every writers dream ebook
TRANSCRIPT
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EVERY WRITER’S DREAMHow to Never Pitch Your Writing Again
By Jeff Goins
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Every Writer’s Dream: How to Never Pitch Your Writing Again
Copyright 2011 Jeff Goins. Allrights reserved.
Cover image: Chris Costes(Creative Commons)
Every Writer’sDream: How toNever PitchYour WritingAgain
By Jeff Goins
Written for your satis faction,
butt-kicking, and enjoyment.
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Introduction
The Truth About Writing
Three Tools Every WriterNeeds
Platform: How to Build
One
Brand: Finding Your Voice
Connection: Attracting Fans, Friends, & Advocates
What It Really Takes to Be a Writer
What’s Next?
About the Author
Share this eBook
Contents
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INTRODUCTION
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Hi. My name’s Jeff. And I’m a writer.
And like most writers, I like to write. Not sell myself. Or pitchmy ideas. Or wait for publishers to pick me. Just write.
So I’ve stumbled upon this idea, you see — that writersshouldn’t be spending their time working on stuff they don’tlove doing. Instead, they need to do what they love: write .
But how do you do that? I mean, let’s be honest. We’ve all heardthe talks about how writers need platforms and influence and amarketing plan, right? So how does one do this?
That’s what this eBook is about.
But before that, introductions are in order...
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Why listen to me?
I’m nobody special, but I do understand something quite well: the frustrations of writers.
The long nights. Thankless work. Bad pay.
And I’ve found an escape hatch — a way out of the “feastor famine” cycle that most freelancers find themselves in.
I’ve found a way for gatekeepers to come to you. For you to
live what every writer dreams of — never having to write abook proposal or query letter again.
And I’m going to share it with you.
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So... we good now?
Feel all acquainted and
warm and fuzzy inside?
Good.
Now, let’s get to work.
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THE TRUTH ABOUT WRITING
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What Nobody Ever Tells You
About Writing
It’s harder than you think.
It’s not enough to be good.
Nobody cares about you.
It’s more about who youknow than what you know.
You better love it.
So what do you do — now that you’ve beenacquainted with the
real world?
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“THERE IS NOTHING TO WRITING. ALL YOU DOIS SIT DOWN AT A TYPEWRITER AND BLEED.”—ERNEST HEMINGWAY
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That’s a cheery thought, isn’t it? That all it takes to write is tobleed to death? (Thanks a lot , Ernie.)
No wonder so many writers struggle kill themselves (or givein to alcoholism).
I have a friend who says this about writing:
“Don’t be the sacrifice; make it.”
I like that. Certainly, there are plenty of writers who choosethe Hemingway route and suffer through their life’s work.
But if you’re kind of a wimp — as I am — and not too keenon suffering, then rest assured. There is another way.
You can work.
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“TALENT ALONE CANNOT MAKE A WRITER.
THERE MUST BE A MAN [OR WOMAN] BEHINDTHE BOOK.”
—RALPH WALDO EMERSON
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I love that Emerson quote. It’s true . Talent is not enough tosucceed. You need something more, something vibrant .
In other words, there must be a life behind the writing.
Stephen King said in his memoir On Writing that for years helabored under the assumption that life was a support system
for art. Only later did he learn that it was the other way around.
If you are going to succeed as a writer, you are going to haveto learn to be smart. To have thick skin. To be more thantalented.
I wish someone would’ve told me this ten years ago. I would’ve gotten to work a lot earlier. And I would’vesucceeded earlier, too.
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I wish I’d have known that there were some simple tools tohelp writers do what they were made to do: write. Not deal
with ridiculous bureaucracies.
I wish I’d have known how to network and make meaningfulconnections. And that it was all easier and less sleazy than Ithought.
I wish I’d have gotten online and started blogging sooner.
If I had done all those things when I was in college, I amsure I’d have authored dozens of books by now. But I didn’t
do those things.
Instead I waited . For permission. To be picked. Maybe youare, too.
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It’s time to stop waiting to be askedand start creating.
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Background
I’ve been writing and publishing articles for years. I’veexperienced the pain of being ignored and thedisappointment of rejection.
In a matter of months, that all went away. Everything I’ve learned about writing query letters and book proposals has been thrown out the window.
