Create a System for Consistency

  

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

One of the key habits every writer and communicator needs to develop is consistency. It’s a habit I learned years ago and continue to this day.

In the early days of social media, in my mind, I built a grid for my posts. I decided to begin with an inspirational quotation. Then I launch into several posts about my own writing. Each post includes a photo, a benefit and focus on the reader. After those few posts, I created another pattern to promote and teach from others. At the end of my day, I return to my writing and resources and end with one of my online articles. I use a scheduling tool called Hootsuite. There are others like Buffer. I spend about 30 focused minutes every day on this effort. You should create whatever will work for you. Make sure you create something you can do over and over without quiting.

You begin the system creation process with a focus on the end goal: to create something with a limit that is focused on your readers (audience). Also whatever you create has to be something you feel comfortable doing repeatedly and consistently. 

For example, my audience for The Writing Life and my newsletter (follow these links to subscribe and get on your email) is people interested in publishing and writing. I use these two words in the broadest sense to give me lots of flexibility and options. Write down several words which capture your audience (or do it in your mind).

There are dozens of social media platforms. I do not own these platforms and my involvement is as a guest or rented. I'm aware that I’m a guest and could unknowningly violate their terms and be banned or kicked off. I encourage you to choose carefully. Early in the process, I chose three social media platforms: X/Twitter, LinkedIN and Facebook. Notice some of what is missing here (also a choice). I do not have a presence on Pinterest or Instagram or YouTube or many other places. These choices are important and something you do in the beginning to narrow your focus. You want to start something that you can consistently continue.

When I set up my system, I decided to post 12 to 15 times every day. I use a grid or pattern for this process. For years, I’ve been creating and posting in this pattern. My personal system is not time consuming but something I do in about 30 minutes every day. 

I wrote these details for the simple reason to encourage you to create your system or habit to become consistent. You may post less times a day or a week but do it over and over. Your consistency will pay off for you.

In addition, I’ve gathered content and resources for others in my particular audience. These people interested in writing and publishing can learn a great deal just following me and reading the various posts.  In my own writing life, I have learned a tremendous amount of information reading these articles. 

After Creating Your System

When I have created a system, I consistently use it. The response varies. Sometimes others comment about the posts. Other times I hear nothing. The point is consistent effort and in the creation process, set up somthing you can accomplish over and over. 

Once your system is working, you can add elements to this process. For example, my additional elements include a weekly newsletter, a presence and consistent use of Goodreads, my use of PodMatch for guest podcasting, my consistent creation of new content for my blog and guest blogging in several places.

Beyond this system for my social media, for the last 14 years, I’ve got fulltime work as an acquisitions editor at Morgan James Publishing. Throughout my day, I’m regularly working with authors on the details of their books.

No one can do everything. Where will you get the greatest reach and be able to build an audience that you can continue? Are you creating a system for consistency? Let me know in the comments.

Tweetable:

As a writer, can you create a system for consistency? Read this article to discover how this prolific author and editor is consistent.  (ClickToTweet)

Every type of publishing has its own complexity, and many parts of the process are outside of anything that an author can control. In addition, from speaking with authors, I find many of them have unrealistic expectations about publishing. I wrote  10 PUBLISHING MYTHS to give authors practical help. Get my 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 1,800 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

Change Is Hard

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

Change is hard and no one (including me) likes to change. Yet change is how we grow, improve and become better every day. In this article for The Writing Life, I encourage you that each of us have resistance to change, then we have to make a decision and finally get a result.

The Resistance

As an author, for my writing life, I have created and used a variety of habits and systems. My goal is to be consistent and to reach new areas of the market and find readers. For example, every day I post 12 to 15 times on social media. I have been doing this pattern for years on three different “rented” platforms (that I do not control). The engagement or feedback from these actions is often minimal. Sometimes I wonder if anyone is reading them but I continue doing it. About the time I think about stopping someone responds and shows me that people do read these actions.

Since I started my blog in 2004, I have been writing these weekly articles. Because of my consistency, the blog has over 1800 entries and about 400 people receive my new articles on their email. In addition, each week I send a different piece of writing to my newsletter. Through the years, my newsletter has been sporadic and inconsistent. I changed this pattern over a year ago and send it each week. Use this link to subscribe and get a free 87-page Ebook and my newsletter with my gratitude.

