Join a teleseminar call addressing the question, “What’s keeping you from writing a book?” during a Published & Profitable’s free book coaching call.

When asked what’s keeping them from writing and publishing a brand-building book, most people mention one, or more, of the following:

1. I’m not creative enough.
2. I don’t know what to write about.
3. I don’t have the time.
4. I’m not a good enough writer.
5. I don’t know where to begin.

And, there may be others!

But, are these really the reason more books aren’t written?

Or, are there other factors at work?

During the first part of tomorrow’s end-of-month book coaching call, I’ll be sharing some possible ways to address the above obstacles to writing and publishing a book, as well as inviting callers to mention other writing & publishing obstacles.

Share your experiences

After a brief discussion of the above obstacles, I’ll open the line to callers to discuss their January writing and book marketing progress, as well as their goals for February. There will be plenty of opportunities to ask your questions, obtain qualified book coaching help, and share your concerns about writing a book to build your brand.

To attend…

Published & Profitable’s January End-of-month teleseminar book coaching call takes place Thursday, January 26, at 11:00 AM EST. All Published & Profitable friends and members are invited to  participate. Simply call 605-475-6150 and enter PIN 513391#. I invite you to invite your friends and submit questions ahead of the call as comments, below.

Jump start your journey to writing & publishing success by attending Published & Profitable’s free end-of-month book coaching call Thursday, Jan. 26, at 11 AM EST.

Wrap-up your January writing progress and get inspired for your February writing & book marketing progress.

The purpose of these calls is to review ways to share advice, ideas, and tips relating to the 4 steps involved in writing and publishing success.

Call format

Published & Profitable’s monthly group book coaching calls are 1-hour long. Each offers a combination of new ideas, group discussion, and problem-solving:

• Presentation. I begin each call with a short presentation, or especially timely, topic. These typically revolve around new writing and publishing ideas, resources, or techniques. In the past, topics have included new books, recently-introduced software, and fresh approaches to familiar challenges. Often, I invite callers to download PDF handouts or worksheets to follow along and refer to later.
• Jan. progress, Feb. goals. Next, I open the lines and invite callers to share their progress the previous month and goals for the upcoming month. This provides an often-rare opportunity for callers to share their challenges and problems with others who understand their challenges and can offer fresh insights and solutions. Often, calls take on a spirited life of their own, enhanced by the range of caller questions and experiences.
• Preferences. This Thursday, I will describe some of the upcoming interviews and forthcoming Published & Profitable projects, and ask callers to share their opinions and preferences.

How to attend Thursday’s free book coaching call

Published & Profitable’s January End-of-month teleseminar book coaching call takes place Thursday, January 26, at 11:00 AM EST. All Published & Profitable friends and members are invited to  participate. If you’re interested in writing and, possibly, self-publishing a brand-building book, I hope you’ll join us. Simply call 605-475-6150 and enter PIN 513391#. I invite you to invite your friends and submit questions ahead of the call as comments, below.

Learn how to market your services to millionaires in the Feb., 2012, issue of Dan Schawbel’s Personal Branding Magazine.

The current issue, Volume 5, Issue 3 focuses on serving high net worth clients with products and services that they will pay for.

Contents include an interview with Patti Stanger, Bravo TV’s The Millionaire Matchmaker whose clientele are millionaires who don’t have time to date because they’re too busy running their businesses.

Wealthy individuals usually have higher expectations and can be difficult to attract, especially when you’re first starting out. This issue will explain how to go about being a brand that serves them.

Other feature interviews include:

• Ali Velshi, anchor for CNN’s Your Money
• David Novak, CEO of Yum! Brands
• Dan Roam, bestselling author of Back of the Napkin and Blah, Blah, Blah: What to Do When Words Won’t Work
• Meg Hirschberg,  Inc. Magazine columnist

To learn more about marketing to millionaires, download a sample copy of the Personal Branding Magazine.

FontBook’s iPad app makes it easy to make informed typeface choices for book covers & personal brands.

As you can see from the example at left, the FontBook app helps you explore different typefaces and the details that contribute to the image they project.

Notice how the same words take up different amounts of space when set in different typefaces.

Over 620,000 typeface designs at your fingertips

Established in 1989, the FontBook has become the world’s comprehensive typographic resource, now displaying and selling over 620,000 fonts from over 110 different type foundries.

