The Art of the Start for Writers & Authors

In one way I feel blessed. But that doesn't mean I am off the hook. Not by a long shot.

Let me clarify ...

I have rarely encountered the malady known as "writer's block." If anything, I am usually cursed with having too many potential ideas to write about.

So coming up with the right words to express what I want to communicate has rarely been a problem.

But ...

What I do suffer from is something you might call "starter's block."

In other words, I often have a resistance to starting the writing process. Like when I'm working on a book project, I'll find lots of other things I need to do before working on the chapter at hand.

I'll check email, update Twitter, log into Facebook, eat a snack, make a phone call, see if the snail mail has arrived, rearrange my sock drawer -- anything to deter me. Can you relate?

I usually know what topic I'm going to write about. That's not what stops me. The block comes because I put off starting to write.

When I finally commit and say, "Enough with the distractions! It's time to sit my butt down and type," an interesting thing happens.

At first, I grudgingly write an opening line for the section I need to work on. The sentences get pecked out slowly at first, as I rationally search for word choices that express the idea I want to get across.

These opening lines lead to other ideas that further flesh out the concept. Then some word or phrase triggers an association I hadn't thought of before, and it sends me off on an expected tangent that magically reinforces the message.

Then I'm off and running. That's when I get into an almost cosmic state of flow. The writing then ceases to be a mechanical task and transforms into a heightened state of consciousness as my fingertips race to keep up with the ideas I'm downloading.

This is the fun part of writing. It's at times like these, when I'm fully engaged in capturing the river of ideas, that I remember why I'm blessed to make a living doing this. I feel completely on purpose -- like it's what I'm meant to do.

And I believe you can and should feel the same way when you write!

But here's the key thing to understand about this process:

To reach that magical state of flow, you must START writing before you actually feel that way.

Too many writers wait to feel inspired before they'll even start putting words on paper (or on the screen). That's rarely worked for me.

Most of the time, it only comes when my butt hits the chair and my fingers hit the keyboard.

Learn to master the art of the start. It's the key to getting things done and being a prolific writer and author!

-Bob

Instant Book Promotion

A couple of weeks ago Pooki and I headed to New York City for a six-day adventure.

I presented two classes on book promotion at Publishing University, we attended the huge Book Expo trade show for two days, then spent the rest of the time catching up with music friends and exploring Manhattan.

As I've done on many of my previous trips, I recorded a lot of video and audio while there. But this time I did something different -- something I recommend YOU do too, if you don't already.
Instead of waiting till we returned home to edit and post video clips/photos (which often appear weeks after the events), I uploaded and published them right away, sometimes within hours of recording them.

In addition ...

I regularly updated friends and followers of my activities on Twitter and Facebook. It was fun and immediate -- nearly instant communication and promotion.

Treat your readers and fans to the same intimate view of your activities -- when you're at home working on a new book, traveling to do research, attending a conference, giving a live talk, meeting other authors and fans, or just doing something cool or unusual.

I love meeting people (both famous and obscure) and capturing the moment with still and moving pictures.

On this trip, I was thrilled to meet Rupert Jee (of the Hello Deli, pictured above), Tavis Smiley, Cornel West, David Meerman Scott, Paulette Ensign, David Mathison, Dan Poynter, Kathleen Gage, and even Dr. Ruth Westheimer!

In addition, I saw Tom Paxton, Judy Collins, Peter Yarrow, Mary Jo Buttafuoco, Bill Cosby, Jackie Mason, and a certain hotel heiress with a French sounding name :-) We even came close to seeing President Obama!

