Should You Write a Book?

If you want to learn how to write a book, there are thousands of workshops to attend and thousands of YouTube videos to watch.

If you are interested on a passive income, book publishing may be what you are looking for. But, should you write and publish a physical book? What is really behind book writing? Wasn’t the internet and the advent of the digital age going to replace paper? Are you emotionally, financially and physically ready to be an author?

The most common statement I hear from new authors is that they “Have no idea what they are doing.” Most see Amazon as a great option, then they sell 100 books to their friends and family and everything comes to a screeching halt. How to avoid the Amazon trap? How to avoid the boutique pay-per-play publishing company trap? These and other questions will be answered here.

You should write a book, if:

You are a writer and need to write.
You have an idea or passion for a book and want it done.
You are seeking to make a passive income.
You plan to leave a legacy (and income) to your family for generations to come.
You want to create something better than a business card to generate leads and position yourself as an authority in your profession.
You want to be a part of the 1% of 1% of published authors.
You desire to meet a lot more people and widened your network.
You wish to make a contribution to the World and pass-on knowledge.
You want to learn a new skill and embrace a new challenge.
You need to have a clearer picture of who your audience is.

You should NOT write a book, if:

You desire to sell millions of books and become rich.
You want to be famous and live the glamorous life.
Your want to become a New York Times bestselling author.
You just want to write for yourself.

But what is behind book writing?

Blood, sweat and tears. : ) No, really. Writing is a passion, publishing is a business. You can write for free all you want. But if you have something of value, sell it. Have your book written, published and distributed professionally. Therefore, giving yourself a chance to succeed on this 100 year old industry that is mired with gatekeepers and misinformation.

Writing is a passion, publishing is a business.

Writing a book is hard work, but it is worth it. I loved when I look back and see that I wrote and published my first book back in 1988 before the Internet, before the digital age and when the gatekeepers of this industry had all of the power. And, I did it without any cost to myself. In fact, I made money doing so. That was a “beginner’s luck” experience that has continued for 30 years and is getting better and better. Don’t get me wrong, I made some mistakes. But, I learned from them. As a daily producer, I make sure every potential author put their best self forward.

Wasn’t the internet and the digital age going to replace paper?

Yes. That was the idea. But, as I wrote on my third book The Book of CONCEPTS, there is something special about holding a paper printed book and reading it. Paper is not going anywhere. In fact, according to Forbes magazine, book publishing has increased steadily year over year.

Are you emotionally, financially and physically ready to be an author?

Writing is a passion, publishing is a business and as with any business, you will need to be committed financially, emotionally and physically. You get out, what you put in. Dollars and cents do matter and that’s the reason why our authors enjoy a monthly sales report that outlines all their sales from each format of their books. This helps them make decisions on where to invest their time and money to extract success from the market.

You get out, what you put in.

Some of our authors have moved-on to run successful businesses earning passive income and seen their efforts on a Barnes and Noble shelves. Others, like Sherry Hall, author of The Charming Bracelet have seen some of their writings included on famous publications like the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. But this didn’t come by accident. This was intentional, focused work.

Our goal at Briggs & Schuster is to enable, guide and pump-you-up to become the best that you can be. This requires a commitment to truth telling and truth listening, so our feedback is direct, tactful and based on data. Your success is our success, so if you want to challenge yourself to become better and to think differently, we can help with that with coaching that is not available anywhere else.

How to avoid the Amazon trap?

More often than not, people call themselves “published authors” when in fact, they are self-published authors. There’s a big difference between the two types of “published” claims. There is nothing wrong with been a self-published or indie author. But, it is painful to see so many people with so much potential falling for the Amazon trap. Yes, you can put your book out there but does that creation really reflect who you are? Is that really the best you can do? If your answer is “yes” then by all means, continue.

Amazon is a massive business that has just about cornered the book selling market and since purchasing the creative space solution, they have opened for anyone and everyone to publish their books regardless of any quality implications. In fact, you can take a photo of your foot and upload it as a book without any pages whatsoever and it will be on display on Amazon for everyone to see and buy your “masterpiece.” This is not a hyperbolic statement, someone actually did that and got an Amazon bestseller in 5 minutes. So, if that is not what you are aiming for, and your goal is to become a published author, we are here to help. Yes, your book will be for sale on Amazon, but that is just one of over 30 thousand places we will distribute your book to. Our distribution nationally and internationally is amazing.

How to avoid the boutique pay-per-play publishing company trap?

With hundreds of different types of publishers from the big five to vanity publishers and self-publishing solutions, you have a choice. And it is going to be a difficult choice.

Trade publishing, or as they are usually referred to – “the big five” are difficult to access and even if/when you have a signed contract with one of them, there are no guarantees that your book will ever see the light of day. So, you may get an advancement of a few thousand dollars and say goodbye to your book. You will have no control over the look and feel or even if the book is published or not.

Independent and regional publishers are from a bygone era and as such are fading away into the history books. Regardless, if you still can find one, just like the big five, the contractual terms are difficult to swallow. Almost like the big five, there are two main small differences: No advancements and limited distribution.

Vanity, self and contract publishers enjoy the popular pay-per-play model with limited distribution, a-la-carte prices and bundles; low distribution and hidden charges.

Self-Publishing suffers from the stigma that comes from millions of very poorly executed books, printed with low budget in mind and a very limited distribution. A good option for a budget book that is intended for family and friends. A terrible option for professionals seeking passive income and a reputation of excellence.

The Briggs & Schuster difference.

Then there is us. A marketing agency and a publishing agency combined with a focus on producing top-notch, quality books, without any compromises. No cutting corners, and the same distribution of the big five publishers. Author freedom to see your vision come alive, quality, professionalism and cover designs that will make people want to grab your books and read it. Assistance with everything from your idea to the final product. Book signings, coaching, training and ongoing sales reports that will keep your business focused and profitable.

Our customized-for-you approach to publishing, is nothing we have seen from any other publishing agency. We don’t just publish books, our marketing agency is equipped to help you with your own webpage, social media marketing strategy, data analytics and the intentional branding that your hard work deserves. Also, with us, you own your creation, copyright and all. Message us today and let’s make a difference together.

Briggs & Schuster Team