I’m no longer pounding on publishers’ doors, pleading for
them to pick me. Instead, I’ve learned how to pick myself.
Without trying to sound like an infomercial, you can do this,too. And it will make all the difference.
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I’ve been writing for all my life, but I’ve learned most of thisin less than a year. Which means it doesn’t take long.
I’ve learned some of the secrets and tricks to publishing thatused to baffle and frustrate me.
And I’m going to tell you how I did what I did:
How I focused on my craft and wrote for the love of it
How I got published without having to plead and grovel
How the gatekeepers started coming to me
Are you ready? Let’s begin with the first of three tools every writer needs...
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Three Tools
Every Writer Needs
A platform to share their writing.
A brand to build trust withtheir readers.
Channels of connection todistribute their art.
It takes more thantalent to be a
writer. Here are
three tools to help.
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TOOL #1: PLATFORM
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Every writer needs a platform. A stage. A place from whichto communicate a message. This is the first tool you need.
A platform is something only you can build. You can’t borrow or steal it. You can only earn it. It’s the permission peoplegive you to communicate with them.
There is no set form for any given platform; it all depends onthe tribe you’re building.
A platform is what you make it.
The question is: Will you build one? Will you create your own
rules?
Or will you continue to be bound to someone else’sstandards? To blend in with the rest of the crowd?
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Examples of Platforms
YouTube Channel
Podcast
Blog
Newspaper Column
TV Show
Speaking Career
There are all kindsof platforms — which one will
you build?
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We know that we need a platform. Right?
There are so many options — so many opportunities — it can feel overwhelming.
Where do we begin?
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How to Build a Platform
Get experience.
Demonstrate competence.
Generate buzz.
There are threeimportant parts of
building any
platform.
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Let me unpack that.
There are three parts to building any successful platform.First, you need experience.
This means you may need to take an apprenticeship or spendtime getting good at your craft.
Second, you need to demonstrate competence.
This means practicing in public. For musicians, this meansplaying live shows.
For writers, it means blogging.
For artists, it means putting your work on display for the world to see.
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Third, you need to generate buzz.
You have to have people talking about you.
If you have experience and are good at what you do, but noone advocates for you, you don’t matter.
This means more than fans.
It includes patrons and supporters and people who willspread your message for you.
This all may sound a bit overwhelming or vague.
But what does this actually mean?
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“A platform is all well and good,” you may be thinking, “butI don’t even know where to start.” What do you do? The
best way to build a platform and earn influence is actually quite simple.
How do you get noticed in a world full of noise, distractions,and advertisements?
Help people.
Be a resource to others. Do favors. Be selfless .
In a world of me-first and gimme-gimme, this is crazy. Which is why it works.
It catches people off-guard; they don’t see it coming. This is why they will trust you. With trust, comes permission.
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Personal Story
When I first started my writing blog, I felt like a fool. I hadnever published a book and had only gotten a few articlesinto print over the years. I did a lot of online writing andblogging, but that was it.
Who the heck was I to offer any advice?
But then I heard of other bloggers who were consideredexperts in their topics. I found out many of them didn’t start
out as experts; rather, they just started asking questions. This was encouraging. I realized something:
The only prerequisite to building a community is curiosity.
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So if you’re struggling with feeling “good enough,” stop it.
That’s not the issue. The issue is fear.
Are you willing to push through the fear of rejection and
embarrassment? Are you willing to be curious and ask good questions?
Will you persevere and commit yourself to learning — to
working harder than most so that you can become theexpert?
If so, you are ready enough to build a platform.
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What goes around really does come around.So start being generous today.
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TOOL #2: BRAND
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The second tool every writer needs is a strong personalbrand. I neglected this for years, trying to ride on thecoattails of the organization I worked for. Or, I triedpartnering with others who had a strong, personal brand.
It doesn’t work.
You have to have your own image and personality thatpeople will recognize as distinctly yours. Otherwise, youdisappear.
Trust me, I know. I used to write for a magazine. Every time
I sent in a new piece (after publishing multiple articles withthem), I had to re-introduce myself. Every. Single. Time.
Without a brand, you’re forgettable.
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What, exactly, is a brand?
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That’s not a bad question.
There’s a lot of confusion about what the word “brand”means. And it means different things to different people.
