8 Author Goals Tips for Book Success

What does author and book success have in common? Good question … the answer is: a goal with a plan to reach it.

Failure

When I completed Snappy Sassy Salty: Wise Words for Authors and Writers, it was woven with quotations to kick-start and propel you forward. If you are going to succeed in this writing, authoring, publishing arena, you need to be kick-started and refueled to propel your forward.

Most of us have resolutions at this time of the year, loaded with good intentions. By mid-January, they begin to dwindle. By summer … you might begin to even ask yourself–what goals … or even, what was I thinking?goforitgolden-egg

Let’s not do that. First, start with realism. Not pie-in-the-sky … reaching to stuff that is more fantasy and fiction vs. “yes, this can happen” approach. Becoming a Kindle best-seller is totally possible; being a best-seller on Amazon is totally possible; getting in front of media is totally possible; having an awesome book event is totally possible; speaking at an event and selling lots of books is totally possible. Is being on the New Times bestseller list possible? Maybe … probable … hmm, not so sure. Necessary…no.

   If you don’t know where you are going, you’ve chosen to go nowhere.  Any road will do.   SnappySassySalty100x150
– Snappy Sassy Salty

Being realistic is critical to tying in with success for you and your book. It’s goal setting time …

To set you and your book into a positive book strategy mindset for 2014, here are a few tips.

1    Be realistic. You might want your book to sell 20,000 copies … do      you have a Game Plan in place to initiate and support it. Do you have the  time to support it? Do you have the energy? Do you have the network?  If not, perhaps it’s not a realistic goal  for you right now.

Stop living your fears … live your dreams. If you believe your book will be successful, it’s the first step. – Snappy Sassy Salty

2    Determine if your Goals are  measurable and make them so they are. Don’t be vague or up in the air. Put numbers, facts by them. Don’t say “Get on TV” or “Sell more  books.” State what TV show you will get on … how many books you will sell      (a special amount of percentage increase). 
      
3    Get a Goal Pal…someone  you connect with once a week…a someone who will help hold you accountable  and be an encourager as well.

4    Create a visual Goal Board.  Write yours down and keep it in front of you.
      
 5    Create an Action Plan for you  and your book. Once you get these in writing, “ahas” happen. It is  also a crucial and realistic checkpoint. 
      
   Review as the year flows.   Tweak here and there. If they have become unrealistic, move them off your Goal Board and let your Goal Pal know. Stay on track. 
      
7    Revisit your Goals.   Record your accomplishments as the year progresses. It keeps you “goosed”  and IDs what’s working … and what is not.
      
8    Celebrate when you achieve a Goal.   And here’s the fun part… you design the celebration around what you want      to do.

Ta Dah! Here’s to reaching all of your personal and book marketing goals in 2014 and beyond!

Wake up. Kick ass. Repeat.

 

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Judith Briles is known as The Book Shepherd a book publishing expert and coach. She is the Founder of Author U, a membership organization created for the serious author who wants to be seriously successful. She’s been writing about and conducting workshops on publishing since the 80s. Judith is the author of 31 books including Author YOU: Creating and Building Your Author and Book Platforms (ForeWord Indie/Fab Book of the Year), Snappy Sassy Salty: Wise Words for Authors and Writers and a speaker at publishing conferences.

Become part of her inner circle by joining the Author’s Ark and exclusive monthly webinar and coaching event. Her audio and workbook series, Creating Your Book and Author Platform is now available. Join Judith live on Thursdays at 6 p.m. EST for Author U – Your Guide to Book Publishing on the Toginet Network at http://tinyurl.com/AuthorURadio . Follow @AuthorU and @MyBookShepherd on Twitter and do a “Like” at AuthorU and Judith Briles – TheBookShepherd on Facebook. If you want to create a book that has no regrets, contact Judith at Judith@Briles.com.

 If you are looking for FREE author and book coaching … call in to Judith’s Author Monday Mornings at NOON Eastern each Monday. The number is 218-632-9854; Access Code 1239874444 … have your questions ready–there’s a full hour to ask and listen.

 

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8 Comments on 8 Author Goals Tips for Book Success

  1. Pingback: 2014 Marketing Goals From the Blogs | Book World Marketing

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