Success starts with a dream. But it wouldn't come true if you're just contented with dreaming. You need to work hard for your life’s goals. Who doesn't want to be successful, right? Aside from the fame and fortune, you will gain the approval of everyone around you. People will look up to you and your past failures will be buried behind your accomplishments. But it is not as easy as it sounds and there are no shortcuts to success.
However, there are things that can help increase its probability. If you're ready to discover them, then read the four important qualities to become one of the successful self-published authors.
1. BRAVERY is a virtue.
1. BRAVERY is a virtue.
We all have our share of fears. And as for authors, the thing that you usually fear the most is the possibility of failure. You don’t want to waste your time and effort on something that won’t sell. Aside from that, your ego and reputation as a creative artist is at stake here.
However, when you come to think of it, fear is not a bad thing. It only becomes evil when it’s hindering you from realizing your true potential. Therefore, as an aspiring self-published author, you need to adapt a sense of bravery. Yes, there will be risks and challenges along the way. But you can move past them if you know how to handle them. So, tackle every problem head on and don’t hesitate to call for help when you think you can’t solve them alone. Remember that there are people willing to help and support you whenever you need backup.
However, when you come to think of it, fear is not a bad thing. It only becomes evil when it’s hindering you from realizing your true potential. Therefore, as an aspiring self-published author, you need to adapt a sense of bravery. Yes, there will be risks and challenges along the way. But you can move past them if you know how to handle them. So, tackle every problem head on and don’t hesitate to call for help when you think you can’t solve them alone. Remember that there are people willing to help and support you whenever you need backup.
2. Make OPTIMISM your best friend.
What happens if you're a natural-born pessimist? Should you just drop your dreams of being a self-published author? Of course, the answer is NO. There are many ways on how to practice positive thinking. And most of them don’t need you to exert too much effort, just like the ones written in The Pessimist’s Guide to Being Optimistic. Although you can’t transform your attitude overnight, the good news is, you're not on a tight deadline. See? I told you, there’s a brighter side to everything.
3. Try to become an ENTREPRENEUR.
Develop an entrepreneurial mindset. How hard can it be? You don’t have to study accounting, corporate law and other mind-boggling business issues. All you have to do is to think of ways to market your book efficiently. And then learn how to spot a sales opportunity when you see one.
For instance, you're launching a book next week but before the event, you have to attend a social gathering. What can you do? First, think about the type of guests that you’ll encounter at the event. If they are among your target audience, you should formulate your own strategy. Like, you can carry small business cards and give them to everyone you think will be interested in your book, throw in a little sales pitch and you have already spread the word about your manuscript. How does that sound?
4. FLEXIBILITY is a must.
Heraclitus once said, “Change is the only constant in life”. And because of technology, changes in the modern world keep on rolling like unstoppable waves. Hence, you need to learn how to adapt easily.
You know, the self-publishing industry is a highly competitive world. And the only way to survive is if you're flexible enough to adjust to every situation. Let’s take a look at eBook, which is the one of the major developments in the industry. Decades ago, people didn’t think it was possible to sell a book without actually printing it on paper. They were contented with their hardcover and paperback issues. But came all the gadgets that made it possible for readers to buy a book and read it digitally. Amazing, isn’t it?
Anyway, during the first few periods after eBook emerged, only a few authors transformed their manuscripts from printed materials to a digital copy. Guess what happened? Well, only those who maximized the power of eBook were the successful ones. But those who were stringent to adapt in the changes were left behind. The moral of the story is, if there is another major development in the self-publishing industry, you should be among the first ones to react.
You don’t have to be Nora Roberts or Mark Twain to be known. All you need to do is develop the winning traits so you can climb your way to the top. And don’t worry, even if you don’t have the qualities mentioned yet, it’s never too late to practice them today.
You know, the self-publishing industry is a highly competitive world. And the only way to survive is if you're flexible enough to adjust to every situation. Let’s take a look at eBook, which is the one of the major developments in the industry. Decades ago, people didn’t think it was possible to sell a book without actually printing it on paper. They were contented with their hardcover and paperback issues. But came all the gadgets that made it possible for readers to buy a book and read it digitally. Amazing, isn’t it?
Anyway, during the first few periods after eBook emerged, only a few authors transformed their manuscripts from printed materials to a digital copy. Guess what happened? Well, only those who maximized the power of eBook were the successful ones. But those who were stringent to adapt in the changes were left behind. The moral of the story is, if there is another major development in the self-publishing industry, you should be among the first ones to react.
You don’t have to be Nora Roberts or Mark Twain to be known. All you need to do is develop the winning traits so you can climb your way to the top. And don’t worry, even if you don’t have the qualities mentioned yet, it’s never too late to practice them today.
