Review: How to Make a Living with Your Writing by Joanna Penn

Not a blog for ages, then a veritable host of them come along at once. If you are a writer then you will understand why I couldn't wait to share this review.

I read a lot of books about business and marketing, with a particular emphasis on writing. This is one of the best, and most clearly written, I have come across. Joanna Penn is a professional and experienced writer, and this comes across in every word. She starts the book by explaining how to get into the entrepreneur mindset. This is important as many writer think of themselves just as writers. They forget they are also running a business. Whilst writers are providing pleasure, they also need to make money in the process if they want to make a living as a writer. She also links this to having a can do attitude.

One of the things I like about the book is that she talks about multiple income streams. This means not just having ebooks, but also paperbacks and audio books. She believes that with mobile use expanding internationally audio books will become increasingly more important. However, Penn also talks about other ways in which you can make money as a writer.

One of the ways in which she suggests that income can increase is in becoming more organised.  Prioritise writing, which will lead to becoming more prolific. The more books a writer has written, the more they will sell. This is wise advice, and yet many writers seem to forget this.

This is just a flavour of what this book contains. It is so much more than what is contained in my review.. It is a book you will want to read through quickly first, and then refer to regularly. It provides inspiration and motivation in equal measure. This is the first of Penn's books I have read but I will be reading more in the near future.

I will be back soon my bookaholics friends. If you are writer then grab this book now and read it. You will not regret it. 

Game changers by Peter Fisk

It is rare that a book comes along which will help you radically change the way you do business. The book I bring to you today does just that. Why am I writing about a business book on a reading and writing blog. Well I believe that this book would be extremely insightful for authors in whichever genre they write. The subtitle of the book is Creating Innovative Strategies for Business and Brands, which may give you a hint as to why I find it worthy of inclusion in the blog.

This is a book which all those starting out in business, or looking to improve their business strategy, should read. As well as being imminently practical it is also inspirational. The book is beautifully laid out with clear chapters each of which covers a different topic. It is essentially about branding but it is about so much more than this. It is about thinking outside the box and rebranding in a different way. It is also about passion and a belief in your self and your product. Each chapter takes you through different steps in your branding and marketing strategy. These include:

Think - Change your future

Explore - Change your market

Disrupt - Change your strategy

Design - Change your business

There are several more. At the end of each chapter is an application section that you can apply to your business.


In addition Fisk gives numerous real life examples to back up the text. The second half of the book is about these very companies. It takes areas, such as health, retail, finance, media etc. It then gives 10 examples of companies in each area, who have changed the way in which we do business and are setting the world on fire. These examples from real life if the book above the ordinary. It makes the book, not only helpful, but interesting

This is a superb book which I would highly recommend for all those who are developing or changing their brand. I am certainly going to use several of the strategies in my own branding.

        

That bring us to the end of another Bookaholic day. I look forward to seeing you all back here soon. Until then grab the nearest book and get reading.

Book Review: Small Business Marketing for Dummies

We are back to practical books on the blog today. The one I am bridging you is a cracker.

I have read a lot of marketing books, many of which are truly brilliant. This one is up there with the best. It is so choc full of advice I do not know where to start. This is a comprehensive book, the 24 chapters of which cover every aspect of marketing for small business.

These are broken into six key areas:

1. Getting started with small business marketing

2. Laying the foundation for marketing success

3. marketing in a screen connected world

4. Getting the word out with ads, mailers, promotion and publicity

5. Winning and keep in customers

6. The rule of tens

Within these areas lies a wealth of advice and hints and tips. As with all Dummies books they use icons to reinforce key things which are particularly important. In this case the icon for Remember, highlights key rules for small business marketers. There is also an icon for example, demonstrating the ideas in practice in real life situations. The warning icon highlights areas which should be evaluated cautiously. One warning is setting your prices too low. Unless you are aiming at the bargain basement end of the market then you should aim for quality and set your prices accordingly.

I am looking at this book through the lens of a writer. The advice on pricing particularly resonated with me. In many cases authors are selling themselves short when it comes to pricing their books and many are giving ebooks away for free. Whilst I appreciate why many writers are doing this I cannot help thinking that they are undervaluing themselves and their work. It is certainly an area I need to consider.

On top of the physical book there are also number of online cheat sheets which can be sued with the book. The link to these is included within the book.

This is not a book to read from cover to cover in one sitting. It is one to read over a period whilst putting the advice into practice. Using the book properly should put any small business in a good position in the market. As a writer, and therefore a small business woman, I have found the advice in this book to be invaluable. It is certainly one I can highly recommend.

         


Although I have provided the links for the kindle version you can also navigate to the paperback version and buy that. I feel this book would be better read in paperback as it is one which you will want to access frequently

So that's us for another day bookaholics. I hope all of you who are involved in running a small business find this book invaluable. See you next time and keep reading.