Make Your Book Profitable BEFORE It’s Even Written

Ever stared at a blank page, the weight of “what if nobody buys it?” crushing your creative spirit? We’ve all been there. The thought of pouring your heart and soul into a book, only to see it languish on shelves (or worse, in your garage), is enough to make any aspiring author hesitate.

Let’s face it, the statistics can be daunting. “Most books sell between 200-2000 copies, total,” they say. It’s a sobering thought that can easily paralyze your writing ambitions. But what if I told you there’s a way to flip the script? What if you could actually generate income from your book idea before you even write a single chapter?

Yes, it’s possible. And no, it doesn’t involve some magical, overnight success scheme. It’s about strategically leveraging your expertise, building genuine connections, and validating your book’s potential in the real world.

Here’s how you can make money from your book idea before it’s published:

1. Cultivate a Community: The Power of a Writer’s Group

Think of it as a modern-day salon, a safe space for writers to gather and support each other. Here’s how to make it work:

Gather Your Tribe: Invite 5-10 aspiring writers who share your passion.
Create a Dedicated Space: Establish a regular meeting time, whether online or in person.
Charge a Nominal Fee: This ensures commitment and provides you with a steady income stream. Think of it as a “community contribution” rather than a fee.
Focus on the Container, Not the Curriculum: The value lies in the shared experience, the accountability, and the community.

Why it works: People crave connection and structure. You’re providing a valuable service that they’re willing to pay for, creating a win-win situation.

2. Turn Your Expertise into Gold: Live Talks and Trainings

Your book idea is built on your knowledge and experience. Share it with the world through live presentations.

Identify Your Core Message: What’s the one key takeaway from your book?
Craft a Compelling Presentation: Develop a talk that’s engaging, informative, and actionable.
Seek Out Opportunities: Approach local organizations, businesses, or community groups.
Offer Value Beyond the Talk: Consider selling related products or services, such as worksheets, ebooks, or coaching sessions.

Why it works: You’re showcasing your expertise, building your credibility, and connecting with potential readers on a personal level.

3. Reach a Global Audience: Evergreen Online Content

The internet offers endless possibilities for sharing your knowledge.

Create Video Content: Develop engaging videos for platforms like YouTube, TikTok, or LinkedIn.
Build Online Courses: Share your expertise through platforms like Udemy or Skillshare.
Leverage LinkedIn Learning: Create in-depth training courses that can generate passive income.

Why it works: You can reach a wider audience, generate passive income, and establish yourself as an authority in your field.

4. Build Your Tribe: The Power of Email Marketing

Email remains one of the most effective ways to connect with your audience.

Choose an Email Marketing Platform: Select a user-friendly platform like Mailchimp or ConvertKit.
Create an Irresistible Opt-in Offer: Offer a valuable freebie, such as an ebook, checklist, or guide.
Provide Consistent Value: Share engaging content that resonates with your audience.
Leverage Affiliate Marketing: Promote relevant products or services to your email list.

Why it works: You build a direct line of communication with potential readers and can promote your book and related offerings.

5. Amplify Your Reach: Strategic Partnerships

Collaborate with other writers, professionals, or influencers in your field.

Host Joint Events or Workshops: Partner with others to create engaging events.
Create Online Summits: Interview experts in your field and share the recordings with your audience.
Engage in Affiliate Partnerships: Promote each other’s products or services.
Guest on Podcasts: Share your expertise with new audiences.

Why it works: You leverage the existing audiences of your partners and expand your reach exponentially.

The Time to Act Is Now

Don’t let fear hold you back from sharing your unique voice with the world. By implementing these strategies, you can generate income, build an audience, and validate your book idea before you write a single chapter. The world needs your story. Are you ready to share it?

BEETS

BEETS – photo by FOODISM360 on Unsplash

I think it was Jitterbug Perfume that gave me the idea that beets are sort of…magical.

And Ruth Reichl’s beet salad recipe in her FABULOUS cookbook, My Kitchen Year, sealed the deal.

