“I lost my job. Then I was diagnosed with cancer.”
I thought I knew what a bad year looks like. And then I heard Mike’s story.
In 2018, Mike’s life came crashing down. He needed time. Time to take a step back. Time to reflect. Time to heal.
So he took it.
Then one day he saw a challenge I posted: write a short book about habits.
That same day, Mike added a new daily habit to his list: writing.
In just a few short weeks, he’d finished a short, 24-page book called An Infestation of Zebras.
Then, instead of spending months or years trying to find a publisher, he simply placed it for sale on the most popular marketplace in the world… for free.
“I let friends know, and they let friends know. It’s been amazing.”
It’s a beautiful, and beautifully honest, book. (He has all five-star reviews.)
Everyone should read Mike’s book. Mike’s book might save lives. Mike might even say writing it helped heal the types of wounds doctors can’t get to.
And no less…
Mike’s book could keep paying out for the rest of his life… and maybe much longer.
Hi. James Altucher here.
In the next few minutes, I’m going to show you this:
With just one daily habit – and as little as 25 minutes a day - you can write a book in the next 30 days.
Even if you’re “not a writer.”
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You can make your first sale within 35 days. You can keep making money from this book for years.
With a few key ingredients, you can even raise your chances of making your book go viral. Just like I have, again and again, with my own books, blog posts, and articles.
(Although I can’t guarantee you’ll get famous people to yell at you.)
Point is, despite what anybody else says (in your life or online), YOU can do it.
I’ve done it. Many people I know have done it. I’ve helped many people publish their first, second, and even third books.
And I can help you do it, too.
I’ll prove it.
Sure, it takes work. There can be some set up costs (but everything can also be done on the cheap. And in some cases, even free).
And, of course, the time you’ll need to spend.
But that’s why I’m writing to you today.
Everybody’s situation is different, but I can help you make the whole process painless. One thing I know: 99% of people, even “gurus,” make it more difficult than it needs to be.
First, don’t ignore the power of the Internet and like-minded people.
Don’t underestimate the power of a “tribe.”
(You can even find co-authors or contributors on a topic and make it even easier.)
And don’t underestimate the power of a small book, either.
In July 2012, my friend Kamal Ravikant changed everything I thought I knew about writing a book.
He wrote his first book in a month -- a little over 60 pages.
It’s called Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends Upon It.
At first, Kamal was hesitant about publishing it. He felt too vulnerable. Should I publish? Who’s going to read this? Who will care?
He hit publish anyway and guess what happened next? It was a blinding success. People cried reading it. They told their friends to read it. All told, this small book sold about a half a million copies.
He did it without a publisher. Without a marketing team. Without an advance.
Today, the book has over 5,000 reviews.
The money he made paid for his rent and living expenses in San Francisco. Not a cheap city.
I was shocked.
I’d spent years trying to “fit” into the rigid mold of the publishing world. Kamal broke the mold in a month. He didn’t ask for permission. He didn’t try to fit in. He chose himself instead.
For a guy like me, this was a revelation!
Look…
I pride myself on being ahead of the curve.
I was building websites for huge corporations and music labels before most knew what the Internet was.
I’ve made deals – and been in the room for deals – that would make most people’s heads spin. I’ve built and sold companies for millions. (And I’ve lost millions and started from scratch. More than a couple of times.)
In all, I’ve founded and co-founded over 20 companies and published over 20 books, many with traditional publishers.
On my podcast, I’ve had the opportunity to meet and talk to some of the most interesting, forward-thinking, and accomplished people in the world.
This isn’t to brag. (I’ve made too many stupid moves to brag.) But to show you it takes a LOT to surprise me.
But what I saw Kamal do was groundbreaking.
I love books. I breathe books.
Kamal changed my definition of a “book” overnight. As an entrepreneur, it opened up a whole new world of possibilities.
The more I learned, I realized Kamal’s success wasn’t a fluke either. He didn’t just get lucky. Lots of people were having success with self-publishing.
Meaning, lots of people were bucking the publishing industry and choosing themselves.
(Best part? Self-publishing has only just begun. This is the new face of publishing. Maybe for the next 1,000 years.)
So I took the leap.
First with a small book.
In September 2012, I wrote my first self-published book 40 Alternatives to College in a weekend.
It was 52 pages. (Some of the material even came from blog posts.)
Guess what? It worked! This book became No. 1 on Amazon in the category “College Education.”
(Technically, I could finally call myself a “best-selling author.”)
It sold thousands of copies – at $4.95 each. Not bad for a weekend’s worth of work.
I was hooked.
I dove in headfirst, sucking up every ounce of knowledge and wisdom I could from some of the most successful self-publishers on the planet.
On my podcast, I talked to people like self-publisher Steve Scott who told me, “I’m on track to make about $40,000 just from this month.”
(Scott taught me you need two things to succeed: habit and authority.)
And Hugh Howey, who showed me how self-publishing is breaking down the walls of the literary world.
And I talked to Andy Weir, whose self-published book was made into the blockbuster Hollywood film The Martian starring Matt Damon.
With the help of some of the most successful self-publishers – and even from famous authors like Steven Pressfield and Tim Ferriss – I “cracked the code.”
By 2016, my book Choose Yourself had sold over half a million copies. It sold 40,000 copies in its first week. It hit the Wall Street Journal’s bestseller list and was #1 on Amazon for ALL nonfiction books for a few days.
Unheard of for a self-published book. Choose Yourself has since sold well over 1 million copies.
It got so big, in fact, Amazon Prime recently released a full series about the ideas in that book.
Before all of this, I was depressed, scared, and felt worthless. I considered giving up. Self-publishing gave me the opportunity to CHOOSE MYSELF. Self-publishing SAVED my life.
Since then, I’ve helped others self-publish. And I’ve given readers and friends 30-day challenges to write their own books.
Everybody who’s accepted my challenge and self-published a book is happy they did it. (At least, nobody has told me they regret it.)
In fact, many of them are surprised at how quickly it can be done. And how good feels to hold THEIR book in their hands… and to think of themselves as an author.