With version 2 of the FontBook iPad app, you can:

• Select type based on typeface name, classification, designer, historical period, or foundry
• Enter sample text and view it at type sizes
• Share samples with clients or others before you buy the fonts
• Compare typeface samples on the same screen
• Mix and match different combinations of headline, subhead, and body copy type

Best of all, you don’t have to be a “designer” to explore type on your iPad, nor do you even have to refer to the FontBook’s instructions!

I created the above example from scratch, simply by exploring and trying out different features.

Before settling for Arial, Times New Roman, or the other fonts that came with your computer, or taking a chance by buying fonts sight-unseen, install the FontBook app and explore the world of type. trying before you buy. Note, learn more at the FontBook site, even if you haven’t yet purchased an iPad or iPad 2. What do you think? Is this for you?

Yesterday, the 51st issue of John McWade’s Before & After Magazine arrived containing an editorial about choosing a graphic designer.

I was so impressed with his editorial that I immediately asked him for permission to reprint his editorial as a guest post, and he agreed.

I’ve known John since my Looking Good in Print days; his articles and Before & After Magazine have been inspiring me–and tens of thousands of others–since the dawn of desktop publishing.

John burst upon the national design scene with a poster he created for Apple Computer that helped define quality desktop publishing design. His poster hung on the wall of my first office, and my offices that followed. (It’s a well-traveled poster.)

John’s designs, examples, and graphic design tutorials reflect a singular and consistent combination of impact and simplicity.

John McWade’s advice about choosing graphic designers

Awhile back, a colleague asked me for help in hiring a “creative services lead” to head up a new project for his business. What should he look for in a designer?

Here are the eight qualities I like:

1. Passion, vision and self-motivation. Without these, you’ll be dragging a rock. Creativity is inventive, so you need someone who shares your vision. Nothing’s worse than a “what-do-you-want-me-to-do-next?” kind of designer. Well, no, yes there is. One who’s touchy and confusing, too.
2. Vocabulary. A creative lead should be able to articulate what’s happening and why, in language that you and your staff can understand. If you start hearing vague terms like “pop” and “impact,” make him explain what he means. Listen for, “If we do A and B, we can expect C.” This is not trivial.
3. Inquisitive intelligence. I love people who are curious about everything and approach life with a sense of wonder. Similarly, I want someone who’s taken the time to learn about my company and whose questions reflect that.
4. Good conceptual skills. There are many ways to achieve any stated design goal. Conceptual skills find the new and interesting ones. You might articulate a hypothetical situation and ask her to describe three possible directions. The best concepts are often unrecognized at first, so prepare to get out of your box. It’s natural to feel uncomfortable. Go with it.
5. A portfolio. You’ll know in 15 seconds the designer’s skill level. Compare his work to excellence that you’ve seen, and don’t compromise. If it’s below what you’re seeking, end the interview right there. Politely, please.
6. Projects. If you see a lot of one-off stuff, no matter how attractive, it won’t tell you much; most designers can do nice, single pieces. Look for complete projects — Web site, print material and stationery, for example — that share a common look and purpose. Such work is more difficult to visualize, organize, and execute.
7. Real-world experience. The emphasis here is on “real.” Always ask under what conditions a design was achieved. How did the designer interact with the client? What was the role of each? Time frame? Revisions? Budget? Fantastic “portfolio pieces” are less desirable than solid design done under realistic conditions. If you find both, cheer!
8. Production skills. Your person will need production skills or know how to hire them. Nothing will slow you quicker than not being able to make something happen that you want to happen. Also, someone who understands typography is preferable to someone who can just type. Likewise, someone who understands Web coding is preferable to someone who can just run Dreamweaver.

Notes:
It goes without saying that personalities must be compatible. Never hire an otherwise perfect candidate assuming that “he’ll change,” or that “you’ll change her.” You can usually feel the vibe right away. Trust it.

Even if you (both) like the vibe, it’s a good idea to establish a trial period. A person can be qualified and compatible, but for one reason or another can’t get the work done. You’re out of rhythm. Your work styles don’t jell. Something was misunderstood. Whatever the case, give yourselves at least a 90-day period in which either of you can terminate employment at will, for no cause at all. This is good for both of you. Creative work comes from love, passion and relationship. It can’t be faked.

