Author’s assistants are well-known inside the publishing world, but not recognized by many outside of it. We predict that will change very soon because of the increasing numbers of authors who are getting published, either as independent publishers themselves or the more traditional route with established publishers.
Every big-time author has an author’s assistant – someone the author can call on to do the amazing number of tasks that surround the successful completion, publishing and marketing of a book. But first-time authors are lucky – they can have author’s assistants, too – virtually.
A new author can pay for just the time and expertise needed, without having to create a staff, making a virtual author’s assistant an important part of an author’s success. Here are the four biggest reasons this is an essential member of the author’s success team:
1. There is just too much work for one person. So many new or aspiring authors have day jobs and this is what they must do until their writing pays the rent. Until an author can clone him or herself, he or she must rely on others to help carry the load.
2. An author’s assistant has special expertise. Look for someone with training and experience in doing what you need done – from preparing a manuscript, to doing a competitive analysis, to coordinating a self publishing process to running a virtual book tour or an Amazon best seller campaign. Author’s assistants can do all this and much more. They understand the industry, the technology and have already established resources and connections.
3. The cost is greater when you do it yourself. There is a high learning curve for anyone who has never made the publishing journey. Whether the author is paid $70 an hour or $270 an hour as a coach, therapist, attorney or entrepreneur, the author’s assistant is a tremendous value at a much lower per-hour cost. With an author’s assistant the author has the freedom to concentrate on those things only the author can do, especially writing the best book he or she can. Expect to pay from $30 to $60 an hour (and it goes higher with greater expertise) for a qualified virtual assistant.
4. The synergy of the collaborative effort. There is nothing that inspires work like someone waiting for it. An author’s assistant is there to help you take each step so precious little time goes by between your writing and preparation for publishing and marketing. If you set the date, the author’s assistant will be there with support and encouragement to help you make it happen.
If you haven’t worked virtually before, talk to someone who has. Most people who start are hooked. One of the keys to success to have clarity about the tasks you want to have done and the payment arrangements – and then to memorialize these in a contract. Another key is to find someone with demonstrated training and experience since the first-time author may be in the dark about what the tasks actually are.
Take it from the established successful authors, don’t go it alone. Get the support you need and you will be well on your way to publishing success.
Showing posts with label Time Management. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Time Management. Show all posts
I just finished listening to the audible version of Brian Tracy's book "Eat That Frog!" and came away with a refreshing outlook on how to stop procrastinating and getting myself motivated to accomplish the set of tasks before me. Most of Tracy's advise in the book basically reinforces some common practices we should take into consideration when setting out to accomplish our tasks. The basic principles of the book are focused around the Pareto principle more commonly known as the 80-20 rule and the ABCDE Method of Prioritization a time management technique. What made the book refreshing was the clarity of the message he was trying to get across.In Tracy's book, he states that we should not only take the biggest task, but the task that would have the most impact on us and tackle it immediately and don't stop until it is completed or as he says Eat That Frog!
It is common that we look at our to-do-lists and try to do as many of the smaller items on the list as possible so that when we look at our list we feel some sort of accomplishment because the list is getting smaller. However,while your list is getting smaller the items which may have the most impact on you, whether work related or personal are still sitting there waiting to get done. What Tracy encourages us to do is sit down with our to-do-lists, prioritize them by using the ABCDE Method of Prioritization and then tackle them one at time.
With the ABCDE method you make your list of everything that you need to accomplish. This list should be an ongoing list and have tasks you want or need to accomplish whether it is today or next year. You then go through the list carefully and categorize each item with one of the 5 letters.
- A – Very important. This is something that you must do, something that has SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES for either doing it or not doing it.
- B – Something that you should do but that is not as important as an A item. There are consequences associated with doing it or not doing it but they are only MILD CONSEQUENCES that don’t last for very long.
- C – Something that would be nice to do but for which there are NO CONSEQUENCES at all for your career or your success.
- D – An item that you DELEGATE or outsource to someone else who can do it pretty much as well as you. Delegate everything possible to free up enough time for you to concentrate on your A activities.
- E – ELIMINATE. These are items that are such low priority that you could eliminate them completely and it would make no difference at all. Sometimes the disciplined act of eliminating low value tasks can simplify your life and free up enough time for you to accomplish those tasks that have the greatest possible consequences for you.
Now that you have categorized the list go back over the list and organize your A tasks by priority, put an A1 next to your most important task, an A2 next to your second most important task and so on. Then begin immediately on your A1 task and discipline yourself to stay at it until it is completed. The important factor here is that you can't start on any of the B items until ALL the A are done. It is important to remain diligent about this.
Using the ABDCE method may at first feel like you aren't getting much accomplished because your list isn't getting shorter at the same rate as doing the non consequential items but over time you will not only see a big improvement in your productivity you will start to feel a real sense of accomplishment.
"Eat That Frog!" was an easy listen with lots of useful tips that can be implemented in to your daily life for both your personal and business needs. If you are struggling with procrastination or need to get yourself organized, I highly recommend you pick up the book or purchase the audio.
