Tribe Writers

1. Module #1: Honing Your Voice

1.1. Every writer needs a tribe

1.1.1. Discover your voice

1.1.2. Find a tribe

1.1.3. Pick a fight

1.1.4. Create a community

1.2. Discover Your Writing Voice

1.2.1. It helps you get comfortable with your unique writing style.

1.2.2. It allows you to build a tribe of dedicated followers and fans.

1.2.3. It’s the only sustainable way to write long-term.

1.3. Where Every Writer Has to Begin Before Being Successful

1.3.1. Write for yourself

1.3.1.1. It releases you from the temptation to entertain.

1.3.1.2. It allows you to be real.

1.3.1.3. It gives you a chance to deliver your true message.

1.3.2. Exercise

1.3.2.1. Examine what upsets you

1.3.2.2. Free-write and explore why

1.3.2.3. Type of a few rants and see how it feels. Maybe even publish a few.

1.4. The Secret to Being a Good Writer & Why It Doesn’t Matter

1.4.1. “Good” is subjective.

1.4.2. Effective writing is hard to argue with.

1.4.3. Start believing you're good. Insecurity is a creativity killer.

1.4.4. Effective writing tips

1.4.4.1. Become a student of words. Study good writers and improve your grammar.

1.4.4.2. Practice, even if it's 20 minutes a day

1.4.4.3. Learn to pitch your writing

1.4.4.3.1. Read and study the publication

1.4.4.3.2. Connect with an editor

1.4.4.3.3. Write a good query letter

1.5. How to Give Your Prose the Punch It Deserves

1.5.1. Writing for scanners

1.5.1.1. Write as you normally would

1.5.1.2. Go back and cut it in half

1.5.1.3. Cut another 1/4

1.5.1.4. Rewrite it and add feeling and emotion

1.5.2. This is not a new idea

1.6. All First Drafts Suck

1.6.1. Remembered words are the ones that impact us.

1.6.2. Writers want to be geniuses.

1.6.3. Genius comes after a lot of editing

1.6.4. You must be willing to write something you think is horrible first.

1.7. The Art of Writing with Brevity

1.7.1. Great writing leaves all the unnecessary words out

1.7.2. Good writing is rewriting

1.7.3. If you can say it with fewer words, do.

1.7.4. Kill all uses of "that" and "very"

1.7.5. Destroy weak phrases like "I think" or "in my opinion"

1.8. Why Blogging Is a Lot More Like Copywriting than Writing the Next Great, American Novel

1.8.1. Make people hungry for your words

1.8.2. Start with a good headline

1.8.3. Write every line as if your life depended on it

1.8.4. Write for a specific audience

1.9. Carve Out a Niche for Yourself

1.9.1. Don't seek a nice; create one

1.9.2. Pick a worldview instead of a topic

1.9.2.1. Go where people are

1.9.2.2. Listen to what they're saying

1.9.2.3. Pick a fight

1.9.2.4. Find a critic

2. Module #3 Expanding Your Reach

2.1. Don’t Write to Get Published (You Heard Me)

2.1.1. Turn pro in your head

2.1.2. Find your voice

2.1.3. Write for yourself

2.2. The Complete Guide to Guest Posting: Your #1 Marketing Strategy

2.2.1. It builds relationships

2.2.2. It builds buzz

2.2.3. It builds rapport

2.2.4. The host blogger must link to you somewhere in the post

2.2.5. How to land a guest post

2.2.5.1. Check their guidelines

2.2.5.2. Read the blog

2.2.5.3. Contact the blogger

2.2.5.4. Write a great guest post

2.2.5.5. Submit it

2.2.5.6. Follow up

2.2.5.7. Engage and promote

2.3. How to Make Friends and Influence People — with Email

2.3.1. Offer to do an interview

2.3.2. Thank the person

2.3.3. Make yourself a case study

2.3.4. Show up so much they see how awesome you are.

2.3.5. Make emails actionable, concise, scannable, polite and about one topic.

2.4. The Writer’s Guide to Networking

2.4.1. Find someone you'd like to meet

2.4.2. Ask for an introduction from a friend if possible

2.4.3. Meet with the person

2.4.4. Offer to help him/her.

2.4.4.1. Interviewing them is a great way to help them and gives you a reason to connect.

2.4.4.2. Stay in touch after the interview.

2.4.4.3. Generosity is contagious

2.5. How to Tweet Your Way into Influence

2.5.1. Twitter is conversation

2.5.2. Twitter connects you with the world

2.5.3. Twitter can help you make a real difference

2.5.4. Twitter is a unique ecosystem

2.5.5. Twitter is a resource

2.5.6. Practical Twitter Tips

2.5.6.1. Post less but higher quality links

