Newsletter 81. Can you really win by threatening your negotiating partners? Plus, Simon & Schuster ditches blurbs, Ray Dalio dribbles out insights, three books to read and three people to follow. The price of brinksmanship Our president Donald Trump is adept at brinksmanship. Look at his actions over time and you can see a pattern:…
You should make friends with authors who write in the same sphere as you, even if your approaches differ or your books compete. Why? Because readers of competing books are far more likely to want to read yours — and because together, you’ll be defining a perspective worth considering and publicizing. And, of course, because…
Publishing a book is a big accomplishment. Some authors feel a need to pay others to puff it up — and some of the “impressive” accomplishments that authors tout are just pay-for-play. Here are some book credentials that may not be what they seem, how readers should think about them, and whether authors should pay…
Week 8: Food shouldn’t lie and neither should you. Also: blurbing out of context, media’s redux, plus 3 people to follow, 3 books to read, and a plug just for women authors. Lies on food labels are deplorable. So are lies on people’s labels. Food shouldn’t lie. Understanding the food you eat is essential to…
Week 7: Prepare to quit, blurb ethically, op-ed opportunity, three people to follow, three books to read, and plugging away. Change your job? Maybe. Change your mind? Definitely. The US unemployment rate is 3.5%. And it’s been that low for months. So it’s time for you to start looking. If you love everything about your…
It’s a terrible spot to be in: a friend has asked you to provide an endorsement blurb for their book, but when you begin to read it, you realize it’s no good. Whether the premise is wrong, the organization is poor, or the writing is tedious, it’s not a book you want your name on….
If you’re seeking people to provide quote endorsements for your book — blurbs — the biggest mistake you can make is treating them all alike. Each type of blurber requires a different approach. Before approaching these targets, you need to prepare a short description of the book as well as a PDF copy of the…
Are you ready to ask for blurbs (endorsement quotes) — for your book? Do it right and you’ll maximize your chances of getting the golden endorsement from your most influential connections. Blow it and they’ll resent you for asking. Here are my best tips for a successful blurb campaign — including a few war stories….
Repeat after me: When a book goes to copy edit, the content should basically be done. I can’t hear you in the back, there. Are you sure you believe it? Say it again: When a book goes to copy edit, the content should basically be done. Here’s the challenge. Your creative work on the book…