Written by: Vickie Sullivan | July 31, 2014

Interviewing Authors

Had a stone-cold blast in this interview with good friend Tim Knox of Interviewing Authors. Tim is an author, serial entrepreneur and internet marketer who knows what it takes to sell a bunch of books. You could write the best book in the world, but if you lack the ability to get your book “out there” in this noisy market, it will probably die on the vine. Tim’s perspective on the journey from idea to finished book is one to pay attention to.

We had so much fun that I forgot to mention these two tell-tale differences between thought-leading books that get media play and expert-driven tomes that die a slow death. Here they are:

Someone else’s ideas vs your ideas. Yes, you need to note when you use the work of another author. Books that contain 90% of those mentions look like a summary of book reports. Experts report on the work of others; thought leaders sprinkle the work of others in with their own ideas. My favorite ratio: 75% your ideas, 25% other people’s ideas.
Ancient history lessons vs real-world stories. Too many history lessons make the book read like a textbook. (And no one reads those except students.) Experts try to look smart by using long-ago stories they don’t have a role in. Thought leaders use stories from their own experience that the reader can relate to. When you use your own stories, you show the reader that 1) you understand their environment; and, 2) this isn’t your first rodeo.

Remember, books are a spotlight — they highlight only what you show. Here are links to resources to help you write your best book:

Filed Under: Content Marketing, Tips, Trends & Tirades Market Digest