Tag Archive for how to write a book fast

Murder Lessons Help Authors Sell More

a murder of crowsMy school-age daughters teach me a lot.

Probably stuff I should have learned when I was in school, but was too busy doodling or talking to my schoolmates.

Plurals was one lesson. A gaggle of geese. Herd of cows. These I knew.

But they taught me about others. A romp of otters. Business of ferrets. A murder of crows.

That last one stuck in my mind. A “murder” of crows. I wonder how that came to be named?

Today, I witnessed a murder!

I had just dropped my daughter off at school for her final exam. Before I got to the end of the first block, I noticed a bunch of black dots in the treetop. Must have a been a dozen or more. Crows.

All squawking their annoying crow squawk.

One bird rarely catches my attention. Unless it’s unusual, like a Blue Jay or a bright red Cardinal.

And that is the lesson the murder (of crows) reminded me of. The murder lesson that can help authors sell more books.

You see, when there is just ONE of something, like your one book, it is often hard to get enough attention to make a lot of sales. Amazon.com is a crowded place. Especially when you are standing there alone. Naked.

However, when there are a whole bunch of your books, let’s call it your “cache” (rhymes with cash) of books.

When you have a “cache of books” for sale, you are easier to find. You take up more space on Amazon.com, and you appear to be good at what you do. You write lots of stuff, presumable because people want it.

At the extreme, James Patterson is very easy to find. His “cache of books” takes up TONS of space. He attracts a lot of attention.

But you don’t need that many books to gain more attention. You could do it with 4, or 6, or 10 books to start. Create a series based on your expertise. Or if you write fiction, your main characters.

Books in a series are actually promoted better on Amazon.com. You get more “Amazon Love”. It can contribute to better ranking scores (so I’m told, but no one knows for sure EXACTLY how their secret ratings system works) But everyone IS familiar with the section Amazon offers, recommends, “People who liked this book also bought… (and here they will essentially promote people buying your other books). How nice! Free advertising from Amazon.com

An easy way to create a series if you are just getting started, is rather than write one big 280 page book on your topic, break it up into 4, 70 page books or even 8 35 page Kindle books, or at least 2 140 page books. People like to read shorter books anyway. Especialy if non-fiction. They want to read quick and get results fast. This alone could help you sell more books.

So your murder lesson for today is to gain more attention by put your books out in a group, a series of similarly titled or subtitled, related books to capture more attention from readers searching for you, or your topic. Better still, books in a series are Amazon’s favorite kind.

Try it and feel the love. Amazon love.

Robert Schwarztrauber

P.S. On a related note, I love the author, poet, Edgar Allan Poe. Especially “The Raven” Have a listen as Vincent Price reads it on Youtube.

The Formula for Writing Useful Books the Easy Way

How Useful Books are Written - Fast and Easy

How Useful Books are Written – The Fast and Easy Way

Formulas help us do things faster, easier, more reliably. Luckily, I’ve discovered a formula for fast, easy book creation.

If you’re a busy professional who needs a book published, or a graduate student, or just someone trying to leapfrog to the head of the pack quickly, you need to read this post.

I’ve always loved fast. Fast cars. Roller coasters. Airplane takeoffs. Fast lawn cutting so I can get to the FUN part of the day. I think we all have a need for speed.

Conversely, we never have enough time. No matter how fast we go, there’s always more to do. Often, things get put on hold. Too often it’s the important, but not critical, things that get put on hold.

We’re constantly pulling weeds instead of planting crops. Putting out fires instead of watering or clearing dead brush.

Book writing is one of those things that often gets put on hold. The most common excuse is, “I haven’t time.” This is closely followed by, “I wouldn’t know where to start.”

Today I’d like to offer you the opportunity to banish those excuses forever. This is important because as long as you cling to your excuses, you cannot make progress.

Writing your book is progress. It’s planting the seeds of an easier, more successful and rewarding future. It’s the little hinge that will open big doors. It’s the lever you stand on to move the world.