Beyond my work as an author, I have my regular work as an acquisitions editor at Morgan James Publishing. For the last 13 years I’ve been working with authors, hearing about their new books then championing their book to my colleagues. Through this work, I’m hopefully getting a contract that they will possibly sign and return to get their book into the bookstores. This work has it’s own patterns and systems. As with any work, Morgan James has continued to make shifts and changes. With this ebb and flow, some days my work is more successful than others. The bulk of it is in a familiar pattern.

Without going into unnecessary detail, sometimes my acquisitions work has been more successful with authors than others. Several months ago I continued doing the work but went through weeks with no authors completing their contract with Morgan James. Our founder David Hancock reached out to me with some suggestions for some shifts in my actions. In a completely normal fashion, at first I resisted making these changes, but I understand making these changes is important and can lead to improvements in results.

The Decision

I made a number of shifts in this process and began to use different tools in in the procedure. These changes were not easy. The first time I did these procedures, I made some mistakes (nothing fatal). I was committed to making these changes and improvements. Despite being hard, I continued forward.  Many of the decisions in the publishing process are outside of my control. I’ve learned that I can control my actions and my decisions. In that effort, I continue to try and be the best person that I can be for myself and my authors. It’s not a straight forward decision but a journey and a process. 

 

The Result

While the results of my changes are not complete, I can tell you the improvements have made for increasing results. I’m certain there will be additional changes in the future but I’m committed to continuing to do my part (large or small) in this process. In a number of areas, I’m becoming better every day and continue to learn and grow.

What about your journey as a writer or communicator? What resistance do you have to change and how can you decide to become better every day? Let me know in the comments below and I look forward to your feedback.

Tweetable:

Change is Hard. The prolific author and editor explains his resistance, his decision and his result of making changes. Get the detailed actions here.  (ClickToTweet)

Let’s be honest. Publishing is a complex business and much of the process is outside of anything an author can control—no matter how they publish. I I wrote 10 PUBLISHING MYTHS to give authors realistic expectations  and 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 1,800 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

Critical Author Habits

    

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

While it was many years ago, I recall my first sip of coffee and the horrible taste.I wondered how or why people drank it. Many people around me were drinking coffee so I continued trying it and developed the habit of loving the taste of coffee. As a young writer, I leaned into the caffiene from my coffee drinking. In my early days of writing, I was drinking a full pot or two of coffee every day. Now many years later, I only drink a couple of cups of coffee but I still love the taste of it.

If you want to learn more about habit formation, I recommend reading or hearing Atomic Habits by James Clear. In 2019, I listened to the audiobook and wrote in my review, “Clear contends to make a new effective habit means developing a system. This audiobook is loaded with insights for every reader. I listened to this audiobook cover to cover and highly recommend ATOMIC HABITS.”

Often in these entries, I’ve written in detail about the various personal systems that I use in my critical author habits. I have over 1800 articles in The Writing Life and encourage you to search for a particular topic if I don’t include what you need in this article.

Today I want to pull out several of these habits with stories and my encouragement for you to incorporate them into your writing life. 

Consistent Writing

No one sits down and writes a novel or a nonfiction book manuscript. The manuscript is written with a consistent and persistent gameplan. The majority of writers use a word count as their benchmark. For example, they decide to write 500 words (which is about two pages) every day or four times a week or whatever pattern. They select a pattern then do that pattern over and over to get a draft of their manuscript. There are many different types of writing. In the first chapter of Jumpstart Your Publishing Dream, I have an extensive list (follow this link to see it). 

Also professional writers learn how to pitch their work to editors and literary agents. They learn how to write a query letter and a book proposal (no matter what type of book they are writing). Your book proposal is your business plan for your book and will include many important details which is not in your manuscript. The consistent use of these tools is an important habit to develop. If you want to know more about these tools, follow the links that I include. I’ve been using these tools for many years to be published in magazines and publishing houses.

