What drives you?

What is your why?

What is driving you to write a book? Why do you want to write a book? What outcome are you hoping to receive? These are questions to ask yourself that will steer your mind to think on a deeper level. If writing is your passion, your focus will be more tailored to your readers, benefiting from your content rather than sales. If your drive is to earn more money or become the number one best seller, your drive and energy will be towards sales and not so much towards the content.

Now, I am not saying either is better or that you should not focus on sales. What drives you determines your success and impact. For example, you walk into the mall, and a man standing at a booth says, "Excuse me". You turn in their direction, and immediately they begin with their sales pitch. Normally, you would walk away and say no, thank you, but you give them a chance to finish. In their pitch, their focus is to try and convince you to buy their product. They are not concerned about how the product can improve your life or why you need it. Their pitch tells you they are more focused on the sale. Just because someone is trying to sell you a product does not mean you have to buy it.

It can be well packaged, look presentable, and be high quality. But without a need for it, is it something that you would buy?

When you put this same perspective in appealing to an audience to purchase your book, you must convince your potential customers why they need it. Just because you wrote a book does not mean everyone, including the audience you write it for, has to buy it. Too many people have given up on their dream of being an author because they focus on sales. When the sales do not come or last for a short while, they are discouraged and no longer want to write. I have even seen people say, "Please buy my book." There is a better way that does not result in begging or manipulating. As you continue to follow this blog, you will gain the inspiration and wisdom you need to become a successful author.