The Solution to Overcoming Missed Writing Expectations: Examine Your Author Platform
Writing is a tough gig.
I self-published the sixth book in my non-fiction memoir series on the 31st of December 2018. The overall author experience has been nothing like I expected.
Sitting down and writing the books was not the hardest part of the process. Each author must build an “author platform” (website, email list, blog, social media presence, search engine presence… etc.). The purpose of an author platform is to build a reader base where your content is sought. Finding your audience and marketing your books without appearing to be a sleazy salesman is the most daunting part of establishing an “author platform.”
My books are passion projects. While I would love to make a ton of money, that is not why I write. I want to get my ideas and experiences out to help others.
Well, guess what, it takes money to put your ideas in front of people. It takes time and money to attract readers so you can help them. It takes time, money and marketing skill to entice a reader to purchase and read your book. The marketing need is never ending.
WHBS
My memoir series is based on a simple principle: Working hard and being smart (WHBS) is not enough. It’s just not enough in today’s world. Everyone needs help to:
· overcome past errors in judgement
· be a kind person in an unkind world
· have a rewarding career
· supercharge their finances
· adjust to unexpected changes
Each of my books addresses one of the basic ideas needed to live a fulfilling life. My goal remains to assist as many people as possible.
After writing six books, I expected my author platform to be further along than I am. At this point, I am not reaching enough readers; I’m not selling enough books. I went back to examine my writing to determine if my books matched my goals. Below is my assessment:
Overcome Past Mistakes
Book 1) “Never a $7 Whore: It Doesn’t Matter Where You Started”, on Amazon as ebook, audio and paperback, addresses how and what is needed to overcome errors in judgement.
Be A Kind Person in an Unkind World
Book 2) “Daytime Lives of the Ladies of the Night: My Journey from a Lady of the Night to the Lady of the Boardroom,” is a novella. It is live on Amazon as an ebook, paperback, and audio tells how those that live a painful and salacious night existence try to live a decent life in the daytime.
Deal with Challenges at Work
Book 3) “Bullets and Bosses Don’t Have Friends: Working Hard and Being Smart is Not Enough” is live on Amazon as an ebook, paperback and audio. The book details the actual team and peer management incidents that I dealt with in my career.
Book 4) The workbook for “Bullets and Bosses Don’t Have Friends, The Workbook” is available as an ebook and paperback. The exercises from the book are contained in the workbook.
Use Education As A Lever To Increase Your Finances
Book 5) From Zero to Hero: Supercharge Your Finances with A College Degree deals with my returning to school as an older, totally clueless undergrad. How I made it through and graduated is an entertaining tale. There are lessons learned everywhere in the book.
Recover from Unexpected Change
Book 6) What Happened to Baby? is live on Amazon. The book shows the speed and sacrifice that may be required when life changes for the worst. Unexpected change can be survived.
Determining that my books match my writing objectives reinforced my confidence in my life direction. There have been many revelations along the way to six published books. The place where I thought I would be by my sixth book versus where I am is unsettling. I am writing what I need to write to capture my ideas and present them to the world.
Now I need to figure out what I need to do to put my ideas in front of many more people. Life is full of surprises: some good, some not so good. I have come to expect the unexpected as a writer. Time to figure out how to enjoy the ride.