Last month in an email, Mike Salisbury literary agent at Yates & Yates wrote about Beth Adams who I met years ago at a Seattle Writers Conference. Mike introduced Beth saying:

“Beth Adams is the Editorial Director for FaithWords and Worthy Books, imprints of the Hachette Book Group, where she’s worked on numerous bestselling and award-winning books. She also writes books as a side-hustle and has published over eighty books to date. Every day at 5 am, you can find her on the couch with her laptop and a strong cup of coffee, making up stories. An introverted book lover/cat lady at heart, she lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two daughters.”

Also Mike included Beth’s advice to writer saying: “Beth: Do it every day. You need to carve out consistent time in your schedule, even if it’s at 5 am, to work every single day. If you write only when you feel like it, you’ll never do it, and if you go more than a day or two without returning to your story, it becomes too hard to get back into it. You have to spend too much time getting back up to speed. But setting a regular rhythm allows you to stay in your work and also forces you to treat it like work, which it is.”

Expanded Connections

Your connections to the publishing world is an important one and should be a part of your habits. Who you know is as important as what you know. Are you continually expanding and using your connections? For example, are we connected on LinkedIN? If not, follow this link and send me a connection invitation.  Publishing professionals move around a great deal and LinkedIN is a great place to begin if you want to connect or reconnect with someone. Often when they move they will take their LinkedIN account with them and their LinkedIN contact information will have this email address. I say “often” because I’ve had several recent situations where I know someone has left their publishing role and not left a non-publishing email address in LinkedIN. 

Grow Readers 

Every author needs to be growing readers for their writing. One of the critical elements is in a consistent newsletter. Everyone begins with a small list but the key habit is to consistently use and grow these connections. I’ve had a newsletter for many years and my downfall has been the lack of consistency. Over a year ago, I changed this pattern and have een sending my newsletter each week to subscribers. Here’s the link to subscribe and with my gratitude you will receive an 87-page ebook.

I spoke with one of my Morgan James Publishing authors who has done multiple books with us. This author knows about the importance of a newsletter but hasn’t started one. If you fall into this category, I encourage you to start a newsletter then send it consistently and grow your readership. I understand a newsletter takes continued time and effor. It is another critical author habit.

Continual Learning 

For decades I’ve been studying and reading about different aspects of publishing. I continue to learn and experiment with differeent areas. In these articles I’ve mentioned doing guest podcasting. In several articles, I’ve detailed my process. As new podcasts launch, I’ve included the links and the details. During the last year, I’ve recorded or booked over 60 podcasts using PodMatch which is connected to over 90,000 podcasts. I encourage you to continue to experiment and learn new skills. At least once a year, get to a writer’s conference and take a class to open a different type of writing for you. The world is full of opportunity but you have to take continued action for it to happen.

Consistency and Persistence

Reading these words is a good first step but what actions are you going to take for your writing life? How can you develop a system where you consistently move forward? Let me know in the comments.

Tweetable:

According to this prolific author and editor, there are a series of critical author habits. You can read the details in this article. (ClickToTweet)

Start Your Writing Year with a Bang

I’m speaking at the Publicity Club on Tuesday, January 6th from 5 pm to 6 pm Pacific. I’m teaching on Seven Simple Actions to Boost Your Publishing This Year. The first meeting is free and here’s the Facebook event link with the details. I will be telling some stories but also including an action-packed handout. I hope many of you will attend and get my free resource.

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. 

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 1,800 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 Cautionary Tale: Tech Error

 

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

Since 2004, each week I’ve been writing and posting these articles about The Writing Life.  I’ve had many different experiences and enjoy helping you with these stories and the various resources. Don’t worry. I’m not going to stop writing these pieces and giving back to the writing community through them. 

I had a tech error which interrupted the article I was going to show you today. Throughout my week I get ideas for these articles and will write a few sentences into a file then save it.

Yesterday I took one of those ideas and wrote the article for today. It contained links to other resources and a series of action steps for writers. In the completion process, I swept through it several final times and perfected every detail including ClickToTweet and even posting it into my social media plans.When I “published” it, one of the settings was wrong and instead of publishing it on the typical Sunday morning time, it instantly published it.

I did not want this article released. I checked the behind-the-scenes setting and could not determine how to put it back on schedule. Then I made a fatal error to this article: I deleted it and put it into the trash. It disappeared and when I searched the help menu, I learned it could not be recovered.

