Dear Friends,

My sweetie and I had a summer garden party on Saturday and I met some new friends in between sniffing the just bloomed roses and eating Chinese chicken salad. One woman, Dee Dee, mentioned that she'd written a book, but was discouraged by the process of getting it published. She had heard Jack Canfield speak at a writer's conference and thought, "There's no way I can do this." Maybe so, maybe not.

During the party, I also talked to Heather, my sweetie's tennis coach, who was Martina Navratilova's double's partner and played many professional tennis tournaments including Wimbledon. I've taken a few lessons from her and she changed my backhand and serve--literally in one lesson. That's some feat considering I started playing when I was about fourteen and have had my strokes grooved in since the beginning by Jake Stap, an ex-military man and real-life tennis drill sergeant who ran Stap's Tennis Camp.

To make the changes for me possible, even with my long- standing habits, Heather took apart my stroke and broke it up into micro-movements. First she stood next to me and dropped the ball right in front of me. She had me take my racquet back in the new way, swing and connect with the ball. Once I got that down she had me run a few steps to the ball to hit it, then added another micro movement and another until I could use my new stroke in a real rally.

When Dee Dee heard Jack Canfield talk, she couldn't imagine doing all the necessary steps (which seemed like impossible leaps) as all that information was just too darn much to take in all at once. In other words, the big picture was too enormous and she couldn't see each individual part or micro- movement. No doubt writing and getting a book published is a daunting task. But, if those tasks are sectioned into many tiny tasks then voila! the thing gets done, almost magically on its own.

That's what I've tried to do in my Get a 6 Figure Book Advance E-book. And, modesty aside, I think I've succeeded. The "Plug n' Play" proposal template is something I'm particularly proud of. I've created a step-by-step process in which you just insert your information and are guided every single second (the micro-movements), choose the marketing phrases to use which are provided, to create what is vital for each section. Once you've put in your information you just email the template to yourself and all the formatting is done--and so is your proposal.

If you've felt overwhelmed or discouraged by the process--or feel energized to get your proposal done and get it ready for an agent, or revise it for a publisher if you already have an agent, then I encourage you to take action--one step at at time. Click here if you are ready to take the first small step.

We need to see your imagination and ideas in the world. No waiting.

Warmly,
Susan

P.S. Napoleon said, "Circumstances - what are circumstances? I make circumstances." Make your own circumstances by doing one small thing to inch you forward.

Make Big Money on Your Book
10 hot tips

Wouldn't it be nice to write a book, get paid handsomely for it and be considered a top expert all at once? It's possible--if you know the rules.

1. Study the publishing industry.

Today celebrity books rule. Books that catch a quick trend come in second. Take chick lit, for example. Nobody cared about hip books for women ten, or even five years ago. But women buy the majority of books--and actually read them. It's not to say that other book genres aren't viable. Of course they are. The big categories of fiction and non- fiction will live on forever. But even self-help is on the wane according to some sources. And, as a literature savvy friend of mine said, "Plots are passe." There's much more to know about the industry. Like what agents look for and how publishers decide on what will be profitable.

2. Understand that publishers don't buy books, they buy ideas.

Many new authors think they need to write a book to sell it. Not so. You develop an idea (fiction excluded) and give publishers a taste of what's to come. They decide whether your idea has a large enough market for them to make money on it. You must prove, without a doubt that they can. Lots of it.

3. Think of your proposal as the business plan for your book.

Map out the life of your book in the marketplace for the next five years. Plan on devoting at least that much time to promoting it.

4. Have a huge platform.

A platform is simply YOUR ability to sell books to the audience that you have said will buy--from you. Are you already a "personality" people recognize and love? How many organizations, companies, groups do you speak to every month? Do you write regularly for newspapers, magazines or the Internet? Do you have prestigious clients who can sell your books in bulk to their corporations? You get the idea. You must *look* like a mover and shaker in your field.

5. Be a media star.

If you're not already a familiar face on TV, a vivacious voice on the radio or a person who appears in print often, not to worry. If you can show you have the potential to become a star, that's a start. Maybe you've been on local TV and had rave reviews. If so, mention that.

6. Speak.

Gone are the days when writers can write in their rooms. A major publishing house hired me to media coach one of their rising star authors. Her book was getting major national press--but she was dull. And they were worried that her lackluster personality would effect her book sales. We worked until she got comfortable on camera while talking vividly in 15 second sound bites.

7. Get media coached.

With some media coaching you can morph into a mediagenic maven. But it does take practice and sincere commitment. You can work on your pizzazz factor by studying great interviewees and modeling the behaviors you liked. If you can’t afford a media coach, get out that video camera and do mock interviews with friend. A lot can be revealed and ironed out just by seeing how you appear to others on the big screen.

8. Develop your platform.

When I interviewed editors at top New York publishing houses like Simon & Schuster & HarperCollins they told me repeatedly that the most important thing a writer can have today is a strong "platform." A platform is a plan of how you are going to reach your audience to sell books.

