Honoree Corder's Blog, page 11

{#PoweredbyIndie} Amazon Supports YOUR New Year’s Resolutions!

 

Did you set some New Year’s Writing Resolutions?
I sure did! In October, Amazon KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) celebrated Indie Publishing Month and I went to New York for a breakfast highlighting indie publishing with Guy Kawasaki, James Altucher, Pat Flynn, and my business partner in The Miracle Morning book series, Hal Elrod.
At the time, they featured a special landing page for indie books, and encouraged authors to use the #PoweredByIndie hashtag with relevant social media posts.
This month, KDP is encouraging you to write and publish your book in 2017 by providing a plethora of resources, including stories and recommendations of other indie authors (including yours truly). You’ll find their New Year’s Resolutions and book recommendations, too. Check it out here:
Kindle Direct Publishing:  N ew Year, New Stories

 

They also have a fantastic Facebook page with videos and other  great resources:
Kindle Direct Publishing Facebook Page

 

Indie publishing has come a loooonnnng way since I first started in 2004 with the first edition of  Tall Order!  I hope this is the year you write your (next) book, and when you do, be sure to use the hashtag #PoweredByIndie.

I’d love to know: What are your writing resolutions for 2017?

 

Email me or leave a comment below.
I’m looking forward to reading your book!

Honorée

 

Connect with me on Goodreads
Check out my Amazon Author page
Join my writer’s group on Facebook
Read my books on writing:


You Must Write a Book: Boost Your Brand, Get More Business, and Become the Go-to Expert


Prosperity for Writers: A Writer’s Guide for Creating Abundance


The Nifty 15: Write Your Book in Just 15 Minutes a Day  with Brian D. Meeks


The Prosperous Writer’s Guide to Making More Money: Habits, Tactics, and Strategies for Making a Living as a Writer with Brian D. Meeks (coming soon)

 

Not receiving these posts in your inbox yet? If you’d like to receive more articles about writing and making money as a writer – and how to become a prosperous, full-time writer go here.
Website: HonoreeCorder.com
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Happy New Year!

 

An estimated 40% of people set some pretty amazing intentions and goals at the beginning of each year, only to have abandoned, forgotten about, or let them go within a few weeks. It’s not that we don’t want what we’ve said we wanted right? Because I know you DO want those goals you’ve inked for 2017! I believe it’s that we didn’t, and don’t, set ourselves up for success.
Here are five no-fail strategies for making 2017 the year you fully and finally finish what you start and get what you want!
One — Name it to claim it.
Be clear, concise, and specific about what you want. Do you want to lose weight? How much? What do you weigh now? How much will you weight when you’re at your goal? What will you look like wearing your favorite jeans or dress? Create that mental picture wearing the outfit that goes on that new body.
Is it about the money? (Of course it is.) How much do you want to make this year? What are all of the ways it can come to you? Be open and stay committed to your goal number. Keep in mind there are always new ideas and opportunities just waiting to cross your path.

Two — Build your belief.
Only when you truly believe you can do it will it happen. Make a list of all of the reasons why you know you can do it, and why you deserve the end results. Then post that list where you can see it, every day. In case you need a couple of suggestions, mine is on my bathroom mirror and in Evernote on every device I own.

Three — What’s your reward?
I don’t think it’s enough to “just” achieve the goal. We all like a good present, and there’s nothing better than a self-selected, self-earned reward for a job well done. So, what is it? You’re making your first million, so what will you be driving to the bank to make those deposits? You’ve lost 25 pounds, and chances are what’s in your closet won’t fit so well anymore. You’ll need new duds so get your Nordstrom’s personal shopper ready to help you show off that hard-earned body!
Big or small, decide on a reward you can only get when you achieve your goal.

Four — Speaking of help: get support!
No, not the kind you’ve had in the past that says, “You’re already thin, eat the cheesecake!” The real kind of support that comes from someone who will help you succeed and be your best self.

