We asked Mark Schaefer, marketing consultant, speaker, and author of six books, this question. Here’s what he had to say!
NFAA: If you were launching your writing career today, what would be your top three priorities?
Mark Schaefer:
My three considerations would be:
1) Is this the right time? Writing a book is an enormous commitment for both me and my family. A priority would be consideration of the family impact.
2) Do I have the right audience? In today’s world, you probably can’t sell a book (let alone get a contract) without an audience. Being “known” and building an audience is certainly a priority.
3) Finding your “voice” in the information eco-system. Today, literally anybody can publish a book. To stand out, you need to be clear about your specific place in the world and how you will contribute something useful and unique.
Mark Schaefer’s books include KNOWN: The Handbook for Building and Unleashing Your Personal Brand in the Digital Age. Visit Mark’s website to learn more about him.
We invite you to share your answer to that question in the comments below.
