Write About Your Vacation For Fun And Profit

Write About Your Vacation For Fun And Profit

By Peter Biadasz (Author/Speaker/Publisher)

We all love to take vacations! There exists an amazingly wide variety of vacations choices available. From cruises to faraway lands, from skiing to skydiving, from warm weather to the coldest of cold, it always surprises me as to how two people can have such a different experience going to the same place, sometimes at even the same exact time. Having said that, if you ever want to have some fun writing, write about your vacations.

When writing about your vacations get the reader involved in your adventures as much as possible. Let your readers experience the newness of being in a place for the first time; the emotions you felt, the sounds surrounding you, smells of the air and the tastes of the foods and drinks in your travels. Write in such a way that the reader feels as though they are on the vacation with you, but also want to experience it for themselves someday. 

There are three ways you can write about your vacation experiences:

1 – Write about a past vacation: This is a great way to develop your writing style. Start by picking your favorite vacation of all time and write about it in a way that not only recalls the reasons why it was such a memorable time, but also in a way that others will enjoy reading about your experiences. Let others who went on those vacations with you read your accounts to let you know if you left out any vital information in your recollections. Also ask them to critique your writing style and be open for any constructive criticism of your work. This will only make you a better writer.  

2 – Write about the vacation you are taking right now: During your next vacation make extensive notes in every aspect of your trip; from deciding where to go, planning and then the trip itself. You may even want to write about any follow-up or after the trip thoughts. Be sure to not leave out any detail and have a great time.

3 – Write about your dream vacation: If you really want to stretch your horizons write about your dream vacation. This may not only be a great emotional release for you, but might actually give you some ideas and goals for a future trip. Enjoy the experience. Remember, no dream is too big when the budget is limitless.

 If you are feeling especially ambitious you may want to be paid to write your travel experiences. There are many opportunities available and I encourage you to contact your favorite travel agent, chamber of commerce, convention and visitor’s bureau or editor of the publications you utilize to enhance your travel experiences. These contacts can inform you of the reviews they rely on the most to ensure their customers are happiest on their vacations. Contact the editors of these sources to inquire the process to be considered to write for their publication.

If you want to share your experiences for the greater common good for free you may want to start a travel blog. This can be utilized both during and after your travels. In addition, you can invite others to record their travel experiences on your blog.   

Feel free to post your vacations stories and experiences at the bottom of this article. I hope as a writer you not only expand the scope of your writing by performing these exercises, but also find more enjoyment from your vacations.

    

Peter Biadasz, author of such book as Write Your First Book, 2^nd Edition (available at http://www.amazon.com/Write-Your-First-Book-Edition/dp/193782974X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1403411149&sr=8-1&keywords=write%2C+peter+biadasz),  More Leads and Increase Your Sales And Lower Your Golf Score, is President of Total Publishing And Media. To discuss with Peter publishing or marketing your book idea, or to inquire about having Peter speak to your organization or meeting, feel free to contact him at Peter@TotalPublishingAndMedia.com

Write NON-Fiction Today!

By Peter Biadasz (Author/Speaker/Publisher)

Not to sound redundant from my article titled “Write Fiction Today!”, but as President of Total Publishing And Media I am constantly approached by authors claiming their book manuscript will be the next New York Times best seller and will land them on one of the coveted spots on Oprah. Because I am an author first, with now 16 books to my credit, the advice I usually give to these aspiring writers is to not worry about the best sellers lists or public appearances, but to perfect the craft of writing  to express the passion and expertise which lies within them. As I discuss in “Write Your First Book”, there are three phases to the successful author experience: writing, publishing and marketing. To reach one’s goals all three phases must be mastered and accomplished in that order. The mission of this article is to explain the first step of the process in becoming a successful non-fiction author. If you want to discuss the publishing or marketing phases, I would love to talk with you. Feel free to utilize my contact information at the end of this article.     

Let’s take a look at writing non-fiction. There are several ways to approach non-fiction writing. I will discuss just a few.

