Bookpreneur Magazine

BUY NOW!

1 of the Biggest Mistakes Most People Make in Self-Publishing a Book

"Writing A Book For You Instead Of For Your Readers"

If you are planning to write a book, and you want others to buy and read it, then you must write the book with them in mind. It must be a book written intentionally to bring or add value to your readers’ life, not just yours. If not, then you are wasting your time if you are expecting people to buy it.

So often people write books unwittingly to themselves. Then they wonder why it is not selling. It is because you wrote it for you and not for the reader. Your book sales will always be limited every time you do this and/or your selling market will be very short-lived. You must always remember if you want other people to buy your book, then you must write with them in mind. Now, there are always exceptions, like romance novel and books written just for pleasure.

Here are some questions you need to ask yourself before writing a book:

1. Do I really have a story to tell?

2. If I do, is it for me or for the masses?

3. Why do I want to share it with others?

4. Is it the right time to release this type of book?

5. How will it affect the reader’s life?

6. What is my overall objective for this book?

Now, let’s look at each of these questions more in detail:

1. Do I really have a story to tell?

If you have a desire to write a book, then there is the assumption that you have something to say. Do you? If not, do not write a book. There is enough “fluff” and regurgitation of old information in print already. Please make sure you have something unique and inviting to share with your potential reading audience. If not, consider doing something else. Perhaps, right now, you might be called to journal your thoughts.

Listen! Tyler Perry, movie producer, play writer, and television executive producer, started his career just journaling and putting his thought down

on paper first. It was a therapeutic exercise for him, which brought personal and emotional healing in his life. Maybe this might be your journey to greatness. If so, flow with it.

In Valorie Burton’s book, “Listen to Your Life,” there is a chapter that is called “Flow.” She said flow must be thought of as a river -a river with its twists and turns, calm and serene points, rapids and waterfalls. She says if we flow with the river, we will enjoy the journey much smoother. Of course, adjustments along the way will be needed, but the key is learning how to prioritize to cope with these changes so that your life might come in accordance with your natural rhythm or your God-given purpose. We have to answer the call of our internal voice or spirit, as some might say, before we can release ourselves to the nation. Be patient, wait your turn. Good things will come to those who are aligned with their eternal destiny. “As you connect with God and yourself, you can clearly identify the current priorities in your life and begin living in a way that allows you to flow in the direction those priorities take you,” according to Burton.

2. If I do, is it for me or for the masses?

If you feel you have something to say, then the next stage is determining whether it is just for you and/or the masses. Sometimes people go through so much in life that one of their healing processes will be journaling as it was for Tyler Perry. Sometimes you might feel led to use your journal notes as a springboard to write a book, and this is okay. However, I do caution people in doing this. Why? Because, remember, your journal notes are private, and you write things that you might not want to be made public. Just take your time and be mindful of what you want to release.

When you share your “wounds” with the “world,” not everybody will be happy. What about your family members? There are some family members who feel what goes on in the family or in a house is supposed to stay within. You need to be very careful about sharing family secrets. If you do, are you strong enough to handle the possible backlash? It can truly be a mental battle. Some family members have ostracized and alienated the one who wrote about their “secret”

sins. This can really get nasty and ugly. Some family members have sued authors for slandering their reputation, so make sure you are ready for this. You have to consider all of this when writing about personal tragedies in your life and family.

In addition, if you choose to use your journal notes to write a book, keep in mind the content is exactly what it is – journal notes. Journal notes are not formal writing, which is required for writing a book. In our Writers’ Agency, we have encountered this problem with clients. They chose to write a book from their journal notes.

When you write in a personal journal, grammar, and other correct writing techniques are usually not forefront in your mind. Getting your thoughts and emotions out are the most important. This is the biggest problem when using journal notes to write a book. In our business, when working with clients that have chosen this route, usually heavy editing and/or ghostwriting are required. And depending on what type of book they are writing (devotional, autobiographical, etc.), it can consume quite a

bit of time to complete the project. So keep all of this in mind when using journal notes to write a book.

3. Why do I want to share it with others?

When you write a book, you need to know what you want others to gain from it. Is it a handbook? Is it a training manual? Is it a devotional book? Is it inspirational? Whatever type of book you are writing there should be a clear message of what you are trying to convey. If you are still struggling with this, then perhaps, you need to wait until things are much clearer. For example, let me share my vision for this book. I am writing this book in the hope that it will

help, especially first-time authors, do a better job in exploring, writing, and developing their book project to minimize confusion and problems in self-publishing it. As well, it is my goal to share tools, information, and resources to strengthen the process and to make it easy for people to make intelligent decisions regarding all aspects of self-publishing. This is how definitive you need to be in the message that you want readers to get out of your book also.