It’s perfect for this time of year, but I’m also excited about making it in the summer, because it won’t wilt in the sunshine during pool parties. #alwaysthinkingahead

Borscht Salad (à la Fergus Henderson)

3 beets
1 green apple
1/2 small red cabbage
1 orange
1 small red onion (I didn’t have a red onion so I threw in some diced radishes – worked fine)
1 tbsp. balsamic vinegar
4 tbsp. olive oil
salt
pepper
sour cream (or goat cheese) (optional)

Peel the raw beets and grate them. You may want to use rubber gloves, or your hands will be a lovely shade of magenta for quite a while.

Peel and grate the apple and stir that into the beets.

Slice the cabbage as thinly as you can. Do the same with the red onion. Toss them with the beet/apple mixture.

Squeeze an orange and measure out 2 tbsp. of juice. Mix it with the balsamic vinegar and olive oil, then toss with the beets. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Spoon on to 6 plates and top each serving with a dollop of sour cream.

(One more note from me: Ruth says to “grate” the beets and apple, but I just cut them finely and it worked just fine.)

Hooray for beets!

Yours,

Sam.

P.S. BTW, you can still enroll in The Get It Done Workshop if you want to – go to www.MonsterGetItDone.com – just $42 gets you started. – S.

By the way, you look really great today.

Lentils, Monastery Style

It’s not uncommon after traveling or completing a big project I feel a bit depleted. Ever feel this way? I am sure you do, most of us do even if we don’t always admit it.

I have a little secret weapon though to get me back on the move I wanted to share with you.

I make “Lentils, Monastery Style” from “Diet for a Small Planet” by Frances Moore Lappé. (I know – that’s real, old-school vegetarianism, right?)

My mom used to make this when I was a kid, and it was always one of our favorites — the cheese makes it feel like there’s a secret treat — and everyone I’ve ever made it for falls in love with it.

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Lentils, Monastery Style

(serves 4 as a main dish)

In a large pot, sauté 3-5 minutes:

1/4 cup olive oil

1 or 2 onions, chopped

1 carrot, chopped

Add and sauté 1 minute more:

1/2 tsp. dried thyme & marjoram

Add:

3 cups stock or seasoned water

1 cup dry lentils, rinsed

salt to taste

1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley (or 1 tbsp. dried parsley)

1 lb. canned tomatoes

Simmer in covered pot until lentils are tender (about 45 minutes or an hour).

Add:

1/4 cup sherry

Have ready:

2/3 cup grated Swiss cheese.

To serve, place 2 tbsp. of cheese in each serving bowl and top with soup.

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It’s simple and hearty and you can improvise on this recipe endlessly. It’s very forgiving.

You can add sausage or kale or ham or more veggies or whatever else you’ve got lying around. You can switch out the cheese – I love to use Goat cheese – or skip the cheese completely.

Although, of course, I am from the Midwest and the phrase “skip the cheese” has never once crossed my lips.

Here’s to simple comforts —

Where Will I Think to Look for This Later?

Asking yourself the question “Where will I think to look for this?” might be the single greatest organizational step you can take.

Asking yourself this question puts you in a state of awareness about your organizational style and creates an automatic mnemonic so you are even more likely to remember later on.

If I can imagine that the last time I put away a bottle of vanilla extract I thought, “Well, I’ll probably think to look for this with the rest of the baking stuff or maybe with the spices,” and then I put it with the rest of the baking stuff, well, I’ve got a better than fifty fifty chance of finding it right away the next time I need vanilla.

Certainly much higher than if I just jam it on a shelf somewhere where it eventually gets shoved to the back (because it’s a seldom-used item) and where I’ll never find it because I’m not even sure I have any to begin with because I don’t remember the last time I put it away.

This leads to buying more vanilla extract, which, if you use the pure extract (and you really should; the imitation stuff is terrible) is pretty darn expensive.

So why buy two when one, well placed, will do?

Again, the question is not, “Where should this go?” The question is, “Where, given my actual life, would I think something like this might end up?”

This is also a great question to ask yourself in parking garages, although there it sounds more like, “How will I remember which spot this is when I return?”

A good system is practical, realistic, easy, and even fun.

A bad system is impractical, unrealistic, hard, and a bummer.

You, your stuff, your space, and your art all deserve great systems.