LESSON 2: DEVISE A PLAN

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If I could wave a magic wand and grant your biggest author wish right now, what would that be? Would you be able to handle it? Do you even dare to dream that big?  Write down your biggest AUTHOR WISH right now. There are no right or wrong answers, and you can have more than one wish. Pick at least one to start with. 

• I want to see my name on the cover of a book.
• I want my book to hit the #1 slot in the romance category.
• I want my book to be made into a movie.
• I want to help adapt my book into a TV series and receive a producer/screenwriter credit.
• I want to earn a living from my books.
• I want to make enough money from my books to allow my spouse to retire and pay them to be my assistant.
• I want my publisher to create a special collector's edition of my book with painted edges and an embossed cover.
• I want my book to be picked for a "Loot Crate"-type of subscription box.
• I want my book to be selected for a celebrity's book club.
• I want my work to inspire someone to make fan art about it.
• I want my work to inspire someone to cosplay as one of my characters.
• I want to hear my words come to life as an audiobook.
• I want to see my words come to life as a graphic novel.
• I want my manuscript to go to auction.
• I want a publisher to insist on a multi-book contract.  

As soon as you start dreaming big, prepare for the "Seagulls" to arrive. Whether the Seagull is your own Inner Critic or a loving family member who means well, all Seagulls have the same M.O. As soon as you dare to speak your audacious wish aloud, they swoop in, squawk at your seemingly impossible dream, crap all over it, and then swoop out.

Nobody said turning your wish into a reality would be easy. It can be done, though. Put on your armor and listen to the Seagulls for a moment. Weed out any unhelpful comments—you know, the ones that toxic people say because they are secretly jealous. (Looking at YOU, random internet troll!) But are there other comments that sting because they contain a kernel of truth? Now those, we can do something about. Dissect the hurtful comment and then create an action step to neutralize it.

For example:

"You're a romance writer. You can't be a picture book author, too."

Why not? I will sign up for the "So You Want to Be a Picture Book Author" one-day workshop. Then *I* will decide whether this is the right choice for me. 

"Who is going to pay for this new hobby of yours?"

Me, and it's not a hobby. I'm going to work a side hustle this summer until I have $1000 in my Treasure Chest to pay for this project.

"[Sarcastic laughter] Yeah, like you have so much free time right now to add one more thing to your plate."

You're right. I will have to let some things go to make this happen. In fact, I'm going to resign as chairperson of the volunteer committee effective immediately. Wednesday is now officially "Pizza Takeout Night" at my house. And I won't be available for coffee any Saturday or Sunday in February because I will be doing a writing retreat at the library. 

"You can't take a month off work to go out on a book tour!"

I don't need a whole month off, but I may need the occasional Friday or Monday off to attend weekend book festivals and other writerly events. I'm not going to take my usual week-long vacation this summer. Instead, I will save my vacation days for launch time.  

"You are such a minnow of an author. Why would book festival organizers pick you to be on a panel with the big fish?"

I'm going to contact my favorite author friends, see what we all have in common, write a strong proposal for our group, and pitch it to the book festival's organizers for next year. I'm going to make it easy for organizers to pick us. Plus, we're friends in real life. That has a different energy than a bunch of strangers on a panel together.

"I know people would love your book...if they could actually find it."

This month, I'm going to pitch my book to my local library, my closest chain bookstore like Barnes & Noble, and an independent bookstore.

Now that you've heard some other authors' pain points, what is holding YOU back?

Let's take your Seagulls' comments a step further. Do you see a pattern in their comments? If you boil down the most common unhelpful comments authors hear (or tell themselves), they usually fall into one of four buckets:

1.  LACK OF KNOWLEDGE

Thankfully, we live in the Information Age, so this is the easiest problem to solve. Believe me, whatever you are interested in learning about, it's already out there somewhere. The bigger issue is sorting through the field of haystacks to find the correct one the needle that you are looking for is in. If lack of knowledge is a problem for you:

• Find an "expert." Go straight to the community-voted "expert" in whatever topic you are interested in, and do a deep dive into their blog/website/body of work.
• Attend the Zoom meetings of the professional writing organization you belong to and keep your finger on the pulse of the industry.
• Tap into collective knowledge. Invite a few of your author friends out to lunch to network about events and opportunities in your area. 
• Consult industry experts. Pay for a critique from a vetted industry professional. Dissect their comments and spitball solutions with other author friends.
• Put your pitch to the test. Learn by doing! Participate in a free online Pitch Fest or purchase a slot with an agent at a conference.

