ure may bemoan the inverse relationship between the rise of communications technology and how well people listen. How many times have you been forced to eavesdrop on loud cell phone calls? Next time you overhear one of these shouted conversations, assess how much real, attentive listening is being done.

“Hi, I’m here. Where are you?” doesn’t necessarily qualify.

But a powerful writer must be a powerful listener.

3. Tell Your Stories to Real-Live People

Conversation could be considered a warm-up act for writers. It certainly helps a writer to d

THREE BOOK PUBLISHING SECRETS

The experts won’t tell you the following. Why? They’re so simple that nobody could make big money selling you this advice. But following it is different. These secrets helped me make over $100,000 in 2006. How much can these three little secrets make you?

1. If you plan to sell books, buy books.

Where do you think book sales come from anyway? Self-publishers alone bring out 5,000 new titles every day! Could more people be selling than buying?

Anyone who aims to sell a book to others has an obligation to buy plenty of books. Buy them for yourself. Put them on your holiday gift list. When a friend needs a gift, think “Book.”

Second-hand books do not count, incidentally. As an author, how much do you think you're going to like people buying your books that way? Sure it’s tempting to buy those cheap used books at Amazon. (Did you know that many of them are review copies, trustingly sent by publishers?)

Personally, as a self-publisher, I will no longer send out more than a dozen review copies of any new book. It would be more gratifying to fling a thousand dollar bills from the nearest skyscraper. How much does an author make from a second-hand book? Nothing. Even a new book doesn’t bring an author much, actually -- maybe $2-3 for a full-price book. Publishing overhead eats up the rest. Still, $2 beats $0.

Unless you collect first editions, buying second-hand books is as ethically dubious as copying CDs and tapes or generously sharing your music downloads with friends. Many musicians, like professional writers, devote the best part of their lives to bringing their products to market. People who wouldn’t dream of stealing other things get downright grabby about other people’s artistic property. So set up some good writing karma for yourself and put book purchases into your budget.

2. Listen

If you aim to publish a book, first aim to listen. Consider it a karmic investment. Create energy for others to be interested in your words. Model how listening is done: Real curiosity. Questions. Sympathy.

Listening helps writers in a more direct manner, too. Listening will sharpen your ear for good dialogue, and all writing is, ultimately, dialogue.

Historians of the future may bemoan the inverse relationship between the rise of communications technology and how well people listen. How many times have you been forced to eavesdrop on loud cell phone calls? Next time you overhear one of these shouted conversations, assess how much real, attentive listening is being done.

“Hi, I’m here. Where are you?” doesn’t necessarily qualify.

But a powerful writer must be a powerful listener.

3. Tell Your Stories to Real-Live People

Conversation could be considered a warm-up act for writers. It certainly helps a writer to de

of books. Buy them for yourself. Put them on your holiday gift list. When a friend needs a gift, think “Book.”

Second-hand books do not count, incidentally. As an author, how much do you think you're going to like people buying your books that way? Sure it’s tempting to buy those cheap used books at Amazon. (Did you know that many of them are review copies, trustingly sent by publishers?)

Personally, as a self-publisher, I will no longer send out more than a dozen review copies of any new book. It would be more gratifying to fling a thousand dollar bills from the nearest skyscraper. How much does an author make from a second-hand book? Nothing. Even a new book doesn’t bring an author much, actually -- maybe $2-3 for a full-price book. Publishing overhead eats up the rest. Still, $2 beats $0.

Unless you collect first editions, buying second-hand books is as ethically dubious as copying CDs and tapes or generously sharing your music downloads with friends. Many musicians, like professional writers, devote the best part of their lives to bringing their products to market. People who wouldn’t dream of stealing other things get downright grabby about other people’s artistic property. So set up some good writing karma for yourself and put book purchases into your budget.

2. Listen

If you aim to publish a book, first aim to listen. Consider it a karmic investment. Create energy for others to be interested in your words. Model how listening is done: Real curiosity. Questions. Sympathy.

Listening helps writers in a more direct manner, too. Listening will sharpen your ear for good dialogue, and all writing is, ultimately, dialogue.

Historians of the future may bemoan the inverse relationship between the rise of communications technology and how well people listen. How many times have you been forced to eavesdrop on loud cell phone calls? Next time you overhear one of these shouted conversations, assess how much real, attentive listening is being done.

“Hi, I’m here. Where are you?” doesn’t necessarily qualify.

But a powerful writer must be a powerful listener.