I get comments all the time from people who’ve beat the 30-day clock.
Though this is just scratching the surface…
William S. wrote to me and said: “I’m self-publishing a new, 30-page book Work From Home Successfully. Turned the book around in 2 weeks with cover design.”
And Barbara S. wrote: “I accepted the challenge! Finished my nonfiction book on the college admission journey with insights I hope will be found useful.”
And Camelia Y., who wrote: “Thank you James! I listened to your advice and finished my book in 30 days! … I highly recommend anyone interested in writing to accept this challenge. Can’t thank James enough!”
I could go on. But the point is, these people “get it.”
Over the years, I’ve discovered that success in self-publishing comes down to one thing…
Understanding the myths that the gatekeepers of publishing try to hide from you and then the techniques I describe below.
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Despite what THEY say, the perks of self-publishing in 2021 are better than ever.
As you’ll see, even if you’ve never dreamed of writing a book… it’s more possible than ever to write, publish, and make money.
The perks of publishing with traditional publishing houses, however, are worse than ever.
Bestselling author David Mamet shocked the literati years ago when he expressed interest in self-publishing.
“Publishing is like Hollywood,” he told the New York Times. “Nobody ever does the marketing they promise.”
Of course, going from blank page to book can be complex.
But it doesn’t have to be.
Mike did it in less than a month with his book, An Infestation of Zebras.
Now, he’s an author!
Mike’s journey is just one reason why, for years, I’ve been encouraging people to write a book, and make writing a daily habit.
(Even if only for 25 minutes a day. It adds up!)
It changed my life. And I believe it could change yours too.
Self-publishing a book is one of the BEST decisions you could make in 2021.
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It’s not JUST to choose yourself, find your true passion, and reinvent yourself.
And, no, it’s not just to make more money from home, kick off a new career, and engage in work you enjoy doing (though it is this, too!)…
It won’t just increase your opportunities in life...
Or help you get out of a scarcity mindset and into an abundance mindset. (Ideas are the “black gold” of the digital age.)
It’s not just to become an idea machine, though that is one of the “side-effects” …
These are all great reasons. And they’re what motivated me to write books.
But I quickly realized writing a book can give me much more than that. If you’ve heard my story, you probably know why I say self-publishing saved my life.
(If you haven’t heard it, I’ll tell you in a moment. Just don’t judge me.)
I’m happy now that I can help people publish their own books. Especially those who want to experience the same pleasure I have in publishing a book.
Just ask Brianne Tate, author of Becoming Whole Through Parenting: Using Parenthood as the Catalyst to Your Renewal.
Brianne is part of my self-publishing community, where tons of budding (and professional) self-publishers come together and learn from one another.
Like Mike, Brianne also recently published a beautiful book.
(Everyone should read Brianne’s book, too. ESPECIALLY those who have, or plan to have, kids. I WISH I had it when my kids were babies.)
In a recent interview, here’s what Brianne had to say about the experience of writing and publishing a book.
**********************
ME: “What made you want to write a book in the first place? What was your ‘why’?”
BRIANNE: I was inspired to write a book after I started researching child development. I thought that If all parents knew this information it would be a game changer!
ME: In what ways did the course help the most?
BRIANNE: The course helped me by giving me a place to start. Sometimes just starting can be the most overwhelming.
I like how the course broke it down into simple steps and allowed for space to outline my thoughts.
I love how James tells us how to take ideas and turn them into something that's new, unique and truly “ours.” It really gave me the confidence I needed to start and finish.
**********************
Brianne started with a great idea. I’m sure her book is going to be selling for years to come.
And Brianne isn’t alone.
There are more people out there than you might think leveraging the power of self-publishing.
Especially with short books.
As mentioned, famed self-publisher Hugh Howey has been on my podcast. He had a great idea and turned it into an apocalyptic bestseller, Wool.
Howey’s since published tons of other successful books and currently has a huge tribe of raging fans.
Most people don’t know this…
But when Howey first published Wool, it was only 56 pages.
This small book became a New York Times and USA Today bestseller. It got an Indie Book of the Year award from Amazon. He sold tons of copies, yes, but more importantly this small book helped to launch Howey’s phenomenally successful career in self-publishing.
Some thought Howey’s success was a fluke. Maybe even at first Howey himself thought so too. Soon enough, though, he realized he wasn’t alone in his success.
Far from it.
On a whim, he asked an online forum of self-publishers how much they were making on their books. He was curious and suspected it was more money than most people thought.
The responses were so shocking, he wrote a column about them online.
He said this:
“I wanted to know how many forum members were making $100 to $500 a month. Every response I received started with a variation of: “I’m actually making a lot more than that.”
For example, Howey told the story about Jan S., a 62-year-old teacher hoping to retire but needed supplementary income.
Jan had originally published his novels through a traditional publisher, but sales were flat. He decided to give self-publishing a shot.
To his surprise, in his first year, he made more than double what he made through traditional publishers. Then he self-published a second book.
This one pulled in around $2,000 per month!
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Howey gave more examples:
Another self-publisher, Rachel S., sold 100,000 e-books and made six-figures in one year.
Rick G. made over $25,000 in one year… and said each check is like a monthly Christmas bonus.
Robert C. saw his monthly income skyrocket from $110.29 to more than $13,000. Robert was making more money than many debut authors receive as an advance from a major publisher.
(AND, unlike many traditionally published authors, he owned ALL of his rights and had full creative control.)
Of course, at this point you might accuse me of cherry-picking success stories… but Howey received all these stories in response to that original question. And he received them one after another.
Sure, everybody has a different story. But these stories show what’s possible.
And, once and for all, these stories, and many more like it below, destroy a few myths about writing and publishing a book in 2021.
Now, here’s where things get REALLY interesting.
There’s a “golden thread” running through all of these success stories.
That is, all the authors mentioned above had one thing in common: a great idea.
People often ask me…
But James, what if I don’t have a great idea?
You do. You just don’t know it yet.
Because of your unique life experiences, you have special knowledge others don’t.
The challenge? This knowledge, at first glance, in your eyes, isn’t “unique” or “special” at all... even if it is to most others. This is called the “curse of knowledge.”