2.5.6.2. Find ways to serve others

2.5.6.3. Conversation is king. Be social.

2.5.6.4. Don't use all 140 characters. Leave enough room for retweets.

2.5.6.5. Retweet others. It's generous to them and your audience.

2.5.6.6. If you talk about yourself and your content all the time you're going to annoy people.

2.6. Facebook Is Now Your New Best Friend

2.6.1. Avoid the 5,000 friend limit - get a Facebook page for yourself/your business.

2.6.2. Give your tribe a place to congregate other than your blog.

2.6.3. Pay attention to when your traffic is highest on FB and post accordingly

2.6.4. Half of content shared on the net is through Facebook. You need to be there.

2.6.5. Tips for effective posting

2.6.5.1. Post manually to get the full functionality of FB post controls

2.6.5.2. Offer teaser text

2.6.5.3. Images create click-throughs

2.6.6. If you share other content

2.6.6.1. Share sparingly

2.6.6.2. Tell people why it's important

2.6.6.3. Tag others when you share their work

2.6.7. Interact with readers by asking questions

2.6.8. Etiquette

2.6.8.1. Respond to comments ASAP

2.6.8.2. Share but don't share too much

2.6.8.3. Don't post too often. 2-3 times a day is enough for most audiences. There are exceptions.

3. Module #4 Getting Published

3.1. The Fastest Way to Get a Book Deal

3.1.1. Write articles for magazines

3.1.2. Helps you learn the editing process

3.1.3. Helps you hone your craft

3.1.4. Steps

3.1.4.1. Pick a topic and do free-writing or mind-mapping

3.1.4.2. Make a list of who you want to pitch to

3.1.4.3. Write a query letter

3.1.4.4. Wait

3.1.4.5. Follow up

3.2. How to Get a Traditional Book Contract

3.2.1. Launch the blog

3.2.2. Start promoting

3.2.3. Write and publish your manifesto

3.2.4. Grow your brand through social media & in person meetings

3.2.5. Find an agent

3.2.6. Land a contract

3.3. Why a Traditional Contract Might Not Be Your Best Choice

3.3.1. Self-publishing process

3.3.1.1. Detailed editing and a great cover

3.3.1.2. Managing the production of your book

3.3.1.3. Creating and executing the marketing plan

3.3.1.4. Being patient with a process

3.3.2. Three tools

3.3.2.1. Basic copywriting know-how. Keep them reading

3.3.2.2. Amazon as a distribution channel

3.3.2.3. A platform

3.4. How to Create an eBook that Changes the World

3.4.1. Fear and ignorance are the two main reasons people hesitate to share their messages

3.4.2. Create a manifesto - Definition ->

3.4.2.1. Create

3.4.2.1.1. Pick a topic

3.4.2.1.2. Choose a clear position

3.4.2.1.3. Keep it short

3.4.2.1.4. Crowd-source editing or have it proof-read

3.4.2.1.5. Format into a PDF

3.4.2.1.6. Ask for endorsements

3.4.2.1.7. Don't take too long

3.4.2.2. Share

3.4.2.2.1. Send to your top 10 influencers to ask for endorsements

3.4.2.2.2. Tell your tribe it's coming

3.4.2.2.3. Create a dedicated landing page (a central hub)

3.4.2.2.4. "Charge" an email for it but not actual money

3.4.2.2.5. Write a blog post about it

3.4.2.2.6. Assign a Twitter hashtag

3.4.2.2.7. Write guest posts

3.4.2.2.8. Ask people to post reviews

3.5. Getting Started with Kindle Direct Publishing

3.5.1. Shorter is better for Kindle - 10,000 words is enough

3.5.2. Cheaper is better - 2.99 - 9.99 (4.99 is a good place to start)

3.5.3. Use the real estate on your blog to promote and ask for reviews.

3.5.4. Use your archives or notebook to find content you can curate into a book.

3.5.5. Edit to make it tight and fit your audience

3.5.6. Format it & get a good cover

3.5.7. Ask people to buy it at the same time, literally.

3.5.8. Publish more than one book because your book will refer others to your other books.

3.5.9. Your book can lead to other parts of your business, e-courses, coaching etc.

3.6. How to Publish a Print Book That Doesn’t Suck

3.6.1. Write the best book you can

3.6.2. Hire an editor

3.6.3. Hire a good designer

3.6.4. Decide how you'll print it

3.6.4.1. Ingramspark

3.6.4.2. CreateSpace

3.6.5. Make it easy to find your book

3.6.5.1. Twitter hashtag

3.6.5.2. Book website

3.6.6. Promote

3.7. Why You Need to Give Your Best Stuff Away for Free