As I look back, I could have prevented this error by opening a new post, cutting and pasting my work into a new article, then saving it. But that possibility disappeared when I deleted the article. I was disappointed with my error. While I knew I created it in the first place and can write it again, I could not muster the energy to start it immediately. Instead I went on to other tasks for the rest of my day. 

Sometime in the future, I will write again that deleted article and post it in The Writing Life. Instead today, I’m posting this cautionary tale about a tech error. In my writing life, I’ve rarely lost a piece of writing because I have faced this situation in the past. Admittedly it has happened rarely but happened. It’s why I often draft my writing in a Microsoft Word file then save it and return to finish it off and finalize it. That carefully created process didn’t happen this time. Instead I pushed the delete button and it erased.

How do you protect your writing from such errors? What steps to you take with your creative work? When it happens does it throw off your work? Does it make you take a break? How do you return and keep moving forward? This situation has the possibility of quiting and ending the writing process. It’s not an alternative I’m willing to take. Instead I take a break from it, then return to it and continue. I’m committed to continuing to post these articles about the writing life.

A Broader Perspective

For this article, I have focused on my crafted then deleted article. I want to conclude this article with another step I took to focus on some of the other things that happened in my publishing life. Because of my work with Morgan James Publishing, I championed the work of authors and my publication board agreed with the merits of these authors and sent me three book contracts. I sent these contracts on to the authors. Also I established some new publishing relationships in the community.  These activities are only a few of what I accomplished last week including sending my weekly email newsletter and posting on social media 12-15 times a day. In addition, I learned a book that I championed and was published through Morgan James Publishing ten years ago in 2015. It was one of the top five books MJP sold this year.

The Paleo Cardiologist: The Natural Way to Heart Health was this book. I refuse to let one tech error downgrade the other positive things which happened during the week. 

Each of us are on this publishing journey. What steps are you taking to continue and move forward in your journey? Let me know in the comments below.

Tweetable:

Have you accidentally deleted a new piece of writing? This prolific author and editor gives the details and a cautionary tele of his tech error. (ClickToTweet)

During my decades in publishing, I’ve spoken with hundreds of writers about their dreams and plans. 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. 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 1,800 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

Make Small & Significant Adjustments

     

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

As writers, our days are full of activity. Can you make some small yet significant adjustments in your writing life and reach more people as a result?

Last spring through my email, I learned that my shopping cart which I had been using for over 20 years was going to close. When I called customer service, they affirmed that they were shutting down because their server was old and not preforming well. I paid this company monthly for a diverse set of tools including my newsletter, the autoresponders for my various lead magnets, and a few digital products that I sold. I didn’t have a technical person managing it for me because I didn’t want to pay those monthly fees. Instead, I had slowly learned to create a newsletter, add new products and new autoresponders. At times the learning curve was steep and I had to reach out to customer service for advise and help. Overall my shopping cart was working but I had a deadline when it would no longer function.

There are a number of companies which serve this function. I did some research and selected where I would change my newsletter. The changeover was overwhelming and something I could not fit into my schedule. I reached out and located a technical expert to move everything. The change was costly and took several weeks and almost everything was moved. There are a few things which still need some clean up. 

Through the years my newsletter has been sporadic and leading people to different places. It’s not the path that I would recommend. Over a year ago, I decided issue my newsletter each week. As my subscribers will tell you, I’ve faithfully sent this newsletter each week. My issue was moving those email addresses from my old list. I reached out to a newsletter specialist who has moved and merged several lists into a single newsletter. It has definitely been a process which is almost finished. If you aren’t subscribed to my newsletter, I encourage you to use this link, subscribe and you will receive an 87 page ebook filled with writing encouragement.

Besides my weekly newsletter, I have these articles for The Writing Life which I create each week. I have a smaller group of subscribers who receive these articles on their email. I use a tool called Feedblitz for this list. I used their standard and plain form:

For many years, my form has been the same with no changes or improvements. I wondered if I could make a small but significant change in the form. Then it would be identified to the reader that it was tied to The Writing Life. I reached out to ask for help. They responded with step-by-step instructions. I followed them and changed my subscription form to:

This change would not be helpful if I didn’t promote my new form. As the great circus P.T. Barnum has said, “Without promotion something terrible happens. Nothing.” In my weekly newsletter, I added a postscript with a simple sentence and a link to my new form. I will be doing some additional promotion of this form in the days ahead. It is a simple but true principle that you have to do the marketing otherwise it does not increase. There are dozens of ways and places to do this promotion but it takes continued action to make these increases.