Martin May-Clingo, author of Understanding Bitcoin, and a great children’s book series, Bertie Brachiosaurus, said this about my course:
“I just wish I had become aware of it before I wrote my first book as it is a very practical guide.”
For this reason, most people try to start a book by fishing for potentially popular ideas.
Try this instead: Look for problems only you can help fix. (Maybe even ones you’ve been putting off fixing.) The universe rewards those who solve big problems.
Start with a problem. Drill down. Look first at your life, your past, and then at the lives of others. Look for problems. There are always more problems than brilliant ideas. And big problems make for brilliant ideas. Turn problems into ideas, and turn the solutions to those problems into goals, chapters, subjects, etc.
Maybe you feel stuck about something. You’re in a rut. You’ve been avoiding or putting something off. You can’t get past this “sticky” problem in your relationships, career, or personal growth.
This, by the way, is how many great (both fiction and non-fiction) books began. The author wants to solve a particular problem.
He wants to learn how to stop procrastinating. (Or he creates a hilarious character that’s a chronic procrastinator and begins to portray and see his “faults” in a new light.)
She wants to learn how to get over her agoraphobia. He wants to be a better father. She wants to figure out how to make her tiny house more “feng shui.”
And Cat Coluccio, author of 21 Hacks to Rock Your Life (and the new teen edition) said…
“My own journey of wanting to write and to help others through my words was frustrating the heck out of me, as I couldn’t work out how to articulate my message. James’ course was everything that it advertised. It was full of informative and practical steps and combined with the encouragement that came through the Facebook group — it really was the launchpad to helping me create 21 Hacks to ROCK Your Life!”
You want to learn how to do something. And the market isn’t giving it, or not in the way you need it. Boom. Book.
Often, with this method, you can hit two birds with one stone. You will not only solve the problem, you could help others solve it… and make money doing so.
This, by the way, is the kind of advice inside my self-publishing course…
I’ve shown this course to hundreds of my readers and it’s helped them publish their own books – big and small.
And it’s the same exact course I want to show to you today.
But before I reveal everything in it…
Joy Sanda had never written a book before but was told she should. She had plenty of special knowledge and had a great idea.
Feeling stuck, Joy used the Choose Yourself Guide to Self-Publishing to help her get past her writing block and conquer the fear of people critiquing and reading what she writes.
And she did it! She wrote Morning Break, a book about morning rituals.
She’s now planning her next book -- one for women like her who’ve married into, and are adjusting to, a different culture.
And Emmett Ferguson, author of The Power of Starting Today, The Simple Math that Creates Fortunes, and EIGHT other books.
Having already self-published several books before finding my course and community, I was interested in what he thought.
So I asked him.
When asked if he found The Choose Yourself Guide to Self-Publishing useful, despite having so many other books under his belt, he said:
“Absolutely — it has a different outlining style [than what I’ve learned from others], and also, I needed something that was more comprehensive. It was good to get the full videos with all of the ideas, and the community…”
And the list goes on…
Carolyn Sykes, author of Choose Life, said this of the course…
“I loved it. It was just perfect. It answered every question that I might have had. It really encourages you to just go for it. Don't wait for anyone else to give you permission. Don't wait for a publisher to agree on your idea, just do it anyway.”
Pat Brooks, author of Finding Your Pickleball Love Language, adopted an interesting strategy while going through the course.
To “take the edge off” a big project…
He first published a small, fun book based on his passion for pickleball.
“It's a short book,” says Pat. “It's listed on Amazon as like a 90-minute read. In the [Choose Yourself!] publishing group, we're getting close to finishing the big project, and this silly little pickleball book I figured was a good way to kind of test the waters, format this thing, publish it, kind of go through a trial run just before I launch the big project that's a couple years in the making. The pickleball book was literally two weeks in the making.”
Self-publishers find tips like this one every other day in my publishing group, an added bonus to the course…
Stuff I wouldn’t have thought of! (Which is why I love it just as much as everyone else. I’m always learning!)
And here’s the thing…
It’s no secret. The Internet has changed the way people consume and publish information.
Writing and selling your own book used to mean you printed a few box-loads and tried to sell them out of your trunk.
Not anymore.
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Today you can publish an e-book (I’ll show you how) and upload it for free to one (or all) of the world’s largest online bookstores (Amazon… Kobo… Smashwords and more).
And THEY sell your book for you.
“Publish” is a scary word for some people. It sounds like a lot of tedious work.
But with the right tools, “publishing” a book is as easy as posting something on Facebook or setting up a PayPal account.
You don’t need a printed book. (Unless you want to have one.)
You don’t have to get your book into brick-and-mortar bookstores. (Unless you want to.)
It’s the easiest way to make money without having to get up from the couch.
Virtually anyone in the world with an internet connection can log on to Amazon and buy your book.
And it’s become so easy, with the right tools, you could write and publish a book a month for the next year.
Now, it is true there can be upfront cost. But there are ways, on a shoestring budget, to do it for cheap.
Though it might take a little more time to do it this way, it doesn’t have to be complicated.
For example, using one of my favorite tools…
I made this (JOKE) book cover for free in less than five minutes. (And I have ZERO design talent.) I did it just to show you how easy it is.
All it took was filling in a few boxes on a (FREE!) cover design platform.
Of course, this experience will be different for everyone.
Some might even want to dedicate lots of time, create marketing plans, build a website, get a professional designer, and add all the bells, and whistles. (I can show you how to do all of that, too.)
How much you make can depend on the effort you put in.
But, again, I can’t stress this enough: most people give up or don’t try at all because they think it’s too difficult. They’re wrong.
MY goal is to prove it. And help you get from “page one” to publish to your first payment… and keep the monthly checks rolling in.
To give you an idea of what’s possible if one of your books hits it big…
Nate B. of New Mexico self-published a book and made $70,714 in his first year (that’s $1,350 extra a week).
“[It] has been a life-changing event for me,” says Nate, and it “allowed me to change my lifestyle by moving to a ski resort town in New Mexico… [It’s] the path to making money while you sleep. Waking up with more money than you went to bed with is a very, very good feeling.”