4. Is it the right time to release this type of book? Because you are writing for the masses, then you need to know if the sub-

ject you are writing about has current marketability. Is it in demand? There are only a few books (cooking, fashion, money, etc.) that this question is irrelevant. For the most part, this must be a consideration when writing a book. I have manuscripts in my drawers that are yet to be published. The reason they are there is that I am waiting on the appointed time and season. I must have peace and inner assurance as well as marketability of a book to release it. You should have the same when considering writing and publishing a book. A well-written book will add value to the reader’s life in some form or another.

Of course, there are some exceptions, as I pointed out earlier, but for the most part, there should be some added value to the reader’s life.

5. How will it affect the reader’s life?

This question is similar to question three, but it goes a little deeper. What this question addresses is what long-term action or outcome would you like to see readers implement in their lives? Your book should stimulate readers so that there will be a long-term adjustment in their lifestyle for the betterment. What you want from readers is for them to make decisions in the NOW, that will foster long-term empowerment and impact in the future. Of course agin, there are always some exceptions.

6. What do I expect when I release this book?

Most authors have no clue what to expect when they release a book. All they want to do is sell lots of books and become a famous author. We, at Jabez Books, celebrate you. We stand on the sideline and cheer for you. However, when you publish a book, this is when the real work begins. This is when you have to be your own “cheerleader” and PR Firm. This is why you need to ask yourself, what is your overall goal and objective for writing this book? What are the benefits? I know you want to sell lots of books, but you have to come to grip with the fact that in order to do this, you need to determine how much effort you are willing to exert to reach your desired outcome.

In addition, you need to know what benefits your book will add to your life. What doors might be open because of the book? What value will it bring to your life? Will it open doors for you to speak more? If so, do you have all the necessary branding promotional products and documents in place that will often be requested when asked to speak? As well, will it afford you the opportunity to network with certain organizations and/or clubs? You really need to think through all of this because sometimes this can really be a drain and demand on your time.

We know you want your book project to be a success, but are you willing to pay the price? Every dream is going to cost you something. Sometimes success can overtake you too quickly. Not every success is a good success. This is what happened in Susan Boyle’s life. I believe most people have heard about this woman, but just in case you didn’t. Let me share a little bit about her. Susan Boyle is a woman who auditioned for “Britain’s Most Talented” Show, and because of her incredible performance, she became an instant success overnight. She wanted to be famous, she said, and she acquired this status overnight. However, she did not know or understand the strain and stress this was going to put on her life. Success overwhelmed her so much that her mental and physical state could not sustain it. She had constant challenges in this area. So you see, you have to be ready to make the sacrifices or demands that might be put on your life to become a best-selling author? Please consider this! Wishing you the best with your book project.

Taken from "18 Biggest Mistakes Most Self-Publishers Make" by Dr. Shirley Clark

2011 © Copyrighted | Shirley Clark Int'l Ministries | All rights reserved

NEW BOOKS RELEASED

This book was developed as a result of a series of one-hour classes for our homeless and recovering veterans. The goal for each class was to impart information that would enhance and change the way our misused population looks at themselves and to help them help themselves so they, in turn, can help others. In addition, these classes were designed to help them see themselves as God sees them: fearfully and wonderfully made, with great potential. It is my prayer that it will do the same for you.

How can you be sure that God will keep His promises to you? Because “But God...You Promised” provides creative strategies to help you activate your faith, develop your vision, embrace your responsibility and increase your productivity. “But God...You Promised” is a “next level faith” invitation to: the young in age and faith who are looking for proof that God is real and keeps His promises; the skeptic nonbeliever who is not sure about the whole God thing; the weary believer who is wavering in faith; and the steadfast believer who is seeking expanded territory. THESE TWO BOOKS VAILABLE ON: These booklets are only available as a part of these authors' coaching packages: www.DrShirleyClark.org & www.SharmeePratt.com

Dr. Patricia Bailey Ambassador

New Book Release

By Dr. Shirley K. Clark

THE AND HER LadyLegacy

It was truly surreal! It was in the year 2002 that I was introduced to Ambassador Dr. Patricia Bailey. The first time I saw Dr. Bailey, she was being interviewed on the set of Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) in the Dallas area by Bishop T. D. Jakes. I could not believe how God answered my prayer that night. You see, earlier that year, God instructed me to launch a global prayer network, “Jabez Prayer Network,” and it grew immensely by God’s grace. It was a God set-up for sure. He quickly surrounded me with so many incredible leaders from various backgrounds, races, religions, ministries, etc., and many of them had a heart for nations. I loved what God was doing in my life by exposing me to things and people I had never seen or known before. But it did not take me long to recognize something was missing in the equation. You see, there were basically no African-Americans that I met had a heart for nations. Everyone I was being introduced to was from the white persuasion. After a while, this began to concern me.