3. Tell Your Stories to Real-Live People

Conversation could be considered a warm-up act for writers. It certainly helps a writer to d

s from the nearest skyscraper. How much does an author make from a second-hand book? Nothing. Even a new book doesn’t bring an author much, actually -- maybe $2-3 for a full-price book. Publishing overhead eats up the rest. Still, $2 beats $0.

Unless you collect first editions, buying second-hand books is as ethically dubious as copying CDs and tapes or generously sharing your music downloads with friends. Many musicians, like professional writers, devote the best part of their lives to bringing their products to market. People who wouldn’t dream of stealing other things get downright grabby about other people’s artistic property. So set up some good writing karma for yourself and put book purchases into your budget.

2. Listen

If you aim to publish a book, first aim to listen. Consider it a karmic investment. Create energy for others to be interested in your words. Model how listening is done: Real curiosity. Questions. Sympathy.

Listening helps writers in a more direct manner, too. Listening will sharpen your ear for good dialogue, and all writing is, ultimately, dialogue.

Historians of the future may bemoan the inverse relationship between the rise of communications technology and how well people listen. How many times have you been forced to eavesdrop on loud cell phone calls? Next time you overhear one of these shouted conversations, assess how much real, attentive listening is being done.

“Hi, I’m here. Where are you?” doesn’t necessarily qualify.

But a powerful writer must be a powerful listener.

3. Tell Your Stories to Real-Live People

Conversation could be considered a warm-up act for writers. It certainly helps a writer to d

other things get downright grabby about other people’s artistic property. So set up some good writing karma for yourself and put book purchases into your budget.

2. Listen

If you aim to publish a book, first aim to listen. Consider it a karmic investment. Create energy for others to be interested in your words. Model how listening is done: Real curiosity. Questions. Sympathy.

Listening helps writers in a more direct manner, too. Listening will sharpen your ear for good dialogue, and all writing is, ultimately, dialogue.

Historians of the future may bemoan the inverse relationship between the rise of communications technology and how well people listen. How many times have you been forced to eavesdrop on loud cell phone calls? Next time you overhear one of these shouted conversations, assess how much real, attentive listening is being done.

“Hi, I’m here. Where are you?” doesn’t necessarily qualify.

But a powerful writer must be a powerful listener.

3. Tell Your Stories to Real-Live People

Conversation could be considered a warm-up act for writers. It certainly helps a writer to d

ure may bemoan the inverse relationship between the rise of communications technology and how well people listen. How many times have you been forced to eavesdrop on loud cell phone calls? Next time you overhear one of these shouted conversations, assess how much real, attentive listening is being done.

“Hi, I’m here. Where are you?” doesn’t necessarily qualify.

But a powerful writer must be a powerful listener.

3. Tell Your Stories to Real-Live People

Conversation could be considered a warm-up act for writers. It certainly helps a writer to develop better technique.

When you observe how real-life people talk, you’ll also learn a great deal about their ability as writers. At one time, I had many friends who consulted a popular astrologer. Apparently every one of his customers was given the same flattering advice. “You have great talent as a writer. You should write a book.”

Based on this advice, one successful photographer (Let's call him "Richard") became convinced that he should shift over to screenwriting. No matter that Richard was twice the age of a typical screenwriter, and that this is writing’s most ageist specialty. Lack of realism wasn’t even his worst problem as a writer-in-waiting.

Like all the other astrologically anointed writers in this group, Richard didn’t talk like a writer. Why not? Words were not used in interesting ways. Sentences moved with little flow, originality or style. Paragraphs positively plodded. Now, I liked these writer wannabe friends, even loved some of them. But writers they weren’t.

Could they have become writers? Sure. One way to become a writer is to pay attention to how people use words. Don’t just read or write. Talk. Use words in real time. If you notice your audience tuning out, shut up. Next time you get a chance, find ways to express yourself that keep people interested.

Excellent conversation can begin by choosing a worthy intention. How can you help the person you’re talking with? Speech, like writing, flows best on demand. If you’re wise, you’ll learn to talk on demand before you try print on demand.

On my yoga retreat, the most ambitious author I spoke with was bursting with excitement about his memoir. "Henry" and I had many conversations where he requested advice as a self-publisher. Has he had an interesting life? Undoubtedly. But let’s conclude this article by consider whether Henry was using our three writer do’s.

1. Did he buy or read books by others? If so, Henry never once mentioned it.

2. Listening? That wasn’t apparent. Henry’s attention was restricted to gathering information that would serve him.

3. Storytelling? Here is what fascinated me most about this aspiring writer. Henry never told one single story -- no anecdotes, nary a description of a particular person o