Pointers to publishing - A New Beginning

It's the first day of a New Year and I am superexcited! Aren't you? If you're not, I would suggest changing gears and starting your year being grateful that you are alive to see another day and another year. Not many have made it over.

You may have done this before, but just in case, let's do a reality check right now and assess how you would rate 2016 on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest

If it is anything below 5, then you have lots of work to do this year, and now, the first day, is the best time to start. It's a new beginning, a new leaf, a new chapter. It's never too late, or you're never too old to start again!

Why not start simple by writing down one thing you want to achieve in each month of the new year. That way, you will achieve 12 things at the end of the year. Wouldn't that be

awesome?!

You may have health goals, writing a book, saving some money, starting a new business, travelling, or any other goal of your choice. Just one goal per month. Simple, right? I would even suggest printing a calendar or making it a family activity, with each person in the household deciding what he/she wants to achieve in each month. Stick it up where you can see it every day so that you know that you have to take action, plus focus on:

n The topic or theme

n Date you wish to have the book published

n Target audience

n Marketing approach

n Objective or motive for writing the book

n Expected results.

If you have been procrastinating over the past year or years, now is the time to break that bad habit and turn it around to best serve you. It takes 21 days to break a habit, so don't expect overnight results. Just be consistent and persistent.

There is no better time to start writing your new book than now. The first day of the year is a great day to gauge how fast or slow you are progressing over the coming weeks and months. You can set 90-day plans or 60-day plans. It's up to you.

The point is to just get started on day one and keep going no matter what! Yes, getting overwhelmed can throw you off, but get back on that horse and try not to skip a beat. Build the momentum and find some way to inspire yourself to write each day, even if it's one page a day or two. Just do what it takes to be consistent. Small steps will get you there rather than big steps and you procrastinate, suffer from burn-out, or take on more than you can chew given the time and resources you have. Know what you have and work with it. It and you will get better over time, and while time waits on no man, time is all you have on your side right now, so make the best of it!

n Corine La Font is a speaker, author, coach and self-publishing consultant. She is also an award-winning publishing resource in the 2013 Small Business Book Awards. Get a copy of her book at http://amzn.to/TFHQka, Subscribe to her Magazine at http://bit.ly/1IDj7pQ tune in to her radio programs at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/

helpdeskja and http://www.blogtalk

radio.com/youtripping Check out her website at http://www.helpdeskja.com She can be reached at corinelaf@gmail.com.