“Jake Mayer has been a mentor and friend for nearly ten years. He is curious, insightful, compassionate, and creative. In all the work he takes on, he is centered on helping others reach their fullest potential.”
With well over 1000 editions published, and tens of thousands of Amazon book listings managed, I’ve made (and undone) many wrong turns! With enough repetition and time, I’ve learned some things! (good ape—pat, pat).
Self-publishing is fantastically satisfying, but not all easy.
There are two challenges to authorship.
The first is the technical minutia of the publishing process itself:
Content Development— Is your content the “right” book to spend your time on? How well do you know your potential audience? If you are leaving your marketing plan until your book is finished, that is too late in the process!
Writing & Editing— What is your plan for developmental editing, copy editing, and proofreading? Do you have a plan for advance readers?
Formatting, Layout & Design— What are the format(s) of your book release? Will you manage your cover design, interior design, and formatting? Ebook creation? Is audiobook production part of your release plan?
Marketing & Advertising— Your book marketing plan (as mentioned) should come together early in your writing and publishing process. Online ads can be a bit of a hurdle if you haven’t had previous experience on these platforms. Will you be creating your promotional materials?
Administrative, Bureaucratic, & Legal— How well do you know the back end of Amazon? Is all of your content (including images) original or cleared for publication?
Publication & Distribution— Amazon? Ingram? Offset printing? Seeking a traditional publisher? Each of the previous decisions will need to align with your ultimate publishing and distribution destination.
The second challenge, of equal (if not greater) impact, is the significant investment of time, energy, and emotional capital to write and release a book, including the planning, prioritization, task initiation, and completion of tasks, which rely upon working memory, and self-regulation.
Do any of the following sound familiar?
These factors will critically impact your ability to successfully manage the complex and multi-step process of writing and publishing a book—efficiently navigating a large, complex project on a timeline through an unfamiliar process with many variables to consider. The scope of self-publishing is an executive function minefield!
95% of book projects are never successfully completed.
That is an enormous divide between earnest intent and successful action
What are the benefits of a publishing coach?
Coaching takes you, in small, consistent steps, from where you are to where you want to be, on a timeline you can trust. If you are serious about making your book a reality and want to publish true to your vision—and especially if *executive function* contributes to your challenge—coaching makes a world of difference in attaining the result you want, on a timeline you can trust.
Often, it is our selves that get in the way of our best work. "Resistance" is a term coined by Steven Pressfield in his book "The War of Art" to describe the force that stops us from doing the work we need to do. It can take the form of fear, procrastination, self-doubt, distractions, or addiction. To overcome resistance, we face it head-on, cultivating a daily practice of doing the work, and pushing through fear and self-doubt. I am here to answer questions, encourage, and help you stay on track and motivated throughout the publishing journey.
Through each step of the process, I provide insight into the publishing process, industry, potential pitfalls, and best practices. The worst impression you can make as an author is for your work to appear amateurish. The wrong presentation will sink your book before it even leaves the harbor. I ensure that your work will meet the highest standards of excellence, including editing, proofreading, formatting, and guidance on book design, title selection, and other important elements of book production.
Remove dithering and fretting from your writing and publishing process. Beginning with our first session, we will chart a timeline with the steps to the end results you want to achieve. Imagine what you can accomplish without the wasted energy that comes with uncertainty. You will know the steps you need to take, the optimal time to perform each action, and the tools and systems in place to get you there.
Marketing your book is a critical aspect of the publishing process, and as an experienced publishing professional I can provide valuable guidance on how to effectively promote an your work—include advice on social media marketing, email campaigns, book reviews, and other marketing strategies.
I will guide you through each step of the publishing process—but as desired, you may also access discounted done-for-you services through my publishing company, Wordbound Media.
My coaching packages are comprised of 45-minute, 1-on-1 coaching sessions at a consistent, designated time each week, starting where you are now and working through to the end of your project (book release and marketing efforts). Every step of the coaching program is customized to your project, your needs as an author, and your timeline. While the weekly focus of coaching will vary, the larger goal is to always provide you resources and feedback to keep you on track for a professional and successful publication.
