Why Every Author Needs to Be a Beginner (Again and Again)

"Be willing to be a beginner every single morning.” — Meister Eckhart

Sep 07, 2025

Most authors think once their book is published, the “beginner” stage is over. You did the hard part. You wrote it, edited it, maybe even survived launch week. So now what? You promote it the same way, hoping momentum builds.

But here’s the contrarian truth: the moment you stop being a beginner, your book stalls.

The Death of the Know-It-All Author

You’ve seen them—the authors who tell you they “already tried that” or “already know what works.” Their book is on Amazon, gathering dust. They’re clinging to outdated tactics, unwilling to start fresh. And guess what? Readers have already moved on.

Your market changes daily. Your audience wakes up every morning with new distractions. If you’re not approaching your book as a daily experiment, you’re invisible.

Beginners Find the Breakthroughs

When you’re willing to be a beginner:

You test new channels (hello, podcasts, LinkedIn carousels, bulk sales).
You’re not afraid of looking messy while you figure it out.
You listen more than you lecture.
You discover fresh angles that the “experts” overlook.

Beginners stay humble enough to learn. And that’s where the breakthroughs happen.

The Hidden Power of Curiosity

Curiosity beats confidence every time. Confidence says, I already know how this works. Curiosity asks, What if I tried this today?

Curious authors pitch podcasts they’ve never considered, reframe their messaging, and experiment with offers. They don’t wait for the “perfect” strategy. They’re willing to start again every morning.

That’s how you build momentum, not just visibility.

Want More?

Most authors know they should “stay curious,” but they get stuck on what to do next. In the paid section, I’ll give you 3 daily resets and a simple framework you can use right away.

If your book isn’t selling, it’s not the book. It’s the marketing.
Let’s fix that.
If you’re done playing small, click here to brainstorm some simple and practical bookmarketing ideas.

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Paid Section: The Beginner’s Blueprint for Authors

So how do you apply this beginner’s mindset without wasting energy on gimmicks? Here’s a simple blueprint.

1. Daily Reset Rituals

Every morning, ask yourself three questions:

What’s one small action I can take today to put my book in front of a new reader?
What’s something I haven’t tried yet that could be fun, or even uncomfortable?
What did I learn yesterday that I can use today?

These resets stop you from coasting on autopilot.

2. The Mindset Shift: Progress, Not Perfection

Beginners aren’t afraid to be clumsy. You might pitch a podcast and get no response. You might post on LinkedIn and hear crickets. That’s not failure, that’s data.

The shift is simple. Stop asking Did it work? Rather, start asking What did I learn? The authors who learn fastest win.

3. The Beginner’s Framework: Test, Track, Tweak

Think of your marketing as a series of experiments:

Test one new tactic each week (bulk outreach, speaking pitch, LinkedIn video).
Track what happens (responses, engagement, conversions).
Tweak based on result. Double down if it works, adjust or drop if it doesn’t.

This framework keeps you moving forward without spinning your wheels.

Your Book’s Fresh Start

Being a beginner isn’t about lowering your standards. It’s about raising your willingness to keep playing the game.

The authors who win aren’t the ones who mastered everything on launch day. They’re the ones who wake up tomorrow willing to begin again.

👉 Want help putting these beginner experiments into practice for your nonfiction book? That’s exactly what I do inside my programs. Message me and I’ll share the next step that makes sense for your book.