Enough metaphors. You get the idea. If you’re reading this, you know you need to finally write your book and you just want to know how. How to get it done quick and easy because the wolf is at the door again. Oops…slipped another metaphor in on you. My apologies.

OK. Here it is. The simple formula I’ve discovered that works for every field I can think of. If you’re an expert at something (and we all are) you can write your first or next book quickly using this formula.

I call it the 10Q EZ Book Writing Formula.

It works like this…

Write down the 10 most commonly asked questions people have about your field. Your FAQ’s (frequently asked questions). For example, if you train dogs, what are the top ten questions people are always asking about training dogs? I love dogs, well behaved dogs, so let me have a shot at this. Admittedly, I’m no expert but I used to have a dog so I’ll bet I can do this:

1. How do you keep your dog from always barking at strangers?
2. How do you stop your dog from peeing in the house?
3. How do you get your dog to not pull on the leash?
4. How do you get your dog to stay?
5. How do you get your dog to sit?
6. How do you get your dog to NOT beg for food at the table?
7. How do you get your dog to stay off the furniture?
8. How do you get your puppy to stop whining at night?
9. How do you keep your dog from tearing up the house when you leave?
10. How do you stop your dog from digging in the yard.

I timed myself. Remember, I’m no dog training expert. It took me exactly 2 minutes and 37 seconds to list all those, off the top of my head, and I’m a slowish typer to boot.

If you’re an expert, or even just good at what you do, you can create a quick list like that to help your prospects or clients.

Guess what? Answer those 10 questions thoroughly and you have the makings of a useful book that gets done fast and will have maximum appeal to the marketplace.

You can write out the answers in a Microsoft Word file. What if each day for the next ten days you answer just ONE question. In just ten days your useful book will be nearly complete. Please tell me you can find, commit to just one hour a night for the next ten days. Could you write on your lunch hour? Most Americans could skip eating lunch for a while and not die.

Oh, think of your book writing as a weight loss program. Lose 5 pounds in a week by writing on your lunch hour instead of eating!

But seriously, you can use this formula to create a great first book. You can plant the seeds of opportunity by just answering the top ten questions your clients have.

It works for Financial Advisors, Real Estate agents, Salespeople of everything under the sun, Accountants, Auto Mechanics, Dog Trainers, Photographers, Magicians, Carpet Cleaners and Lawyers too. Everybody can use it to succeed.

That’s what makes it a formula. It always works.

You can have a quick, 10 chapter, 100+ page, useful book done in no time at all, with little or no prior book writing skill required in just 10 days. And you can self-publish it and sell it at the giant online book seller Amazon.com for free.

What’s your excuse now?

Just do it. You can get more tips and tricks for fast and simple book creation in my book, Book Writing Magic.

Here’s two more bonus tips…

1. Write an even better book, more simply by sending me your list of Top Ten FAQ’s and I’ll interview you over the phone and record your answers. I’ll use the transcript of that interview to create the book FOR YOU! Goodbye time excuse forever! It’s the fun and easy way to get your book done while simultaneously positioning YOU as the expert. Experts get interviewed. Get more details on this by clicking here.

2. Quickly DOUBLE the length of your book, and the value by adding 10 SAQ’s.
What are SAQ’s you ask? Should Ask Questions. Often times, you know people are asking the wrong questions because they just don’t know any better. Because you are the expert, on the inside, you know there are things people should know and should ask but they don’t. These are the inside secrets that are so desirable and so helpful. Create a chapter for each of these SAQ’s and watch your book grow thicker quickly.

What are you waiting for?

Lets get started. Let’s plant some seeds today!

Before you close this window, write your 10Q’s now.

You’ll be amazed how good it feels to know you’ve started.

And guess what…

There’s another famous formula from physics that says, “An object in motion tends to stay in motion…”

You be that object. Get started. Get moving now.