For some, it’s a logo. For others, it’s a reputation of abusiness or the trust we put in a certain product.
The word “brand” itself may conjure images of Apple orCoca-Cola. It may make you wince or cause your eyes to rollover.
If that’s the case, hang in there with me.Because what I mean when I say “brand” is actually quitesimple. And as far as I’m concerned, every writer needs one.
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A brand is who you are.But it’s more than that.
It’s your truest self.
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A brand is your identity. It’s what makes you, you .
But it’s not just your personality. It’s who you consciously choose to be. It’s an intentional identity you don for the sakeof your art.
Don’t misunderstand me. I don’t mean your brand can be
whatever you want it to be. It’s an important part of yourself revealed for an audience. Not in a disingenuous way. But in a way that is consistent and understandable for your readers.
After all, I like guacamole, but that doesn’t need to be part of
my brand, does it? Nope. A brand is part of you, but it can’tbe the whole person. So choose which parts you want toemphasize and why.
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Of course, the biggest mistake writers make is believing thatthey don’t need a brand.
Wrong.
This is a common fallacy and, frankly, a ridiculous statement. You are making an impression on your audience — one way
or the other. Right? Branding yourself — with a consistent image, voice, andname — is how you ascertain some semblance of controlover what people think of you.
A brand will happen. Either you will intentionally choose onefor yourself. Or one will be given to you.
Might as well have some say in it.
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Again, I can’t emphasize how important it is to be yourself.Not in a lazy, lackadaisical kind of way. But in a purposeful
way.
Don’t misuse the tool of branding to trick your audience intobelieving something about you that isn’t true.
If you do this, you will be found out.
Think of a brand as a promise — one you get to deliver on with every word you write and article you publish. Every book you sign. Every email you respond to. Every fan you
meet.
You have a choice in this. Don’t waste the opportunity andinherit a reputation you didn’t earn or choose.
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How do you actually build a brand?
How do you put all of these elementstogether and create a reputation that
people can trust ?
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Building a Brand
Decide on a name.
Design your “look.”
Find your voice.
Here’s how youbuild a brand from
scratch.
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A good brand name can be as simple as your first and last
name. In many cases, that will be just fine.For others, a more creative route will be appropriate.
You may have to go with a pseudonym, like Mark Twain orMary Shelley.
For bloggers, a brand name can also be a sort of “call sign”like Problogger or Tall Skinny Kiwi.
It can even even be something iconic like Madonna or Avi.
Before choosing a name, you should take some time tocarefully weigh the pros and cons. Once you have a publishedname, it will be hard (and confusing) to change.
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Pick a Name
Make it memorable.
Make it work for you.
Make it consistent with therest of your brand.
Your brand needs toserve the purpose of your writing. Don’t
stick with something that doesn’t work.
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Designing your look takes intentionality. Again, this issomething you want to have a “say” in.
Your “look” may be an icon or logotype. It may be a photoof you. Or it may be a creative combination of all three. Itcan even be a symbol like the musician Prince has.
This is a great example of how a brand is a representation of you, but not your whole self.
For instance, you don’t want your headshots to be of youright after you get out of bed. But at the same time, you
don’t want an image that looks nothing like you, either.
After all, your image needs to represent you . The whole pointis that people will recognize you for it.
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Design Your “Look”
Use a professional
photographer or designer tohelp you.
Make sure people will noticeyou and your work by it.
Get feedback from yourtribe.
Your look needs to berecognizable, inviting,
and interesting.
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Finding your voice is the hardest, most important task a writer will undertake.
Some authors say it takes years. Others say it’s a matter of writing hundreds of thousands of words.
The one non-negotiable is this: You will have to work to
find your voice. It will not come to you in a dream. It’s notjust how you talk.
Your voice is a combination of passion, personality, andpeople. It’s how you write in a way that is both personally
fulfilling and relevant to your audience.
If your writing only moves you , then you may not have foundyour voice.
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Finding Your Voice
Describe yourself in a few adjectives. What do youand others come up with?
Take note of your interests — favorite books, movies,music, etc. What do they
have in common?Imagine your ideal reader.
Whom are you trying toreach?
Here are a few questions to ask
yourself to help you
discover your voice.
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Personal Story
Stumbling upon my own personal brand was less intentionalthan it should have been.