I’m telling you these stories to ask you a few questions? What is it you want to improve? Is there a way to make some small but significant changes which will move you in the direction that you want or need to go? I encourage you to take a moment and think about the areas you want to improve. Maybe you need to sell a book project and create a book proposal. Or maybe you want to reach more people through magazine articles or personal experience stories. Or maybe you want to do more speaking or podcasting or any number of other aspects of the writing life. 

In straight forward language, write your goals. Then plan how are you going to get there? Who could help you and guide you? Will you email them asking for their help or call them or meet with them on person? As writers we have many choices for each aspect of our lives but need to find the different options then select one and take action on it. Maybe your change or shift will be small or maybe a big shift will transpire. The key is to understand it and move forward. 

I encourage you to get the help you need--even if you have to pay for the coaching or training. It is critical for you to keep improving, growing and learning to reach your goals and remain consistent toward them--in spite of any challenges, discouragement, rejection or roadblocks. Recognize the challenges, rejection and roadblocks will come but your persistence and consistency will eventually move you beyond the resistence. 

What small but significant adjustments do you need to make in your writing life? Let me know in the comments below.

Tweetable:

What happens to your writing life when you make small and significant adjustments? Read the stories and actions 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 one more podcast recording launched:

Bestselling novelist Steven James (@readstevenjames) and I talked about the importance of showing instead of telling, looking at the bigger picture, giving readers a reason to flip the page, and The 11th Myth on The Story Blender Podcast: https://bit.ly/3WtbsXJ

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 1,800 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 Change

 

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

When I opened and read the email, a surge of dread and fear swept over me. I know that’s a little dramatic but for over 20 years behind the scenes of my online presence, I had been using a shopping cart. This tool is where I kept my email list, my products that I sold, the autoresponders (automatic emails) which I used for each of my lead magnets to my newsletter.

Many years earlier I set up my online business with a determination to do it myself. There is no assistant or even a virtual assistant. My newsletter is my connection to readers and something I control and send each time. 

I picked up the phone to call the support line for the shopping cart. Yes, their servers were old and outdated. They were closing down on June 15th. Overwhelmed, I knew I could not make this change on my own. I reached out to a friend who is a tech expert. His schedule didn’t allow him to help me but he referred me to a former employee who could help me make this transition. While the change cost me financially, the various pieces of my old shopping cart were moved, then tested and validated that they were working. 

Let’s face the fact: no one likes to change. It’s easier to keep doing what you have been doing in the past than to make the transition. Change is hard and often takes unexpected hard work and can be costly--not just in terms of time but actual expenses.

As I made this change, this tech person advised me not to import all of my old newsletter emails into the new system. The response and open rate would be low with lots of spam. I understood because several years ago I had imported these emails into my new system with such a terrible response rate.  I was almost kicked off the new tool. Instead of importing the old email addresses, I sent a series of emails encouraging my subscribers to move to the new location. 

When I focused on my readers, I asked what I could give them to encourage them to continue on my newsletter list. In 2008, when I was beginning my blog, The Writing Life, I compiled six months of entries into an ebook. I had not promoted or used this ebook in 17 years. Thankfully I found it on my computer. As I read through it, I saw the value for the reader and the volume of material was 87 pages of writing content. 

In a short amount of time, I reworked the introduction, skimmed through the pages and switched out a few images, updated my bio and the links in the final pages, then sent it to my tech person. It was added to the lead magnet which asked my subscribers to change to my new tool. 

This page is more than a transition/ change device, it is a new tool which I can use now and in the days ahead. Just follow this link to be added to my newsletter list. 

If you face a change, you basically have two choices--give up or plot a course of change. I’ve had several writer friends who switched from my old shopping cart when I chose to continue. As writers, we have a series of such small but important choices. How can you lean into the change, get the help you need and make the transition? It is what I encourage you to do.