For a quick look at some of the photos I posted from this NYC trip, go to Flickr.com/photos/bob-baker/

And here's a chronological list of the short video clips I posted throughout the journey:

IBPA's Publishing University Opening Night
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-cGzXNarG0

Book Trailers, Low-Cost Video, Book Promotion
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0KcJwXX46E

30 Rock, New York City, Book Expo, BEA NYC
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXejo5uGNb8

Mary Jo Buttafuoco, David Meerman Scott, Dr Ruth
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JFNFZ_wijs

Tom Paxton, Judy Collins, Peter Yarrow & The Kiss
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TC2mh0BDArA

Espresso Book Machine & Dan Poynter at BEA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTJnUPvwl70

President Obama, Greenwich Village, Indian Food
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bg3DdjttTuQ

Bob Baker's New York City Tweetup Meet & Greet
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hEhEutjn-Y

Paris Hilton Outside the Late Show with David Letterman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Byv85CrzCdo

I learned to edit these videos quickly on my laptop and keep them short -- most are between 1 and 2 minutes each. Pooki recorded me using the video feature on an 8.0-megapixel Canon PowerShot A590 IS camera, which records as a high-quality AVI file direct to disk. I edited on a PC laptop using the free Windows Movie Maker program.

Also, my intention was to make these clips lighthearted, so you won't find any deep thoughts here. But a lot of people really appreciated being able to track us on our New York journey.

Online promotion is about interaction and involvement. And you can't get more involved than instant digital communication -- without actually being there!

-Bob


Get Bob's newest book:

An online promotion guide for authors and book publishers who want to market their books effectively on the Internet.

Learn more about it here ...

Video: The Shocking Truth About Self-Published Books

I just posted a new video clip called "Self-Published Books: The Ugly Truth." In less than 2 minutes I reveal a surprising truth about self-published books and the book "industry" in general.

Watch it below or on this YouTube page.



Sure, there are rare exceptions to this truth. But for the most part, once you realize this, it will set you free.

Recorded last month at Borders in Creve Coeur, MO, during a "How to Publish Your Own Book" workshop presented by the St. Louis Publishers Association.

Look for more video clips coming soon.

-Bob

Will I See You at Publishing University Next Month?

The traditional book publishing business is crumbling -- right along with the global economy. But the news is not all doom and gloom -- not by a long shot.

We live in an incredible era where average people can enter the marketplace with their self-produced music, films and books ... and reach a worldwide audience.

The industry Gatekeepers of old have lost touch with the changing times and lost power in the process.

And that's good news for you!

That's why I've been such a proponent of taking the indie, DIY path in all creative fields for many years.

That's also why I'm a member of the Independent Book Publishers Association (formerly PMA). They are the primary organization leading the charge for indie authors and publishers.


This year I'll be speaking for the third time at their annual conference, called Publishing University.

If you've never attended, here's what you can expect:

Three days filled with more than 50 class on marketing, sales, publicity, finance, legal, editorial, printing, design, and more.

This year I'm organizing two classes:

"Octopus Marketing: The Multiple Tentacles Approach to Creating Book Buzz Online." Joining me will be Deltina Hay of Dalton Publishing and Maggie Lichtenberg of Open Heart Publishing.

"Book Trailers and Beyond: How to Use Online Video to Boost Your Book Sales." I'll present with Steve O'Keefe of Patron Saint Productions and Rocky Lang of BookstoFilm.TV.

Publishing University takes place May 26-29, 2009, in New York City at the Roosevelt Hotel.

For rates and details, visit www.thepublishinguniversity.com

More more info in IBPA, see www.ibpa-online.org

If you attend, be sure to find me and say hello. It would be great to meet you in person!

-Bob


Get Bob's newest book:

An online promotion guide for authors and book publishers who want to market their books effectively on the Internet.

Learn more about it here ...

How to Get Your Name in My Next Book

Last week I officially pre-launched my new book, called "55 Ways to Promote & Sell Your Book on the Internet."

But I did it in a very unusual way. Some might even call it "revolutionary."

See what I'm talking about at www.IndieBookPromotion.com.

Actually, I borrowed this idea from the indie music world. Many bands over the years have turned to their fans for help. They pre-sell a new CD before it's even recorded. And they give the fans who support them early on a lot of perks, like free downloads of early song demos, their names in the CD sleeve credits, etc.

I'm doing something very similar with this next book, which will be my 7th published paperback -- but my very first title specifically for authors and book publishers.

So I invite you to be part of this unconventional book launch. You'll get your name and web address in the printed book, along with lots of other goodies.

See all the details at www.IndieBookPromotion.com.

Yes, this isn't your typical book publishing formula. Then again, I'm not your typical author.

And I encourage you to think outside the octagon as you build your own author career too.

-Bob