You don’t have to be a writer to get published.
Authoring books and articles to become a quoted authority is a time-tested vehicle for gaining credibility in a specific area.
You can’t spell the word authority without the word author.
But you might say, “I don’t got time for that.” Maybe I will just do a video. I am great at talking.”
Yes, video is great and I still want you to be a book author.
But why, in this video world, should you be an author?
One of my author clients said to me this week: “Today, every business is in the video business.”
If the current writer’s strike is teaching us anything, somebody needs to write the video scripts. (I miss my late-night friends: Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, Stephen Colbert, Michael Che, and Colin Jost.)
My point: somebody needs to write all those business books on Amazon.
Professors do it to win tenure. Physicians do it to earn recognition.
Agency owners, strategic consultants, and executive coaches need to do it to attract the right-fit clients.
If you want to attract right-fit clients, you need to share a point of view.
What is your point of view? I think you better put it in print if you want to capture attention.
I love that LinkedIn expert Ellen Melko Moore says, “Your LinkedIn strategy is hurting my heart and my eyeballs.” That is a powerful point of view in ten words.
(Ellen has a package of more charisma plus humor than anyone I know, and I look forward to her book coming out with all her right words.)
But what if you are not so great at writing those right words?
There are three ways to get something written: hire a ghostwriter, hire a developmental editor to help you, or lock yourself in a cabin in the hills and tough it out alone. You know, like in the Stephen King novel and film Misery.
Forget the misery of going it alone. My belief is writing is a team sport.
I recommend the middle option, which is to work with a developmental editor.
That is my favorite aspect of my work. My signature product is a developmental editor package I call a Book BluePrint.
You can find an editor to brainstorm with, get feedback from, and to hold you accountable to a schedule.
Same principle as working with a personal trainer at the gym.
I will reserve judgment if an AI chatbot is a worthy option.
How do you feel about using chatGPT as your ghostwriter? Personally it scares me.