Prove you have a following. Publishers want to know who has bought your books or products in the past-- and they want to know how many. Can you show that you have a track record of selling your goods to people across the globe, or at least in your community? Maybe you’re not as far along in your career as one of my clients who is a $12,000 an hour speaker who put in his proposal the fact that his audiences range from 100-10,000 people, and he speaks 250 times per year.

His speaking bureau typically sells his video and audio tapes to those audiences in advance when they book his talk. What you want to show is how you can secure sales in large quantities to people you know will buy from you--because they have bought already. Or how audiences similar to the ones who have purchased are primed to buy your book.

9. Get high profile endorsements.

To instantly establish your stature put these accolades on page number one so they’re the first thing an agent or editor sees. Endorsements need to be from celebrities, best-selling authors and well-known experts in your field.

Show that you’re respected in the world. Endorsements show that high-level people believe in you, that you’re a good bet. They also go on your book cover jacket and help sell your book--and in today’s competitive marketplace it’s essential. Don’t say you’re “actively seeking endorsements.” Leading with the endorsements makes sure an agent or editor gets that you’re a big shot--or soon will be.

One secret that many authors don’t know is the best blurbs are written by the writers themselves. Don’t expect famous people to read your tome. They don’t have the time or the desire. And please don’t send it to them unsolicited. Ask permission. Then do the work for them and ask them to sign off on that perfect gem--the one you’ve written--touting the marvels of your work.

10. Your sample chapter.

Once you’ve established that the author has some sort of a platform, that they have some voice in the world beyond their circle of friends, I go straight to the sample chapter.

Prove you can write. "I want to know if they are a good writer, because an agent can tinker away with the rest of the proposal and make it sound really good," says Kelly Notaras, a Senior Editor at Hyperion.

What if you’re not a great writer? Hire a ghost writer. Remember platform is non-replaceable. You, the personality, the presence, is what they’re investing in. Good writing can be bought. Star quality can’t.

Get a 6 Figure Book Advance

Have you gotten a paltry advance for your book? Can't get an agent interested in your idea? Thinking about self-publishing but want the credibility and name that comes from having a reputable New York publishing house behind you? You've probably heard that the book business is harder than ever to break into....Not so.

Now you can find out how to make big money for your book idea... even before you write it... (even if it's your first book.) Want to be paid $100,000, $500,000, $975,000 or more for your book? Let me show you how. You'll discover how to land a top literary agent, keep your book out of the publisher's slush pile, and what it really takes to sign that coveted 6 figure deal. Find out how here

Get a 6 Figure Book Advance--Without Even Writing a Book Free Teleclass

Whether you're a seasoned author, a first-time novice or anyone in between, find out how you can be one of the upper echelon of authors who command the big bucks. Join me (whose clients have gotten hefty advances,) along with prosperity coaches Jeanna Gabellini and Eva Gregory, as I show you what it takes to be a best-selling author.

You'll learn how to:

• Develop an irresistible platform.
• Create a publicity plan that will wow! editors.
• Entice agents to pursue you.
• Avoid the pet peeves of editors at the major New York publishing houses.
• Use strategies to create an auction so your book sells to the highest bidder.

To register send a blank email

Getting it Right on Amazon.com

Helpful article on managing your books on amazon.com from best-selling author Sarah Wernick (who is featured in my Get a 6 Figure Book Advance E-book).

If you've created a book, tape or CD you should have it/them listed on amazon.com for the publicity. They take a good chunk of your money but it's one more way you get and stay known.

P.S. Sarah's site is a veritable gold mine of information for authors.

Free Sound Bite Teleclass

Get ready to promoting yourself by knowing what to say, how to say it and who to say it to—and increase your media attention instantly.

Did you miss the How to Become a 60 Second Sound Bite Genius teleseminar a few weeks ago with me and personal coach Nancy Gerber?

If so, I've posted the audio of the entire 60-minute call (a gift to you) download it here.

Come Meet Me

Anywhere in the World
Become a 60 Second Sound Bite Genius
(For Pitching, Producer calls, Networking or Presentations)
1 hour
Download it at no charge

Anywhere in the World
Get a 6 Figure Book Advance Teleclass
July 20
Wednesday
11am PT, 12pm MT, 1pm CT, 2pm ET, and 7pm UK
No Cost
To register send a blank email

How to Use Sound Bites to Get The Media Attention You Want
Level 2, The Interview
(The above class is a prerequisite)
4 sessions
(Handle any type of media interview)
October 4, 11,18, 25
10am-11:30am pst
(other times may be available)
See all upcoming dates here
$299

San Francisco California
Get a 6 Figure Book Advance
September 20, 2005
The Learning Annex
6:30-9:30pm pst
415.788.5500
$44.99 (Take $5.00 off this course for enrolling on the web!)
For further schedule information and course descriptions please visit: http://prsecrets.com/speakingkeynotesworkshops.html

NOTE: Some new classes do not yet have descriptions. Your patience is appreciated.

Quote

There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening,
that is translated through you into action, and because
there is only one of you in all time, this expression is
unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through
any other medium and it will be lost.

~ Martha Graham