The .com domain for my full name was already taken, so I dida variation of it with Goinswriter.com, since I knew I wanted
to build a platform around my writing.
Then, I repurposed a headshot from a family photo shoot Idid with my wife. I put it on every piece of collateral I had.
Then, I started reaching out to people, building relationships,and writing. The more I wrote, the more I began to grow comfortable with a voice that seemed to resonate withothers. And before I knew it, I had a brand.
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TOOL #3: CONNECTION
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The third tool every writer needs is a channel (or multiplechannels) of connection. Another word for this is marketing.
But it’s more than that. It’s relationship.
Most writers don’t like promoting themselves. But whatalternative do you have? If you want to get your content infront of people, you have to be connected to others —
agents, editors, publishers, readers, and other writers.
With a craft that requires solitude and focus, this can be hard. Which is precisely why most writers make this tragic flaw:
They neglect the importance of buildingmeaningful connections.
And they pay the price later.
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Channels of Connection
Phone
Conferences
Meetups
Here are someexamples of
connection channels.
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You know you need distribution.
You need a tribe — a focused group of
followers to spread your message.
But what you’re doing isn’t working.
So how do you start?
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“TREATING PEOPLE WITH RESPECT IS THEBEST WAY TO EARN THEIR ATTENTION.”
—SETH GODIN
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This is the hard part of a trying to get noticed forcommunicating any message. This is the part that most writers neglect.
They get scared. Or lazy. They procrastinate or delay theinevitable.
They get excited about sharing their art. So they rush theprocess. They jump the gun.
Then they wonder why nobody pays
attention to what they have to say. This may not be easy for you. But it’s necessary. Don’t skipthis next section.
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Making Connections
When two people relate to each other, when they exchangeuseful information, when a meaningful experience is shared — a connection is made.
Therein lies the rub. A connection must be meaningful. It
must be mutual. And it must matter.Meaningful: The listener must care about what you’resharing. You must have permission and attention.
Mutual: Both parties need to be in it. One may benefit more
than the other, but it cannot be completely one-sided.
Matter: Not only must both sides care, but there needs to befruit. Something good must result from the connection.
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What you need to do is build a platform, establish a strong
brand, and then start creating inroads to that platform.
You’ll want to earn followers and friends and subscribers.
You’ll need more than daily blog visitors; you need to build
enough trust with someone that they give you permission tocommunicate with them.
This is a significant mark of trust.
Without it, you have nothing but a series of one-hit wonders.
But how do you earn permission?
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You ask.
(Pretty crazy, huh?)
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Examples of Ways to
Ask Permission
Invite blog readers to
subscribe to your newsletter.
Ask another writer orpotential mentor to coffee.
Give away something forfree — like an eBook — inexchange for attention.
Here are some ways toask and build
permission, so thatyou can deliver a
message.
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The possibilities for ways to build connection are endless.But not all of them are equal. You must be intentional.
You need to be smart, and you need to serve others. Themost important question you should be asking is this:
“What’s in it for them?”
Without permission, you are just adding to the noise. Thebest way I’ve found to do this is to be generous.
I grew my email newsletter list from seventy-fivesubscribers to one thousand in a week when I gave away free copies of an online manifesto. In other words,generosity works.
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The hard truth is this:
It doesn’t matter what you think.
Nobody cares about you. Not yet, anyway. And if you wantthem to, you’re going to have to realize something.
You don’t get to decide what matters. They do.
And who is “they”? Your future fans.
So what’s the best way to start earning permission and
building a fan base?
What is the best way to make meaningful connections?
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What do you need to make all this happen? A channel of your very own.
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I overlooked the importance of having my own channel
for years. I thought it was a nice add-on.
It’s not.
A channel of your very own is essential to building a
platform and extending your reach beyond that of yourimmediate networks.
Without it, you are either borrowing attention or stealing it. The only way to earn it is by sharing a meaningful
message through a channel that you own.
For me, this is my blog.
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Example of a Writing Blog
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Personal Story
Remember how I had to reintroduce myself to the samepublication over and over again?
Well, I just heard from them recently. They asked me tocontribute to their magazine — in fact, they wanted to
republish something I had already written. On my blog .
