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Which of the following is your biggest challenge writing a nonfiction book?

Given the numerous, often-documented, advantages that a published book offers coaches, consultants, and other service providers, I'd like to know why more nonfiction books aren't published.

Which of the following are the biggest challenges holding you back?

- Difficulty knowing where to start writing
- Lack of time to write your book
- Lack of resources to promote your book
- Difficulty locating an agent or publisher

Am I overlooking something else?

As someone who has written 38 books, which have sold 1.6 million copies around the world, I'd like to see others enjoy some of the nice experiences that my books have brought me. So, what's holding you back?

Roger C. Parker
www.publishedandprofitable.com

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Roger,

I only write non-fiction books and my current book is titled Integrity: Do You Have It? 2nd edition.
I am currently working on two more. I work part time and write articles, manage my web site www.myqualitywriting.com and constantly look for topics that would make great books. Of the items you mentioned probably the most that applies to me is the lack of time to write. However, I try to write everyday and I constantly look at this web site, receive newsletters and respond to forum topics on several sites. I am constantly finding new resources to promote my books and writing through such sites as this and the newsletters I receive. I would be interested in knowing how you sold so many copies of your books to see if there are any possibilities that I have overlooked. I continue to learn about the publishing industry and the available resources to promote my books and writing and those that apply to my writing I start to utilize them when they are known to me.

Your question may generate some responses from others to help everyone with the challenges you mentioned above.

Thanks
Dear Dennis:
Thank you for your response.

Timing played a major success in my books. Books that are too early, or too late, on a topic never achieve the success of books that capitalize on a rising tide.

The implications for you, possibly, would be to reframe and reformat your message and interests to tide with trends within society, i.e., government, health, economy, popular culture, etc.

Are your books tied together with a common theme? Have you consciously tried to create a "brand" for yourself and your books, i.e., a common identity, etc.? I'll probably know better when I visit your site, but just wwanted to know how intentional your branding was.

Bes wishes on your endeavors.

Roger C. Parker
Roger,

I have written and self published three books, two of which are nonfiction. It isn't my impression that there is any lack of books about. I have had difficulty attracting the attention of any agents or publishers other than one I met through a friend. At the time I talked with him, we had trouble agreeing on how to approach the project. However, I now have some ideas about how to proceed in the way he was suggesting and am resurrecting the project. Although possibly naive, I have reached the tentative conclusion that one must be famous or know an agent or publisher personally in order to get a hearing. If you used a different approach, I would be interested in hearing about it. Thanks for the question.
Joe
Dear Joe:
I'm sorry for your frustration to date. To a great extent, it's a "closed" loop.

On the other hand, what have you done to create, or attract, demand? What kind of web presence do you have?

The reason I asked: a few weeks ago at www.publishedandprofitable.com, I interviewed Garr Reynolds, author of Presentation Zen, the "high 200's" presentation book at Amazon.com. On January 18, 2005, Garr began his Presentation Zen blog, www.presentationzen.com. Within a year,
3 publishers HAD APPROACHED HIM because of his blog and ASKED HIM to consider writing a book.

You might consider purchasing David Meerman Scott's The New Rules of Marketing and PR to learn more about this approach, or visit David's site at www.webinknow.com.

Best wishes--Roger
Dear Roger,
Thanks for your reply. As far as my efforts, I have two websites, one being www.commonsense-wisdom.com which presents information about my writing including a copy of the newspaper article I publish every other week. My other website, www.slidingotter.com, presents more information about my books and gives excerpts from each. I also write a blog five or six times a week, Conversations with Calliope, presenting my ongoing dialogue with my muse about the daily progress of my writing. It is published in four different places. I am also pursuing information abvailable at sites such as this one. I have been trying to make sense of social marketing and tried to comprehend MySpace which so far at least seems like trying to have a serious discussion on a busy playground. I have done a couple free workshops on writing but the effort seems to greatly outweigh the benefit. Thank you for the suggestion of David Scott's book and website. I will look into them.
Best regards,
Joe
I write nonfiction books, but not the poppy kind. I've had success with them for their target market. But I guess I still don't get your question since more nonfiction books are published every year then fiction books. I do think that they are a great tool to use if you are in a service oriented field - back of the room sales can make a lot of money.

_____________________________________________
Director: Bauu Institute and Press
Publisher: Great New Books Reviewed
Editor: Indigenous Peoples Issues Blog
Editor: Indigenous Peoples Issues & Resources

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