Consider hiring and working long distance. Design is perfect for this, what with live chat and e-mail and FTP sites. I’ve worked with designers for 20 years who I’ve yet to meet face to face! If face time is really important, fly in once a month. That said, remember that it’s a slow market, and you may find the perfect someone who’d love to transfer to your area!

If your designer works from home, arrange for a trial period. I had a designer who tried working from home and his productivity plummeted, yet another thrives at home.

There are, of course, exceptions to all of this.

If you appreciate design…

If you want to learn more about graphic design and dealing with graphic designers, I encourage you to explore the numerous resources available on John McWade’s Before & After site. Resources include  a free email newsletter (with 81,000 subscribers),  an active Design Talk blog, dozens of free PDF previews of previous issues, 3 published books, and his 50-issue Before & After Master Collection DVD. A good starting point is his free, 18-page PDF Table of Contents, (no registration required).

Lynda Felder’s Writing for the Web: Creating Compelling Content Using Words, Pictures, and Sound provides a concise introduction to the challenges & best practices of writing for online reading.

Writing for the web offers important lessons for both newcomers to web marketing & experienced web marketers.

• Newcomers to the web will gain a concise introduction to the unique challenges of writing for the Internet as well as view hundreds of examples and best practices.
• Experienced web marketers will learn how to improve, or replace, their online platform with content based one the latest ideas and research into web usability.

Like Strunk & White’s Elements of Style before it, Writing for the Web simplifies a complex topic by addressing it as a series of concise ideas, tips, and repeatable best practices.

Writing is always in the background of successful web content

As you’ll see when you read Writing for the Web’s Table of Contents, writing is one of the web’s key communication tools; sharing the spotlight with graphics, interactivity, podcasts, and videos.

When you download and read free sample Chapter 12. Writing Blogs, you’ll see how writing is also the driver, or catalyst, that operates in the background of other types of online of content–graphics, interactivity, i.e., podcasts, and videos.

When you are better at writing for the web, you can get better results from your other online communicating tools, because:

• Podcasts and videos, for example, are preceded by written storyboards that are often prepared long before blog posts or web pages are produced. These “pace the story” planning steps increase the odds that your podcast or YouTube video will move forward and end on schedule.
• Reader, visitor, or attendee personas. Successful online marketers begin by preparing personas that profile the characteristics and interests of readers, attendees, and blog or website visitors before you begin to record a live event.

So, even when you’re “listening” or “listening while you’re watching,” writing is in the background, directing the action, and making sure that what you’re listening to or watching is helpful, relevant, and appropriate.

All of your web content gets better when you learn more about writing for the web

Details that count

Cick the graphic at the right to download Chapter 12, which shows how Lynda Felder includes significant details in each of  the 14 chapters, yet creates a book that’s easy to read and refer back to.

Writing for the Web’s readability is enhanced by tools like:

• Subheads that organize chapters into topics, and topics into subtopics.
• Lists that make comparisons easier to read and remember than details hidden in paragraphs.
• Sidebar elements, like the Try this” sidebar tips in the narrow outside columns of each 2-page spread
• Pullquotes reminding readers of important ideas on the page.
• Tables of comparisons.
• Pull quotes emphasizing important phrases or sentences on each page
• Shaded backgrounds, (not shown on this page) for detailed lists or exercises.
• Tips, such as the Try This ideas and paragraphs placed outside the ongoing copy, giving readers the option of ignoring, or putting off until later.

Additional lessons for authors

Writing for the Web teaches important lessons about writing and publishing a successful book in2012.

The title, for example, clearly and concisely communicates what the book is about. There are only a few words in the title, which contributes to a simple, high-impact cover.

Nevertheless, the title and subtitle manage to include search engine terms needed to attract prospective readers searching on the web.

During an age when everyone is too busy to take the time to “decode” complex documents, the ability to successfully write for the web will also pay off in the ability to write and self-publish better books!

Is Writing for the Web for you?

Lynda Felder’s Writing for the Web: Ceating Compelling Web Content Using Words, Pictures, and Sound has important lessons for all:  newcomers to web marketing as well as authors and small business owners looking for ways to improve their existing blogs and websites. It’s available in a paper for less than$25, and even less as a Kindle ebook. It addresses a complex topic from a detailed, “best practices” perspective. Share your questions and experiences about writing for the web as comments, below, especially if you’ve read Writing for the Web.