“I can’t write a book…” and a deluge of objections (excuses?) follow:

1.  I don’t know how…
2. I don’t have enough time…
3. It’s too much like hard work…
4. I don’t know enough…

Well, I am going to quickly run through these 4 objections, and show you just how easy it is and how – once you have one – you will stand high above your competitors, and have  (as one of my clients call it) the ultimate business card.

I have blogged a lot on why having a book is so important. It goes without saying that is catapults you into expert status, it sets you above other providers in your industry and it opens doors that no other tactic can.

One of my clients, Rob Purfield of in3Ltd has just secured a deal (worth over a million pounds) with a high ranking company, and the reason – in his words – are

“If it wasn’t for the book, I wouldn’t have got through the doors that have led me to this deal – it was like I was holding the master key, or as I like to say, the ultimate business card.”

So if it’s a well-established fact, that having a book separates you from everyone else, why is it that so few business owners write one? Well, let’s go back to the 4 objections I stated earlier – and provide solutions.

This is a big misconception – of course you do, you just probably don’t know that you do! One of the quickest ways to identify what to write about is; what is your customers biggest objection/frustration/needs ?

An example could be: You are a life coach – and your target audience is people trying to give up smoking. Your clients biggest frustration is not being able to stick with giving up – and will power alone just doesn’t seem to work.

Your Book-> Looks at all the techniques available. Talks about how each technique works…. and then explores the idea of having an experienced coach can help them with their challenge (explaining the idea of accountability, setting goals, keeping up with latest trends etc.)

This can be tackled in 2 ways: Firstly – see what info you already have on the subject you’ve identified. I bet you will have reports, articles or even blog posts that have covered that particular topic. You can use those, adjust, re-write and add too – and before you know it you have a book.

One of my clients, Paul Hajek a conveyancing solicitor at Clutton Cox – had a 24 page A4 report, which we turned into a book. All he needed to do was add a few extra bits to the report – and within 3 weeks we had a book being typeset. It was the inspiration behind my blog from PDF to book – go check it out.

The second way is to get an accountability partner (or coach) that can help you with the writing/scheduling/keeping you on track – allowing you to priorities your writing and before you know it, 12 weeks later a book is born.

Now this objection is very similar to the one I’ve just discussed. Most people dismiss writing a book because there seems to be too much involved. But it doesn’t have to be. You can enlist the help of book writing services which can help take away all of the hard work – and manage the whole project.

Being able to hand over a word document – and then in 3 weeks’ time get a printed physical copy back, without having to manage any of the interim processes makes writing a book simple and easy.

Writing a book is fairly simple. All you need to establish is you target audience, what their biggest challenge is, then write a blueprint plan detailing everything you need to cover to answer that question.

You can then write the book in two ways.
You can type it – or you can record it. The process of how is simple when you know the tricks and tactics. Hiring someone who knows the ins and outs of writing a book, how to come up with your blueprint plan (check out my blog that tells you how) the rest of the writing process is fairly straightforward.

The biggest objection however, is usually not the ones I’ve mentioned… it’s your mindset, collectively using the excuses I’ve outlined, and making that the reason for not writing a book.

If you still feel like it’s something that you just ‘don’t have time for’ then let me remind you of a great quote by Loa Tzu –

“Time is a created thing. To say ‘I don’t have time,’ is like saying, ‘I don’t want to”

Can you afford to ‘not want’ to write a book? I don’t think so!

If you think you have a book waiting to get out – but just feel the whole process is daunting, then get in touch. The Book Refinery can help you from the very beginning. We can help with brainstorming ideas, getting the plan written, then getting the book out of your head and into print.

Simply fill in your details on the home page (at the bottom) or email me at alexa@thebookrefinery.com for a non obligatory call – we can discuss your options and hopefully start you on your book writing journey.