I meet many writers who want to find a traditional publishing deal or a literary agent. Their challenge is the standard and relationship numbers have continued to climb for agents and traditional publishers. After a lengthy time of trying, these writers grow discouraged and decide to self-publish. Instead I encourage you to look at independent publishing and in particular Morgan James Publishing. We have a 20+ year track record of successfully working with authors. The exploration process costs you nothing but some time and it could change your presence in the marketplace. Reach out to me if I can help you.

What changes are you facing? How are you handling it? Let me know in the comments below.

Tweetable:

How do you face the necessity of change? You can give up or determine a path to move ahead. This prolific author and editor details his behind-the-scene transition with some action steps for your writing life.  (ClickToTweet)

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:

Engel Jones (@EngelJones) and I had a brief conversation about writing, publishing myths and how to seize opportunity on the 12-Minute Conversation Podcast. Listen at: https://bit.ly/3FOB2S6

I’m currently working for my third publisher as an acquisitions editor. Without exaggeration, I’ve spoken with hundreds of authors about their books and plans. Over and over, I find many authors have an unrealistic expectation for what will happen when their book gets published. I know much of the publishing process is outside of anything that an author can control. I wrote 10 PUBLISHING MYTHS, which 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

The Importance and Cost of Consistency

    

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

In my writing life, I have a number of consistent actions that I take which play into my continued presence and impact on my world and readers. In this article, I want to detail some of those actions and the systems I’ve created to execute them. I’m writing about these elements with the hope you will emulate them for your own writing life--but also understand the cost and importance of consistency.

People love someone who is a regular and consistent communicator: newsletter, social media posts, article submissions to guest blogs, and writing on deadlines and processing manuscripts--doing what you say you will do. Yet many people are inconsistent and do not communicate on a regular basis. 

When you start something continue with it For example years ago I decided to post on my social media 12-15 times a day. I’m still carrying out that decision on a consistent basis. Many years ago I decided to use Hootsuite as a scheduling tool then I created a system for the various types of articles I would post. For example, I begin each day with an inspirational quotation along with an image of that person making the quotation. I post every hour throughout the day but have created a pattern of these posts. I gather information from other writers that I read and plug these articles into my pattern. The fact that I’ve made a pattern in my head, helps me to do it quickly and consistently. Also I only spend about 30 minutes a day on this task but it happens like clockwork whether I am in my office (as normal) or on the road and away from my office. This consistent effort to post on social media is important and also has a cost related to the consistent time I spend on it.

Last year I decided to be more consistent with my newsletter once a week and have carried forth on that decision over and over. I’m using the scheduling feature on my newsletter program and formatting each one and faithfully sending it out to my targeted readers. 

These examples are only a few areas where I’m practicing consistency. Other areas would be my work as an acquisitions editor at Morgan James Publishing. I process submissions, speak with authors to see if they are a fit for our program, answer emails with their questions, send them contracts then negotiate those contracts. Each detail in the process takes consistent effort and costs time and energy.

In these articles I’ve mentioned working at booking Podcasts and using PodMatch. On a consistent basis I’m pitching new podcasts, getting turned down by some of them but also booking others and then recording others. According to the internal documents on PodMatch, in my two months at this effort, I have reached over 2,750 downloads or new people. I can see from my results that it is beginning to work for me. It is not perfect or where I want to be in this area but I’m continuing to consistently work at this area.

Also I am consistently making new connections with people. Maybe you are using the suggested connections on LinkedIN to connect with others in the publishing world. What steps do you take to reach out to them? Some people have annoying automatic responder messages on LinkedIN which ask me to set up a phone conference and chat with them. I am not interested and I instantly block these people. Instead I suggest you figure out how can you help that person. Can you write something they are looking for? Can you read their new book and write a review, then tell them about your review? Instead of trying to get them on the phone, look for ways to help and serve this new connection. 

Each of these areas involve planning, time commitment, consistency and persistence. If you aren’t achieving what you want in the publishing area, I encourage you to take some new and consistent actions. The opportunities are there but you have to seize the day. If I can do it, you can do it. What steps are you taking to consistently work on your writing. Let me know in the comments below.

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Failure To Be Consistent

   

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

Each week for years, I’ve been writing these articles about the writing life and my work in publishing. With each article, my intention is to capture some important detail which I can use to encourage you in your own publishing journey.