Think Nate just got lucky?
And I think it’s a perfect example of just how powerful self-publishing can be.
Here’s another one:
Steve S., author of Habit Stacking, makes $30,000… $40,000… sometimes even $50 THOUSAND dollars per month self-publishing.
Steve started broke, divorced, and without work, forced to move back in with his parents and looking for a way out.
Shortly after that he began consistently pulling in six figures every three months… just from his writing (he was also able to juice his returns with profits he made from his books).
In an interview, he said that although he only started writing in September,
“By December, I was making enough where, if I had to, I could’ve lived off my earnings.”
In only two months!
And finally, Mishka S., author of the 33-page Kindle book called Shipwrecked, said this:
“I got my first check… like clockwork. I had hoped to make $500. The check was for over nine grand. I told my boss the next day that I quit. He asked me why. I said ‘Look at this [expletive deleted] check, man!’… I thought I had just gotten lucky. But my next story went on to quadruple the success of the first one.”
I could give you hundreds… probably thousands… of examples just like these.
Sure, these people are outliers and have spent big bucks to get their book noticed online. But they’re not as rare as you might think.
And, here’s their biggest “secret”…
According to a study led by Hugh Howey… when it comes to fiction, more self-published writers are making a living today than traditionally published authors.
I know that sounds crazy, but it’s true.
Another fact: Self-published authors earn more per sale than those who work only with trade publishers.
I’ll show you how much more in a moment. (It’s a huge difference.)
One more: Self-published books tend to have a higher average rating on online bookshops.
Before we dig into the details on why this is, and how you can use it to your advantage with your book, let’s make one thing clear.
Self-publishing is not going out of style. And it’s only gotten easier, with better quality, and more accepted by readers in the past few years.
Consider that 8% of Alliance of Independent Authors members sold more than 50,000 self-published books in 2019-2020.
That’s 50,000 copies… or more… each.
(Even if they made $1 per book – and I bet they made much more than that – they pulled in $50,000… or, on average, $2,083 per month in those two years as a collective unit.)
Now, I am showing you this as a big picture example. But you can see how lucrative self-publishing can be.
This is a game-changer in the publishing industry. And the industry is taking notice.
50,000 books is the “magic number.” That’s when agents begin looking to translate a book to foreign markets, and maybe even for film and TV.
It used to be that the “rights industry” was locked up for traditional authors. Not anymore!
Most people don’t even know that the film The Martian starring Matt Damon was a self-published novella by Andy Weir.
Before that, it was just a blog post!
The movie grossed $630,161,890 worldwide.
Andy’s jaw is probably still on the floor.
In an interview, Weir said: “I had no idea it was going to do so well. The story had been available for free on my website for months and I assumed anyone who wanted to read it had already read it. A few readers had requested I post a Kindle version because it’s easier to download that way. So I went ahead and did it, setting the price to the minimum Amazon would allow. As it sold more and more copies I just watched in awe.”
An Enders Analysis found that back in 2016, 40% of the top-selling e-books on Amazon were self-published.
Even years ago, the number was at 40%!
They concluded that self-publishing was “only going to grow more attractive”.
Of course, they were right.
According to Amazon’s latest Kindle Unlimited report, Amazon paid out over a quarter of a billion dollars to self-published authors.
That’s over $250,000,000!
And get this…
Thousands who self-published their books with Kindle earned more than $50,000/year on their e-books in 2019.
Not a few. Not hundreds. Thousands!
More than a thousand surpassed $100,000 in book sales.
Remember, this is JUST Kindle sales. And JUST on Amazon’s Unlimited program.
Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited program makes up only 14% of all e-book reads on Amazon.
(And, according to a professional estimate by Author Earnings, 85% of e-books sold on Unlimited are self-published.)
Like I said…
Self-published authors earn more per sale.
Lots more.
Though the number fluctuates between 5-15%…
The average trade-published author earns approximately 7.5% of their print book’s cover price. Those with agents lose 15% of that 7.5%... so they lose 1.125%.
That means many traditionally published authors make, on average, an anorexic 6.375% on print sales.
And remember, publishers do little marketing for authors. I’ve published several books in the past with traditional publishers. Even back then, a lot of the legwork falls on the author.
(When I worked with one popular publisher – who I won’t name here – they did NOTHING. No marketing at all. And they took all the credit for my marketing.)
For perspective, for some outlets, if a traditionally published author sells a book for $20, only $1.28 of that sale goes into their pockets.
They must sell 10,000 print books to make about $12,800. Depending on the deal, much of that will go towards paying back the advance… if they got one, that is.
Sure, the outliers in the publishing industry sell boatloads of books. And e-books now make up a massive portion of a traditionally published author’s earnings (which they get about 25% of each sale).
But compare that to savvy self-published authors. They have a lot more control and flexibility.
You can write a short e-book (which traditional publishers won’t touch)…
You can set the price and change it anytime.
You can make it affordable for most people… say you price it at $2.99.
(This way, you cast a MUCH wider net.)
You control your marketing, too. You control the look. And it’s all on your timeline.
If you sold 10,000 copies of your self-published book, you would make $29,000 before publishing costs.
BUT, get this…
AFTER publishing costs, $20,930 of that goes into your pocket… without you having to touch or ship a single book.
By cutting out the middleman, self-published platforms (Amazon, Apple Books, Ingram Spark, Kobo) pay up to 70% of each e-book sold (and about 60% for print).
Of course, you probably won’t make that all at once. Sales will ebb and flow. And you would probably want to spend some of that on marketing.
But imagine that much money spread out over a year.
That’s on average $1,744.17 extra income, after publishing costs, per month. Just from one small book.
And that’s without ever shipping a single book.
(If you raise your price to just $4.99, which you can do anytime, you could stand to make $34,930 after publishing costs… or $2,910 per month.)
Of course, some people will make less than that on their first book, and others will make more. Some a lot more. …
But I can show you how to maximize your chances.
There’s a lot that can go into successful self-publishing (time, resources and more…).