So I have come up with two ways of helping you to reach your goal of becoming a published author quickly and easily. The only draw back is that it will make you have ‘Sell my book on Amazon’ as a task on that ‘to do’ list!
Setting up other people (or delegating others) to do the ‘everyday’ tasks is a really smart move, and will prevent you from burn out, and will ultimatley make you more successful as you will then have the time to work ‘on’ your buisness and not ‘in’ it! Outsourcing meanial tasks like book keeping, answering the phone, even replying to everyday emails can all be farmed out to ‘virtual’ PA’s and will free you up, so that you can work on getting more leads, and setting up proven successful projects like Joint Ventures and Strategic Alliences.

I think the one biggest objection for doing this is the seemingly added expense, but if you work out how much it’s costing YOU to do these things, you will see how much money you’re wasting, as it’s YOU that can be setting up the back end services and products that bring in the serious money. Paying someone minumum wage will be the best investment you can ever make. Companies like Time etc, www.timeetc.com and Virtual PA Company, www.virtualpa.co.uk are just a couple of examples, but if you type in ‘virtual pa’ into Google, you will get lots of results.

The other big reason why people don’t get their books written or published is that they have no accountability. Even when you’ve planned and started writing your book, unless you are in the top 3% of people who do become authors, you are going to fail if you aren’t able to stick to your commitment.

One of the quickest ways to overcome this is to acquire accountability. Get someone else on board that can figuratively ‘hold your feet to the fire’ and help you prioritise your time so that writing your book is then part of your day – then, before you know it – your book is published, and you have ‘List my Book on Amazon’ as a task. (Although if you choose the right publishing company, then they will do this for you )

    “Not being held accountable can seriously ruin the plan of getting your book finished and published.”

When you are left to your own devices, it’s amazing how the book writing task gets pushed further and further down the ‘to do’ list. It’s easily done, as it doesn’t have a ‘voice’  and doesn’t keep emailing you with ‘don’t forget about me’ in the subject line!

With my book coaching service, you can have a printed book in your hands within three months of us starting together! 98% of my clients have become authors. The 2% who didn’t, chose the wrong time to start their project, because personal circumstances made them unable to fully commit (an important factor to consider before you embark on this journey) within this time frame. Just take a look at my past clients testimonials, and let them tell you how easy it was to write their book, when I was on board, helping them.

I will help you be accountable, as well as setting the right foundations in place, so that your book gets written quickly, with no hassle, and all while still running a busy business.

Please get in touch and let’s start talking about your project. We can have a quick, no obligation phone call, to see how I can help get your writing project out of your head, off your hard drive and into print! Simply email me at alexa@thebookrefinery.com or fill out an enquiry form on the home page.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Alexa, your book coach.

Rob can now use this ‘5 Star’ rating in his marketing and promotional material as well as encouraging his potential customers to click the ‘add to basket’ button. (I’m not sure about you, but reading great reviews always helps me when it comes to buying a book – especially if I don’t know the author.)

Of course there are other ways of making your books more enticing to potential buyers. Implementing all of the features Amazon offer, including ‘Look Inside’ as well as converting your books to the Kindle format, are a must in order to appeal to the diverse way of how books are now read.

The first step to take, however, is to list your book with Amazon – and although it may seem like a daunting task, as long as you have a few key processes in place first, then making your book available on Amazon is relatively straight forward.

I have written a comprehensive guide ‘How to Get Your Book on Amazon.co.uk’ which includes how to upload your files for the ‘Look Inside’ feature, as well as a report on how to get your book converted for Kindle Readers.

Simply click this link to learn how.

Once you have your book listed on Amazon, you now want to get some feedback. Rob was fortunate that his 5 star reviews were organic, but there are ways of actively encouraging customers to post their reviews on Amazon.