2.  LACK OF RESOURCES

Resources include all the tangible and intangible things you need to be a successful authorpreneur. Yes, you will need money. However, even more important, you will also need creative energy, bandwidth, business connections, support, and especially time. 

• Lack money? You can bootstrap your way to success by watching countless how-to videos on YouTube.
• Lack creative energy? You can make exponential leaps in writing your book by attending an intensive weekend-long retreat with other authors.
• Lack bandwidth? Hire a professional to format the interior of your book instead of learning how to do it yourself.
• Lack connections? Pitch your book to agents and editors at a conference. This may cost an extra fee, so do your homework and ensure that this person is the best match for you.
• Lack support? Invite your college-aged niece to have a long weekend staycation at your house in exchange for pet sitting so you can attend a writing conference.
• Lack time? Have a hard look at your calendar and see what needs to be delegated or deleted until you accomplish your goal. 

3.  LACK OF COURAGE

Being a wildly creative and authentic artist of any kind is absolutely terrifying. Know that someone will always hate your work and possibly you too. Don't believe me? Read the one-star reviews for the #1 bestseller in the category that you want to be in. Now, read the one-star reviews for the book that YOU think is total perfection. See. Art is subjective. Do the hard work to create the best book you can, but then let it go. Here are a few things authors can do to help with a lack-of-courage problem:

• Publish under a pseudonym. Let that pseudonym become your alter ego. You are Jane Smith, a certified tax accountant by day, and Alerie Ravahorn, an elven romance author on nights and weekends. 
• Find your core audience. Where do they congregate? Get thee to a science fiction and fantasy convention, Alerie Ravahorn! Don't forget your cloak and ears!
• Use the buddy system. Many authors have a hard time talking about their work but will gush about their author friend's book for hours. Become a dynamic duo and conquer events together.
• Find a critique group. Not only will these people be your accountability partners, but they will help you elevate your craft.
• Give yourself permission to experiment. When you want to try something completely new or off-brand, tell yourself, "I'm experimenting." Don't worry about the final result or the Seagulls it might attract. You don't even have to talk about it with other author friends. There are no strings attached. 

4.  LACK OF CONFIDENCE

Lack of confidence and lack of courage go hand-in-hand. Lack of confidence can be deep-rooted, insistent, and recurring*. It keeps you playing small. It may seep into several spheres of your life. Here are a few actionable things that you can do to boost your confidence:

• Display your "wins" in a prominent place. Remind yourself that you are a WINNER! Print out that glowing email from the contest judge and put it on the refrigerator next to your child's A+ Algebra test. 
• Call attention to your accolades. Proudly display your book award medals, trophies, and plaques in your office next to a copy of the book that won them. 
• Create  a "warm fuzzies" folder on your computer. Include every five-star rating, positive review, reader gush, or anything that confirms you are a good writer who makes readers happy. Look at it when the Seagulls become extra loud.
• Print out (with permission) the fan art that people have created from your book. Place it on the shelf in your writing space to remind you that your work matters. Not only is your work entertaining, but here is concrete proof that you are INSPIRING on top of it. 
• Bring your lanyards home from all the events where you teach, speak, or do signings. Let them pile up in one spot in your office. They are proof that your work matters and that YOU matter.

*I am not a trained mental health professional. Please consult one to help you navigate this particular challenge.

1. What is your biggest lack-of-knowledge problem right now? What/Who are some potential sources of information that will help you solve that problem?
2. What is your biggest lack-of-resources problem right now? What/Who can help you solve that problem?
3. What is your biggest lack-of-courage problem right now? What/Who can help you solve that problem?
4. What is your biggest lack-of-confidence problem right now? What/Who can help you solve that problem?