You are a busy acquisitions editor at a publisher. You don’t have time to blog.” I ignored these cautions and persisted to write these articles each week. My friends were right because creating these articles takes time and energy from other choices but I continued on the blogging path.  I chose to blog once a week. Others gather a team of people and blog every day. Other blog once a month. The frequency is an important choice but equally important is consistent execution. 

Through the years, I’ve blogged over 1,800 times. My blogs are different from those early posts. I added royalty-free images to each blog. I also included links to other resources and a call to action at the end of each article encouraging comments. I added the ability for readers to subscribe to my blog and get them on their email (follow this link if you aren’t a subscriber). Also for each one, I’ve added a ClickToTweet so the reader can easily tell others about my articlers. 

Several factors go into this process. First, I’ve continued to learn more about blogging. I’ve got a free teleseminar where you can learn more about blogging with a free ebook. Also I created a low-cost resource where you can learn how to make your blog into an income stream called Blogging for Bucks. Notice the 30 day love it or return it guarantee. 

When you choose a path, you need to be consistent and keep on that path to find your audience and persist. Too many people jump from path to path then they wonder why they never got anywhere.

I have signed up for a free tool which searches for my name online in articles and other places. This article explains there are over 600 million blogs and pinpointed the top 27 content producers. My blog on The Writing Life was one of those 27. It’s not that I’m doing anything other than staying on the path (consistency) and writing articles for my readers. 

Questions for You

It’s wise to evaluate your path and know which one you are choosing. Then see if you are being consistent. Are you continuing to learn and improve your actions? Is there a course or tool you need to add to the process? I encourage you to keep going. Your persistence may not be evident at first but will pay off in the long run.

While the bulk of this article is focused on my blogging, these questions are the same for a variety of aspects of the publishing world like social media. You can’t be everywhere. Are you selecting a path and then being consistent? Or pitching podcasts then telling others? Are you writing book reviews and joining launch teams, then telling other people about your review on social media? Are you exploring and adding other possibilities to your actions and reach on a consistent basis? The possible choices are endless. It’s why my friend John Kremer wrote 1001 Ways to Market Your Books. For every choice, without your persistent and consistent action, something terrible happens: nothing.

What am I missing or other suggestions do you have? Let me know in the comments below.

Tweetable:

Authors have many possible paths. This prolific author and editor writes about blogging and other choices in your journey.  Get the details here. #writinglife #pubtip  (ClickToTweet)

Throughout my many years in publishing, I’ve co-authored over a dozen books and reviewed thousands of submissions (no exaggeration). As a part of the process of working with these authors, I speak with them about their dreams and plans. Many of these authors have  unrealistic expectations about what will happen with their published book. Many aspects of the details of publishing 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. 

Subscribe to Terry’s Newsletter:

During the last year, once a week I’ve been sending a short free newsletter. Just follow this link to subscribe. When you are added to the newsletter, you will receive a FREE 87-page Ebook which is packed with insights for every writer.

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

A World of Possibilites

     

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

Take a moment and think about your life as a writer. As you look around your world, what do you see in your mind? Is the world full of opportunities or is it limited and scarce?

In this article, I want to help you have a wide mindset about your writing life and the possibilities for you. These possibilities only exist if you have the right mindset and take continued and steady action. 

Whether you are brand new to the writing world or a bestselling author with many books (like me), no one is beating on your door asking you to go here or there or to do this or that. Every one of us have to craft our emails, phone calls, text, book proposals and query letters. We have to pitch the right person for the opportunity to happen.

As I’ve often written  in these articles, who you know is as important as what you know. Only you can write and tell your story.

Maybe you want to publish a book. How can you get a connection to the right person who can help you? Maybe you exchange business cards with them at a writers conference.

Today a writer that I met at a large conference last May reached out to me with  simple email. She reminded me of our meeting (wise) and then asked the best way to get started (another wise action). I responded with those answers.

Another author that I’ve known for years reached out to me about a friend with a possible book project. She asked the best way to get started. I encouraged her to send a brief introductory email to me and to her friend. This method is another way to open the door of opportunity.

LinkedIN has millions of people and business relationships. Reach out to someone you want to know on linkedIN and send them a connection invitation. Or look at their contact information and see if you find an email address. The craft an email with your pitch or whatever you need. 

Email is often the best communication tool and method to begin the process. In general, everyone reads their email. Sometimes email has it’s own challenges. I receive a lot of email and sometimes when I do not receive a response in a few days, I will send a second email. Or sometimes through the joy of technology, my personal email terry@terrywhalin.com doesn’t always reach me. It’s weird but it happens. 

If you met someone at a conference and got their business card, then reach out to them. It doesn’t matter that you met them months (or even years) ago. In the opening paragraph remind them of where you met and then briefly ask for what you need from them. 

There is a wise verse in the book of James.”You have not because you ask not.” (James 4:2) Learn to ask in a way which gets a response. 

This week I was talking with another author. He mentioned sending his manuscript out to key leaders and asking for their endorsement. I admired his initiative in asking for these endorsements. Yet I also understand mny of these busy professionals will not have the time to read the manuscript. The easiest response for them is “no” or silence (no response).

When you make the endorsement request, craft your request in a different way so you get a positive response. Offer to write a draft endorsement or even write a couple of  them (from the endorsers perspective) then send  those sentenes with your request. It’s strange to write a couple of glowing sentences about yourself. For the recipient, it is easier for them to revise your sentence and say yes than to write their own endorsement. Your creative request will be different and potentially pay off with a yes response instead of a no.

