Those of us who are authors over the age of forty often run from the tools that are so readily available at our fingertips – technology! We don’t just run, we often times are pulling on our hair and screaming, “I hate change!” Sorry, but it is time to deal with change by embracing it and making it work for you. First of all, you have to come to grips with the fact that as an author, publisher, and marketer you ARE a self-employed businessperson. In order to make your business grow at the rate you have imagined you must incorporate all the tools you can to achieve those goals.  

Fearing technology is actually a mental block that you have to overcome. Determination has to be your constant companion which causes you to want to know, to learn, and to utilize all that is available. In getting there, you need to come to understand several simple points:

Technology builds on itself. Once you know the basics of one software platform it builds on itself as you move from update to update and from program to program. Just starting is the hardest part of the learning so make up your mind to conquer it, reminding yourself that “Successful people aren’t born that way. They become successful by establishing the habit of doing things unsuccessful people don’t like to do. The successful people don’t always like these things themselves; they just get on and do them.” William Makepeace Thackeray".

1 - Begin with a computer and a word processing program – we recommend Microsoft Word which can also be used for formatting, but that is later down the road. 

2 - Make email your friend and learn how to send group emails. Not only will you be able to send out communications to your readers but, as you learn, you’ll be able to attach documents and hyper-links. It isn’t that hard – it is a matter of learning, determination and commitment.