Since starting a blog and intentionally building an audience,I’ve been asked to write for more magazines than I have inthe past six years combined. I’ve been offered book contracts
and speaking gigs.
All because of a blog. Because I chose myself instead of waiting for others to do so.
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What You Get
(When You Do This)
Book deals (without the proposal)
Magazine offers (without a query letter)
Free stuff (like books and products)
Interview opportunities
Chances to connect with other writers and influential people
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It’s simple, but not easy. However, it’s definitely worth it.
Nowadays, I’m not afraid of publishing. I don’t fearrejection. I’ve picked myself, and others have seen thedifference.
So instead of pleading to be published, the gatekeepers are
coming to me. And this didn’t take years and years of living in obscurity. It took about eight months.
I did this with a full-time job, working on my writing in theevenings and early mornings. It’s not a formula, but it was an
intentional process. And you can do it, too.
Maybe you’ll see success sooner. Maybe it will take longer. The point is: If you do the work, you’ll see the results.
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How to Get Started
Start a blog.
Sign up for an account on Twitter.
Create a Facebook page for your blog, books, etc.
Build an email newsletter list (Aweber or Mailchimp).
Start small and build, always asking permission and showing respect.
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Personally, I love Wordpress (you can download the freeblogging software on Wordpress.org).
It can be a little technical to set up (you will need webhosting), but once you begin, you will have total freedomover how you communicate and connect with others. Plus, with websites like Problogger and others, there are all kindsof helpful resources to get you started.
Twitter is great place to connect with other writers. Facebook can be good. Often, these relationships go offline and lead togreater influence.
Once you get started, you will want to start building yourconnections...
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Without other people,it will be hard to succeed.
Where do you begin?
There are three types of connection that
are valuable to any writer.
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Three Important Relationships
Fans: You need to buildmeaningful connections with a tribe of followers.
Friends: You need toconnect with others who aredoing what you are.
Advocates: You need toearn influence withinfluencers who will supportyour work.
These are three must-have relationships that
will extend your reach.
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A fan is someone who admires and follows your work.
These people will help you spread your message and pay money for your work.
A friend is a peer — someone who can relate to the work you do. You should have an inner circle of friends to holdyou accountable to being true to your craft and art.
These people will help you get better.
An advocate is a patron — someone who supports youfinancially or through lending you their influence.
These people will mentor you and help you go to the nextlevel. They will increase your influence and help you grow in wisdom.
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How to Win Fans
Create amazing stuff:Find out what people need
and deliver it to them.
Be generous: Reward yourreaders by giving themfreebies once in awhile. Do
favors. Serve them.
Ask permission: Neverassume. Always invite.
Here are three ways tostart building a fan
base.
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The best way to win a fan is to create meaningful art .
But how do you know what people want?
Once you build a platform, you can ask your audience, butuntil then, you kind of have to go with intuition.
The good news, though, is that online distribution andcommunication are virtually free. So you can try stuff out without it costing you a ton of time or money.
So begin. And tweak as you go.
Rinse and repeat.
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How to Make a Friend
Reach out: Email people.Reply to them on Twitter.Start with a conversation.
Help: Begin therelationship by serving andshowing interest in the otherperson.
Follow up: Don’t let therelationship lie fallow. Stay in touch.
Here are three ways tomake a friend and
build a relationship.
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The best way to make a friend is to show interest in someoneelse. I hope you’re seeing a pattern here:
Serving people isthe best way to earn influence.
Once you build a platform, you can ask your audience, butuntil then, you kind of have to go with intuition.
The good news, though, is that online distribution andcommunication are virtually free. So you can try stuff out
without it costing you a ton of time or money.
So begin. And tweak as you go.
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How to Earn an Advocate
Ask: Start with email or aletter. Ask for a shortmeeting.
Interview: Show interest inthem. Come prepared withquestions. Respect theirtime.
Stay in touch: Follow up with an email after themeeting.
Here are three ways tomake a friend and
build a relationship.
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The best way to earn an advocate is to demonstrate competency and proactively reach out.
The trick is to make it easy for the influencer. Offer to buy them coffee or breakfast near them. Do it when it’sconvenient — for them, not you.
Come prepared, ask questions, and show interest in thepotential advocate. Don’t make too big of an ask up-front;just come willing to learn.