You can use these examples in other areas like to speak at an event or to be a guest on a podcast or to write for an online publication or a magazine.

Before you pitch, take a few minutes to look at their website, listen to some of their podcasts, read their guidelines for the publication. This groudwork will help you craft your pitch into something they need or will respond positively, 

We live in one of the greatest times in human history. In your pocket through your phone, you have the ability to reach people around the world. The possibilities are endless for you and your writing—but only if you take action and keep pitching.

It’s what I’m doing every day.  I knock on new doors. I pitch podcast hosts. I propose new writing opportunities. The opportunities are there but only if you seize them.

Several Statements of Truth

The work is never finished. There is always more writing and places of opportunity.

Continue to make new connections.

Continue to explore new publications and places to publish (online and in print). 

Continue to learn and explore (and fail) with your reach.

Your persistence and consistency and commitment to not quit will be the difference maker. 

I can not do anything about the choices of others. I can try and help but each person controls their own life. There is only one person where I have any control: me.

What am I missing here? Or what opportunities are you seizing or missing? Let me know in the comments below.

Tweetable:

When you look at the writing world, do you see limitations or possibilities? This prolific author and editor sees unlimited opportunity. Get the details here.  (ClickToTweet)

A great deal of the publishing process is outside of our control as writers. When I speak with authors, I find many of these authors have unrealistic expectations. 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. 

Subscribe to Terry’s Newsletter:

During the last year, once a week I’ve been sending a short free newsletter. Just follow this link to subscribe. When you are added to the newsletter, you will receive a FREE 87-page Ebook which is packed with insights for every writer.

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

Expand Your Writing Target

 

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

With our writing pitches, we are aiming at some publication or some publisher or some literary agent. I'm encouraging you to shift your writing in a new direction and expand your opportunity in a new direction. If you do, then you will expand your publishing efforts and potentially hit a different target.

As an editor, I often speak with authors focused on publishing a book. I'm actively looking for the right authors and the right books for Morgan James Publishing. If you are going to publish a book, I encourage you to send it to me (my work contact information is on the second page of this link). 

I love books and understand their reach yet I also know about their limitations. For example, within the book business if your book sells 5,000 copies during the lifetime of the book, then that is a good number. In the world of magazine writing, it is fairly easy to reach 100,000 or even 500,000 readers with your writing. These two aspects are not a choice of doing one or the other. In this article I want to show you how you can do both and expand your reach and help yourself gain more literary agent and editor attention.

Recently I received a well-crafted devotional book for possible publication. When I spoke to the author, she had never considered submitting a devotion to the Upper Room magazine. This quarterly publication has a circulation of six million. Talk about multiplying your writing efforts. The first step is to read their guidelines and examples of what they need. The Upper Room even has an online submission form for their devotions. Several years ago I wrote four possible devotions and submitted them. Three of my submissions were rejected but one was accepted and published. Before it was published, The Upper Room emailed asking if I would like to publish a blog article on the same day as my devotion. Through studying their blog, I learned occasionally a blog entry would include one website link. I submitted my article and included a link to my book. I seized another opportunity. You can do this as well.

Do your book contain personal stories from your life? Could you take one of these 1,200 to 1,500 word stories and reshape it slightly into a magazine article? Almost every magazine will publish personal experience stories. Learn to write a magazine article. Read their guidelines, then give the editor what they are requesting. At the bottom of your article, you can include a single line (or two) like "Terry Whalin is the author of 10 Publishing Myths and lives in Southern California" with a link to your book. You have expanded your reach with this effort.

If you write fiction, you can also write magazine articles or short stories. Use a current market guide because the details change each year. Read the guidelines and read some articles online, then submit your stories to the publication. It only happens if you submit your articles or stories.

Book editors and literary agents are looking for authors who understand about publishing because these people already know what it takes to get published. You can increase the interest from editors and agents if you publish in magazines. It's one of the reasons I continue to write for different publications. I've shown you the details how you can follow the same path.

Several years ago I recorded a teleseminar about how to get more mileage from your writing. I give a free 27-page ebook with more ideas and details. Follow the link to get this recording and free ebook.

Finally, I want to give you a valuable resource from the founder of Morgan James Publishing, David Hancock. One of his latest books is The Babylon Blueprint for Authors which will help you get promotion ideas. When I speak with authors, many of them decide to self-publish or are looking for a traditional publisher. This book includes about 40 pages which compares self-publishing, traditional publishing and independent publshing (like Morgan James). Follow this link to get your free copy of this resource.

What steps are you taking to expand your writing target? Let me know in the comments.

Tweetable:

Many writers are focused on books. According to this prolific author and editor with a slight shift they can reach more readers. Get the details: https://bit.ly/46LnFgt #writingtip #pubtip  (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:

Allison Lane and I discussed how to avoid the publishing mistake that kills your book sales at: https://bit.ly/3KEoVcl

During my years in publishing, I’ve reviewed thousands of submissions and spoken with many authors about their plans and dreams for their book. I’ve found many of these authors have  unrealistic expectations about what will happen with their published book. From my experience, many aspects of the details of publishing 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. 

Subscribe to Terry’s Newsletter:

During the last year, once a week I’ve been sending a short free newsletter. Just follow this link to subscribe. When you are added to the newsletter, you will receive a FREE 87-page Ebook which is packed with insights for every writer.

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