The X Factor (U.S.) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)Attorney Darcie Chan self-publishes her novel The Mill River Recluse as an e-book after being rejected by several publishers and agents and the book lands on best-seller lists.
Amanda Hocking begins self-publishing her novels as e-books in 2010 and within a year sells over a million copies.
What's the secret? What did these authors do to gain success where so many others fail? If there were a fool proof formula that always worked we'd all be hugely successful authors. There is no precise formula. There is something missing in most cases and that missing something is the X Factor that we each need to find for ourselves.
Talent shows have been a mainstay of radio and television for many years. In the past decade shows like Pop Idol and American Idol have swept television ratings. Simon Cowell went on to create a show in the same vain called The X Factor. The premise behind the show name is that star quality is an unknown factor in the success equation. It is a variable. What works for one person does not guarantee success for the next.
You may have the most wonderful product in the world, but until you discover that unknown variable that will create marketing magic you may not be successful in getting your product in the hands of the consumer. And you can't just sit there and wait for someone to come along and make success for you.
Study the success stories and gain market awareness. Draw up marketing plans and analyze them thoroughly. What was successful for someone else may not work for you. In fact, things that worked two years ago may never work again. These are the kinds of things you must learn about. Don't be afraid to try old ideas if they seem viable. Don't be afraid to try new ideas if they seem practical and possible. Somewhere there is the missing magic factor that will complete your equation and it's up to you to find it.
You don't have to be a mathematician to find the X Factor of success. It will help to be astute, assured, and unafraid. Monumental success may never happen even when you seem to be doing all the right things. Not becoming successful will be a pretty sure bet if you don't do anything.
Are you ready to find the X Factor that will fit your equation? Do you have the stamina to pull out all the marketing stops in order to find your X Factor?
Here are a few x-ceptional blogs:
Suze from Analog Breakfast writes some deep stuff although when I last looked it appeared she'd fallen into a deep sleep. Can somebody shake her and wake her?
Jarm del Boccio at Making the Write Connections reflects her eclectic background of travel and history in her writing.
At Geoff's Blogs Geoff Maritz has been teaching us about his home continent of Africa. Some cool stuff from a very cool guy.