Here are two ways that have worked for my clients

1. Pre-publication offer
2. Email your list and ask for a review (in return for an upgrade or mention on your next blog post)

1. Pre-publication offer;
If you, like a lot of other savvy business owners, are making your books available as a free download, with a chance of buying the physical copy – then offer to send your ‘reviewers’ a free paperback edition in return for their feedback (you can then copy and paste this onto Amazon once it’s listed). This is a smart way of getting some great testimonials, and it means they don’t have to do anything, other than email you once they’ve read the book, as you will be uploading it to Amazon on their behalf later.

2. Write to your list;
If your book is already published, and you want some reviews on your Amazon listing, simply ask your customers or clients. Perhaps hand pick a group and in return, offer them an upgrade to a programme they already have, or if you have an active blog, say you’ll post their name and web address (with a bit about their services) in your next article.

However, do make sure you ask for truthful reviews. You’re not trying to bribe anyone, and if you get a mixture of 4 to 5 stars then that is still fantastic.

However, as easy as this may sound, do be aware of saboteur’s. There’s always a chance of getting a really nasty comment, or remark by someone who hasn’t even read your book! My colleague Ed Rivis had this happen to him. One of his reviewers thought he had made all of his testimonials up – and said as much on Amazon, resulting in his fantastic rating being reduced (as well as questioning his credibility as an author). Ed was able to get this review off Amazon, so do keep an eye out for updated comments and contact Amazon if anything untoward happens. (TIP. One of reasons why this person thought Ed’s reviews were made up, was becasue they were all posted on the same day; Ed sent out an email to his list, asking for feedback, and the response was overwhelming, even if it did cause a few hiccups along the way, so keep this in mind when asking for your reviews!)

Getting 4 or 5 star reviews on Amazon is a real achievement and using those comments for extra exposure is a smart tactic. Being able to impart useful, valuable information will help your prospective customers make an informed buying decision, and if you’re able to educate your target audience, then this will help elevate your knowledge to ‘expert’ status, (one of the reasons you wrote the book in the first place) so don’t let modesty hold you back in celebrating your writing success.  

However business books are of a different breed. Mostly because the title is the star of the show and highly graphical elements are not needed.

Take some of the best-selling business books, “The 7 habits of highly effective people,” “How to win friends and influence people,” “The 4 hour work week,”…I could go on, but not ONE of these have any graphics or pictures on them. They are just typography.

Interesting…

However, they do all have 1 very important thing in common, and that is a killer title.

You see, when people need to solve a problem, they want to find the solution quickly. Quirky and clever titles won’t help someone find their answer. They want to see the results – or at least know which books deal with that specific problem, and a book with a title that identifies that, will arouse curiosity and be put in the shopping basket.

Of course there are other factors which will help with the buying decision – the back cover for instance also holds some valuable real estate, but with more and more books being sold on sites like Amazon, the prospective reader doesn’t usually get the opportunity of look at this, which is why your title needs to do more of the work than ever.

So assuming that you’ve written your book and you are in the stages of discussing the cover with your designer here are some things that you might want to consider, before you spend a fortune on stock photography, or illustrations.

1. Distil your core message into 1 sentence. Don’t edit at this stage, just write down in a couple of sentences what your book solves.
2. Identify your reader clearly and add it into the above.
3. Spend some time on Amazon and see what other titles are being used in the same genre as you – does anything inspire you? If so, write it down.
4. Then use the above to come up with a statement, or ‘How to…’ – if you have more than 1, write a list. (Don’t be afraid of stating the obvious – that can be what is needed for people to buy your book)
5. If you’re only using a 4 or 5 worded title, then make sure you clarify what your book is about in the sub-title
6. Ask the audience. If you belong to online forums (LinkedIn for instance), that are your target audience, then ask them for feedback. Give them a choice of titles and see which one gets the most response.

Here are some other things to consider:

• Don’t ask a question in the title – it’s too easy for the prospective reader to not agree with you
• Don’t try and be clever, or funny. A play on words, when someone is looking for a solution, won’t work
• Don’t be afraid of longer titles, as long as it’s focused and not rambling

I am currently working with a client who is writing a book for school leavers and how they can find a really good job in the computer industry. (Notice he has identified his market, and niched into a particular sector…) and the title we came up with is:

We’ve stated clearly in the title what the book is going to solve (finding a job in I.T.) and it’s worded in a way that appeals to a younger audience.