1 – Write Non -Fiction Based On Your Passions – When you are passionate about something you will find yourself driven to write about it. First you have to figure out what your true passions are. I am not talking about something you are interested in today but may not care about tomorrow. I am discussing the thing or things which have excited you for years, not a whim. Upon realizing your passion write a piece which takes your reader into the depths of your passion; letting them experience the drive you experience and emotion you feel. By making your passion infectious via your written word you will ignite the same passion in everyone who reads your piece. 

2 – Write Non-Fiction Bases On Your Expertise – We are all an expert at something. Make a list of your topics of expertise and then pick the one you want to write about. Research the topic to fill in the gaps you may have in your knowledge, identify your target audience, outline the piece and then begin writing. You may have to perform a re-write or two to achieve your goal. During the process you may find that you have learned something new in your area of expertise.

3 - Write Non-Fiction Based On What You Know Interests Others – You probably already know what topics interests others around you. Do some research and start writing. Write with a purpose. Prove everyone right, or prove them wrong. Either way, ensure your facts are correct and your position sound.

4 – Write Non-Fiction Based On A Relationship – We have all had relationships, good and bad. Pick one from your past, or present, decide the perspective from which you want to write about. Get permission from the other half of the relationship (people do not like surprises) and start writing accordingly.

5 – Write Your Life Story – You may want to recall you entire life’s experiences or maybe just and incident or two. Whatever your choice, be sure to incorporate a strong theme to which your target audience can relate. 

6 - Write Another Person’s Life Story – We have all been exposed to fascinating or interesting people. Some are alive and some have passed on. Pick one whom you feel most connected too and begin your research. Learn things about them which reveal the essence of why you are writing about them.   

Make the decision to write some non-fiction today. I have authored/co-authored 16 non-fiction books as of the writing of this article. The two most important aspects in writing non-fiction are research of the topic at hand and presenting the information with your unique personality and perspective.

I hope as a writer you not only expand the scope of your writing by performing the exercises mentioned above, but also find more passion in your life as a result of your writings.

    

Peter Biadasz, author of such book as Write Your First Book, 2^nd Edition (available at http://www.amazon.com/Write-Your-First-Book-Edition/dp/193782974X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1403411149&sr=8-1&keywords=write%2C+peter+biadasz),  More Leads and Increase Your Sales And Lower Your Golf Score, is President of Total Publishing And Media. To discuss with Peter publishing or marketing your book idea, or to inquire about having Peter speak to your organization or meeting, feel free to contact him at Peter@TotalPublishingAndMedia.com

Copyright 2012 Peter Biadasz

Write Fiction Today!

Write Fiction Today!

By Peter Biadasz (Author/Speaker/Publisher)

As President of Total Publishing And Media I am constantly approached by authors claiming their book manuscript will be the next New York Times best seller and will land them on one of the coveted spots on Oprah. Because I am an author first, with now 16 books to my credit, the advice I usually give to these aspiring writers is to not worry about the best sellers lists or public appearances, but to perfect the craft of writing  to express the passion and expertise which lies within them. As I discuss in “Write Your First Book”, there are three phases to the successful author experience: writing, publishing and marketing. To reach one’s goals all three phases must be mastered and accomplished in that order. The mission of this article is to explain the first step of the process in becoming a successful fiction author. If you want to discuss the publishing or marketing phases, I would love to talk with you. Feel free to utilize my contact information at the end of this article.     

Let’s take a look at writing fiction. There are several ways to approach fiction writing. I will discuss just a few.

1 – Writing Fiction Based On A True Story – In my opinion this is one of the easiest ways to start writing fiction. Simply take a true event in your life which you deem as significant and feel passionate about, write it factually as it occurred and then re-write it in the way you really wanted it to happen or in a fashion which is either more dramatic or more relatable to others. You can even re-write the re-write several different ways, depending on the target audience you want to reach. Before you go to bed tonight make a list of events either in your life or that you have been exposed too which you may want to fictionalize. Then pick an event from the list and have fun with the writing process. Let your imagination run wild. No idea is a bad idea. You can always edit later.  