Good idea: find a buddy. Identify someone with the same or similar goals and make an agreement to hold each other accountable.
Even better: form a mastermind. You can find out all you need to know about the power of the mastermind in Napoleon Hill’s  Law of Success .
Best option: hire a coach. Nothing accelerates success and achievement like having someone help you form a strategy for the attainment of your goals and outcomes, and then hold you accountable for making them happen!

Five — Make a plan and include your vision, clear objectives, and potential pitfalls.
There are always challenges that come up, pretty much right after you state your goals. These are designed to make sure you are committed, that you want what you’ve said you want. If you’re ready for how you’ll handle sickness, setbacks, and anything else that gets you off-track, you’ll be ready to (a) handle them and (b) get back on track.

Remember: 2017 is your year if you’re ready for it to be your year.

Best wishes for your success. Be sure to let me know how I can support you in 2017 in the comments below.
Cheers to your best year yet!

 
 
Cool things …


Listen: I was a guest on The Success Code Podcast, talking about Getting Massive Goals Done




Read: The 12 Week Year: Get More Done in 12 Weeks than Others Do in 12 Months by Brian P. Moran


Watch: 14 Inspirational Movies to Light a Fire Under Your A**


Write … a book: Every expert has one thing in common: they’ve written a book.  Last week, I sent you an email highlighting 3 (more) ways to write your book. If it piqued your interest, you will probably want to read this. Or this.




If enjoyed this article, then join my free newsletter and you’ll get a free copy of my networking book, Business Dating: Applying Relationship Rules in Business for Ultimate Success.
Website: HonoreeCorder.com
Facebook: facebook.com/Honoree
Twitter: twitter.com/Honoree

 

Writer Resources for 2017, Post #2

Happy New Year!
This post, the second in a series of posts to help you write whatever you want (or need) to write, is focused on reading.
If you missed the first one, it’s right here.
Before I had author friends, I loved to learn from other writers and authors by reading their books and blogs. You can learn about craft and how to become a better writer. You can learn about marketing, everything from developing your author brand, and building fans, to how to sell more books. You can even discover writing methods and use them to develop a new series.

Here are just some of my favorite reads for writers:
Sell More Books with Less Social Media  Chris Syme
Six Figure Author  Chris Fox (and all of his books for writers)
How to Write a Sizzling Synopsis  Bryan Cohen
The Miracle Morning for Writers  Hal Elrod & Steve Scott (and me)
Write, Publish, Repeat  Sean Platt & Johnny B. Truant
2K to 10K Rachel Aaron
Reader Magnets  Nick Stephenson
Save the Cat Blake Snyder
Dictate Your Book  Monica Leonelle
Your First 1000 Copies  Tim Grahl
Write for Your Life  Lawrence Block
Let’s Get Digital David Gaughran

 

And a few books that aren’t directly for writers, but have lots of great content:
Platform  Michael Hyatt
The Power of Habit  Charles Duhigg
Epic Content Marketing  Joe Pulizzi
You Everywhere Now  Mike Koenigs

 

For the cost of a very nice dinner, you can buy millions of dollars worth of knowledge in the form of books (books!) you can read (I know, reading is awesome!). That sounds like a delightful way to spend some time, don’t you think? I hope you’ll get started right away.
Until next time, happy writing (and reading)!

 

MORE GOOD STUFF…

~Finding author friends was one of the best things I ever did. I rolled the dice and signed up for an author summit, and to this day, I have friends I hope I’ll have for a lifetime. The  Smarter Artist Summit  is a great place to start.
~Would you like to build a solid foundation to publish a best-selling book? Eric Van Der Hope created the Publishing Success Summit with 65 book industry experts (you’ll even see an interview from yours truly). Check it out!
~Think you don’t have time to write? I promise you do… Brian Meeks and I co-authored  The Nifty 15: Write Your Book in Just 15 Minutes a Day . This could be just the “beautiful kick in the behind” you need!

 

Not receiving these posts in your inbox yet? If you’d like to receive more articles about writing and making money as a writer – and how to become a prosperous, full-time writer go here.
Website: HonoreeCorder.com
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Twitter: twitter.com/Honoree

 

Who is Your Ideal Reader?

