So... You want to write a book? You have a great idea and want to put it into words. Before you do that, there are some things you need to take into consideration to make sure your book – and you as an author – are ready for the Digital Age.

1. Define what your demographic is. Everyone is not your demographic reader, and you need to understand for whom you're writing in order to reach them.

2. What is your purpose for writing this book? Will you offer any value or entertainment to the reader?

3. Where does you target reader go for information? Do they take the traditional path through brick and mortar or through an app? The more you understand them, the easier it'll be for you to connect with them.

4. Why should your reader care about your story? So many books are published every year. What makes yours so unique that a reader should reach for it?

5. Why are you the writer? What makes you qualified to write this project?

Answering these questions will help you understand what value your book will have on the market and how to deliver this value to your readers. Once you've done that – and once the book is ready – you can begin to reach out and speak directly to your audience, be it via social media, your website, or your blog. How to do it? Debbie Elicksen explains in more detail in Publishing & Marketing in the Digital Age.

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