Despite their incredible surge to unimaginable status as the world’s premiere retailer, it is comforting to know that even Amazon, makes mistakes now and then. Roughly 20-years ago, early in my career as an author, my agent connected me with the folks at Crown Publishing who were looking for a new version of Roberts Rules of Order, or disorder, depending on how well you follow such rules of decorum. I got the project, plus half … Continue reading…
It’s been noted many times that with smart phones, smart cars, and smart houses, we no longer have smart people. While that isn’t completely true, there is a tendency to minimize the need to think, whether it means doing simple math, having some problem-solving skills or naming all the Kardashians. Phrases like “well, that’s what it says on the computer,” or “we do it this way because we’ve always done it this way,” are clear … Continue reading…
Are you sick of reading the great success stories about the 40 under 40, 30 under 30, 20 under 20 and a 13 year old that started a business, made a million dollars and is now a consultant? After all, he has a wealth of experience to share, before his bedtime, of course. I’m sick of ageism. It’s the one ism where discrimination is widely accepted, especially by those convinced that they will retire before … Continue reading…
In recent years, the annual number of self-published books has surpassed the number of traditionally published books. Why? Because people are not just looking to profit directly from book sales. Instead, they want to market their businesses and their skills to gain new customers. They also want to tell stories, book speaking engagements, and make their mark on the world. Since most writers are not yet celebrities in their fields, and have not built the … Continue reading…
There are two things people are always saying they’d love to do; open a restaurant and write a book. Of course, if they’re in the culinary field they can do both. The closest I came to learning about opening a restaurant was writing a book on how to get started with your own food truck. However, I do know quite a bit about writing a book and the excited feeling of getting published. When my … Continue reading…
I was recently discussing the latest edition of a theater book, which I had worked on, with an indexer/fact checker. We were double checking titles such as Book of Mormon vs. The Book of Moron, and reviewing which of several shows mentioned won Tony Awards. Most authors, and ghostwriters, appreciate editors, fact checkers and proofreaders, who help us get it right. And yes, most authors out there still want to get it right. Today, however, … Continue reading…
One of the first questions people ask when talking to a ghostwriter is “how much?” You’ll see rates for book ranging from $2,000 to $200,000. So let’s just say, it varies. As a result, just as everyone on an airline has paid a different price for their seat (and will end up at the same location) ghostwriting has a similar inconsistency in pricing. Why such a disparity? There are many factors involved. For example, a … Continue reading…
According to a Gallup poll, 40% of people are afraid of public speaking, or have Glossophobia, as it’s called. I’m sure you’ll also find a large percentage of people who aren’t afraid, but simply don’t feel confident in their speaking abilities. Then there are those of us who love public speaking. First, I should dispel the myth that you need to be an extrovert to get up and speak publically. I was never particularly outgoing … Continue reading…
When I speak in front of groups, I discuss what it takes to write a book and get it published. I talk about outlines, chapters, edits, rewrites, agents and all sorts of fun stuff. Then the audience asks questions which I try to answer and, in the end, people seem very happy with some insights into the book writing and publishing process. Yet even with their new insights, only a small few of the people … Continue reading…
“I’m writing a book. I’ve got the page numbers done.” Steven Wright Having written nearly a dozen books for Entrepreneur Media and at least a dozen articles for their website, entrepreneur.com, I have officially made the transition from humor writer in the 1990s to business writer today. But it’s more than replacing a few punch lines with business-speak. While I enjoyed writing humor books and material for radio and TV, I now find that I … Continue reading…
