You’re Probably Too Lazy to Be a Best Selling Author

By Chris Maddock - Nov 18 , 2008

Last week I argued that blogging your non-fiction book makes sense because it affords you feedback on your content while simultaneously growing a platform and an opted-in audience. I call the process Book 2.0.

Ignore the fact that blogging your book will help you create the book your audience wants in the style they prefer. On a more pragmatic level, blogging a book works because it compels you to actually pen the beast.

My former boss and best-selling author Roy H. Williams once posed the question: “Chris, what do you think is the most important factor in creating a best-selling book.” Without a hint of irony I said, “writing a book.”

Before there was such thing as a blog, Roy would dutifully pen his “Monday Morning Memo” each week, to be faxed in the wee hours of Monday morning to a consistently growing list of fans. I recognized early that one of Roy’s many talents is a relentless capacity to move forward - even if just a smidge – every single day. That drive, and its application in the form of his pre-blog faxes, had Roy creating book after best-selling book without having to face the monster of creating an entire manuscript. (http://www.mondaymorningmemo.com/?ShowMe=Home)

Its that monster that keeps most of us from writing the book that’s inside.

Piecemeal plans for book writing abound. “Write for an hour a day.” “Write 5 pages a day.” “No matter how you feel, just write.” The trouble with these old tricks is that they still rely on you. They require a self-motivation that, if you’re like me, can simply disappear from time to time.

But when you blog you have – or will have - an audience. They’ll be expecting another entry. As their numbers grow, so will their gravity, compelling you to post another blog. Good bloggers don’t want to let their fans down.

Surely in the weeks and months to come, there will come a sunny, lazy day which will accost my resolve to dutifully move forward with my writing . On my own, I’d surely fail to show up. But while I imagine that there is even one body out there hoping to skim my scribblings, I’ll likely suck-it-up and blog. We’ll see, right?

Sure, there are thousands upon thousands of non-fiction books written each year. And certainly only a few hundred make best-seller status. But those tens of thousands are dwarfed by the huge number of books rattling around in the heads of would-be authors.

If you’re like me -you’re probably are too lazy to write a best selling book.

I’m gonna blog mine. What about you?

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