1. Write for your one preferred audience. Not everyone wants your book. Find out what audience wants/needs your book? What problems does your book solve for them? Create an audience profile and keep your audience's picture in front of you as you write. Ask yourself, is my topic narrow enough? The Chicken Soup For The Teenager, For The Prisoner, and other specific groups sold far more copies than original Chicken Soup.

2. Write a sizzling book title and front cover. You have 4 seconds to hook your potential buyer. The cover itself sells more books than any other part. Bookstore buyers buy mainly by cover designs. Your title must compel your audience to buy. If you want an agent or publisher your title and subtitle are vital.

To begin with, you get their full attention. No distractions. No mind wandering.

That's why it's important to put a nose-twist into your own 'important' business communications.

HERE'S HOW NOSE-TWISTING WORKS You have a brilliant idea for marketing a new product. Now, it needs to be put into writing for consideration by other decision makers.

(Note: I'm not suggesting that only marketing people have this type of writing challenge. Anyone...including you...will one day have to distribute some important information, sell something [perhaps yourself], or encourage adoption of an idea. Effective business writing is an important skill for any successful business person...no matter what career path you've chosen.)

Many people might start out their idea proposal something like this. 'Following is an idea I feel will be effective in helping to market new Axtec product.' Now doesn't that get blood pumping.

Instead of this kind of ho hum opening, try saying something provocative, such as: 'Six months after launch, our new Axtec product could capture a 20% market share by putting into action following promotional idea.'

Or, you could ask a question like, 'What is one feature about new Axtec product that could catapult it above all competition?'

Naturally, you need to have some basis for your claims or questions. You don't want to be caught exaggerating. If people suspect you are trying to con them into reading something, your day on stage is over.