10 Ways to be an Author of Change from the Moment of Inspiration

On Saturday I’ll be speaking on two panels at the San Francisco Writing for Change Conference. I love this conference because it is focused on helping nonfiction writers who want to become change agents get their books published. It’s attended by aspiring and published authors who write about self-help, spirituality, human potential, ecology (and everything “green”), the economy, metaphysics, etc. These are author of change. And the speakers are agents, publishers, editors, and other publishing professionals who love to work with authors and books about change. They, too, are change agents in their own way.

I’ve been working on my presentation for one of the panels, and I thought I’d share some preliminary thoughts about what it takes to be an author of change. I think you have to begin at the very moment when the inspiration to become a change agent–and to do it through the vehicle of a book–hits you. Here are 10 ways to accomplish this goal:

1. Have a mission. Know why you feel compelled to write this book. Define your purpose. Combine your passion with a purpose. Passion + Purpose = Inspiration
2. Know the benefits of your movement. People will get on board and join your cause if they understand the benefit to themselves, to others or to the world. Figure out the value your message adds.
3. Broadcast your mission. Communicate about your cause. Let people know why you are doing what you are doing. Share your purpose and your passion. When you feel inspired, your inspiration will become contagious. Use all the social networks–Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus, Pinterest, LinkedIn (or choose 2 you can really commit to). Talk about it everywhere. Pitch stories to traditional media.
4. Set up a blog. You and your message need to be discoverable online. That’s where people search for everything; you need to broadcast your message there. A blog gives you a “home” in cyberspace (a website), and a way to get that website more easily found by readers.
5. Blog in a focused manner. Have a content plan or a focus for your blog that pertains to your book. Better yet, blog your book. Stay on topic and blog often.
6. Create online community. Develop a place where people who want to get on board with your message or cause can do so. Start a forum or a subscription site. Build more followers and fans with a Facebook page, LinkedIn group, Google Plus hangout, Twitter Chat, etc.
7. Connect with like-minded online “influencers” and friends. Get other people with more reach than yours–to join your cause and to promote it. Guest blog. Appear on podcasts. Ask those you know to help promote.
8. Build community offline. Promote your idea everywhere. Start MeetUps. Create masterminds. Go to conferences. Join organizations.
9. Use every possible tool. Try podcasting or free radio shows so your content is on iTunes. Create YouTube videos. Produce photos and post them to Instagram.
10. See yourself as more than just an author. See yourself as a change agent—an author of change.

Of course, then you still need to write your book. But if you do all of these things, you will become an author of change. All those people who will have gathered around you will take your message out into the world. And they’ll be waiting for your book to help them continue creating change. You will have authored change and created a community of change agents ready to use your book to continue creating change.

If you would like to transform yourself into an author of change, consider joining my upcoming Author of Change Transformational Coaching Program. To get more information–and be one of 15 people who enter this program,  click here to immediately get more information or to register. Or fill out the form below to join the Author of Change mailing list.

Photo courtesy of by Kookkai_nak