So think of the above when you’re coming up with YOUR title of your book.

Once you have a title, now you need to think of how it’s going to look on the cover. Clever use of font can be really effective, and you may not need to use any images at all. Consider these clever uses of typography and how effective they look;

The first book uses just the colours associated with Google, and the same font. (No computer image in site…!) The second and third one is pure text – and effective text at that.  So consider this option when you’re designing your book cover.

If you do feel an image is needed, then think carefully and make sure it doesn’t try and compete with the title. Having the image fade into the background can be very effective and give some ‘texture’ to your book.

Whatever you decide just remember, if your book is aimed at potential clients, and you’re using it as a way of getting people to recognise you as an ‘expert’ in your industry, then having a benefit style title can make all the difference.

Images may be able to say 1,000 words, but an engaging headline can make you a 1,000 more leads!

Follow @yourbookcoach

When you write a book – you need to engage the reader in a different way. You need to tell a story. And sometimes that can be hard for someone who isn’t used to writing with that in mind.

Not surprisingly he was struggling to get his chapters completed on time. It wasn’t through lack of knowledge, or lack of planning (both of those had been explored early on in the coaching session) it was the actual process of writing that he was finding difficult.

However, being a completest, he continued on, fighting a battle of will, and produced pages of writing (albeit late, and of staccato quality) and we would discuss at length how difficult he was finding the process.

It left both me and him frustrated.

Then during one of our weekly calls, we brought up one of his Microsoft Word documents and contemplated how to fix the problem.

“Why not talk me through the chapter” I suggested. (I hit the record button on our Skype call, as I said this) – and my client talked through what he had written, telling a story as he spoke, and brought what he had already written to life.

“Eureka!” I exclaimed – “I think we’ve got the answer.” – My client now had over 30 minutes of really good quality material explained succinctly and in a way that was engaging yet informative. Exactly what he wanted his book to be, all we needed to do now was transcribe the material and add it to what was already written. (This is where a copy editor might come into play, but my client didn’t mind, he just wanted the book to be finished!)

All we then did was take stock at what was already written (3 chapters that made great starting points for his new recordings) and then devised a plan to talk through the new chapters, and revisit the written ones.

So if you think that writing a book is not something you can do, but you’re great at talking about your subject, then think about recording your book. All you need is some recording software – you can find lots on Google – Audacity is a great little programme and you can find it here. (It’s free too!)

Or if you already have recording programme like Camtasia – then you can use that. Or if you spend a lot of time on the road, or away from your desk, why not pick up a MP3 recording device from Amazon.co.uk – try this one, at just over £25. This then gives you the flexibility of recording wherever you are.

All you then need are the following;

• Your blueprint plan
• Recording device
• Find a transcriber – there are lots on E-Lance
• Then simply copy edit the transcription (which you can do, or you can outsource it as well) to get it into reading like a book.

5 hours of recording time will probably equal enough pages for a simple 96 -112 page book (when formatted) and will work tirelessly as a great lead generator for your business.

If you feel you have an idea for your book, but not sure where to start, then get in touch. I can offer one on one help to formulate a plan (see my blueprint plan strategy session) and also offer further coaching to get that book written. Simply fill out an enquiry form, or  email me alexa@thebookrefinery.com for a no obligation chat.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Alexa, Your book coach

Writing a book takes commitment. Without it, your writing will become ‘something to fit in when time permits’ – rather than something that has to be done. It’s all too easy to push the ‘write the next chapter’ to the bottom of the to do list, as writing doesn’t produce any instant results, (that comes once the entire book is finished and published) and it’s that type of sabotaging thinking that can see your book take years to finish.

