Prepare Your Author Website for the New Year: Day 9

Let's face it. Sometimes, we have to learn a new skill to increase our earning potential. If there is a new skill you've wanted to learn, now is the time to do it. I know it's hard to find the time. I've struggled to find the time to learn career-building skills as I balance the management of my editing business, family obligations, and my writing. 

But I also realize that every new skill I gain makes me more valuable as an author and editor. 

Learning new skills means that I can add value to my life and the lives of my clients.

What do you need to learn? Do you need to improve your copywriting skills for better blog content? Do you need to learn more about search engine optimization for more web traffic? Do you need to get better at your email marketing? Do you need to learn the basics of story structure?

Whatever you decide to learn, make sure you implement it on your author website. Build your experience and leverage your skills to offer services to other authors and influencers. 

Focusing on skills associated with improving your website is especially important if you're not earning money from your site yet. This recommendation doesn't mean you have to become a freelance blogger or write a book a month. It doesn't mean you have to create a backlist in the next year. But you likely need to improve three critical components; those are your content or craft skills, and your writing process. 

Content Skills

You use these to come up with material for writing. To develop these skills, you must practice. You must train your observation abilities and imagination. You must engage curiosity. This process will provide the "stuff" of your writing; ideas, characters, settings, story structure, and more. You're not writing for your high school English teacher anymore. You have to connect with YOUR reader.

Craft Skills

Gaining these skills is first about learning how your chosen genre works. You will have to do a lot of browsing and comparing stories to find the ones you need. These are the masterworks for your genre, for the story you are writing, and the structure you'll want to emulate. You'll also need good line by line writing. You must be able to arrange words into sentences that both vary and create rhythm. Great word structure, like story structure, can be learned. Talent is a myth.

If you need to improve your grammar and punctuation, even if you write a compelling story, acquiring editors will not fix your mistakes. They will label you as an amateur. Acquisitions editors and publishers are looking for professionals. 

Writing Process

Maybe you need to find a writing process that works for you, one that gets you to the end of the story. It would help if you had a solid understanding of the drafting process as well as what it takes to revise and edit a manuscript.

We all have many skills to learn, and we don't need to learn them all at once.

This year, choose the skill you want to focus on first, and from there, move forward one step at a time.

The only things that count are your willingness to work, your determination, persistence—and the desire to learn. 

What will you learn this year?

To decide, ask yourself; What skills do I want to learn? Create a list. Review your list and ask which skills are the most important to you right now. Use your answers to create a new list. Ask yourself; how can I best learn these skills? Get started and see what happens. 

There are always new things to learn. Your path will look like no one else's, and it will probably surprise you in its arc. 

You are no longer in school. You are free to learn as a joyful adventure. 

The most important thing is that you embark on your learning journey as soon as possible.

Create a writers' group.

Develop a free writing schedule.

Design a personal MFA program.

Study a favorite writer.

Enrol in a writing course.

Hire a book marketing coach.

Engage a developmental editor.

And don't forget to prepare for the next phase of your author website's evolution. Keep in mind that design and content topics need frequent updating. Be prepared to learn a new skill that allows you to pivot the direction of your author marketing. Maybe you need to adjust your ideal audience or content plan.

Focus on learning skills that will help you better serve your audience and be mindful of the direction you want to take your website. Changing your approach, based on a new skill, could make all the difference in your book sales in the upcoming year.

THAT’S IT FOR DAY 9! 

Next up, the grand conclusion to our series on preparing your author website for the new year. 

Ready to get truly serious about your career in 2020? It’s my goal to help you find the audience you need to sustain your career. The Happily Ever Author Club is for authors who want to actually make an impact and sell books.

You’ll have a book marketing expert at your fingertips helping you overcome your mental blocks around marketing and institute a marketing strategy that actually works. Additionally, you’ll have access to two developmental editors, our Story Path course, and a 24/7 community of fellow writers. Join us!