Then, afterwards, follow up with notes — in email, if
appropriate — showing them that you took their timeseriously.
Then, like any relationship, let it build over time.
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Relationships are important.
They can lead to all kinds of opportunities that will help youin your writing career. Remember:
You can’t do this alone.
At least, I wouldn’t advise it.
This gets easier the more you do it. I promise.
So if you’re intimidated or afraid, just start. And if you’re
already doing this, keep going.
You may be closer to a breakthrough than you realize.
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Personal Story
I was hesitant to start networking with other people whocould help me. It felt sleazy. I didn’t like the idea of promoting myself.
So instead, I did what I knew: I offered to interview people I wanted to connect with. I would reach out on Twitter,Facebook, or via email, and ask someone to coffee. Then, I’dinterview them.
Afterwards, I would publish the article and let the personknow. This was my excuse to follow up. With many of therelationships, I just continued to stay in touch. Over time,this gave me the confidence to reach out to other people.
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WHAT IT REALLY TAKES
TO BE A WRITER
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“THIS BUSINESS OF... BEING A WRITER IS
ULTIMATELY ABOUT ASKING YOURSELF, ‘HOW ALIVE AM I WILLING TO BE?’” —ANNE LAMOTT
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This isn’t easy — this writing life. But it’s a noble calling. It will require all of you. Not just your fingers and brain. But
your whole self.
So when people tell me that they want to publish a book butaren’t willing to network or build a platform or worry aboutmarketing, I don’t get it.
If you want to be a writer, why wouldn’t you be willing togive it everything you have? Why would you hold anything back?
Yes, it will be hard. Yes, you will get rejected and probably be called names. It will hurt.
But it will be worth it. If you stick with it.
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As we’ve seen, there is a dumb way to do this (waiting to bepicked).
And there is a smart way:
Build a platform and start creating.
Create a brand that resonates with others.
Make meaningful connections with others.
All of this takes work. It takes gumption and moxie. It willnot be easy, and it is not for the faint of heart or easily-
discouraged.
But I hope you stick with it. Because we need your voice. Weneed your art.
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This is where we part ways. This is the end. At least for now.
Next, you’ll have to apply this. You’ll have to find your tribeand use these tools to create your own path to publishing.
But before that you will have to pick yourself.
This is harder than it sounds. It will take a lot for you to dothis day after day. You may struggle . And that’s okay. So long as you keep going.
Which brings me to my final point:
There is one — and only one — tool youneed to be a writer...
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COURAGE.
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That may sound disingenuous or overly simplistic, but it’strue. None of this matters one hill of beans if you aren’t
brave. If you do not persevere.
Not guide or set of tools can prepare you for the rejectionyou will face, the criticism you will endure, the pain you willexperience.
And all of these strategies carry with them a core, underlying assumption: that you will be courageous.
The world needs this. More than you know. We are waiting
for your words. Longing to be changed by them.
Will you share them? I hope you will.
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Fin.
(That’s Italian for “end.”)
In other words, we’re done here.Go do something that matters.
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WHAT’S NEXT?
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I am sure this book raised as many questions as it did provideanswers. And I don’t want to leave you in the dark.
I would love to continue helping you in your journey of picking yourself and finding your own path to publishing your ideas and words.
So tell me what you thought. What questions do you still have? What do you need help with? I would love to put together a course or guide to helpexplain the three tools — with your help.
You can find how to connect with me on the following pages. By the way, thanks. Thanks a lot.
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About Author
Jeff Goins is a writer, speaker, and communi-cator. He believes words can change the worldand that sushi is an acceptable form of break-fast food.
He has contributed to multiple publications and blogs,including RELEVANT Magazine, Copyblogger.com,Problogger.net, and others.
Jeff lives in Nashville with his wife and dog. He works out of his home and some days never gets out of his pajamas.
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Connect
Send me an email: [email protected].
Connect with me on my blog: goinswriter.com.
Find my on Facebook: facebook.com/goinswriter
Follow me on Twitter: twitter.com/jeffgoins
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Share this eBook
You can tell me what youthought of this eBook
or share it with your friendsby clicking the links below:
Twitter | Facebook| Comments
For more, visit the Every Writer’s Dream page.
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It’s time.
Pick yourself.Start creating.