Research conducted by entrepreneur Chandler Bolt discovered that approximately 81% of people would sincerely like to write a book – but don’t. Eight out of ten – that’s a fairly large amount. So if you are one of those eight – the good news is that it is easier than ever to self-publish your own book – for free!

Sure, you’re saying, “What could I write a book about?”

Anything and everything!!!!

You could write about a particular subject you’re passionate about. Maybe you’ve uncovered some amazing family history using Ancestry.com? Is there a creative work of fiction or a children’s story that has been brewing in your brain? How about all of those family recipes that are written on sticky notes or scraps of paper? Your job or life experiences from an insider’s perspective. A book of hope for others sharing a major obstacle you’ve overcome. A bonus manual to sell in the back of the room after you give a speech. The possibilities are endless. Does this help get the wheels in your mind spinning?

A short stroll down memory lane concerning the world of publishing. Before the explosion of online sales, the historical route was to create a manuscript you felt was worthy of being sold in bookstores. Next, you would then submit the manuscript and a proposal to publishers hoping that against all odds they would sign you on to a deal. I can recall at least 4 people I know that were blessed to be able to go that route.

Fast forward to the publishing world of 2018. Here is the sobering truth. Less than 5% of all submissions get a deal from publishing companies. If you do – they take over a portion of your creative content, potentially give you 2%-10% of the net profit of each book sold, and you are still responsible for marketing your work. Unless your last name is Grisham or Rowlett – it is tough to join this exclusive club and stay in it.

Going back to my point in the first paragraph – now is the best time in history to self-publish your book! Amazon accounts for 70% of all book sales (which saddens me since Barnes & Noble is my favorite store). Amazon owns Createspace, one of the largest self-publishing companies (you can Google for others). The great thing about Createspace – you can do the entire process for free (they offer paid services, but you are not required to use them). They print on demand – so if you sell 3 copies or 30,000 copies, it doesn’t cost you a dime. They ship directly from their warehouses, so the middleman and your packaging and shipping costs are eliminated. Your book can be as short or as long as you’d like. Research conducted by Leadership Expert Michael Hyatt reveals that books less than 100 pages have the greatest likelihood of being read from cover to cover.

Yeah, but what about . . . . ?

1. “I’m waiting for just the right time.”  That would be today – it is never the right time.
2. “I don’t have enough hours in the day.” Nobody does – you have to create small blocks of time.
3. “It’s too much work.”  True, but not if you break it down into a 10-minute commitment every day. You more than likely will bounce back and forth between a love/hate relationship with your manuscript.
4. “But I want it to be perfect.” As author Sean Wes says, “When creating something original – get past the perfection mindset, or it will never be good enough and you’ll end up not doing it because you’re overwhelmed. Shoot for a 90% standard – that takes so much of the pressure off.”
5. “Okay, I did it. But all I see are the flaws and mistakes.” Chandler Bolt proudly declares, “Your crappy, self-published book is far better than someone else’s ‘perfect’ book that is an unpublished manuscript sitting in a desk drawer or in a computer file.”
6. “I don’t know how to use the technology involved in self-publishing.” Perfect! Createspace walks you through one step at a time and offers text and video supports.

Do you know why I’m so familiar with these “What about excuses”? Because I’ve used every one of them on my own journey multiple times. I had notes and a rough draft of my book Five Prayers That Can Change History sitting in a box for about 3 years. I didn’t want to face rejection from publishing companies – so I eventually put in the work and self-published it.

And now . . . . it is currently rocking the Amazon Best Seller Charts at #2,236,996 (seriously, but it’s out there)! 🙂

However, a college student shared how she had a copy of Five Prayers That Can Change History and decided to read the first chapter one night. She ended up staying up all night reading it cover to cover, highlighting sections that spoke to her, and writing her own anecdotal notes in the margins.

That is why I write. You can too.

Here’s the deal. If you write a book between now and February 28, 2019. And you are blessed with a publishing deal or decide to self-publish – I promise to purchase a copy. Even if the topic is something like Five Tips For a Healthy Pregnancy (I’ll give it as a gift). There – you already have one preorder from a paying customer. Email me at david.rische@gmail.com when it happens.

Your book can be a lasting legacy. It may impact one person, or it may impact over one hundred thousand. Enough said!

Dave 🙂

https://www.amazon.com/author/davidrische

P.S. Since we’re on the subject of books – my third one will be available on Amazon February 17th! It is called Top of the Class Teacher Interviews: 55 Strategies to Maximize Preparation and Supercharge Your Confidence. It is designed to help teacher candidates through the mental and physical preparation of the overwhelming process of an interview, especially for the first time. Besides personal insights, I used over two dozen reference sources from the world of education and business. So maybe someone looking to reenter the workforce or at potentially switching jobs would also find it beneficial. I’ve been working feverishly on this one since July – so I’m anxious to finally get it out there!