In this piece, I want to admit a failure and a commitment to change and improve. Here’s a reality in the publishing world, you can align most of the pieces of a project--but if you neglect or forget one step, it can affect the results. I compare it to following a recipe to bake a cake and leaving out a key ingredient, then wondering why the cake tastes strange and does not work. The same principle is true in the book business.

For many years, I’ve gathered email addresses and have a newsletter list. It’s one of the critical elements for every writer to connect with readers. An email newsletter is something you control as an author and is not a “rented” space like a social media site such as X or Facebook or LinkedIN. Repeatedly I’ve learned that I have no control over these social media sites--especially when they change their rules and don’t tell you (which happens often). 

Every author needs to create an email newsletter and gather email addresses then they need to consistently use their newsletter or send valuble information to their readers. Over the years, I’ve worked hard to create various lead magnets or ways people will sign up for my newsletter. I’ve grown my list and my visibility in the marketplace (all important steps for every writer).

Here’s my confession in this piece and where I’ve failed to be consistent: with an inconsistent pattern, I’ve used my newsletter. Sometimes I go several months without sending anything to my readers. The experts say you can’t overuse your email list. I’m on a few lists which email daily. If it becomes too much then I unsubscribe. These same experts tell us if you use your newsletter too infrequently, your reader forget that they have subscribed to your list and don’t open it or simply delete it when it arrives. 

In the past, I’ve used my newsletter to promote a product where I’m an affiliate or I use it to promote a new product or book. These are good uses for a newsletter but I was missing the consistent and steady use to my readers.

Here’s another failure related to the details of my newsletter articles. I wrote each one on target and relevant to my readers but I included a variety of connections to other websites. This failure watered down the effectiveness of my communication and didn’t help the reader focus and go to a single location or single resource.

From my years in publishing, I understand failure is a key part of the journey. Also when you fail, you need to learn and then change or make adjustments to your process. As a writer, I’m committed to continuing to learn and grow--and I encourage you to take the same approach.

In recent months, I’ve been taking Rob Eagar’s online course Selling Books on a Shoestring Budget. This course is currently closed but will open again next year. One of the advantages of taking Rob’s course is the ability to email him a question and get his answer. It’s been great to have such a resource and insight. From this course, I’ve learned how to pitch and appear on more podcasts. It’s an ongoing process to pitch and appear on these events. Often these podcasts are recorded at one time then launched later. For example, I recently appeared on Hungry Authors Podcast and The Writing for Immortality Podcast. 

Also Rob’s course encouraged me to use my newsletter on a more consistent basis and to focus it with one link in each newsletter.  I’ve started sending these newsletters on Wednesday and I begin each subject with [A Publishing Insight]. As of this writing, I’ve sent newsletters for six straight weeks but I’ve scheduled content for about a dozen newsletters. I will be creating more newsletters in the days ahead. In this consistent action for my newsletter, I’m using one of the principles from The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy. If you make small changes on a consistent basis, they can compound to give you the success that you desire. 

Here’s another key principle of the publishing journey. It’s important to learn what others are doing and gain that knowledge. But that knowledge doesn’t add anything to your life and work if you don’t take action and apply it to your writing life. Keep taking action and some will fail but some will succeed. It’s a journey not a defined path. 

Change is not easy but I’m determined and a work in progress. Watch and see but also apply these principles of consistency to your own writing life and see if you find the success that you seek. There is not a straightforward road or path. If there were such a thing, then every book would be successful. Instead the process involves consistent experimentation, change and adjustment. I’m commited to this process and hopefully you are as well. 

Are there areas of your writing life where you have failed to be consistent? Let me know in the comments below and how you are making changes. I look forward to reading your comments.

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Everyone Starts Small So Get Started

When I talk with would-be book authors about starting an email newsletter or an ezine, I often hear, "No one will be interested in my newsletter and my list will be so small." Or "What in the world will I write about or use to fill the newsletter (or starting a blog)?" Here's the truth of the matter: everyone starts small. When you start any publication, you put yourself, your spouse and a few close friends to pad your newsletter list and get it going.

The key is to start and then consistently put out your newsletter. It doesn't have to be often but it does have to be consistent and continually grow. Many people talk about writing and even repeatedly go to writers conferences, but the ones who succeed are the ones who continue to grow in their craft--and they consistently write. They write for magazines and they write fiction and nonfiction but they keep working at their writing.

