Nick Thacker's Blog, page 27

The Secret To A Perfect Blog Interview

Photo by dpstyles

Note from Nick: If you’re interested in building your platform online, it’s important to be open to new ideas and ways of thinking. One of the things that’s started to become more and more prolific is the “blog interview.” In this post, Shen talks about how to perfect your blog interviews for maximum exposure and readership.

Take it away, Shen!

So you’ve met your dream interviewee, conducted the interview and bought him/her a nice cup of coffee to top it off.

Now you’re back hom...

Build Your Platform, Your Blog, AND Your Career

[image error]As you know, I’m a big proponent of “online platforms,” “Home Bases,” and other (probably overused) words and terms that describe what we do.

I’ll take the risk of turning those terms into cliches, because they’re important enough to myown career that I’m going to keep mentioning them, over and over again.

Part of “making it” as an author, artist, or creator is having a voice. You need to get your work in front of the right people, and the best way of doing that these days is with a platform. I...

Are You Wrecked?

Com (with) + passion (suffering) =compassion (with suffering).

This is the phrase that Jeff Goins used to describe the word that sums up the premise of his book,Wrecked.

I’ve been a Christian for most of my life, and all of my adult life. I’d heard the word used plenty of times, and as an avid reader I thought I had a handle on its definition.

But I guess I never really looked up the word–I assumed thatcompassion was something we had for others whentheywere suffering.We were fine, butthey needed...

To Ship Or Not To Ship: That Is The Question

Image by La Drome

Thank you for allowing me the use of the above proverbial infinitive, a lá Shakespeare. I’ve always wanted to use it in a blog post.

The topic of today’s discussion is pretty simple, yet one that we all can benefit from:

When is it “too soon” to ship our book, product, or art?

When is it “time to let go” and get it out into the world?

Kristen Lamb wrote on her blog (which incidentally got picked up by Publetariat yesterday) an article titled, “The Five Mistakes Killing Self-Publi...

5 Secrets to Help You Stay Busy AND Sane

[image error]The title of this post pretty well sums up the ideal environment for me. I like to be busy–the good kind, full of clients, great work, and lots of cool writing assignments–while maintaining my sanity.

Most likely, you fall into that category as well. After all, there’s no reason to be working toward a greater good, or toward building a legacy, if the work is just mundane. We call that “busy work” because it’s literally mindless “work” that’s meant to keep us busy.

Assuming youare working toward...

How to Build A Platform

I’m currently in the last stages of editing and finalization for my newest book,Welcome Home: The Author’s Guide to Building A Home Base Online, and I’m excited about the possibilities for a book like this.

Many people email me or call me asking questions about building platforms, using social media, and other “Home Base”-related things, and this book is a culmination of most of the answers.

But I know that there will be some people who don’t read it, or some readers who stumble across this web...

Why I Write “Airport Books”

Photo by Casey Serin

I’m angry.

I just finished reading an article from the Wall Street Journal by a columnist whom I admire and respect. Her articles are usually fresh, engaging in the best way, and provide a nice perspective that usually contradicts–yet inspires–my views on publishing, writing, and the world of books.

The thing is, this article didn’t really contradict my own opinions–at least not overtly.

The part of the article that “ruffled my feathers” was thetone.

Before I go any further, h...

How to Tap Into Your Experiences for Writing Inspiration

Note from Nick: this is a guest post from Laura Dennis, who currently resides in Serbia! Be sure to leave her a comment thanking her for her time and effort in writing this post, and also–check out her books (info in her byline)!

As well, check out her post over at Turndog Millionaire, calledCan Fan Fiction Be a Part of Your Book Marketing Strategy?

Enter Laura!

How to tap into past and present experiences for blog posts, article ideas… and maybe even your next novel!

“People write memoirs becaus...

7 Key Things You Need for Your Blog

Note from Nick: This is an excerpt from my upcoming book, Welcome Home:The Author’s Complete Guide to Building A Marketing “Home Base.”

If you’re interested in receiving an advance review copy (ARC), sign up for the LiveHacked newsletter.

Ready? Here we go!

You might be wondering where exactly to go from here.

You’ve picked out a great-looking, affordable theme, and you’re excited about how things are coming together. WordPress installed perfectly the first time, your hosting company sends you bo...

How to Create the “Next Best Thing”

First, stop thinking about “The Next Best Thing” as “second best.”

I’ve heard the term used this way before, too: “yeah, we’re working on the next-best thing,” or “well, it’s not [the thing], but it’s the next-best thing.”

Stop considering the “next best thing” as second place.

The “next best thing” isn’t second, or third, or evenranked–it’s just the “thing that comes after what you just did.”

Did you get that?

It’s what you’re doingright now, assuming you did something before it.

If you’re just ge...