Happy New Year!
I hope you’re already marinating on the book you’re going to write this year. It’s important to define one key thing before you start: who is your ideal reader (a.k.a your avatar)?
Do you know, even before you start, for whom are you writing your book? Sometimes when I ask someone who their avatar is, they say “this book is for everyone!” While everyone might benefit from reading your book, take these words to heart:

You get rich in a niche.
A specialist makes more than a generalist.

A brain surgeon makes more than a general practitioner, and when writing your book, you stand a far better chance of making an impact and selling lots of books when you write to one particular person, rather than the whole universe.
Here is how to develop your avatar:
Imagine you have your ideal, most favorite, and wonderful client or customer sitting in front of you. You are giving them the advice they have asked for, and you don’t have any problem doing that, right? Of course not, because (drum roll please) you’re the expert!
If I asked you a question about financial planning, or forming a new entity, or how you handled office politics back in the 80s, you wouldn’t hesitate; you would simply speak. When you craft your avatar, keep in mind you are giving advice to your favorite client.
Next, list the qualities and characteristics of your ideal client. Describe the perfect person, couple, or company, whose custom would make you ecstatic. Use your very favorite client as an example, and they become the model for your avatar. Here’s an example, a short take on my ideal reader for You Must Write a Book. And yes, it’s an actual person, one of my favorite clients:


Eric Negron


Financial Advisor, ten years’ experience


College educated, finance and economics degree


31 years of age


Married with three children


Homeowner


Mid-six-figure income, which he intends to multiple by three to four times


Accredited Wealth Management Advisor from College for Financial Planning


Focus: High Net-worth planning


Problem:


wants to multiply his business


not considered “gray” enough


needs more credibility with ultra-wealthy investors





As I wrote about why my readers should write and self-publish a book, I had Eric in mind. He’s a long-time client and friend, and yes, we’ve had multiple conversations about why he should write a book. When you remember what your ideal client needs to hear, you will give targeted advice.
Your advice to your ideal clients works perfectly as advice you might give to a wide range of other people. Having an avatar focuses your thoughts. While each individual’s situation might be somewhat unique, 95 percent of the advice you give in your book will apply to almost anyone you would be giving it to, right? And, it’s exactly what you need to write in your book!
As a side note, you might have a few other people in mind as well as when you’re writing your book. But when it comes to giving real advice, you will think about what, in particular, you would tell your ideal reader. This helps you make decisions about content (should I include this?) as well as the prose (is this the best way to describe this concept?).
Who is your ideal reader? I’d love for you to share in the comments below!
Next week, I’ll dive into crafting your book’s outline.

3 MORE Ways to Publish Your Book in 2017

Just two weeks ago, I gave you three ways to make sure you write your book in 2017. ICYMI, it’s right here.
While you’re enjoying the holiday season, you can be noodling on your book’s title, content, and avatar. If you want to write your book in 2017, there are several ways you can make sure it gets done.
Here are three more super simple ways to make sure it gets written:
1. Give yourself a daily word count goal. Just 500 words a day, 300 days a year, results in 150,000 words. One hundred and fifty thousand words is the equivalent of three to five non-fiction books (or at least two fiction books). Five hundred words is the equivalent of a few wordy emails, which means you crank that out, no problem. In 2016, I wrote over 400,000 words in multiple books, and my goal in 2017 is to write 2,000 words per day, one day at a time. What’s your goal? I’d love to know.

2. Get accountability. If you already have a coach, make sure they know about your daily word count goal. Or perhaps you have a friend who is also working on their book. Exchange goals and keep each other accountable (who has to buy lunch if they don’t make it? What’s the reward if you do?). If you have a young child, tell them they get something if you reach your goal (you might have to work on shorter time frames, which is just fine). I promise you they will ask every single day (sometimes twice a day!) if you’ve done your writing yet!
3. Go ahead and have your cover designed (by a professional). I personally love to “write to a cover.” Once my cover is designed, I’m extra-motivated to get the book written. Explain your book’s concept and message, and let your designer take it from there. Sometimes it takes a few attempts to get it just right (meanwhile, you’re writing consistently and racking up the words). Cover reveals are fun, and start the conversation about your book. If your designer gives you a couple of options, do a post on Facebook and see which one your ideal prospective readers like the most.