And I can tell you one thing I’ve seen for certain in this industry…
The demand potential is HUGE. And will only get bigger.
Revenue from e-books alone, according to Statista, is projected by experts to reach over $15 billion in 2021. And rise over $17 billion by 2025.
Again, this is just the e-book market.
Amazon is far from the only game in town for self-publishers. There are websites all over the Internet to upload your book in front of hungry readers to increase your sales and exposure.
Of course, you can also sell print copies on Amazon, and other sites – including your own website.
Plus, there are several other ways to leverage your book to make money. Build a business on the back end, attract clients, build an email list, raise your fees… the list goes on.
Even without doing that… with the right blueprint…
You could stand to make WAY more money than traditionally published authors with your book.
For kicks… let’s run a mental experiment.
To show you how it can all be done on the cheap with the right blueprint…
Let’s imagine I want to write, publish, and sell my first self-published book in 30 days. And I want to write a book that – hopefully much sooner than later – makes $100,000.
Here’s how I would do it.
First, I’d get into the right mindset.
Today, around 4.66 BILLION people are online. People around the world are discovering new self-published books every day.
This includes over 300 million in the United States alone.
To be safe, let’s say only 1 billion of them use English as their primary reading language.
If I can attract an exceptional 0.01% of those English readers online to buy my short book…
That’s 100,000 sales.
(And if you know any other languages? Even better!)
Yes, 100,000 people might sound like a lot. But, again, it’s a tiny percentage of potential readers. Less than 0.01%.
0.01%!
The question: How do I attract this 0.01% to buy my book?
The answer is easy. Solve a BIG enough problem. Find a problem that at least 100,000 (or even 1 or 10 million or more) people have.
(Example: A quick search shows that 1 in 20 people younger than 50 have hemorrhoids. And over the age of 50? Half!)
For my book, I would make my solution irresistible. I’d figure out the solutions they’ve tried, point them out, feel their pain, and give them something new. Something they haven’t tried.
(In the age of information, this could be as simple as breaking down a complex solution into simple terms.)
Remember, I want to make $100,000.
So, it must be a $100,000 solution.
OK. Now, let’s raise the stakes.
For fun, imagine I wanted to write and publish this book for just $50. Of course, it would take a little more time and a lot of research…
But it’s possible to do it for just $50 and a good idea.
Don’t believe me?
Here’s my (watered down) blueprint…
Click Image to Enlarge
Best part? It doesn’t have to take a lot of your time…
Small, simple books can sell like gangbusters.
And, as you can see, it doesn’t cost that much – especially if you have the right tools – to get started.
Sure, this is an extreme example... If I were in a pinch, this is what I would do.
If you really want to make $100,000 on one small book, here’s what you need to know: For most, it will take a great solution, patience, and creative marketing.
For a lucky few, it could take a few weeks to months. But for others, it could take a year, two years, maybe more to pull in that amount of money. But that’s what’s great about selling your books online – they can keep paying out for years. Well after all the hard work is done.
Also, in many cases, you’re going to want to invest a little more than $50. This is just to show it’s more than possible. And, if you’re just starting out, you’ll want to invest in proper guidance. (That’s where my team and I can help.)
Let’s face it... Not everyone is going to write the next blockbuster.
But with enough small and simple books on the market, and enough time…
You could make consistent “blockbuster” sales… even if none of them go viral or catch the attention of the mainstream media.
At the very least, this shows you how powerful self-publishing can be and how it’s one of the most rewarding ways to create an extra income stream.
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Ideas are gold. The best ideas solve BIG problems. The best books get straight to the point and add instantly actionable value. You can provide both of these things with a short book.
To get the creative juices flowing, here’s one solid strategy to “piggyback” a profitable book topic:
Experiment: Find books on Amazon that are selling well, look at the negative reviews to see what they did wrong, and write a book that fills that gap.
If you need topics, here are some on Amazon that have been shown to be profitable in the past…
Think you could write about one of these topics? Can you put your personal spin on any of them?
These are popular subjects. But they’re also saturated… and BORING.
Try flipping them around and making them your own. Surprise people with a new twist.
#35: For “Get Your Ex Back,” write a book on how “The Dao of Getting Your Ex Back” based on Daoist teachings. (Lesson #3: Let go of outcomes.)
#47: For “How to Get Rid of Panic Attacks,” write a book about how artists use their anxiety to fuel their creativity. (Chapter 2: John Mayer suffered from panic attacks set off by his fear of ending up in a mental institution. Here’s his secret to dealing with them.)
#100: For a book about “Wedding Speeches,” put together a short collection of the worst wedding speeches ever: What you should not do based on those speeches… and then what you SHOULD. (Title: The Wedding Speech Survival Guide)
Think one (or more) might be fun to do a little research on? Got an idea of your own?
Good!
And if you want to write this book super-fast, try this…
My new book, How to Write a Book in a Weekend, shows you, from start to finish, how to bang out a book FAST.
From snout to tail, this e-book was all done in a weekend. And I show you step-by-step how I did it.
I go through the tools and techniques I used to write, edit, and format this book.
These tools will help you brainstorm, outline, and manage your time strategically, and even take specific (scientifically proven to help) breaks to maximize your efficiency. They’ll help you format automatically as you go. They’ll show you how to get access to a (free) “virtual A.I. editor” that scans your every word as you write.
I wrote this book to show that, given the right tools, anyone can go from blank page to self-published book in a weekend.
ANYONE!
Here’s a quick breakdown of what’s inside:
Chapter 1: How to use my personal “mind map” strategy to outline your book so you can fly through the pages and meet your daily goals. And how to use a fancy trick called “Conceptual Blending” that sparks innovative new ideas. It’s the same trick used by NASA, the CIA, and tarot card readers. With these methods, you’ll know EXACTLY what you’re going to write before you put one word down on the page.)
Chapter 2: How to use the “Pomodoro” method with a twist (using a FREE, simple to use desktop app) to maximize your writing efficiency and “train” your brain to write clearly, simply, and FAST. This method, by the way, is scientifically proven to skyrocket your productivity. With just a few 25-minute sessions – maybe even one or two a day – you’ll have your book done in no time.