2 – Writing Fiction That Could Be Real (but isn’t) – This is similar to writing fiction based on a true story, but without starting with a factual frame of reference. After performing the first writing exercise above several times, writing fiction without a factual basis becomes easier. Start with any scenario and just expand it to a logical conclusion. This form of writing allows the world be the way you want it to be.

3 – Writing Fantasy Fiction – If you want to create a totally new world here is your chance. By writing fantasy the only rule is that there are no rules. The laws of science, or any other laws for that matter, do not matter because you can create new ones, both scientifically and legally.  The challenge in writing fantasy is to be original. I once had a writer come to me with what he thought was a great idea for a fantasy book. He expressed it to me with much passion and in amazing detail. After his presentation he sat in eager anticipation of my opinion. After weighing my words for a few seconds all I could ask was, “doesn’t that sound a lot like Star Wars?” He quickly agreed and I encouraged him to expand the world in which to write fantasy, or try another form of fiction.   

Make the decision to write some fiction today. The hurdle I had to overcome in dabbling in the fiction realm is that I even though I publish fiction and non-fiction works, all of the books I had authored were non-fiction. Once I overcame the sense that I was telling a lie when writing fiction, the words flowed very easily. 

I hope as a writer you not only expand the scope of your writing by performing the exercises mentioned above, but also find more passion in your life as a result of your writings.

    

Peter Biadasz, author of such book as Write Your First Book, 2^nd Edition (available at http://www.amazon.com/Write-Your-First-Book-Edition/dp/193782974X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1403411149&sr=8-1&keywords=write%2C+peter+biadasz),  More Leads and Increase Your Sales And Lower Your Golf Score, is President of Total Publishing And Media. To discuss with Peter publishing or marketing your book idea, or to inquire about having Peter speak to your organization or meeting, feel free to contact him at Peter@TotalPublishingAndMedia.com
Copyright 2012 Peter Biadasz

10 Things Your Friends Can Do To Help You Sell More Books!

10 Things Your Friends Can Do To Help You Sell More Books!

By: Penny Sansevieri

“Informative and practical article!”

 Peter Biadasz

Author/Speaker/Publisher

www.TotalPublishingAndMedia.com

Author of "Write Your First Book"

Successful authors are not loners. They get out and they talk about their book, they engage people, they market and they enlist the help of their team. In this case we're talking about your friends. Getting friends (and family) to help you market your book might be the best thing you can do for your book's success, but how you go about engaging their help is another matter entirely. Friends and family who haven't spent any time in the book industry might be at a loss for what to do and because of that, might end up doing nothing. I find that when I talk to folks they tell me they'd love to help but have no clue where to start. So take this list and pass it out to everyone you know, this should give them a good jump-off point and could certainly help boost your sales!

1) Do you have promotional pieces? T-shirts, postcards, bookmarks, hats, magnets? Send some to all of your friends and ask them to pass them out or leave them in places where your readers might shop.

2) Send friends and family an announcement e-mail and ask if they'll send it to ten (or more) people they know with their endorsement to buy the book or better yet, if they have a newsletter or mailing list, see if they'll announce your book to their newsletter readers!

3) Have them go into their local bookstore and talk to the manager about inviting you in for a local event or better yet, see if they'll stock your book.

4) Encourage everyone you know to buy a book.

5) Offer them a commission if they sell books on your behalf.

6) If you're in town see if they'll host a book signing at their home to introduce you to their network of friends.

7) Do they have businesses? See if they'll consider selling your book at their offices. (And remember to give them a percentage!)

8) Do they have any connections with local radio, TV or print? Ask them if they'll make a call for you to see about getting you on the air.

9) Tell your friends what you need. Make up a promotional "wish list" for example "I wish I could do an event at XYZ bookstore, or I wish I could get into XYZ magazine." You never know who they might know. Remember the six degrees of separation rule. Often friends want to help but they don't know what you need. Tell them.

10) Thank them for all of their efforts and keep them apprised of your success. Often we get so busy promoting our books that we forget to say thank you and since we hate to boast, we also forget to tell people all the wonderful things that have happened to us and our books. Tell them. They'll be happy for you and it might inspire them to do more!