Writing the next chapter is a silent task which sits mutely on your check list. It doesn’t email you, reminding you that it hasn’t been done. It doesn’t call you either, asking for an explanation of why it hasn’t happened. And when emails are demanding to be answered, and calls needing to be taken, you can see why the writing gets pushed further and further down the list.

But allowing that to happen is a big mistake. Like any activity that yields good results in the long term it still needs to happen in order for the dividends to be rewarded. And the longer you put it off, the longer those benefits will take.

“There’s no abiding success without commitment.” – Anthony Robbins

So I’ve put together some excuse busting strategies which you can attach to your writing to give it more importance and then accomplished.

1. Get accountability by involving someone else
   
2. Be absolutely clear in what this book is going to do for your business once it’s completed
   
3. Get an end date in the calendar and attach a significant forfeit if it doesn’t happen (An amount of £ to a charity for example)
   
4. Visualise the finished outcome; your name on a book jacket (Even go as far to mock up a quick design to really cement what it will look like)

1. Getting accountability is one of the smartest activities you can do. It shares the responsibility, and helps you stay focused and on track. You can use a member of your team (if you are in an office) or you can hire someone who is a specialist – like a book coach who will guide you through your writing process. This one single action could see your book being written and published within 12 weeks, so if you’re always struggling to hit your writing quota, this one could be the smartest.

2. Be absolutely clear in what this book is going to do for your business once it’s completed. People put off things when the outcome holds little importance, and if you haven’t given enough thought, or planning to how this book will help you in your business plan, then it will never be of a high enough priority to get finished. Remember, being a published author will do more for your credibility of perceived ‘expert-ness’ than any other single activity. So look at the big picture. Go back to your plan, see where the book fits in, and then attach this new found level of importance to your writing. You’ll be amazed just how quickly that will spur you on.

3. Getting an end date in the calendar is vital. Otherwise you are just writing with no specific target in mind, and by having no ‘cut-off date’ unconsciously giving little to no value to the job at hand. So take a look at what needs to be written, and work out how many pages you need to write to hit that target. If it seems too many, then move the end date back. Don’t try and run a marathon for your first race, this is something that needs to be stuck too.

I always think that breaking down a large task into bite size chunks is a really smart thing to do. It sets it up in your mind as manageable and easy to do, rather than some great mountain that needs to be climbed in one go.

4. Visualise the outcome of the finished product. This can be very powerful and really motivate you to keep going. Seeing a physical thing, like a book jacket, with your name on it can really incentivise you to make writing a priority and it turns something that is almost intangible into something of value, which then attaches a meaning of importance and priority. Just seeing a number of pages in a Microsoft Word document isn’t enough. Seeing a 3d image of a book jacket though is a real motivator. Spending some money on coming up with a working book cover could be a really smart investment, if it helps to get the project finished and published.

So there you are, four easy ways to make your writing a priority and hopefully will help your shift your mindset from one of apathy, to that of excitement and renewed energy. Attach enough importance onto the task, and watch what happens to your productivity.

Of course if you need help with any of the above, or want someone that is a specialist in keeping you accountable, then get in touch. I help busy business owners with their writing challenges, and help get that book written and published. Simply email me alexa@thebookrefinery.com or leave me a comment below.

I’m also writing a book, and am making notes on how I want it to look, making sure that the content is of good quality and accurate, with up to date information as well as what my cover is going to look like.

The book cover is just as important to me as the content; as it will hopefully attract new readers and help establish an identity which will resonate with my target audience.

Now being a book coach and cover designer you might expect that I would know exactly how to write my book and have dozens of ideas for my cover. But that’s where you’d be mistaken!

In fact I’ve hit two rough patches. The first was about a subject (publishing) that I didn’t really have much experience in. (I’ve only used self-publishing for my clients, but of course there are a few other options out there which needed to be explained to my readers.) The second one was my cover design!

To be perfectly honest, when I reached my ‘publishing’ chapter, my writing came to a complete halt and when I opened my Quark design programme to start on my cover, the ideas suddenly dried up.

