This week in the blog I wanted to talk to you about having an author’s mindset and thinking like a published author and I think asking this question is a great place to start in addressing that.
You might think being published is a long way off for you, or maybe you don’t think you are ever going to be published. You might have been told you are not a good writer or your English grades weren’t always great at school.
The fact is, that with the right guidance and support, anyone can become a published author. Even you.
Now, that doesn’t mean that everyone will become published. Not everyone wants to, of course. And not everyone will do what it takes. It does take a bit of effort. But if you want to become published, I promise, you can do it. You just have to put your mind to it. Literally.
I had wanted to be a published author since I was a teenager and before I became published for the first time, the gap between where I was and where I wanted to be looked about as big, and as impossible to cross, as the Grand Canyon.
Once I made it to the other side, and became a published author, I looked back and I realised the gap wasn’t anywhere near as big and scary as I thought it was. Clearly it was very do-able because here I am, exactly where I want to be, talking to you about how you can join me.
I would never have achieved what I wanted to achieve if I’d continued to believe that it was impossible, or that being published was for other people who had something magical that I didn’t have.
The first thing I needed to do was open my mind to the idea that it was possible – possible to do and possible for me to do.
The second thing I needed to do was be willing to take a step toward my goal and be willing to trust that as each step revealed itself to me, I would be able to figure out what to do and how to make it work.
The third thing I needed to do was let go of any preconceived ideas about what a published author looked like, because there is no one particular way a person needs to look in order to become a successfully published author.
Do you have preconceived ideas of what a successfully published author looks like? Are they younger, older, shorter, taller, more muscular or more petite? Do they dress a particular way? Is their hair long and natural or short and coloured? Maybe they have the look of a poor artist or maybe they dress really well and look like they have money? Are they serious, tragic types or are they fun-loving and expressive?
Whatever preconceived idea you have about what a published author looks like, you need to let that go. Why? Because as long as you think you need to be something or someone different to who you are, you are going to get in your own way and you won’t allow yourself to realise your dream.
A really powerful way to rewire your brain and start seeing yourself as a published author is to adopt this daily ritual of looking at yourself in the mirror and saying: This is what a published author looks like.
Try it for 30 days and let me know what sort of a difference it makes. I’d love to hear from you.
Now…
If you haven’t already done so, download our free ebook: 7 Things an Author Must Know About Writing and Publishing a Book Before They Take the Plunge. It’s a great place to get started.
And if you are serious about committing to your future as a published author, check out the Authorpreneur’s Bootcamp.
That’s it for this week. I can’t wait to see you again next week in the blog.
Bye for now…