Chapter 3: The done-for-you formatting trick you can use for FREE. Formatting can be a pain. Not anymore! With this tool, you can just click “download” when you’re done writing and publish instantly, without worrying about complex formatting instructions.
Chapter 4: Hire a free “virtual A.I. editor” and edit each chapter as you write, quickly and painlessly.
Chapter 5: Exactly how I made the cover for this book for FREE in 15 minutes. Without design talent or experience. Seriously, it’s just drag and drop. I’ll show you, step-by-step, how I did it in a few minutes, what platform I used, and how you can do it, too.
Chapter 6: How to put on any last-minute finishing touches and download before dinner time on Sunday.
BONUS CHAPTER: How to Make Your Book Go Viral. Here, I share how to make your book go viral, using the same tactics I use to make people go ballistic over my books, blog posts, and ideas. (My article, “NYC is Dead Forever,” was read by 30,000,000 people. I’ll show you the six key ingredients to why it went viral, and how you can use this lesson for your book.)
Just so you know…
You won’t find this book anywhere for sale.
Not on Amazon. Not on Kobo. Not on Apple books. NO platforms or websites will have it. I’ve decided to keep it under lock and key.
This book is so powerful, I want it to go ONLY into the hands of people who are committed to choosing themselves and publishing a book.
Which is why…
Today, I’m giving it out for free (as an instant download) to ANYONE who signs up for my course, joins my self-publishing group, and accepts my challenge to self-publish a book.
As you’ll see, you don’t have to be the next Charles Dickens to write good book.
Far from it.
If you’re writing a book in a weekend… or 30 days… you want it to be short, and to the point.
If your books solve problems, and they are specific enough, nobody’s going to care much if your book is self-published, or that you’re not Shakespeare. (Just give them what they want to know!)
One of the most popular books online, called It Works!, is only 28 pages and sells for 99 cents…
Let me repeat that…
Twenty-eight pages.
It’s basically an article. The writing is bad. The format is bad. It’s ugly.
But get this…
Although it takes about 10 minutes to read, it’s sold over 1.5 million copies.
That’s huge!
Again, I wrote my book 40 Alternatives to College in a single weekend… that was back in 2012, when I was still a fledgling writer.
Today, it has 90 reviews on Amazon and has sold thousands of copies at $4.95 each.
One review of the book I’m proud of said, “I wish I had this book 40 years ago. My life would have moved differently.”
Of course, there are a lot of factors that contribute to a great book, and you can’t control all of them.
But I will say…
I’ve found that if your intention is to help others, and solve BIG problems, it’s more likely to gain traction.
And I can tell you one thing for certain…
You’ll never have the chance to see ANY of it if you don’t put yourself out there.
My course is designed to get you over that first hump of putting pen to paper and getting started… and to help you keep going to the finish line.
I’ve told you about my success and the success of others…
So you can see what’s POSSIBLE.
But, as I said, writing a book can do more than just put more money in your pocket.
Ultimately, yes, I would like you to sign up for my course, join my self-publishing circle, and bust out a bestseller in your first month.
Nothing would make me happier. I might even brag about your book in my newsletter or on my podcast.
But before you decide if my course and self-publishing community is right for you…
Let me tell you my story.
Years ago, I’d gone from a VERY comfortable lifestyle (with millions in the bank) to just $143 in my checking account in a matter of months.
I couldn’t afford diapers for my kids. I lost my house, my friends, my sanity.
Our culture tends to glorify failure but let me tell you: true failure is not fun or desirable.
It’s painful. I cried a lot. I looked at my life insurance policy and thought maybe my daughters would be better off without me.
When I was up, everyone was my friend.
But when I was down, nobody would return my calls. And strangers called me things like “mutant douchebag.”
I thought I would never recover.
But then, I started making daily writing a habit. Part of my writing practice was (and still is) to write down 10 ideas per day.
After a while of doing this every day, I felt something shift.
Soon after, the floodgates opened.
Not only were my ideas getting better and better… they were having sex. And creating new, more evolved ideas.
And then, soon enough, boom. The stars aligned.
I discovered the power of self-publishing…
I realized that a book is the “magic key” to opening up surprising new doors in your life.
Self-publishing forces you to choose yourself. And it forces you to create something to give to the world.
Plus, books are the new business cards.
Once you can call yourself an “author”…
You can establish yourself as an expert…
Learn everything you’ve wanted to know about your passions…
And inspire thousands of people.
Once I established myself as an expert, I was featured as a guest on TV, radio, and podcasts (sometimes I enjoy the spotlight). I got invited to exclusive events, and I was able to command big fees for consulting gigs. And I was able to inspire others to choose themselves, too.
Even better, with my new writing habit…
I quickly realized that ideas are the new currency. And the more ideas you give, the more opportunities you create.
I felt like Bradley Cooper in the movie Unlimited… everything started to make sense.
And THAT is when it all came together.
And THAT is when I discovered how easy it is to write and sell a book all by yourself… and just how POWERFUL it can be for the “little guy.”
And I thought, “HEY, I can really do this!”
That’s how my book Choose Yourself! was born.
And it’s how I discovered the complete “roadmap” for writing and making money online by self-publishing.
After that, everything changed.
Using the same strategies I reveal in my course, Choose Yourself made me over $500,000 in the first six months.
In the first month alone, I sold 44,294 copies… and then later, by 2016, over 500,000… and now it has sold well over a million copies.
Incredibly, it even made The Wall Street Journal’s bestseller list…
I can’t overstate just how profound this was at the time.
Let me tell you — when I started all of this, I thought I was the WORST writer and the WORST businessman on the planet.
Now my book is available in several foreign markets. (I’ll show you how I did that, too. It’s easy! And fast!)
Choose Yourself was so successful, Amazon called me and asked me to come and talk to them about self-publishing.
Amazon! ME!
(In fact, as mentioned, Amazon released an entire docu-series about me and my book on Amazon Prime.)
I wrote more books that became bestsellers. All written by me and sold by me. I’ve seen hundreds of people do it, too.
