Writing, like any worthy undertaking should be done with a goal in mind. This is especially true for self-published authors. It is a well-known fact that self-publishing is a lot more difficult than its traditional counterpart.
With self-publishing you will have to do a majority of the work and you will also have to pay for the process yourself. Which is why you should have a more goal oriented outlook on the publishing process. That way you can approach the writing process in the most effective and efficient way possible.
Here is a list of writing goals every self-publishing author should have:
- Brush up on your writing skills
You will have the time to write a book and make an impact on the literary world when you are ready. But if you are just starting out as a writer it is imperative that you improve your writing skills first.
If you go out and start on self-publishing your book you will have to understand that there will be a lot of challenges in your way. And there will be a lot of people who will scrutinize your work. So before you go out and publish a book of your very own, make sure that you are capable of writing quality work.
Which is why you should make self-improvement your first goal. Try to improve every aspect of your writing skills. From your grammar, vocabulary, etc. Everything should be as near to perfect as possible. That way once you do go out and self-publish a book you can be as confident in your skills as possible.
- Create a fan base
Aside from improving your writing skills one goal you should have before you start on the self-publishing process is creating a fan base. This is because the book marketing process is extremely volatile and unpredictable, and it can be quite challenging to make a name for yourself. So it is imperative that before you even release a book, you should already have a fan base for your work. That way, once you do release your work, there will already be a market for your book.
- Make a book writing strategy
So before you even get started on the writing process, it is important that you would at least know what to do. Here are some easy to do book writing strategies.
- Formulate a writing schedule that you can work with. One way of ensuring that the book writing schedule goes according to plan is to make a writing schedule that you can consistently follow. It does not really matter what time your writing session take place, just as long as you are comfortable with it, does not disrupt your day to day life and it can be maintained consistently.
- Choose a topic that you are passionate about and have extensive knowledge of. The book writing process takes a great deal of time and work, so it’s important that you care enough for your chosen topic to see it through to the very end.
- Double check your work. Although you can hire a book editing professional it is still important that you double check your manuscript during the book writing process. This will not only help you ensure your manuscript’s quality, but it will also help give you piece of mind during the writing process.
- Have a book marketing strategy
With all of the new publishing technologies available such as the print on demand services, you can have your book published at a minimal cost. The main challenge in truth is how to market your book to the public.
The book marketing process is highly unpredictable, so it pays that you have a strategy through it all. Here are some tips on how to make your book marketing strategy more efficient and effective.
- Make social media an integral part of your book marketing strategy. Ever since the internet has become a mainstream media form people have used social media in almost every aspect of their lives. Which is why it is important that you know how to utilize social media sites in your book marketing campaign. Use social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter to spread word of your book and make a reputation for yourself.
- Create an author platform. An author platform is anywhere that you can run your social media campaign. And in this internet crazy world, one great example of an author platform is a book blog. Through a book blog you can post examples of your work and create a rapport with fellow book bloggers and potential readers.
- Reach out to fellow authors and bloggers. It is always a good idea to ask for help from fellow authors and book bloggers because they are influencers and have a fan base of their very own. So if they can write a positive book review or an article about your book and post it on their own blog, it can be a really big boost to your reputation as a writer.
- Legacy
In many ways this goal encompasses every other goal. This is because everything you have ever done is done in pursuit of this one goal. And that is to make your mark on the literary world. It is not for money that you stayed up late countless nights, fighting writer’s block.
It is not for fandom that you went through stress filled days worrying about your book release. No it is nothing so fleeting as money or fame. You worked tirelessly through the years because you wanted to have a legacy.
You worked so hard because you wanted to show readers your skills and perspective. If you truly want to succeed as a writer, you should dispel fleeting notions of money and fame, because these things pass. It is your legacy as a writer that you should consider your greatest and ultimate goal.