 

 

 

I’ll continue this conversation in the next post, early next year. I hope you have a wonderful New Year’s Eve and day, and 2017 is everything you want it to be!

Happy writing!


 
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Website: HonoreeCorder.com
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Writer Resources for 2017!

There’s no quick fix or magic bullet for writing. You have to sit yer arse in a chair and write. However, I do have some great resources to make your writing faster, easier, and better.
This is the first in a series of posts I’m going to write to give you my best strategies and ideas for writing a book, a blog, or even an email … and not being stressed about it. I’m going to share things you can do, start doing, stop doing, and consider. You can consider each of them part of a huge menu (think: Cheesecake Factory), and you get to choose what makes sense and sounds good for you.
I’m going to start with listening. Listening to podcasts revealed to me a community of people who were writers of all kinds: fiction, non-fiction, prolific, aspiring, bloggers, freelancers, scriptwriters and more. Here are podcasts I think are top-shelf:


The Self-Publishing Formula Podcast (Mark Dawson, James Blatch)


Authority Self-Publishing (Steve Scott, Barrie Davenport)


Wordslinger Podcast (Kevin Tumlinson)


The Writer Files (Kelton Reid)


The Author Hangout (ShawnManaher)


The Author Biz (Stephen Campbell)


The Sell More Books Show (Bryan Cohen, Jim Kukral)


The Creative Penn Podcast (Joanna Penn)



I don’t listen to every episode, but I listen to every one of these podcasts at least once a month. You might not like them all, but I suggest you give each one a try. Where can you find the time? Here’s when I listen:


Doing housework (laundry or dishes, anyone)?


Working out


Driving


Walking


Shopping at the grocery story


During my Miracle Morning



The most amazing thing about these podcasts is, if nothing else, you’ll hear your fellow writers share their best ideas. There’s something about listening to other people do what we want to do that can spur us on to our own success.
Until next time, happy writing!

 

More Good Stuff…

~Focus made easy. I listen to the app “Focus @ Will.” There’s science behind it. It’s amazing. Try it!
~Would you like to build a solid foundation to publish a best-selling book? Eric Van Der Hope created the Publishing Success Summit with 65 book industry experts (you’ll even see an interview from yours truly). Check it out!
~Think you don’t have time to write? I promise you do… Brian Meeks and I co-authored  The Nifty 15: Write Your Book in Just 15 Minutes a Day . This could be just the “beautiful kick in the behind” you need!
~Would you like to listen to You Must Write a Book for FREE? All I ask is for your honest review. *smile Email christina@honoreecorder.com for your free Audible book!
~Make 2017 your most creative year ever! The Creative Life Summit starts January 1st and will help you dissolve the blocks, fears, and doubts holding you back so you can unleash your creative potential.

 

Not receiving these posts in your inbox yet? If you’d like to receive more articles about writing and making money as a writer – and how to become a prosperous, full-time writer go here .
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3 Ways to Write Your Book in 2017

I hope 2016 has been the year you imagined it to be this time last year.
If you, like more than 80% of the people I meet, want to write your first book, 2017 just might be the year you take on that challenge. You might already know I passionately believe every person would benefit beyond their wildest dreams from writing their own book. I can’t predict what amazing things will happen for you as a result of writing your book, but let me ask you this: wouldn’t you like to know? I can promise you this: you won’t regret it in any way but I’m pretty confident you’ll be grateful you did.
Here are three simple ways to make sure it gets written:


Decide it’s time and commit to writing your book. Finish this sentence: I commit to writing my book about …… in 2017. Write it in your Bullet Journal, or on a sticky note … put it somewhere you’ll see it on a regular basis.




