Powerful drivers to help jump-start your book

I came of age during the Watergate years, when scores of young people (including me) enrolled in journalism schools, aspiring to become the next Bob Woodward or Carl Bernstein. Yet it was the meaning behind the story that motivated me: writing and publishing had the power to change the world…or at least alter the course of events.

This passion to effect change has kept me fully engaged and it’s the reason why I’ve worked in the printing and publishing space for the whole of my career.

The first question I ask my clients is why they want to write a book, so I can better understand their goals and objectives. Most of them talk about their business goals, but there are other, somewhat intangible rewards that may be running the show, just below the surface.

Understanding Your Motivations

The following is a list of some of the business reasons why people say they want to self-publish:

•To share special expertise

•To teach skills to others 

•To add to professional visibility

•To create a new career avenue 

•To earn extra income

•To archive a body of work, such as photographs, short stories, poems, or other collections

•To circumvent traditional publishing channels, which can be slow and cumbersome

•Because the book’s topic is narrow and specialized

•Because the book’s topic is timely and must be released quickly

Yet, it’s this second list of intangibles that are the most powerful drivers—and most likely running the show: 

•To inspire readers to take action, change, or grow

•For self expression and creativity

•For personal growth or a professional challenge

•As a legacy for family members and others

Your passion and desire to effect change in your readers, to inspire them to take action, or to share something awesome with others—these are turbo-fuel for writers who want to engage in a public dialogue through self-publishing that benefit all of us. 

Passion and persistence are the first two proven ingredients for the potential author. You’ve got to have passion for your subject, and passion for the work to go the distance. Genuine passion and enthusiasm will generate energy and inform your work, while perseverance will help you keep going. 

Passion and persistence will fuel your ability to work smarter and to think creatively in overcoming the various challenges you will face. There will be tasks to complete that may not be much fun, yet they will be crucial to your success. Think about whether you’ve got the fire in the belly to surmount these tests before you commit to your book. 

Independence and self-reliance are also essential characteristics for success. You need to make lots of small decisions and carry them out over the long haul to publish and sell your book. Knowing you’ve minimized surprises by diligently working through your Book Plan will give you confidence through these challenges.   

If your passion is writing, speaking, or teaching because you want to make a contribution and impact the lives of others, self-publishing can be a richly rewarding endeavor – not only for your readers, but also for you, the author. These are the rewards that no one tells you about, but that can significantly change your life. 

The most important journey is the one you take on with your eyes wide open to the rewards and the risks. The challenges you face and overcome as an author will stretch you and help you grow as a person. You discover how the publishing process can bring you into a deeply satisfying dialogue with a growing community of readers. Presenting your work brings new ideas, new collaborators, and expands your world. Releasing your book to the public is just the beginning of your new identity as author.

When you launch your book, you may be surprised at your strange new persona. Friends and colleagues treat you a little differently. You hold your head up a little higher. With a passion for your book and its topic, you can do anything to make it succeed—and you won’t let anyone or anything stop you. Your voice and your message are your own unique contributions to share with the world, and I encourage you to embody your new role as author with complete confidence. There’s no need to wait for others to support your book or to give you their blessings. 

Your shift in identity can move you to a whole new level. Plus, you will have a new, added peer group – other authors. And once your book is made public, you’ll gain even more confidence and inspiration from readers whose lives are changed by your book. You’ll be able to share your ideas with a larger audience, which will invite new dialogue and connections.

I often joke with my clients and tell them that writing a book and being called “author” is like winning an Academy Award: Forever after, your CV will declare that you are a published author—and no one can take that away!

Launching your book is just the beginning of your new identity. The publishing process will bring you into a satisfying dialogue with readers who want what you have to offer, and presenting your work will enlarge your world and can be a stepping-stone to new opportunities in your career. 

I wish for you the same satisfaction and pride derived from the self-publishing experience that I’ve had. I’ll be cheering you on, and want you to know I’m on your side when I say: Plan to work and work your Plan—and the best of success on your new path!