Millions of people are dusting off manuscripts and cranking out self-published novels for the kindle and ipad market; and some indie authors are making hundreds of thousands of dollars. We are experiencing something of a “gold rush” of indie publishing, and everybody is desperate to sell more books. If you’re familiar with “The Secret”, positive thinking, goal setting, visualization, affirmation or any other of those success-techniques that are based on creating and manifesting your perfect universe (the one where you’re a rich, famous author living on a beach and drinking margaritas), then you’ve probably tried to “visualize” your book sales.
But you’re almost certainly doing it wrong.
There is an under-stressed realization of critical importance that I’m going to drop on you. Are your prepared? Focusing on book sales is the wrong aspect to concentrate on. You’re putting the cart in front of the horse. Many authors are “dreaming” of sales before they’ve finished writing; when their novel is still really a rough draft; when it’s full of typos, the plot is weak, the characters flat, and nothing exciting happens between the beginning and the end.
I know it’s exciting to finish a novel and you want to get it out there – but spending the vast majority of your time and energy selling one (especially your first) book is not a good idea. This is because:
1) Your first book is almost never your best, and probably isn’t all that great.
2) Even if it is awesome, you’re probably rushing the process – it needs to be revised and edited.
3) Your marketing techniques will all work 10X better after you have several books out.
Here’s the problem: You are focusing your conscious efforts, your energy and vitality, on selling thousands of copies of a book that may still need work. Maybe it needs a better cover. Maybe it needs more reviews, a better sample, a better intro. Maybe it needs better writing. Get all of these into place before you spend too much time on marketing.
What you should be doing instead
The way to really use Visualization and Affirmations as an author is to focus on the writing. Picture yourself enjoying time at your computer, writing effortlessly, writing with skill and passion. Imagine the story building and coming together. Imagining other people reading it and loving it. Picture yourself writing another book. A series. See the copies stack up. If you build this kind of life for yourself – where you have multiple products to sell, and they are good, then selling will happen naturally (it will take sooooo much less effort to sell).
That’s not to say that you shouldn’t also think about selling – but don’t concentrate on the money (it’s very hard to imagine large sums of money). Instead, think about the amount of books that you would need to sell to make the lifestyle changes you desire – and picture those changes. Picture yourself working at home, free to write as much as you want, with plenty of income to support you.
The Source of All Wealth
Here’s something I really like that might help – notice that it doesn’t focus on you making money: it focuses on you providing what the world needs and desires, and how you help improve others’ lives through your creativity.
I am the source of all wealth. I am rich with creative ideas. My mind abounds with new, original, inspired thoughts. What I have to offer is unique, and the world desires it. My value is beyond reckoning. What the world needs and desires, I am ready to produce and give. What the world needs and desires, I recognize and fulfill.
The bounty of my mind is without hindrance or limit. Nothing can stand in the way of my inspired creativeness. The overflowing power of God life energy overcomes every obstacle, & pours out into the world, blessing & prospering everyone, & everything through me.
I radiate blessings, I radiate creativity, I radiate prosperity, I radiate loving service. I radiate Joy, Beauty, Peace, Wisdom & Power. Humanity seeks me and rewards me. I am beloved of the world. I am wanted wherever I go. I am appreciated. What I have to offer is greatly desired. What I have to offer brings a rich reward.
Through my vision the world is blessed. Through my clear thinking & steadfast purpose, wonderful new values come into expression. My vision is as the vision of the mighty ones. My faith is as the faith of the undefeatable. My power to accomplish is unlimited.
I, in my uttermost God Source, am all wealth, all power, all productivity. I hereby declare my financial freedom, NOW and henceforth forever!
I’m a philosophy dropout with a PhD in Literature. I covet a cabin full of cats, where I can write fantasy novels to pay for my cake addiction. Sometimes I live in castles.
3 Comments
Thank you for this. It is just what I needed and so true. I am going to print this and read it every day!
That was a great tip Derek, thanks for sharing it. Indeed, it very easy to forget where our focus should be and how the road to abundance should look like.
Very Interesting Derek, thanks for the pointers.I use visualization and affirmation in almost everything i do, its truly a powerful excise.
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