Give yourself a publication deadline, a.k.a. a goal with the deadline to have it done and out in the world. Finish this sentence: I am so excited to publish my book on ….. {date}. Add that to your sticky note or wherever you wrote down your goal.




Read You Must Write a Book . I put everything in that book I could possibly share without talking to you about your specific situation (which I could actually do).



Wait, you’ve already read it? Please comment below and tell me the goal you have about your book. 
If you’d like to explore having a coaching conversation with me about your book to see if I can help, send Christina a message and she’ll get it scheduled.
I am so grateful for your input and help with this book release. It’s the most exciting one yet! Thank you!

 

 

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Navigate Challenges & Capitalize on Opportunities Like a Champion

How has your year been so far?
I sincerely hope you’ve had a year that far exceeded your dreams — and we’ve still got one more month to go!
I’ll admit, 2016 was the year I expected … and didn’t expect. That’s just about how every year goes if I take a moment to stop and think about it. I had a pile of challenges I didn’t expect (boo!) … and several opportunities I couldn’t have foreseen (yay!).
I had a list of books to write, and I got a couple of them written: The Divorced Phoenix, a few books in The Miracle Morning book series (these I expected: 1, 2, & 3, these I didn’t: 1, 2, & 3), and two of my own that were also a surprise: You Must Write a Book and The Nifty 15: Write Your Book in Just 15 Minutes a Day.
I learned a lot this year, and some of my lessons were squarely about how to navigate challenges and capitalize on opportunities. When you can receive challenges and opportunities with the same steadiness, easiness, and grace, it’s a great day!
Allow me to share how I try to do just that:



If something isn’t a “Hell yes!” it’s a definite “NO!“ More than a few times, I’ve gone against my gut, and greatly regretted it. I’ve learned to take a moment to get quiet, do a gut check, and actually listen.





There’s always a way if I’m committed. Several times this year I had too much on my plate, and I knew it. I managed to push through, but almost burned out in the process. I learned to stay focused, set my intention, and keep going until I crossed the finish line. However, that leads me to number 3.





I learned the power of a nap. Naps are delightful, and sometimes a twenty-minute nap can lead to many more hours of focused productivity. Turns out, not only am I not the only one, I was actually late to the party!





I learned (again) opportunities are everywhere! Just keep looking and expecting something magical to happen, and it probably will. My belief: when something awful happens, I assume that the next thing to happen will be amazing. Something amazing happens? Then the next thing will be amazing (obviously).





It’s easy to capitalize on opportunities when you have a reserve … of energy, time, and capital. As you get ready for 2017, give yourself extra time to do everything (which lowers your stress level, and increases your energy level), take excellent care of yourself (get enough sleep, eat nourishing foods, stay hydrated), and save first, and spend with intention. You’ll love being able to pay cash for something great (or have extra cash on hand ICE – in the case of an emergency).



And last, but not least, I kept a streak going — of writing. I’ve written an average of more than 1000 words a day every day this year (even though there were lots of days I didn’t write one word). I have a daily appointment with myself at 6 am to write (except for Sunday mornings). Most days, I write more than that because it’s a habit. This habit kept me on track and ahead of my intended production schedule, even when that schedule changed.
What streak do you want to start (either now, or in early 2016) and turn into a habit? Or, what did you learn in 2016? Let me know in the comments below!

Have a fantastic December!

Cool things …


Are you ready to smash your goals for 2017? Listen to Hal Elrod and I talk about taking your goals from vision to reality.


Whatever You Focus on Expands {Huffington Post}


Having trouble focusing? Try this!


The coolest book I’ve discovered this year!


The Miracle Morning for Entrepreneurs  is a terrific resource for solopreneurs, too.


If you’ve tried meditating, but just can’t get into it, you’ll love The Muse headband.

 

If enjoyed this article, then join my free newsletter and you’ll get a free copy of my networking book, Business Dating: Applying Relationship Rules in Business for Ultimate Success.
If you’d like to receive more articles about writing and making money as a writer – and how to become a prosperous, full-time writer go here.
 