And this made me feel that I was no longer good at what I did even though I help dozens of others do this every day! So why was I struggling?

It’s common knowledge that being too close to a subject can then blind you to what you need to do. But it’s interesting to note that we almost resist that explanation. In fact my solution was very simple, but somehow I felt it was a bit of a cheat.

What was it?

Well, I asked other people for help!

Luckily I knew someone in the publishing sector – Edward Peppitt of Balloon View Publishing, and he very kindly agreed to speak to me. I was then able to ask him lots of questions about the publishing industry and by the end of the interview I had a much clearer understanding of the publishing process, (which I will be covering in my book) and was able to finish my chapter.

The design issue was overcome by going to a specific group in LinkedIn, and asking them for ideas. And ideas came a plenty! In fact one of the members gave me such great feedback, I now have a working cover that I’m really happy with.

So if you’re feeling stuck in you’re writing project, or you feel you have an idea that you just can’t seem to get any further with, take stock and see if you’re ‘too close’ to the subject. See if you can ‘ask an expert’ who can then help you out of your creative rut.

When you do, you’ll be amazed at how suddenly your project then gets moving again. It worked for me, so give it a go!*

Feel you’ve got a writing project, but just not sure how the process works or what to do next? Well why not get in touch. We can have a quick 10 minute chat to see what you’re ideas are, and then see if I can be of any further help or get you out of that rut! Simply email me at alexa@thebookrefinery.com and we can arrange a call.

I look forward to hearing from you.

*However I don’t suggest you now email anyone and everyone for free advice…you need to do this with people you know well, and who will be happy to share their knowledge! In return for Edwards help, I am fully disclosing the fact that he helped me with that chapter, with his bio, so he will get something in return for his assistance. 

However he wants to ‘up the ante’ and instead offer a special ‘pack’ which contains other pieces of information, including a properly printed, traditional book.

So, does this mean he has to sit at his computer and type up 40,000 words whilst running his busy solicitors firm? No, not at all! All he’s done is asked me to take a look at his already written report and get it formatted so that it looks like a traditional paperback book. Eliminating his need to provide me with any new material (he might tweak a bit here, or add a bit more information from his blog there) and only requires a small amount of his time, while he runs his busy solicitors firm Clutton Cox at www.cluttoncox.co.uk

The result however, will be perceived 10 times higher than the amount of energy invested.

At the end of this project he will be a published author – an accolade of ‘expertness’ will surround his name, and he will be the ‘only logical choice’ to his new potential clients.

This shows 2 important characteristics of a successful businessperson;

1. Knowing when to outsource
2. Understanding the power of being recognised as an ‘Expert’

Paul isn’t a designer, nor is he someone who knows how to publish a book. So instead he’s outsourced this to someone who does (me!). When you outsource your work to someone, they should then take care of the entire project. (In this case, typesetting the book, negotiating with the printers, obtaining an ISBN number, creating the cover, getting it listed on Amazon etc., etc.) Thus eliminating your involvement to a minimum, whilst still achieving your desired end result – in this case – a book.

Being good in your niche isn’t enough anymore. Competition is fierce and everybody is after new business and new clients to market to. Becoming a recognised expert is a simple and effective way of rising above all of the other businesses within your sector. And one of the most active ways of doing that is to write a book, and become a published author.

This may seem daunting, time consuming and just too difficult, but it doesn’t have to be. Just take what you’ve already got (blog posts, reports, Q&A’s from customers) and outsource it to someone who can then work their magic.

Then you could offer it up for free, (or as part of a pack) either on your website, or on a special landing page (I know an expert who can help with that too!) and you’re good to go.

It really is that simple!

Have an idea that you’re not sure where to go to next? Well get in touch. We can have a quick chat about your potential project and see if we can get it whipped up into a book quickly and easily. Simply email me at alexa@thebookrefinery.com.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Alexa, your book coach

As a ‘soon to be author’ myself, I am no stranger to the effects of ‘writers block’. However I noticed that my lack of motivation were also quite common with my clients, so I thought I would share with you the five common factors which seem to effect even the most prolific and creative types.

