As a traveling writer and Digital Nomad, I had over 15 years of experience working remotely before Covid broke out. Now that almost everyone can work from home, in a cafe, a coworking space, or a hammock in a tropical country, I like to share my tips so that you don't have to reinvent the wheel.
What do you do when you look around a bookstore? You select books with interesting titles and covers and then read the text on the back, right? When selling online on websites such as Bol.com or Amazon.com, you will also be the first to see the blurb or back cover text. And what do you send as an 'executive summary' of your book to a publisher to see if he is interested? Indeed; that same text, your elevator pitch. The back cover is the most important page of your book. But how do you build it up? Below you will find the 6 important parts and a number of important tips for a good back cover.
Is your dream to live, work & play around the world? In this test from my Digital Nomads book, you can find out if you have what it takes to be a digital nomad.
It is nice for both a reader and for you as a writer if there is some kind of rhythm in a book. If the structure of your book and chapters has something recognizable, then the reader does not have to search for it again and again with each chapter and can focus completely on the content. Such a structure also immediately gives you a handy 'coat rack' when writing your book. In this blog, I will show you how to bring an appropriate rhythm to your chapters as a conductor.
I never thought I could write a book. I did realize that I have a lot of knowledge and experience about a specific niche: subscription models for product-based businesses. And that companies really need that right now. But I had no idea how to write a book, where to start, and most importantly, how to find the time. Esther triggered me with her ‘Reverse Writing’ method.
If you have written a book, you have already done a lot of preparatory work that you can also use for other things, such as a podcast, blog series, presentation, training, or eCourse. That can be a great source of income, a way to introduce more people to you and your method, and/or to reach and help even more people. How do you turn your book into an online program or eCourse? Here are some pointers and tips.
More and more friends call me, anxious for some perspective. They feel like they are losing their sense of freedom. Apparently, they assume that I see the world differently and thus can broaden their perspective. Perhaps I do. When you travel as much as I do, you encounter different interpretations of the same facts and circumstances; different measures, solutions, attitudes, and therefore perspectives. I have learned that you can focus on what is not there (anymore), and what you can't or are not allowed to do, but you can also look at what is still there. The trick is to focus on everyday beautiful things. I myself am still surprised by the effect of paying attention to the little things that you might otherwise miss. A sleepy village, a beautiful FaceTime moment with my father, the complex taste of my olive oil, a beautiful nature photo or a new idea, a new opportunity. In this Inspiration Shot, I will share a few of those with you.
Did you know that you should actually start your book promotion while you are still writing? To many writers, that sounds vague and scary. One of the options you have to promote your book is a book trailer video. Very specific and fun to think about. Here are 6 possible formats for your book trailer video, a number of examples, and a tip where you can have such a video made for a reasonable price.
... but you can learn to surf! I notice that things that are happening in the world right now make many people feel unsettled. Some don't agree with measures that are in place, others feel uncomfortable in their current situation, and some even feel that their freedom is being threatened. I have learned that you cannot change external circumstances. If you try to resist something that you have no control over, you will just end up frustrated. I always try to focus on things that I can influence. Focusing on the things that you can change doesn't mean that you agree with everything that is happening, but means that you find your own way. In this Inspiration Shot, I will share some practical examples of how you can focus on things that you can change and have control of.
Nowadays we have an 'executive summary' for every project: a short summary that tells an interested party what it is about within a minute - and if possible even persuades them to participate or sponsor the project. For our book, we often don't think about that, or only much too late. This article explains why an 'elevator pitch' for your book is extra important, and how to make it…
