Author and Grow Rich - Is it True?

April 3, 2008

I just finished reading Author and Grow Rich by Glenn Dietzel. I bought it because I’ve known for a long time that authoring a book is a great way to build credibility and land future clients.

The book promised to spell out a step-by-step plan for writing a book in only 12 hours. It certainly delivered on that promise. The premise is that you can write a book in 12 hours of writing time not total time.

Getting to the point where a book can be written in half a day is the key. Pre-writing can take months depending on how fast you can commit to getting it done. But, once you have your information squared away, it should only take 12 hours or less to turn notes into a coherent, 100 page book.

The first few chapters “set the stage” for why you should write a book, getting into the “entrepreneurial author” mode and other cheerleading tactics typically used in Internet Marketing books.

The second half of the book dives into the meaty details of Mr. Dietzel’s system. He gives checklists and loads of examples which is good for someone who understands better with simple illustrations.

At the end of each chapter, he plugs one of his client’s success stories—part motivation, part marketing ploy.

One issue that always concerns me is authors who spend an entire book gushing about different programs, books, and DVD courses they have for sale—like one long advertorial. It seemed as if Mr. Dietzel was headed in the same direction in the first few chapters but, fortunately, he stayed the course to deliver good information

It’s a refreshing view of the book writing process in general. He accurately states that it’s much easier to write what you know—from your head—than spending an inordinate amount of time researching topics you have no experience with much less any desire to write about.

Unfortunately, none of the resources he provides in the book are available online. And one resource, pixelfast.com, had a trojan virus. Ouch! In fact, his own Website is incorrect—probably a placeholder that was never corrected when the book went to print. I had to search for the book to find the Website (which is http://www.authorandgrowrich.com NOT http://www.aagr.com).

I hope he fixes these mistakes in future editions because they certainly did put a damper on the experience.

Despite these mistakes, I still highly recommend this book for it’s readability, common sense approach, and believability. Mr. Dietzel does not play into the “get rich quick” or the “so easy a 5 year old could do it” mentality.

I agree that writing an original book, or ebook, establishes credibility and can help you snag clients for your business. It takes time and a deep commitment but it can pay off handsomely in the long run.

Related posts:

1. Jumpstart your Marketing - Write an eBook in a Week
2. Be a Literary Web Designer
3. 10 Types of Nonfiction Freelance Writing

Posted in Book Reviews, Freelance Life