***How to Publish a Book Without Jumping off a Cliff

You want to know how to publish a book without taking risks… yet, if you love celebrated American author Ray Bradbury’s cliff-jumping aphorism* as much as I do, and if you want to see your book in print, you’re more than ready to make that leap. nn*[“You’ve got to jump off cliffs all the time and build your wings on the way down.” –Ray Bradbury] I have a plan. I suggest that instead of jumping off a cliff, you take a flying leap off the bandwagon of mainstream publishing, and instead of building wings, build a website. Create a landing pad in virtual space. It will be much easier on your derrière. Here’s the challenge: the manuscript is ready to go. You’ve submitted it to several literary agents and now you’re playing the waiting game. How many weeks, months has it been already since you’ve heard from any of them? If you’re lucky and one of these overworked agents (usually with unread manuscripts teetering several feet high on desks, adjoining tables and even the kids’ toy chests and laundry baskets) decides to take you on as a client, the next step is that agent’s shop-around to the handful of traditional publishers that still pays an advance against royalties.nnInstead of taking that downward plunge into possible oblivion, let your wagon be your website and hitch it to the virtual stardom of online writing, publishing, marketing and promotion. Doesn’t that sound more exciting (and practical) than sitting by the phone? I don’t know of any writer who likes to waste time. The mind-clock is always ticking and the biological clock always tocking. Polish off that manuscript and move it onto the assembly line. Co- or self-publish it!nnHere’s how to publish a book yourself Make sure your book reads well and has been professionally edited. If it needs more than an edit, make the investment. It’s worth it to have a work you can be proud of. If you’ve decided to self- rather than co-publish (please read some of my other SelfGrowth.com articles that discuss the difference between the two), have the cover and interior professionally designed. nnCreate a website with built-in strategic marketing IT While your book is in production, purchase a SiteBuildIt.com (SBI) web package for $299. It will be the best investment you ever made because it includes domain registration and hosting, design tools and strategic content-based SEO marketing—built into the technology. Both of my websites, Write To Publish for Profit and Dandelion Books, are SBI websites. SBI surrounds its clients with plenty of technical TLC delivered in graphically illustrated and videoed bytes that that even a newbie like me can digest. I speak from experience when I tell you that an SBI website for marketing and promoting your book will save time, energy and money—lots of it. If you’ve ever experienced the frustration of depending on “the experts” to fix a broken link, add new information or do some other expensive IT repair, you’ll know how valuable it is to be the (web)master of your own domain. If all of this sounds like Greek-geek to you, don’t worry. SBI sends you enough support material for more than one lifetime! The combination of Dandelion’s coaching services (call me if you run into snags—no charge), you’ll soon know how to publish a book and start to build a loyal client base.nnBecome a super social networker Regardless of the marketing, promotion and advertising that a traditional publisher may do for you once your book is released, they will never be able to compete with you. You are the best salesperson of your book because no one is as familiar with the material as you are. No one shares your passion for delivering your message. Your books are your children. One of my favorite online marketing gurus, Joe Vitale, candidly states that authors are their own best marketers; I was pleased to discover that my personal experience is supported by an expert. Become a super social networker; participate in online communities such as SelfGrowth.com. Like SBI, the SelfGrowth.com team has a sincere desire for you to succeed. They really do consider your success a feather in their caps. That’s why they offer so many free support materials, and why both enterprises attract so many amazing and accomplished people. I’m also delighted to learn how many SelfGrowth.com experts teach the Law of Attraction. Whether their training comes from Abraham-Hicks or from the popular DVD, The Secret, the spirit and energy of both resonate with the message I deliver through my writing and publishing businesses. When you tell the universe that you want to write a book, the universe responds by placing your hands on the keyboard. When you are ready to publish your book, you will be brought to people who believe in you and who are eager to support your dreams. Your buyers will be your friends and loyal supporters. You are the magnet that will bring those buyers to your website. nnIt’s the Law “It’s the law,” says Abraham-Hicks. They’re right. So what if your book doesn’t land on the shelves of brick and mortar stores because they have a rule against taking print on demand books? You can create your own physical bookstore, if you feel like you’re missing out on something. Go to your local coffee shop and ask them to display your books. Set a date to have a book reading and signing. Be creative and make your own waves.nnJump off the bandwagon now!