Website: HonoreeCorder.com
Facebook: facebook.com/Honoree
Twitter: twitter.com/Honoree
 

 

Laughter is Still the Best Medicine

Sometimes life, work, or relationships (or all of the above, at the same time) aren’t going so great. I discovered the feature Laughter is the Best Medicine in Reader’s Digest when I was a senior in high school. This was a particularly hard time in my life, and I really appreciated the levity those stories brought to my life. If you need a reason to laugh more, read this. If you just want to laugh, watch this. (Note: if you don’t like cats, you’ll still laugh, I promise.)
Recently, one of my favorite authors, Pam Grout, released the book  Thank and Grow Rich . In tough moments, I love the idea I can be thankful and influence not only how I feel, but what is going on around me. I highly recommend the book if you could use a little more gratitude in your life.
With just six weeks left in the year, you might want to read my post, Run Through the Tape, about how to maximize the rest of November, all of December, and start 2017 off with a bang. Did I really just write 2017? Wow.
In other news, my two newest books, You Must Write a Book: Boost Your Brand, Get More Business, and Become the Go-TO Expert and   The Nifty 15: Write Your Book in Just 15 Minutes a Day  are now available. I’m working on the companion guide for You Must Write a Book those of you who want to follow a structure. You can join the Advanced Reader Team if you’d like to read it, or any of my other upcoming books (including a sequel to Business Dating, more books in The Prosperous Writer Series and I’ve got a fiction series up my sleeve, too). My first fiction book goes to the person who guesses what genre I’m writing in.
I’ll be back in touch soon with something else you’ll find valuable. Until then, keep being awesome!

More great things …


My Eight Dollar Flight Upgrade Trick by Peter Shankman


You Must Write a Book  was featured by Entrepreneur and Forbes*.


Released today:  The Miracle Morning for Entrepreneurs.


When all else fails, just breathe.



 You can grab 2 FREE chapters of You Must Write a Book here.

 

If you’d like to receive articles about writing and making money as a writer – and how to become a prosperous, full-time writer go here .
Website: HonoreeCorder.com
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What to do BEFORE You Write Your Book

I’m in New York City as I write this, a guest of Amazon at their Kindle Direct Publishing Business Author Roundtable. I’m hanging out with fellow authors Hal Elrod, Pat Flynn, Guy Kawasaki, and James Altucher. Needless to say, I’m in great company!
One of the reasons I wrote You Must Write a Book  was because I would hear the same questions over and over again about writing a book. The most common is a variation of, What’s the first thing I should do when writing a book?
Well, there are several “first” things, but the very first is to ask yourself the following two questions:

 

One: What in it for me? You might answer, “more income,” “an additional income stream(s),” or even “a book is a way to obtain new clients.” You’re number one, and so you should be your first focus when considering writing a book.
Two: What do I want the reader to do (or not do … or both) as a result of reading my book? Hire you? Refer you? Both? Something else?


I also hear,  Can I pull together my top blog posts and turn them into a book?  No. I already wrote a book (without determining my outcome), what do I do next? Start over. (However, some of your content might be usable.)  How can I avoid paying for a great cover, interior design, copywriting, or editing? You can’t, and you’ll forever regret it if you do.
Answer those two questions, above, and I’ll be back next time with a few other things to consider. If you need to know something now, just email me!


MORE GOOD STUFF…
~If you’re stressed out, check out this article from Huffington Post and take 3 minutes to center yourself with these breathing techniques.
~I’m honored to share my recent interview with Hal Elrod! Listen to Hal & I discuss multiple streams of income, writing your very own book and more here .
~Would you like to listen to You Must Write a Book for FREE? All I ask is for your honest review. *smile Email christina@honoreecorder.com for your free Audible book!

 

Not receiving these posts in your inbox yet? If you’d like to receive more articles about writing and making money as a writer – and how to become a prosperous, full-time writer go here .
Website: HonoreeCorder.com
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