Free Glide

In the previous 5 lessons of this series, we have only been considering public domain works that are in text form.

But did you know there are music works in the public domain? And that there are movie clips in the public domain? And that there are works of art that are in the poublic domain?

And yes, you can use these and not have to pay any royalties! Read on.

Have you ever watched any movies on the Turner classic channel? Many of the movies shown are old classics dating back to the early 20s or 30s. Ted Turner offers these movies on his channel and makes millions without having to pay a cent in royalties! What he has done is simply take these old movies and broadcast them on his channel.

You can be the Ted Turner of the internet by offering old movies that are in the public domain as downloads from your site. Don’t worry. It’s all 100% legal. You can also put them on CD or DVD and sell them. Amazing! Did you know there are sites doing this? They put old movies on VCDs and DVDs, brand themselves as a classic movies site and sell their products.

What about old songs? Same thing. You can create an album of old classic songs in MP3 format and allow your customers to download them from your site. This MP3 download is legal. How about collecting old love songs and writing them on to a CD and do a Valentine giveaway Plenty of possibilities. Here’s an excellent directory on finding free sheet music. http://www.freesheetmusic.net/

For more sources of finding, not just text, not just music but also pictures, jokes, classics, religious material, photos, images, video, poetry that are in the public domain, visit http://www.InstantAuthors.com/pdresource.htm

Please remember that although the songs themselves are in the public domain, a specific performance of the song by an artiste is NOT in the public domain. If J-Lo does a re-make of an old classic song, obviously her performance of the song is her copyright. And you cannot be distributing her MP3. Of course, you can also do your own re-make of the song with your band and you can own all copyrights to your version and sell it to rival J-Lo’s release. You can sell the audio or video under your own copyright.

Did you know there are also classic paintings and artwork that are in the public domain? What can you do with these masterpieces? You can use these images and create posters, postcards, banners and graphics with the art piece as a backdrop. Those who have a way with words might also want to incorporate inspiring verses on the poster. And there you have your very own one-of-a-kind beautiful masterpiece products to sell!

You can also work with copyright-free images, software, audio, technology, religious material, poetry, classics and more.

Where do you these material? I have created a list you can download. ~ visit http://www.InstantAuthors.com/pdresource.htm

The book business is a billion dollar industry; however grabbing your slice of the pie will require skills far beyond simply writing well and conveying your message clearly.

So, if you’re thinking about becoming a published author read this before you power up the PC and prepare to pen a masterpiece because there are a few (17 that I’ve found) landmines to watch out for on the road to self publishing success.

Following are seven of the primary reasons many authors fail. Is your book is positioned to fly or flop?

1. Publishing books with unprofessional covers. Despite of what your Mom might have told you, people DO judge books by their covers and if your cover does not look like it was professionally designed it won’t sell as many copies as you’d hope.

Take the time and do the research on a quality cover designer who will help you bring your book cover to life professionally and affordably.

Here’s a great way to get a surge of inspiration - even if you never intend to see your book in the bookstore - go to the section in the bookstore that you would find your book and get ideas from the covers that are already there. Jot down the titles and go online to see which of them are top sellers and then model their success for your book.

2. Printing in larger quantities then they have proven they will be able to sell. The book business is more a marketing and promotion business than it is a publishing business. No matter how great your book might, you’ll face financial frustration if you blindly print 5000 copies on the “hope” that they’ll sell quickly.

Without advance marketing and pre-sales promotions it’s very easy to overestimate the initial quantity for your first order. So as soon as you have a quality cover designed you want to use that visual representation as way to promote your book, generate buzz and best of all gauge your first print run size.

3. Paying large amounts for services upfront to “save” money. Many first time authors believe that they will save money by printing a large quantity of books all at once. In fact, that is only partly true. If you print 5000 copies of your book to “save” $1.00 per copy on printing but only sell 1000 copies, you may be loosing more than you save if you haven’t factored in the additional money you need for marketing and promoting the remaining 4000 copies.

To keep your initial “savings” from actually costing you future sales, consider working with a Print-on-Demand printer that will allow you to purchase smaller quantity print runs. While it might seem like you’re paying more per copy the reality is you’re making a more financially sound business move.

4. Working without a coach or mentor. Information is great, but too much information can actually lead to inactivity. Have you ever been so blown away by a great idea that you didn’t know where to begin; so you did nothing? It happens to the best of us. That’s why most often it’s not more information that will lead to your success, but a structured plan and accountability to see it through.

Tiger Woods is arguably the world’s best golfer. He has broken records and sent golfers 20 years older packing. He’s focused and determined to win, and despite all of his success he still has a coach. His mentor isn’t necessarily a better golfer than he is, but a person who understands the game and can see things from a different vantage point to offer him tips, advice and coaching for maximum success.

5. Not testing a title before it’s printed. Often when we have a great idea we can become so attached that we loose objectivity. When I wrote my book, “Teen Money Tips: Simple Steps For Banking, Saving & Making Money” my original title idea was “Get In The Driver’s Seat: 7 Keys To Making The Most of Your Money” it was cute and cleaver but it didn’t give the reader an instant indication of what the book was actually about.