Penny C. Sansevieri is the author of the novel The Cliffhanger. She is a book marketing and media relations specialist. Penny also coaches authors on a variety of topics related to books .  

This Blog Copyright 2011 Peter Biadasz

Make A Free 30 Second Video Commercial For Your Book

Thanks to Dr. Malcolm Conway, author of Raising Elite Athletes, for sharing with me, and now you, a great resource for making video commercials for your books. The resource can be found at animoto.com.

To see Dr. Conway’s commercial feel free to go to:   

http://tiny.cc/8914j

I made a quick commercial for Total Publishing And Media. Enjoy it at:

http://animoto.com/play/72LERbNLF673gBLUmig7lQ

And you can see a commercial for one of my books, Write Your First Book, at:

http://animoto.com/play/6ayVoMJ7NdEtvka7DMeWgA

This is a very easy to use flexible product. Make your commercials and post them on facebook, Twitter, YouTube, your website and anywhere else you can think of.

You have a great book which the world needs to know exists!

Happy Marketing!!!!!!

For additional book marketing tips visit

http://writeyourfirstbooktoday.blogspot.com/

Copyright 2011 Peter Biadasz

Your Book – The Perfect Graduation Gift

In the next few weeks children of all ages, from nursery school through college, will be graduating from one grade to another, one school to another, or into the workplace full time. Your book is perfect for a graduate in at least one age group.

Now is the time to let parents, grandparents, other relatives and friends know your book is the book which their child, teen or adult graduate must have to better enjoy the next level on which they are about to embark. You may also want to inform teachers, principals, guidance counselors as well as other school personnel about your book and how it would be a benefit to their students and graduates.

Utilize facebook, Linkedin and Twitter as well as other social media to post the benefits of reading your book. Make a YouTube video if you want. Send your press release to your local newspaper, radio and TV stations as well as your local bookstores. This may also be a great time to perform a special book signing event aimed towards graduates.

If you need books in your stock you can have them within two weeks. For your out of town inquiries remember this special phrase; “My book is available at your favorite online or local bookstore. If your local bookstore does not have it in stock, I am sure they will be happy to order it for you.”

 Always remember, your book is the perfect graduation present for someone this year, next year, and every year to follow.

Peter Biadasz, author of such book as Write Your First Book, 2^nd Edition (available at http://www.amazon.com/Write-Your-First-Book-Edition/dp/193782974X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1403411149&sr=8-1&keywords=write%2C+peter+biadasz),  More Leads and Increase Your Sales And Lower Your Golf Score, is President of Total Publishing And Media. To discuss with Peter publishing or marketing your book idea, or to inquire about having Peter speak to your organization or meeting, feel free to contact him at Peter@TotalPublishingAndMedia.com

Copyright 2011 Peter Biadasz

Whose Birthday Is It Today?

Connect with your Facebook audience daily by sending birthday greetings. On the right side of your home page a listing will show you which of your friends is having a birthday today. Make it a part of your daily routine to write a birthday message on the wall of those listed. Just click on their name from the birthday list and write away. Not only will this ensure you contact every one of your fb friends on a yearly basis, it will give you the opportunity to “talk” with someone who you may not have had contact with in quite a while. They will appreciate the thought, and may also realize they want to read your book or share your book with another one of their friends.

                                                                                                                                            

Plus, if you have your book cover showing as your profile picture, everyone who goes to your friend’s wall will see your greeting as well as your book cover. This may spark some added interest in your book.

So I ask; Whose birthday is it today?

For additional book marketing/selling tips feel free to go to http://writeyourfirstbooktoday.blogspot.com/

Peter Biadasz, author of such book as Write Your First Book, 2^nd Edition (available at http://www.amazon.com/Write-Your-First-Book-Edition/dp/193782974X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1403411149&sr=8-1&keywords=write%2C+peter+biadasz),  More Leads and Increase Your Sales And Lower Your Golf Score, is President of Total Publishing And Media. To discuss with Peter publishing or marketing your book idea, or to inquire about having Peter speak to your organization or meeting, feel free to contact him at Peter@TotalPublishingAndMedia.com

Copyright 2011 Peter Biadasz