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Write a book much? What you need to know.

by Sosu
14 replies
So I have an amazing idea for a self help book. What are my next steps, and useful websites, to get this accomplished? I was thinking about a KickStarter campaign to increase interest. Maybe tshirts on teespring? So the book will be titled Vikingism and will be about using the Havamal translated to todays understanding. I already got the dot com for Vikingism. If you do not know, the Havamal was a book of poems written around 900AD and sung by Vikings. It was full of life lessons. When you translate it from old Norse, it no longer rhymes and needs updating to fit today. But it is full of great lessons.

Examples:
The unwise man
is awake all night
worries over and again.
When morning rises
he is restless still,
his burden as before.
- The Havamal

Wake early
if you want
another man's life or land.
No lamb
for the lazy wolf.
No battle's won in bed.
- The Havamal


A greedy man, if he be not mindful,
eats to his own life's hurt:
oft the belly of the fool will bring him to scorn
when he seeks the circle of the wise.
- The Havamal
#book #write
  • Profile picture of the author TheNewJames
    Big dreams, eh?!

    KickStarter, TShirt company, the works!

    How about write the thing first
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    • Profile picture of the author Sosu
      Originally Posted by TheNewJames View Post

      Big dreams, eh?!

      KickStarter, TShirt company, the works!

      How about write the thing first
      I was looking for suggestions and ideas. I think many people here have books. It will take several weeks to write. But I would rather be a best selling author, than a best writing author.
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      • Profile picture of the author nmwf
        Originally Posted by Sosu View Post

        But I would rather be a best selling author, than a best writing author.
        Those two things often coincide, you know: best selling... best writing... Not always, but I can't imagine bad writing reaching best seller status.

        Nonetheless, I can only wish you luck for working through KickStarter. The process of getting funding is much harder than it is through traditional IM. Via KickStarter, despite how easy the company says it is, successful funding often requires offline activities.

        When my art campaign was active on the site, a very kind and well-known artist told me that securing funding through the site is a 9-5 job. He also said costly projects don't work well on there. So if you insist on using it, price your project low.

        Like ridiculously low.
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  • Profile picture of the author LaunchPurveyor
    I'd gauge interest first. Put some of these poems on tshirts using Teespring, then set up some ads on Facebook and see what happens.
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    • Profile picture of the author Steve B
      Creating demand for a product is extremely difficult. Typically demand is already in a marketplace or it's not.

      Large tech companies like Apple can sometimes create demand because of their following and the fact that they spend millions on product creation and marketing.

      But for the small business owner, demand for the product should already be in place. So that is your first task: do market research and see what the demand might be for your book. Who wants it?

      Unless you're doing this as a hobby . . . if you can't find demand I would suggest you think twice about this subject matter as your ticket to becoming a best selling author.

      Steve
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      • Profile picture of the author Sosu
        Originally Posted by Steve B View Post

        Creating demand for a product is extremely difficult. Typically demand is already in a marketplace or it's not.

        Large tech companies like Apple can sometimes create demand because of their following and the fact that they spend millions on product creation and marketing.

        But for the small business owner, demand for the product should already be in place. So that is your first task: do market research and see what the demand might be for your book. Who wants it?

        Unless you're doing this as a hobby . . . if you can't find demand I would suggest you think twice about this subject matter as your ticket to becoming a best selling author.

        Steve
        There are several books on Amazon, very much like this, that sell really well. So I was hoping to get some great insight on the steps to get this accomplished.
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    • Profile picture of the author Sosu
      Originally Posted by LaunchPurveyor View Post

      I'd gauge interest first. Put some of these poems on tshirts using Teespring, then set up some ads on Facebook and see what happens.
      Great idea to get started. I put some quotes up on my facebook and people just posted they didn't get it. It is more of a niche.
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  • Profile picture of the author nmwf
    Oh, and don't forget, there are plenty of KickStarter alternatives!
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  • Profile picture of the author Barry Unruh
    I'd start doing some research on Viking re-enactment groups, forums about Norse mythology, etc..

    Find out where the people who might be interested in your book hangout.

    That's where you want to focus your promotions and your interest generation.

    (Of course...If you could tie it to Thor...then you might be able to intrigue all the Avengers fans, too.)
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  • Profile picture of the author Jack Gordon
    Don't underestimate what Steve said.

    There is either a market for this or there isn't. You are not likely going to be able to create one, so if you are concerned about how many copies you might potentially be able to sell you should focus on trying to find evidence that your market even exists.

    Having said that, this might be one of those projects that it is just better to do, then hope you can find the market later. Assume you won't sell many, but maybe you can tap into a core market of people that will love it and follow you to your next project, and the one after that and the one after that.

    Everyone has to start somewhere, and at least you have an original idea with decent potential to build a niche following with.

    Go for it. Just don't expect to get rich off of it.
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    • Profile picture of the author Sosu
      Originally Posted by Jack Gordon View Post

      Don't underestimate what Steve said.

      There is either a market for this or there isn't. You are not likely going to be able to create one, so if you are concerned about how many copies you might potentially be able to sell you should focus on trying to find evidence that your market even exists.

      Having said that, this might be one of those projects that it is just better to do, then hope you can find the market later. Assume you won't sell many, but maybe you can tap into a core market of people that will love it and follow you to your next project, and the one after that and the one after that.

      Everyone has to start somewhere, and at least you have an original idea with decent potential to build a niche following with.

      Go for it. Just don't expect to get rich off of it.
      I have done lots of hustle over the years, nothing has made me wealthy yet. But I keep trying

      Many years ago... I did buy a house for $270k and sold it for $490k profiting about $100k. Which I then lost starting a cigar company.

      This book will be like a 4 hour work week / Crush it / Tony Robbins, using Viking Havamal lessons to relate. I need to find out where I get an editor. What is the best format to write it. Which is better Amazon or a publisher. So many questions. Thanks everyone for the great info
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  • Profile picture of the author jbreeden
    There is a market but you have to know where to look. This could go very well if you market it to those in the Alternate Religion Niches. Focus on using their strengths to your advantage.

    Mainstream market will not know anything about the Havamal.
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    • Profile picture of the author Sosu
      Originally Posted by jbreeden View Post

      There is a market but you have to know where to look. This could go very well if you market it to those in the Alternate Religion Niches. Focus on using their strengths to your advantage.

      Mainstream market will not know anything about the Havamal.
      I saw that Alternate Religion books with the Havamal sold great. But I want more like a kick ass and take names style.
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      • Profile picture of the author jbreeden
        Originally Posted by Sosu View Post

        I saw that Alternate Religion books with the Havamal sold great. But I want more like a kick ass and take names style.
        That is where I said : Focus on using their strengths to your advantage.

        Don't just look at Alternative Religion Books - Look for Websites focusing on the subject. Recruit them as your affiliates. Many have a huge following and if you find the right affiliate partners then you will be kicking ass and taking names.
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