3.7.1. Free gets their attention

3.7.2. Free builds momentum

3.7.3. Free legitimizes your platform

3.7.4. Free is often reciprocated

3.7.5. How to start

3.7.5.1. Pick a compelling idea

3.7.5.2. Set some clear goals

3.7.5.2.1. Get email addresses

3.7.5.2.2. Share the links to the item

3.7.5.2.3. Buy your other books

3.7.5.3. Build an early support group

3.7.5.3.1. Proofreaders

3.7.5.3.2. Listening party (for music)

3.7.5.3.3. Beta testers (for on-line courses)

3.7.5.4. Leak it to influencers

3.7.5.5. Thank everyone; this is your customer service

3.8. Making Money Off Your Tribe without Selling Your Soul

3.8.1. Don't skip finding your voice and worldview.

3.8.2. Find something you do that people value

3.8.3. Build an audience around that exertise

3.8.4. Create a product that solves a problem

4. Module #2 Establishing Your Platform

4.1. The New Way to Build a Platform

4.1.1. Find people to help

4.1.2. Give away your work for free

4.1.3. Focus on your unique set of experiences & unique abilities

4.1.3.1. What am I really good at?

4.1.3.2. What do people often affirm in me that seems so natural?

4.1.3.3. What's happened to me that's unique?

4.1.4. How to be generous

4.1.4.1. Create something valuable

4.1.4.2. Get permission

4.1.4.3. Put people first

4.1.4.4. Find out what people want

4.1.4.5. Deliver it to them

4.1.4.6. Repeat the last 5 steps for the rest of your life

4.1.5. “You can have everything you want in life, if you help enough other people get what they want.” - Zig Ziglar

4.2. Which Type of Platform Is Right for You?

4.2.1. Journalist - Curiousity

4.2.2. Prophet - Authenticity, willing to be unpopular

4.2.3. Artist - An eye for beauty

4.2.4. Professor - Longing to learn

4.2.5. Celebrity - Charismatic, energetic, engaging.

4.3. Finding Your Focus

4.3.1. The more you narrow your focus the more you broaden your audience.

4.3.2. Narrow your topic

4.3.3. Hone your theme.

4.3.3.1. Break down your topic

4.3.3.2. How can I attack this issue?

4.3.3.3. What's my writing "voice"? (e.g. Humorous, sarcastic, practical, anecdotal, etc.)

4.3.3.4. Goal - The reader's takeaway, what you want the reader to get out of the writing.

4.4. The Only Way to Practice (in Public)

4.4.1. Less dreaming, more doing

4.4.2. Seth Godin on practicing in public

4.4.3. We need feedback to grow

4.4.4. We don't do our best until someone's looking

4.4.5. How to practice

4.4.5.1. Butt in chair

4.4.5.2. Focus on frequency

4.4.5.3. Don't give up

4.5. The Importance of Building a Killer Email List

4.5.1. Most publishers care about this (a lot).

4.5.2. Email is still the most powerful way to communicate on-line.

4.5.3. Email works because...

4.5.3.1. It's personal

4.5.3.2. It's direct

4.5.3.3. It's private

4.5.4. To build a list

4.5.4.1. Get a good email service

4.5.4.1.1. Mailchimp

4.5.4.1.2. Aweber

4.5.4.2. Create a great signup form

4.5.4.3. Offer an incentive

4.5.4.3.1. Ebook

4.5.4.3.2. MP3

4.6. Figuring out the Tools You Need to Start Building Your Platform

4.6.1. Measure everything you can

4.6.2. Set goals

4.6.3. Set up your site, social media accounts and an email list

4.7. Do You Really Need a Platform?

4.7.1. Platform is influence

4.7.2. Platforms magnify our voices

4.7.3. Networking (not the sleazy kind) grows your platform faster

4.7.4. Without a platform no one can care about your message. They can't hear you.

4.8. The Only Words You Write that Everyone Is Guaranteed to Read

4.8.1. It all starts with a great headline

4.8.2. Headlines shouldn't be clever, they should be clear.

4.8.3. "What would make me want to read on?"

4.8.4. Start with the headline when you write

4.8.5. A good headline

4.8.5.1. Surprises you

4.8.5.2. Captivates you

4.8.5.3. Gets you to act

4.8.6. Use numbers

4.8.7. Use interesting adjectives

4.8.7.1. Effortless

4.8.7.2. Fun

4.8.7.3. Free

4.8.7.4. Essential

4.8.8. Use unique rationale

4.8.8.1. Reasons

4.8.8.2. Ways

4.8.8.3. Tricks

4.8.9. Use what, why, how or when (trigger words)

4.8.10. Make an audacious promise

4.8.11. Headline writing formula

4.8.11.1. Number or Trigger word

4.8.11.2. Adjective

4.8.11.3. Keyword

4.8.11.4. Promise