I'm suggesting you can do the same thing when it comes to growing a newsletter. Over four years ago, I started Right-Writing News I had less than 50 subscribers. Today I have thousands of subscribers and this list continues to grow. Yes, I've had a few people unsubscribe but that happens for many reasons and some of them have even unsubscribed then returned. It's a free newsletter and I've produced 32 issues. If you look at the newsletter, I don't write all of it but get articles from my friends and those articles promote their books and other work. You can do the same with your newsletter. It doesn't have to be as much work as it appears. You can download a free 150-page Ebook about this topic but the key is to get it started and grow your relationships with individuals. Newsletters, blogs or a book project or any type of consistent writing project takes work. Just keep the big picture in mind and take the plunge.

In yesterday's mail, I received the May 12th issue of Publishers Weekly and noticed two listings from their bestseller list which are connected to this matter of growing your newsletter list. In past entries about The Writing Life, I've mentioned Debbie Macomber and how she continues to grow her newsletter list and use it. Her new release, Twenty Wishes, is #3 on the hardcover bestsellers fiction list. Debbie is on a 20-city tour to promote the book and at a recent signing in Chicago fans lined up for more than two hours to meet her. Then the magazine says, "Many attendees learned about the signings through e-mails from Macomber. At every appearance, she invites readers to join her e-mail list--already over 90,000 names. Mira reports 480,000 copies in print (of Twenty Wishes)." Macomber has established a personal connection to her audience.

If you flip the page in your Publishers Weekly over to the paperback bestseller/ trade list, you will notice the second entry or Hungry Girl from Lisa Lillien which makes its first week of appearance on the bestseller list. Beside the entry, here's part of what is in the magazine, "Lillien began her Hungry Girl (hungry-girl.com) in 2004 with 100 subscribers; now, she has 440,000. When she announced the book to her readers a month before the April 29 pub date, preorders at online retailers racked up astronomical numbers--it hit #1 at BarnesandNoble.com and #2 at Amazon.com and stayed in the top 10 for the month of April. Griffin (the publisher) reports 400,000 copies after eight printings and expects that figure to increase." Lillien's newsletter is daily which is quite ambitious. You don't have to start there--but do get started.

The value of your list and that direct connection to the author will be evident in your book proposal and pitches to publishers. It will pay off.

As another resource, if you are near Los Angeles, I encourage you to attend Author 101 University, which I mentioned several days ago. In preparation for this conference, three of the speakers have recorded preview calls (Preview call #1 with Brendon Burchard), (Preview Call #2 Steve Gardner) and (Preview Call #3 with Hollywood Agent Ken Atchity). You can follow each of these three links and download these teleseminars to your computer or iPod and listen to them--and profit from the free information. The key--just like this newsletter issue--is to act. There are limited available seats at Author 101 University but it could be the boost you need for your writing life. I'd encourage you to act before the doors close to this unique event.

A Free Traffic Building Tool

On a regular basis, I am asked how to build traffic for my newsletter or my blog or my website. If you read the material online, you will quickly realize there is no single way to accomplish this increase. In addition, the methods are constantly evolving with new ideas being constantly introduced into the marketplace.

I've read that one method to raise your visibility is to make meaningful comments on different blogs. If you include your website link in the comment, it makes sense that some people will follow those links and go to that particular place. There are millions of blog online and while it may be fun, how do you accomplish this method without wasting a great deal of time and energy?

In the last few days, I've been using a tool which may provide a partial answer to this need without taking hours out of your writing life. The key from my perspective is to do it efficiently and effectively in a short amount of time. It may sound like a pipe dream but I'd encourage you to consider this free tool called CommentKahuna.

First, notice the price--zero cost. Watch the video and see what you think about it. You have to download the software, and register to get it unlocked (using the same email for both functions). I like the simplicity of this tool and how it uses word searches for relevant blogs, then gives you a quick tool to make a relevant comment. Also the tool has a follow-up system so if the comments are moderated (which is common), you can return to your comment and see if it was posted on a particular blog.

I want you to know that I'm still experimenting with this tool and I haven't fully mastered it but I'm getting there. From what I've used it, I like CommentKahuna. Give it a whirl and see what happens to your web traffic.