After testing the title with more than 50 potential purchasers in my target market the results were in overwhelming favor of “Teen Money Tips,” a title that I though was too boring. But I had to remember it didn’t matter what “I liked” if the intended audience wouldn’t buy it.

Boy, am I glad I listened because my market has rewarded me time and again with a steady stream of book sales!

6. Writing books they think people “should” read. The famous 12-step program operates on the sole belief that a person must first admit they have a problem before they will truly work towards recovery.

If your book addresses an issue that people “should” be concerned about, but that they don’t know about, don’t care about or are to afraid to take action on, then it might not be the best investment of your time or resources to be the first one to write the book.

Writing for established markets that have proven to be willing to pay for information and a solution to their problem will enrich your life and theirs.

7. Waiting until the book is completed to market it. I’ll admit that writing a book can seem like a single focus task, and it should be at times. But authors must never loose sight of the fact that books are written to be sold. If no one knows about, or anticipates your book’s release, then your initial sales will be low and disappointing, making it difficult to cover the initial investment and even harder to play catch-up.

Movement encourages success, and very few things guarantee movement like having advanced marketing for your book. Book announcements, virtual book tours and bundled book bonus offers are just a few things that you can do in advance to market your book and boost your bottom line.

There are many other reasons that first time authors don’t reach their full potential. I’ve been there so I understand what it’s like to be long on enthusiasm and ideas, but lacking a full understanding of all the nuances to be successful as an author. That’s why I’m passionate about helping aspiring (and even previously published) authors write, publish and promote their way to self publishing success.

By avoiding the “Seven Ways To Sabotage Your Self Publishing Success,” you’ll experience the upside of self publishing:

* Controlling your own work * Pocketing more profit * Credibility as an Author * Expert status

And many more benefits much sooner; which is the whole reason you decided to become a self published author in the first place!

LOVE: A word properly applied to our delight in particular kinds of food; sometimes metaphorically spoken of the favorite objects of all our appetites.

-Henry Fielding

Ah yes… The pen is truly mightier than the sword. Coming from someone that has been ‘physical’ his entire life, this statement has proven to be the most personally empowering concept I have ever known. And when you fully understand this, it is without a doubt quite liberating. But what few people don’t fully grasp is that when written words become spoken words, they explode like fireworks! If books speak volumes, speeches and speakers ignite entire lives.

Interestingly, there are three explicit categories of words: the written, the meditated, and the spoken.

Simply put…written words can enlighten, inform and give entire fields of possibilities and probabilities about topics or events. Meditated or contemplated words have the potential to bring out volatile, fiery or caustic ideas. But when both the written and meditated words are verbalized, the result is remarkable, to say the least. In particular, spoken words are fired from the barrel of a gun (the mouth), through a triggering mechanism (the tongue) and when used effectively, words are like bullets that hit targets accurately and leave an ineradicable mark.

The act of speaking itself is a unique technique for the transmission of messages. It really does involve the body and the soul. It’s capability to create a visual drama with live emotions and gestures that put life into the message like no written or meditated messages can achieve is truly startling. In speaking, you really become the message rather than just being the messenger. Consequently, entire multitudes can literally go bananas in public with a moving speech.

I have learned through a good deal of painful, yet rewarding experiences that it truly pays to learn how to speak with fire or antithetically use a tongue of flower. The power of the spoken word is insuperable. Entire nations have been united and divided by one dominant leader who spoke winningly of a particular cause. Abe Lincoln spoke and convinced divided Americans to unite, many years before the ‘true’ birth of the modern and potent media viability.

Conversely, Vladimir Lenin spoke with fiery persuasion to influence Russian peasants and workers to bolt away from Czar Rule and even called on the Proletariat or working class of other nations to an analogous action.

You can also brandish this mighty tool of speaking very credibly to an individual or multitude by just learning and practicing the principal points of public speaking. You might be astonished that the steps to develop potent public speaking skills are quite simple and easy, yet practicing them is critical. Delivering the spoken word with command and authority is an art and science that entails due/do diligence.

The development of personal or professional power is gained through mastery. Prevailing, potent and powerful leaders from the past to the present have mastered the ways of the spoken word. And in order to attain the power and the glory of the spoken word, you have to persistently practice your skills in public speaking by speaking publicly.

Kurt’s website http://www.kreatefitness.com, as well as his Provo Utah Private Fitness and Empowerment Facility, Synergy Fitness Systems, specializes in in providing leading edge exercise, nutrition and self improvement programs and the groundbreaking Neo Physis super premium supplement line. Kurt is a nationally recognized author, fitness and self improvement coach and proud husband and father.

Mandy*, a bright, attractive professional woman, had a fear of speaking in front of groups. Recognizing that her feelings of vulnerability and self-consciousness were limiting her potential, she showed up for a presentation skills class filled with trepidation. In the class, the students spent the morning listening to the instructor explain the rules of public speaking. That afternoon, they gave their presentations to the group.