Many of the nations and people these leaders serviced were people of color. Our Missions Coordinator for the network was the Late Robert Shone, and he was white, which happened to be the Public Relations Director for Christ For The Nations at that time, who also led missions teams to third world countries. If, by chance, you have never heard of Christ For The Nations, you might want to Google them. But CFTN was started by Gordon Lindsay, and it is a school that raises up and trains worshippers, Bible teachers, and missionaries to do global work in almost 40 nations. So, you can see, I was fully emerged into a world that I had no experience before.

In fact, I was beginning to feel out of place considering this dynamic that the people they were servicing was “my” people. So, I went to God in prayer. I remember asking God, “Is there no people of color that have a heart for nations?” The Word of God is so true. It says, if you ask, according to Matthew 7:7, you will receive. This is what God did for me the night I was introduced to Ambassador Dr. Patricia

Bailey. As I was sitting up in the seats to the left of the stage, I had no idea what God was up to. That was my first time visiting TBN -- as a guest in the audience, so I had no ex pectation other than en joying Bishop Jakes host ing TBN. When Dr. Bailey came out, and they began to talk, I came “alive.” I could not believe what I was hearing. I found my self finishing her sentenc es about the nations and world evangelism. It was at this moment that God said, “Daughter, I have an swered your prayer.”

Dr. Bailey was so powerful, and she knew her stuff. From that night forward, I knew God had ordained her to be in my life. We invited her to be a speaker at our International Prayer Clinic the following year, and we have been ministry partners since then. She truly has a heart for nations and has been called to not only transform them but to reconcile a people to the God who can truly bring light and life to an impoverished and indigenous people. We salute Dr. Bailey for all she has done and we count it an honor to publish your latest book, “The Filter Factory.”

About the Book

Is the Word of God dictating your decisions and your emotions? Have you been trapped in a pattern of asking the question, “Why am I not seeing the manifestation to my desired prayers? Why do I see myself trapped in the same cycles and patterns that keep me from advancing in my life?” Your perspective about everything in life will either be your power or your prison. The Filter Factory is the solution to your search. Whatever you filter your perspective through in life, will determine the power of your perspective. Here is how you can make better choices so that you can live a better life.

Available on: AMAZON.COM www.patriciabailey.org

About Dr. Bailey

Dr. Patricia Bailey is a lecturer, author, and founder of Master’s Touch Ministries Global, (MTM) Inc. Her ministry has produced a tremendous impact for more than 40 years in over 145 countries around the world, bringing deliverance, healing, and salvation to countless thousands. Her mission’s ministry was one of the first to provide disaster relief to the South Pacific Tsunami in 2004 and the earthquake in Haiti in 2010. Locally, she has assisted with the Flint, Michigan Water Project, Hurricane Sandy, and Katrina victims.

Her global ministry, MTM, has founded Y.U.G.O. (Young Adults United for Global Outreach), GLTC (Global Leadership Training Center), a program designed to teach global strategies that empower leaders to impact nations, and S.E.W (Sisters Empowering the World), an Intensive Training Center, consisting of 5-days of extensive training, designed to equip women to become vessels of honor for their families, ultimately transforming them into World Changers empowered to impact the nations.

Dr. Pat has served as a consultant to the United Nations (UN), Heads of States, Diplomats, and Governmental Dignitaries. She was also featured on the cover of Charisma Magazine as a premier Missions Consultant. Dr. Bailey attended Victory World Missions Training Center, New Life Bible College; and received Master’s degrees from Mt. Olive Seminary and Doctoral Degree from Cornerstone Christian University. She received the Esther Service Award, the Azusa Award for Global Leadership, and The Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award presented to her by President Barack Obama.

She is the proud mother of Karim and Mignonette Bailey, and the Yaya of three beautiful grandbabies: Tia, Kingston and Christian Bailey.

