The Writer’s Weekly Wrap-Up (Issue #22)

This post is part of a weekly series on YWP, aptly titled “The Writer’s Weekly Wrap-Up”.

Each Sunday, I will endeavour to provide you with a curated list of the best articles I have seen throughout the week that relate to building your platform.

The featured articles cover topics on book marketing and promotion, blogging, social media and self-publishing. (I may even throw in a few inspirational and fun posts, just so that it’s not all work and no play!)

Find Your Motivation, Then Develop a Habit

I often like to use a ‘learning to drive’ analogy when giving authors hope that things will get easier as they embark on their book marketing and platform building journey.

You may have to reach back a bit (as I do), but I think most of you can recall your experience, excitement–and trepidation–when first learning to master the skills necessary to safely handle a 3500 lbs automobile.

At first, the number of things to know and apply is utterly overwhelming, and you wonder how you’ll ever manage to make a left turn in rush hour traffic, or successfully merge onto a freeway before your lane runs out.

Locate the controls.

Adjust your mirrors.

Shoulder check.

Hands at ten and two.

Adjust speed to road conditions.

Try not to kill yourself or the person who recklessly agreed to help you learn to drive…

Of course, you were a highly motivated teen–your freedom hanging in the balance. Failure was not an option (unless your best buddy already had wheels).

But in time, what was once difficult has now become second nature. In fact, operating a vehicle has become such a habit, you need to be reminded not to add more ‘distractions’ to the mix: don’t use a phone, eat a hamburger or apply your make-up while making a left turn during rush hour, or merging onto a freeway… 😉

If you’ve just started working on your platform, hang in there.

Your motivation should be to get your book into the hands of your readers. And if you work at it now, building your platform will soon become second nature.

You’ll wonder how you ever got from point A to point B without it!

“If we let ourselves, we shall always be waiting for some distraction or other to end before we can really get down to our work. The only people who achieve much are those who want knowledge so badly that they seek it while the conditions are still unfavorable. Favorable conditions never come.”
? C.S. Lewis

Now on to the best of the best for this week.

Featured Articles

20 Tips From The World’s Top Writers on Remaining True and Catering to Your Audience from Joe Warnimont at Write with Warnimont

Joe asks the ‘experts’ how, as creatives, we can satisfy both our own creative needs, while still fulfilling the needs or our readers.

The Indie Reviewers List from The Indie View

Looking for reviewers for your self-published book? This may make your life a whole lot easier!

4 Reasons You Should Consider Crowdsourced Design for Your Next Big Project from Michael Hyatt at MichaelHyatt.com

Need a book cover, logo or a design for a project you have on the go? Michael shares his experience and thoughts on crowdsourcing, and utilizing companies like 99 Designs.

Why Top Bloggers Don’t Share Your Post (Even When It’s About Them) from Carol Tice at Make a Living Writing

Carol gives us a little tough love on why our attempts to ‘catch the eye’ of a top blogger with a mention in our post, can fall flat.

13 Blog Post Blunders You Should Avoid (And What to Do Instead) from Kimberley Grabas at Your Writer Platform

To make sure you don’t run into the problems Carol is talking about in her post above, it might be a good idea to give this article a read (or a re-read).  😉

Driving Ongoing Book Sales With a Sample Chapter from Nathan Barry at NathanBarry.com

Should you offer customers a ‘trial version’ of your book? In this article, Nathan shows us how to setup a sample chapter giveaway and gives us tips on ways to promote it.

Four Things You Can Stop Worrying About (Because They Don’t Matter) from Linda Formichelli at Jeff Goins, Writer

Linda’s post is a great reminder that we sometimes waste energy focusing on things that are unnecessary and do nothing to advance our writing career.

 from Matt Mason at BitTorrent Blog

Have you ever considered marketing your book as a startup rather than a book? Tim Ferris did. Find out how he did it, as well as what is a critical part of 2.0 book promotion.

#019: How to Set Priorities in Your Business with Pat Flynn from Amy Porterfield at AmyPorterfield.com

Get some insider tips straight from the horse’s mouth – or in this case, straight from a highly successful podcaster, blogger and author, Pat Flynn.

To Market,  To Market – Part 1 from Rick Taubold at Write Well, Write To Sell

In this article, Rick gives a nice introduction to book marketing as well as some excellent advice.

Give It Away from Big Al at Indies Unlimited

Great walkthrough on how to set up a giveaway using Rafflecopter.

What Should You Do When Your Friends and Family Don’t Support You? from Derek Halpern at Social Triggers

Hopefully this is not the situation for many of you, but I’m sure we’ve all at least received a skeptically raised eyebrow or two when telling someone we’re a writer. Check out Derek’s video on how to handle lack of support from the people closest to you.

How To Write A Promo Ebook For Your Business or Blog from Belinda Pollard at Small Blue Dog Publishing

Some great tips and tricks to help you create your email opt-in freebie, and start increasing those subscribers!

5 common book cover design myths most indie authors believe from Derek Murphy at CreativIndie

Derek does a little design myth-busting, and states that his views go “against common indie publishing rhetoric”. He welcomes your opinion (or disagreement) on his advice.

Amazon – KDP Select Adds Kindle Countdown from Katherine at Book Promotion

Katherine gives a quick run down of yet another new program at Amazon.

50 Places to Go for An Inspiration Date to Ignite Your Creative Ideas from Laura West at The Future of Ink

Need a way to fill up your ‘creative well’ and gain a new perspective? Here’s a list of fifty. Go get inspired!

Just For Fun

While looking for a quote that fit for this week’s wrap-up, I came across this saying via an unknown author; I think the author makes a rather compelling argument… 😉

Hope you’ve enjoyed this week’s articles and have a clearer understanding of how to encourage your marketing ‘habit’.

If you’re still feeling overwhelmed, let me know what you are struggling with in the comments below.

[ois skin=”YWP Bottom of Post”]

Top original photo by alvimann