• Factor 1 – Fear of not being good enough
• Factor 2 – Lack of knowledge
• Factor 3 – Not clear on what to write about next
• Factor 4 – Burn out
• Factor 5 – No clear end date/lack of accountability

I know first-hand how frustrating it is when you get stuck. You are demoralised and get into negative thinking, which results in the book being put on hold, making it even harder to return too later.

So here are my suggestions to overcome these factors. The important thing is to believe in your ability, to keep going even if you think you’re not writing anything particularly good, as well as balancing proper time out and setting a realistic deadline.

Factor 1 – Fear of not being good enough.
I think any author will tell you that they – at some point – will say to themselves “is this any good?” And no doubt, you might too. But that is just your negative self-talk, trying to stop you from doing anything new or out of your comfort zone. Even writers of several books will think like this, as they will be asking “will this be as good as my last one?” The quickest way to overcome your fear is to get your writing looked at by other people and ask for their honest feedback, addressing any resulting issues from that process. If you’re already writing a blog, or writing articles online, then the chances are you’re better at writing than you think, and you just need to keep reminding yourself you’re imparting something valuable, and keep at it.

Factor 2 – Lack of Knowledge
If there is a section in your book that you’re not particularly clear on, then do some research! Don’t try and bluff your way through it, as this will come across in your writing. When I was struggling with a section in my book, I found myself putting it off and in fact stopped writing altogether. So to overcome it, I contacted an expert within that area, and asked if he would do an interview with me. He very kindly allowed me to record the call, and I asked him all the questions I needed clarification on. This helped me understand that particular subject, which then gave me the confidence to finish off the chapter. Google (and the internet in general) is a great resource, so if there is an area you’re not really sure on, then learn more about it before you start writing.

Factor 3 – Not clear on what to write about next
This comes down to poor planning. Before you start writing, it’s always a good idea to write a detailed blueprint plan, covering all of the chapter headings and subheadings that are going to be included in your book. If you didn’t, then stop and write one. Check out my ‘how to write your blueprint plan’, or if you do have a plan, revisit it, and make sure it’s in enough detail. If you’re struggling with where to go next, then it isn’t; amend it and you’ll be amazed how quickly you’re writing starts to flow again.

Factor 4 – Burn out
This can be mistaken for lack of motivation. You begin with great intentions, and usually burn out by the third or fourth week. Your fingers are sore from typing, and your head is frazzled and you find yourself not wanting to continue in such the same gusto that you started. So to combat this take a break! Not too long, you don’t want to lose momentum, but long enough to recharge your creative mindset and be inspired. Getting out of your environment is always effective, like going for a walk or doing something completely different. I also find that reading other peoples work helps, as it gives me another perspective, and usually confirms that I do know what I’m talking about and that I am just as good as the other authors I am reading. (This also helps with factor number 1 as well!)

Factor 5 – No clear end date/lack of accountability.
If you don’t have an end date in mind, then you will never be working towards something, you will just be working on something. Having a clear end date cements a sense of urgency and helps you prioritise your writing project. You can achieve this easily by getting an accountability partner, someone who is willing to impose a deadline, and help you keep your project moving forward. This can be a partner in your business, your family or even someone you hire. Check out my coaching programme to see if I can help you stay motivated and on track.

As Peter Capaldi (writer, director and actor) said in a recent interview on BBC Breakfast Television – “when it comes to writing, just do it. Write anything, get anything down. You can go and fix it later. But the key is to start. When you start something, the natural inclination is to then see it finished”.

Of course if you get stuck then take a look at the reason (not the effect) and be honest with the issue. My trusted rule is to leave anything that I’ve written for 24 hours – then re-look at it after that. Usually this allows enough time for you to read it from a more impartial viewpoint, and it makes the edits much easier.