Kendra

C. Sikes is a 2x Best Selling Author, the founder and CEO of B&B Publishing Co. Garb University Online School, Groomed and Broomed Cleaning and Lawn Services, Garb Credit Consulting, Garb Tax Services, Garbed In Modesty Magazine and Founder of the non -profit organization, “The S.E.S Foundation. Although Kendra accomplished many things in life, the road to success was far from easy. Kendra had a hard childhood and witnessed many things from drug use, lack, alcoholism and abuse. Reared in the cycle of abuse, Kendra also was a victim of domestic violence for over 11 years. Her upbringing did not stop her, it added fuel to her passion to break the cycle. Her background includes New Media and Public Relations, Brand-Building, Sales and Business Coaching. Kendra is known

in the marketplace as “The Bookologist.” Kendra takes aspiring authors' ideas and helps them give birth to books in as little as 90 days. Within one year of launching, Kendra’s boutique publishing company published over 100 books for newfound authors with 12 going on to become best-selling authors in one year with her new found strategy .Kendra is more than just a publisher, Kendra, The Bookologist, also works with aspiring entrepreneurs by helping them discover their gifts and produce a healthy brand. Kendra’s love for fashion birth out two dominating brands: Garbed In Modesty Magazine, the world's first faith-based women's empowerment fashion Magazine and Garbed Teen Magazine. With a keen heart in marketplace ministry, Kendra is a person who influences and persuades individuals to aim for levels beyond their now and strive to dominate in their chosen industry. Mrs. Sikes is also a highly sought after transformational speaker whose voice is respected and trusted. Kendra has also been featured on CBN and Good Morning Texas.

JERSEY GIRL

and a sibling of five, the fourth born of two older sisters, an older brother, and a younger brother. I was raised by a single mother, a strong black woman. During my childhood, I was introduced to Christianity, and a relationship with Jesus Christ, as it was a priority for my mother. In fact, she introduced Christ to all of her five children. My mother, being the primary and sole breadwinner in the home, would work tirelessly to provide for us while my older sisters became caregivers in her place when she worked. I’d like to portray that I had a perfect childhood. I’m sure

I could paint a pretty picture. The truth is we had a lot of ups and downs in my household. There were days we were able to give to those who were in need, and also days when we were the needy. Times were not always rough, but when times were rough, they were rough; my mother always found a way to get by. She did the best she could for my siblings and I. My father and mother were married for ten years before he became incarcerated after conceiving me. While my mother wore many hats as a construction worker, blackjack dealer, a caregiver, and even an accountant providing for five children was no easy task. When things were good, they were great! As an adolescent, I had the privilege of enjoying summer day camps as well as overnight summer camp programs and trips to six flags great adventure. What is most memorable about my childhood isn’t the lack of money, the thrill of amusement parks, or the absence of a father, but the minister in my mother. In her eyes, our family was a ministry in itself. Her faith was so strong in God; it was literally the foundation of my upbringing. While we moved a lot, my mother always made sure we connected to a church family. At one point, we actually walked around a neighborhood door to door to sing, pray, and encourage people with gospel songs and scripture from the Holy Bible. I worked my first job at age 13 at a fish joint; wanted to be like my mother. I felt empowered and helpful, so I kept a job. My next job was working at McDonald’s in Philadelphia, PA. We relocated to Philadelphia, PA, as a family to care for my elderly grandparents, who were battling cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. I didn’t feel accepted or a sense of belonging in the new high school environment, so I was led to obtain my GED. While I had learned enough to know better, I searched for affection and belonging in boys.

I started trying to fit in, smoking weed, and drinking alcohol. For whatever reason, I found the masculinity in “street boys” for the lack of better words to be

attractive. It was not long after that I became a teenage mother. My biggest fear came true when my child’s father was arrested during my pregnancy and has been since. While I had a good role model in my mother, I grew apart from her as a teenager and thought my instinct and impulse was more trustworthy than her direction and advice. Two years after being blessed with my healthy baby boy, I tried to build a new relationship, which led to my second teen pregnancy. Although I was careful to open my heart to a man of a different lifestyle, meaning someone who didn’t find comfort in the street life, I was the single mother of two. I became a nursing assistant to provide for my children; inspired to care for the elderly after helping my mother care for my grandparents. While I enjoyed working in healthcare, it was hard being the sole provider in my household with a job that required me to work every other weekend. Childcare became a barrier, and before I knew it, I was moving back in with my mother. After a one-bedroom and two-bedrooms yearly apartment rental, I eventually moved to Hammonton, NJ. I became a licensed life and health producer, and worked for a health insurance company where I had great success and a better income. I knew for sure things were getting better for my children and I. I was starting to breathe again. I started to spend more time with God and pay more attention to my actions. I began to write as I got closer to God, and it was then that I had a spiritual awakening and realized I suffered from the disease of addiction. Through therapy, medical treatment, and spiritual guidance, I uncovered a lot of unprocessed pain and trauma. Learning that I was in a mode of survival coupled with defense mechanisms such as suppression, I focused on making God the center of my life and the supply of my love. We don’t have to live in defense mode to get by or drown our pain and fears with mood-altering substances. Living is supposed to be a growing process of producing and being fruitful. Today, I live a lifestyle of freedom from addiction. I have peace instead of emotional trauma; empowered as opposed to simply surviving.