It proved to me one thing…
None of this was by accident. Not a single second of it.
And over the years, I had put together a blueprint, cobbled together from some of the best self-publishers in the world.
And I KNOW anyone can take this blueprint and write, publish, and get PAID.
Here’s how…
I’ve shown you how easy it can be to become an author.
And what it can do to change your life — maybe in more ways than you might think is possible. And, yes, FASTER than you might think is possible, too.
Like I said before, not every book is going to be a blockbuster. But you will get better. And with small books, you can learn more and do it faster.
Besides, you’ll never know what hits if you don’t give it a shot!
Like I said, nobody who takes me up on this challenge has ever said they regret it.
And I’m going to give you ALL the tools you need to get there.
Everything you’ll need is in my course, The Choose Yourself Guide to Self-Publishing.
Don’t be fooled by what I said earlier. You can write a big book if you want. Just rest assured, you don’t have to.
The principles in this course apply to any book — whether you’re writing a small book of poems or a massive tome… or even putting together a kid’s book, an adult coloring book, a comic book, or an “experimental” book.
Crack my course open and you’ll find…
The Choose Yourself Guide to Self-Publishing is loaded with ways to jump into the express lane and publish books that sell… FAST.
For example, in the course, I’ll show you…
And a whole lot more.
If this sounds like it’s for you…
Let me show you how to write and sell a book. Maybe even a hit.
Better yet, let me invite you into my “tribe” of self-publishers.
Here’s an important bonus that comes with this course: a thriving community of self-published, and soon-to-be self-published, authors.
I’m talking about my private self-publishing “mastermind group,” The Choose Yourself Publishing Circle.
With others, you can flesh out your ideas… ask questions… and have a big tribe of writers celebrate your successes right along with you.
In my group, you’ll never feel like you’re going at it alone.
That said, I won’t lie to you.
My course won’t turn you into the next Stephen King or Ernest Hemingway. (I will show you the ONE technique they both used to become great writers, though.)
And you probably won’t have a massive hit and make millions like The Martian… Wool… and 50 Shades of Grey — all originally self-published books.
But you might!
I don’t think any of the biggest self-published authors realized the power of self-publishing before they became big and did well for themselves.
I can tell you with 100% certainty: With a little bit of commitment, my course can set you on the path of making real money, gaining real credibility, and creating real, adoring fans.
And with some work, you CAN live your life on your own terms… and create your own success.
You can CHOOSE YOURSELF!
Perhaps faster than you think is possible right now.
I’ll show you how to request a spot in my course, and tribe, a moment.
First, real quick, here’s what you’ll get as soon as you reserve your spot…
MODULE ONE: Unlimited ideas and inspiration
First, each module will begin with a short video from me. It’ll be a dose of inspiration, your “kick in the pants,” to getting your book done FAST.
In Module One, you’ll see why there is no need to “wait for inspiration.”
With the same techniques I use to write my own books, you’ll never know the meaning of “writer’s block.”
You will become an idea machine.
I’ll also show you why it’s important to “find your why.”
Your why is what drives and motivates you. Once you know that, you won’t question whether or not you have what it takes. Your “why” will put that fire in your belly.
Whether it’s making a lot of money (WHY do you want the money?)…
Getting a message across (WHY?)…
Or just giving people vital information and advice they want and need. (WHY?)
Next, you’ll discover what makes a strong nonfiction book topic. You want to sell the maximum number of books, right? I’ll show you how to pick topics your future fans simply can’t resist.
Maybe it’ll be based on some passion you have. Or maybe you’ll want to pick a problem that’s already super-popular. I’ll show you how to research what types of books people are buying right now.
Of course, everyone faces obstacles now and then. And in Module One, I’ll also show you how to overcome them instantly. And one of the best ways, of course, is with the support of others.
That’s why I’ll encourage you to come to your support group so they can keep you accountable… brainstorm with you… be inspired by you and inspire you.
MODULE TWO: The bestseller blueprint
Module Two is where the rubber meets the road.
Before you write a word, I’ll show you how to get clear on exactly what you’re going to write. So it just flows out naturally and easily.
I’ll show you how to write it fast, too. So fast that each day, you’ll look up and be shocked at how much you got done.
I’ll also show you how to become an “instant expert” in any subject — at least expert enough to write 10 or 20 or 30 pages!
You’ll see how choosing your AUDIENCE is just as important as choosing your topic. (The clearer the target, the easier it is to hit it.)
And you’ll get clear action steps to take to make sure you’re making progress every single day.
MODULE THREE: Writing made easy
By the time you’re done with this section, you’ll know everything I do about writing a book people will want to buy and read.
I’ll show you the different types of writing… and how to hone your writing skills to get better and better each day. (From simple things like reading your writing out loud to more advanced stuff like my “get paid, get laid, lose weight” rule.)
And let’s not forget the title.
Choosing a title will be one of the MOST important decisions when it comes to selling more books.
Back in the early 1900s, author Emanuel Haldeman-Julius sold more than 200 million books in 20 years.
His secret? Book titles.
If he had a book that didn’t sell well, he would simply change the title.
For example…
Les Precieuses Ridicules sold basically ZERO books a year. When changed to Ridiculous Women, it sold over 10,000 copies a year.
The Mystery of the Iron Mask sold 11,000 copies. He changed it to The Mystery of the Man in the Iron Mask… and he unloaded over 30,000 the next year.
The King Enjoys Himself sold 8,000… but The Lustful King Enjoys Himself sold 38,000.
Can’t you feel the difference?
In short, the title of your book could make the difference between eking out a few sales per week and watching your book roar to the top of the bestseller list.
MODULE FOUR: Polish and publish
By the end of this module, your book will be spit-shined and ready to go.
I’ll show you easy ways to get your book professionally edited and proofread for just a few dollars. As well as FREE software programs you can use to automatically proofread and put it in the format online publishers prefer.
You’ll have a beautiful cover with your name on it that you love looking at. (You can do it for free, or even have it done with a 24-hour turnaround for as little as $25.)
