A few weeks ago I spent the weekend at Author 101 with my business mentor Tom Antion and my friends Fashion Designer Hidi Lee and Celebrity Branding Coach Starley Murray. It was amazing the wealth of knowledge you can get at these events….especially legitimate ones like Author 101. So, I thought I’d deviate from my normal fashion commentary and give you some tips you could use if you ever decide to write a book. It certainly can do wonders for your career and then you’ll need me to style you as you climb higher on the ladder of success.
3 tips that I want to share with you before you write your first book are:
- Writing a book is only half the work. If you are not promoting it on a website, fundraiser, or creating a buzz at least 6 months before the release…you are behind schedule. I did a successful fundraiser campaign raising $4100.00 which helped pre-sell dozens of books and got people excited about it. Ultimate Guide to Style:From Drab to Fab! is now available for sale.
- Everyone has a unique story to tell. You can turn your blog, articles, or sometimes a journal into a book. Just elaborate on everything. At first, I thought I would not have enough information to write a book on style. However, to make the how-to more interesting I incorporated funny fashion mishaps of my own.
- Have a iron-clad co-author agreement. If you choose to write a book
with a partner make sure you have a contract stating what percentage goes to who and what their exact tasks are BEFORE you start writing. You really need to completely spell out each person’s role and have an attorney draft the final agreement that’s acceptable to both parties. If you really feel the need to get in to a co-authorship arrangement keep in mind what Tom always says, “It’s easy to get in to a partnership, but hard to get out. I recommend finding a professional lawyer who deals with co-author agreements draw up your contract.
