In PART ONE, we learned that you can make money from your book project the more you expand the project beyond the book alone. The more you think CONTENT rather than just “BOOK”, the more you expand the earning potential:
By focusing on CONTENT (not just a “book”), you now have the potential for:
• Book Money
• Speaking Money
• Teaching Money
REAL WORLD EXAMPLE:
ALFG subscriber and Creative Coaching client Julian Nixon is a college professor who had a desire to write a book for college students. But rather than limiting his focus only to one platform of getting the word out (book format only), Julian focused on the MESSAGE (or “Content”) and looked at ways to get that message out that included, but were not limited to a book alone.
In his own words:
“It all goes back to…my primary vision of providing motivational education. When I wrote the book, I wrote it as an extension of what I wanted to tell my audience. Then I started the workshops and consulting to give my message legs.”
So, by focusing on the message/content of “motivational education” (not jut a “book”), Julian now has generated:
• Book Money
• Speaking Money (Workshops)
• Teaching Money (Consulting)
So how does this work for Non-fiction writers, especially creators of children’s books or graphic novels?
Take a look at your audience and the content relevant to your book that this audience finds value in.
• Book Money: Money from the children’s book or graphic novel itself.
• Speaking Money: You can do lectures on the theme of the children’s book or graphic novel. An author of a children’s book with silly monsters can speak to parenting groups on “How to Keep Kids from Being Afraid”. A graphic novel set during the Civil War could speak to history or military enthusiasts.
• Teaching Money: This can be somewhat easier for the children’s book or graphic novel authors since many of their readers are also creators (writers, artists or both). Do “How To” workshops on the creative process, whether it’s story telling or character creation, for example. These can be great revenue generators!
So remember:
“To Publish” actually means “To make known to the public.” So, does that mean your “published” content has to be limited to the pages of a book?
Don’t think “BOOK”…Think “CONTENT” or “MESSAGE”.
This creates potential for:
• Book Money
• Speaking Money
• Teaching Money
How would that look for your publishing project or idea?
Thoughts? Questions? Concerns?
POST A COMMENT BELOW:
I loved this. It was very informative.
Thanks, Sandra!
Already without having read but the first few lines on “think beyond the idea of the book and look at content already connects with the creative spirit”. In the words of the business class “think derivatives” i.e. that is orange juice, vitamin C, and more are derivatives of the original product “oranges”.
Thanks, Yzdom! Please pass this info on to others if uou don’t mind!
Great post. Never thought about it is this way.
Thanks, Julie! Looking forward to seeing what kind of ideas it gives you!
I think that this would work perfectly because my children’s book is focused on character building. So speaking at workshops with teachers and/or parents would be a great way to publish outside of the traditional method.
Thanks, Stacey! Your project sounds like its a perfect model for this method. Keep us posted on your progress, OK?