(The “quickie” secret to a good cover that sticks out: Bold letters… high contrast… a “sexy” image.)
I’ll also show you how to publish on Amazon — easily the best online bookstore — and attract hundreds of readers per day.
If you want, I’ll show you how to print hardback copies, get your book in bookstores, and create audiobooks you can sell for additional profits…
MODULE FIVE: Show me the money!
This is it.
Now it’s time to give your book to the world and start making money.
In this module, your book will go live. And Amazon will be selling it right next to Harry Potter and 50 Shades of Grey.
I’ll show you how to price your book to maximize your sales. And then I’ll show you how to get people to start talking about it — and then how to get great reviews from strangers.
You’ll be on your way to attracting thousands of readers to your book in as little as 30 minutes a day.
But my course isn’t the only thing you’ll get as soon as you sign up.
When you sign up, you’ll also receive my entire digital library of bestselling self-published books, absolutely free.
You’ll not only benefit from all the great info and advice inside them, but I want you to have them as well for EXAMPLES of what successful self-published books with wide appeal look like.
I want to give you this book not only to help you CHOOSE YOURSELF and generate real inward success (personal happiness and health) and outward success (fulfilling work and wealth)…
But you’ll also get much more than that.
As you know, this is my self-published book that hit The Wall Street Journal’s bestsellers list and sold half a million copies in the first six weeks.
By reading it, you’ll see how I applied all of the principles in your course.
That way, you’ll have a real-world case study to refer to if you ever need a solid example of what a successful self-published book can look like.
You’ll also learn…
For extra motivation and ideas, you’ll get instant access to my book, Think Like a Billionaire.
In it, I dive deep into the minds of the world’s most famous billionaires to show you their deepest secrets to success.
You’ll gain instant access to my exclusive interviews with billionaires like Richard Branson, Steve Case, Mark Cuban, Peter Thiel, Ted Leonsis, Dick Yuengling and many more.
The average multimillionaire has over seven different sources of income.
SEVEN.
This doesn’t mean seven jobs. That’s impossible. And it doesn’t mean to start seven companies (at the same time). That’s also impossible.
In my book, The Side Hustle Bible, we’ll look at…
And, of course, you’ll get my new book, How to Write a Book in a Weekend.
From snout to tail, this book was all done in a weekend. By the time you’re done reading, you’ll have ALL of the tools and knowledge you need to write a GREAT book in a weekend.
All of this might sound overwhelming, but I’ve made sure to make it as simple as possible.
Everything is laid out in bite-sized chunks. It’s designed to help you go at your own pace, whatever that might be.
Now, the ball’s in your court to accept or deny my 30-day challenge.
I know what you’re thinking, “Here comes the greasy sales pitch!”
But seriously, let me ask you this…
How much is living a life of your choosing worth to you?
Imagine all the ways your life could drastically change with a book making money for you day in and day out… even while you sleep.
Imagine being able to say, “I’m a published author.”
You’ll see with the right tools, guidance and mindset, you can write and publish a book — maybe even in less than a week — without breaking a sweat.
I can’t read your mind. I don’t know how much this is worth to you.
Only you can know that. And of course, nothing is certain. Getting it perfect can take time and resources.
The hard-won information in this course is my blood, sweat, and tears. And more importantly, it’s allowed me to live life on MY terms.
Honestly, for everything you’ll receive today, I believe $1,000… maybe higher… is a deal.
I’ve seen “self-publishing” courses promise you far less but cost more.
In fact, I think you could even make it back ten times over with your first short book. (maybe your second, third, and fourth – it’s up to you.)
But today, I’m not going to charge anywhere near $1,000.
I want to make it affordable, but I also want people willing to commit.
I want everyone to have skin in the game in my community.
So meet me in the middle.
If you act today, you’ll get everything you see here for just ONE payment of $497. And you’ll have access for LIFE.
That’s $1.36 per day for the next year… less than a cup of coffee at you-know-who.
Fair warning: This offer might not last.
Once my Inner Circle gets almost too big to handle for my team, we might be forced to tighten it up and, yes, maybe even jack up the price.
I want only dedicated people in my group. And I want to keep improving the experience for you and everyone else in my self-publishing tribe.
You don’t have to decide now. I’ll make it a no-brainer…
I’ll give you a full 60 days to try it out — risk-free.
Get my course and all my bonuses just a few minutes from now, at NO RISK.
If you find the course isn’t for you, or it ends up not being what you expected, I’ll refund every penny.
Best part? You’ll keep everything you learned from my course. (And, of course, you keep all of the books.)
I want you to be satisfied with my work… and your work.
I want this to be what makes a difference in your future.
It’s selfish, but I want to keep my reputation, too. (What’s left of it!)
It’s my guarantee to you.
Again, you don’t have to decide now.
You’ll have 60 days to try out my course and feel out my private group.
If it’s not for you — take your money back just by giving our customer service folks a call.
Just to recap, the moment you sign up for my course, you’ll gain instant access to…
As far as I see it, you have two options.
Either you can keep going in the direction you’re headed and hope everything “works out” somehow.
Or you can take action. And take the next step to a bigger, brighter future for you and your family.
It’s up to you to decide.
Several years ago, I stood at a similar crossroad. And let me tell you, had I not acted, I don’t know where I’d be.
It was only by choosing myself that I was able to rise out of a situation, and a life, I hated.
You’ve come this far.
So why not take advantage of my ironclad guarantee and see for yourself?
If you have even an inkling of a feeling that I made this course JUST FOR YOU…
I’ve done everything I can to show you how quickly and easily this course can change your life.
The ball’s officially in your court.
If you’re still with me, click the link below to see if a spot is still available. If the page loads, congrats — you made it in.
See you on the other side.
James Altucher
March 2021
© Choose Yourself Media, LLC, a subsidiary of Three Founders Publishing, LLC | 808 St. Paul St., Baltimore, MD 21202, United States of America | Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions | Do Not Sell My Info | Click here for our Testimonial Support information | No part of this report may be reproduced or placed on any electronic medium without written permission from the publisher. Information contained herein is obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but its accuracy cannot be guaranteed.