After nervously waiting through five other talks, Mandy took her place at the front of the room-her heart pounding and hands shaking. She plowed through her 10-minute presentation with her mind in an out-of-body blur. When she finished, Mandy obeyed the instructor’s direction to remain front-and-center to receive her feedback. Comments started with a few “That’s a good color on you” and “You had good eye contact” platitudes, but then the real critique began. She used way too many “ums.” She shifted her weight too much. Her hair was in her eyes. Her voice was too soft. Most of all, her excessive gestures simply had to be brought under control! Luckily, the instructor had a gesture-reduction plan. He playfully took a piece of rope from a cardboard box, used it to bind Mandy’s hands behind her back, and had her give the entire presentation over again.

Did this experience help Mandy overcome her feelings of vulnerability and self-consciousness? Of course not. She shuffled home feeling humiliated and victimized. Rather than compassionately working with Mandy as the vulnerable, dignified, gifted human being she is, the instructor treated her like a horse whose spirit and wild habits had to be broken with ropes. Literally.

Previous Training As A Source of Fear

In my 15 years of coaching public speaking, I’ve worked with hundreds of anxiety-ridden speakers. Surprisingly, they often referred to previous speaking training as a source of their fear. They’ve been badgered, nit-picked, and intimidated-all stemming from a well-intentioned belief that if you fix the mechanics, confidence will follow.

For many people, this approach is, at the very least, ineffective-and it can damage one’s sense of dignity. If you see the audience as the enemy, mastering the art of the upward-hand-sweep-with-the-dramatic-flourish will not make those faces any less threatening. Even worse, this mechanical approach can be devastating if you feel insecure to begin with, then walk away with an even longer list of deficiencies to correct.

Of course, there’s value in noticing distracting habits and getting them under control. If you’re already comfortable in the spotlight, great; go ahead and fine-tune the mechanics. But if you’re like Mandy and anxiety is your primary issue (and believe me, you’re not alone), a mechanical approach may do more harm than good.

What You Need from Training

So what do you need, if not the mechanics? Here are four things you’d be wise to demand from your training session:

1. Work on the cause of your discomfort, not merely the symptoms.

Most people say that one-on-one or in a small group, they’re comfortable with speaking; they only feel awkward when speaking to a large group. If that’s the case, there’s good news: You don’t have to work on your speaking; you have to work on getting comfortable being the center of attention. It may not seem like a significant shift but it is. Speakers tend to work only on what they’re putting out to the audience (content, appearance, visual aids, voice). Often, the real work is learning to let in what’s coming from audience members, namely their attention.

2. Demand a dignified, healthy process, not just a good outcome.

In Mandy’s case, even without ropes, she would probably gesture less the next time she spoke, but is that really success? Though the end result of her training was fewer gestures, the teacher cut a swath of emotional destruction on the way. Desired ends don’t justify humiliating means. Always demand to be treated with respect as you work to develop your speaking skills.

3. Insist on privacy regarding your video.

A common tool in presentation skills training is video, but your video is no one’s business but yours. I have seen accomplished, respected professionals shrink in horror as their video was shown to and critiqued by the entire class. All learning value was lost because they were too mortified by the public display to learn anything. Besides, it’s a waste of time. The class just saw you present the real thing. Why make them watch you twice? In my workshops, students go to the fun and funky “Learning Lounge” where they have a private video monitor with earphones, snacks, a comfortable chair, cozy quilts, and a soothing foot massager. The lighthearted atmosphere takes the sting out of self-awareness so students can concentrate on learning. Nothing good comes from public humiliation, so if you’re not comfortable with a public video viewing, stand up for your right to privacy.

4. Feel free to explore your gifts.

“Stay inside the lines.” Remember that one? You got a new box of crayons and wanted to go crazy with them, but a teacher or parent squashed your creativity by making you color inside pre-existing lines. The same happens in speaking. Max, a former student of mine, had always been told to follow the rules as a speaker, so he concentrated on his voice, his stance, his visual aids, etc. When given permission to forget the rules and speak from his heart, a delightful dry sense of humor emerged that made him much more likeable and, therefore, more persuasive. He incorporated this gift into a presentation that was already effective in the traditional sense, but now had a wonderful new dimension that would have been missed had he not played “outside the lines.”

Mechanics have their place, but you may need to go beyond nit-picking mechanics. You’re a unique human being with gifts, talents, stories, fears, dreams, and heart. Don’t settle for anything less than a dignified, compassionate approach.

Even horses deserve that.

* Name has been changed to protect privacy.

(c) 2002, Upside Down Speaking

About The Author

Melissa Lewis turns traditional thinking about public speaking upside down to give people more comfort, confidence, and charisma in front of groups. She does this through keynotes, workshops, coaching and innovative virtual learning programs. She is a former comic actress, a certified facilitator of SPEAKING CIRCLES, president-elect of the National Speakers Association Kansas City Chapter, and author of the soon-to-be-released book, Upside Down Speaking. For more information, call (913) 341-1241, email mailto:MelissaUDS@aol.com or visit http://www.upsidedownspeaking.com.