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The key to becoming a bestselling author is to understand what readers love.
Are you trying to get published?
Are you a self published author with great reviews but disappointing sales?
I was just like you.
After three years of publishing, I was no closer to my goal of being a full time author.
So I took a good hard look at my author career to see what I needed to change.
Two years later, I’ve sold over 400,000 books and have had multiple books in the Amazon UK Top 100.
This book is the story of how I did it - and how you can use what I learned to become a bestseller too.
The Five Steps:Mindset:
Start thinking like a pro. None of the other steps will work without the right mindset.
When someone asks you what you do, tell them, ‘I’m a writer’. Own it.
Surround yourself with people who think like professionals and take inspiration from them.
Make writing a habit - show up every day. Writers write.
Banish the myth of writer’s block - don’t worry about how good it is, just get the words down.
Research:
It’s essential to understand your market, your genre, and how to write stories that readers love.
Your genre – the niches and the tropes. What do readers expect?
The market – your comps, what’s new, which books are rising and which are falling in the charts. Know where your book fits.
Story and craft – what resonates with readers. Read lots, and take note of what works. Read craft books to learn how to write compelling stories.
Craft:
You’ll never be a bestseller if you don’t write well. Take the time to refine your craft and become a better writer with each book.
Identify the sweet spot between what you love, what readers love, and what you’re good at.
Take time to understand what aspects of story readers love - it might not be what you think.
Write lots – it’s the best way to become a better writer. Forget any snobbery about prolific writers being hacks - it’s a myth.
Launch:
Now it’s time to put your book or series out into the world. Make sure it’s ready and you know where to target it.
Research routes to market for your genre and decide which will work for you.
Get your book into the best shape you can - editing, proofreading, beta readers.
Professional packaging – cover and blurb must sell the book.
Test advertising and other methods to seed sales and start finding readers.
Longevity:
The biggest challenge can be maintaining a long-term author career once you’ve achieved success.
Nurture your fans – they are the life blood of your career.
Keep learning and adapting – what works now might not in the future.
Make sure you love it – if you don’t, you might as well find a regular job.
Learn how to do all these and more by reading Five Steps to Author Success.
Are you trying to get published?
Are you a self published author with great reviews but disappointing sales?
I was just like you.
After three years of publishing, I was no closer to my goal of being a full time author.
So I took a good hard look at my author career to see what I needed to change.
Two years later, I’ve sold over 400,000 books and have had multiple books in the Amazon UK Top 100.
This book is the story of how I did it - and how you can use what I learned to become a bestseller too.
The Five Steps:Mindset:
Start thinking like a pro. None of the other steps will work without the right mindset.
When someone asks you what you do, tell them, ‘I’m a writer’. Own it.
Surround yourself with people who think like professionals and take inspiration from them.
Make writing a habit - show up every day. Writers write.
Banish the myth of writer’s block - don’t worry about how good it is, just get the words down.
Research:
It’s essential to understand your market, your genre, and how to write stories that readers love.
Your genre – the niches and the tropes. What do readers expect?
The market – your comps, what’s new, which books are rising and which are falling in the charts. Know where your book fits.
Story and craft – what resonates with readers. Read lots, and take note of what works. Read craft books to learn how to write compelling stories.
Craft:
You’ll never be a bestseller if you don’t write well. Take the time to refine your craft and become a better writer with each book.
Identify the sweet spot between what you love, what readers love, and what you’re good at.
Take time to understand what aspects of story readers love - it might not be what you think.
Write lots – it’s the best way to become a better writer. Forget any snobbery about prolific writers being hacks - it’s a myth.
Launch:
Now it’s time to put your book or series out into the world. Make sure it’s ready and you know where to target it.
Research routes to market for your genre and decide which will work for you.
Get your book into the best shape you can - editing, proofreading, beta readers.
Professional packaging – cover and blurb must sell the book.
Test advertising and other methods to seed sales and start finding readers.
Longevity:
The biggest challenge can be maintaining a long-term author career once you’ve achieved success.
Nurture your fans – they are the life blood of your career.
Keep learning and adapting – what works now might not in the future.
Make sure you love it – if you don’t, you might as well find a regular job.
Learn how to do all these and more by reading Five Steps to Author Success.
Used availability for Rachel McLean's 5 Steps to Author Success