If you feel you need some extra help, from planning to motivation, I can help you. Simply visit www.thebookrefinery.com/coaching to see how. Fill in the enquiry form, or email me at alexa@thebookrefinery.com and let’s get that book finished, printed and selling on Amazon.

“In terms of what becoming an author has done for me, well – it’s really made me an expert in my field. It has propelled me higher than anything I have ever done, and since publishing the book in Feb of 2010 – it’s been sold in over 18 different countries. It puts you in the forefront of your industry and it’s opened up interviews on the BBC radio, newspaper articles, so in terms of not just a book, but also my whole business, it’s just really strengthened who I am, and what I stand for.” – Tim Wareing, Author of ‘Toddler Soccer’ & ‘1 on 1 coaching’.

This is a testimonial from a client of mine, Tim Wareing – author of 2 books, ‘Toddler Soccer’ and ‘1 on 1 coaching’  and it just reminds me of why writing a book can be so powerful and one of the key tools in positioning yourself as an expert.

I have no doubt that being perceived as an ‘expert’ within your niche does more for you than any amount of marketing and tweeting (or emailing and blogging) because other people, not you, are accrediting you with that title.

“‘Expert’ is something others call you, and something you demonstrate, not a title you claim yourself.”

Being perceived as an expert is critical in today’s economic climate, because being ‘good’ just isn’t enough. Positioning yourself as an expert is the smartest move you can make as well as identifying and understanding a specific area of your business which you can then niche into. You can then demonstrate your in-depth knowledge to a much higher degree  making you the go-to person in that particular area. In fact Tim has shown how this exact strategy worked for him – with fantastic results.  (Click over to this review, and read what others are saying about his books)

However, achieving expert status can seem daunting, challenging and a long struggle, but it doesn’t have to be. I’ve identified two key strategies that can propel you into this realm effectively and quickly.

They are…

1. Niche into your business/coaching practice
2. Write a book about that particular skill within that niche

Finding a niche
Finding and Identifying a specialised area within your organisation is a really smart move, in order for you to become an ‘expert’ within that area. Trying to be a ‘one size fits all’ solution is really tough, as you’ll have to be knowledgeable in all areas of your business and depending on the size of your organisation that could be almost impossible.

Finding an area that you can hone in on is a clever move, as it then gives you the opportunity to know your subject inside and out, and truly be the ‘expert’ within that subject.

Niching is not a new strategy, and there are lots of experts out there that teach this strategy in a lot of detail. But it is something that I am now adopting as it makes it easier to dominate my market. (In fact have changed the way I’m writing my book to match this strategy, but more about that in another article.)

Write a book
Of course the natural follow on from that is to tell the world about your knowledge, and there is no better way than to write a book. Of course you don’t want to give all of your expertise away (and trying to write a book for front end profit is really hard) however you can instead write a book which identifies the biggest challenges within your niche, highlighting the reasons why your reader needs to solve those challenges (you can give some great little tips and strategies along the way) but give the in-depth solutions in a call to action – which you then scatter throughout.

Then you can use the book as a fantastic ‘give away’ – establishing yourself as an expert in the process, but setting up your readers to enquire about your back end services, which then in turn – if done effectively – converts them into high paying clients. (If you’re interested in reading more about this, then read ‘Using your book for lead generation master class’ article here).

Lots of online marketers have used this strategy really well, including of course my mentor and colleague Ed Rivis, but I can’t express enough how powerful this strategy is when used in one of the three ways I share with you in the article mentioned.

So there it is; a quick overview of two easy strategies you can implement to position you as an expert – and hopefully these will work for you too. If you want to know more about this, then why not download my free report ‘The EXPERT’ factor – if you have already, then read it and apply the tactics I share. Or if you would like to get in touch to discuss how a book can benefit your business strategy, email me at alexa@thebookrefinery.com and we can set up a quick, free and no obligation consultation.