Is Writing In A Compilation Book Series Worth The Effort?

Want to build your brand? Write a book.

Want recognition as a subject matter expert? Write a book.

Want to share your knowledge in a way that easily accessed by millions? Write a book.

There are a ton of good reasons to write a book. Yet, the idea might be daunting if you’ve never done it before.

I’m sharing my Ignite Your Life review because I got a lot of questions from friends when I started sharing that I have a book coming out this summer.

Many had thoughts of writing a book themselves. But they were also held back in wondering what what to write about, how to get published, or even how marketing would work. Without the right information it’s easy to get stuck in analysis paralysis… no bueno!

I CONSIDERED A FEW OPTIONS

When I made the decision to add “published author” to my accomplishments this year I knew it was crucial to set the stage for success. Getting caught in the details would lead to failure, so I took an honest look at my options.

OPTION 1: Write a book and self-publish.
I have friends who’ve successfully taken this path. Some were a little beat-up at the end of the process to be honest. Also, nearly all of them invested more money than intended to bring their book to life. Nah.

OPTION 2: Write a killer pitch and secure an agent.
There’s an abundance of advice online for getting a literary agent. Still I feared I’d spend too much time chasing the agent instead of doing what I really wanted to do… write my story. Also nah.

OPTION 3: Apply to participate in a book series.
The publisher would manage every aspect of publishing and promoting the book. They’d also provide a supportive community, a weekly mastermind meeting with fellow authors, and a team of professional editors to help perfect my story. Yes please!

I remembered an inspiring woman in my circle, who I’d met at a conference in Mexico a few years back, who recently launched a publishing house and a compilation book series. The woman was JB Owen.

WHAT IS A COMPILATION BOOK?

JB, dubbed the “Pink Billionaire” is a multi-passionate serial entrepreneur with a number of successful projects under her belt. More importantly, her businesses are impact driven. That spoke to my personal passions as someone who focuses on supporting impact driven businesses.

JB & her husband, Peter Giesin, founded Ignite. Within a year they birthed more than 8 additions to the series which all rose to best-seller status on Amazon and captured hundreds of 5-star reviews.

Each book was focused on a different topic and featured multiple authors sharing their personal story. Thrilled to see that an upcoming book in the series was centered on entrepreneurship, I applied and was excited to get accepted.

In less than 6 months I went from having no clue what it would take to write a book, to writing my own story and accomplishing my goal of becoming a published author (soon-to-be). The book, Ignite The Entrepreneur, will be published in the summer of 2020.

BENEFITS OF WRITING IN A COMPILATION BOOK

Having gone through the process I can say I’m glad I took this path to start my writing journey. Being part of a compilation book series has a number of benefits in comparison to going it alone. Here are the top reasons I’d suggest this path to new authors, plus my Ignite Your Life review.

The Process Is Simple

Ignite makes the process of writing your book as easy as pie. Once you’re accepted you get a portal that contains everything you need for success. You’ll get a calendar of events for your book series, a template to follow when writing your story, access to schedule sessions with your editors, and a database to learn more about other authors.

I simply wrote my story, scheduled a few calls, and uploaded a picture to be included in the book. Because my story was nestled amongst others the writing commitment was less than 4,000 words.

You Get Amazing Support

Every step of the process includes thoughtful support. As an Ignite author I got access to a professional mastermind group, multiple editors, and resources that I didn’t even know I needed. Each week I could participate in inspiring conversations with my fellow authors and get meaningful advice. Those who had tough emotions surface during the journey had access to a professional counselor.

There were weekly workshops to support my personal development beyond writing as well. One week we created vision boards. The next we did a group meditation. Support was abundant at every turn.

You Get To Expand Your Community

There are over 400 authors in the Ignite community. By joining the program you’ll share a common bond. I’ve had 1-on-1 conversations with others from my specific book as well as authors from other books in the series as well. There’s even an active Facebook Group where you can connect with new friends and contacts as well.

If you’re the type who believes that you can learn something new from everyone (which I am) this is a rich community full of go-getters who’ve been successful in both business and life.

It’s A Fixed Investment

Most authors spend $2,000 – $4,000 publishing their book. While it’s a worthwhile investment, there are many factors that can vary and inflate the final price. There’s the cost of editing, printing, designing the cover, marketing & promotion, shipping to buyers, and possibly more. You can manage all those moving parts or invest a one-time fee to cover it all. This simple path was appealing.

I didn’t intend for my first writing effort to be a stream of revenue in my business, so managing the cost this way turned out to be a great decision.

There’s No Time To Procrastinate

Do you know someone who has been writing their book for so long you’ve started to question if it’s ever gonna happen? I’ve know a few through the years. And honestly, I get it. Writing a book on your own means keeping yourself motivated and on schedule. But, life happens. Other things pop up that can take priority over writing, especially if you’re a first time author.

Writing for a compilation book puts you on a tight deadline. You only have so many months to submit your portion of the book or you’ll miss the boat. Having that pressure helps you stay focused and on task.

The Backend Work Is Handled

Beyond the cost of editing, printing, design, marketing, and distribution is the work of actually getting it all done. I didn’t want to spend my hours having conversations with multiple people to organize all that needed to be done. Ignite handled every bit of work on the backend. Instead of stressing about how I’d make sure my book got enough reviews, I could focus on telling my story.

FINAL SUMMARY

At the end of the day, getting your feet wet as an author through a compilation series has many benefits. The process provides an opportunity to incorporate writing into your daily life, learn the ropes of the industry, meet a likeminded community and accomplish something you may have struggled to do alone.

Interested in sharing your story? Have you written in a compilation book series? What was your experience? Let’s chat in the comments below!