We don’t believe in “forcing” anything, so we write under just about any circumstance and in any environment. But, the flow has to be there. Neither of us sits down and says “it’s writing time.” That almost always means, for us anyway, it’s not really writing time! It’s “sitting in frustration time.”
Jonathan & David Bennett – 23 June 2012
The Back Flap
Using cutting edge research in psychology, brain science, and other fields, combined with advanced modeling strategies and personal experience, Be Popular Now is the authoritative handbook of male popularity. Every chapter is entertaining and informative, with concrete examples and practice exercises. Learn how to increase confidence, approach women without fear, become the center of attention anywhere you are (even online), and much more! No matter how unpopular you are, with these secrets, becoming more popular is fun and easy. What are you waiting for? Start reading and be popular now!
About the book
What is the book about?
Be Popular Now: How Any Man Can Become Confident, Attractive and Successful (And Have Fun Doing It) is essentially a male popularity handbook. We give practical tips, grounded in scientific research, for guys to become more popular and attractive. Our tips encompass areas such as dating, making friends, networking, and general success principles.
When did you start writing the book?
We started writing in early 2012.
How long did it take you to write it?
Because we’d put in the hardest work first (two years of research), we were able to write the actual book in about three months. It helped too that we were a team and could bounce ideas off of each other.
Where did you get the idea from?
We both had been popular when we were younger and reached a point in our lives when we wanted to recover that as adults. We actually researched the science behind attraction and discovered some fascinating things. Then, we went out and turned the research into practical tips. It so transformed our own lives, we felt we had to share it with other guys.
Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?
The biggest struggle had to be “translating” some of the more scientific elements into lucid descriptions. Fortunately, we both have backgrounds in education, so we were used to taking difficult concepts and making them more accessible.
What came easily?
Once we’d figured out practical ways to present the tips, the book flowed easily. We really just got “in the zone” so to speak. We’d so internalized the principles that it became pretty easy to write about them.
Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?
We write non-fiction, so we don’t have characters. But, we tell a lot of stories. There’s at least one per chapter. We find they’re helpful in illustrating our tips. Some are about celebrities. But, a good deal of them are from our lives, whether about us or people we know. They include negative and positive examples. When they’re negative, we tend to change the names and details a little. But, if they’re negative stories about ourselves, we own up to them. We want guys to see that even we have screwed up on the path to success. A lot!
We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?
We were both highly influenced by authors who emphasized that anyone can create his or her own reality, people like Lynne McTaggart, Richard Bandler, and Joe Dispenza. Also, Hermann Hesse is a big influence. I think he truly understood human nature on a fundamental level. And, being brutally honest about human nature is essential to being attractive.
Do you have a target reader?
Our target reader is any guy who isn’t as popular as he’d like to be or whose life lacks meaning. This includes men who have dating troubles, aren’t happy at work, and who just feel a spark is missing from their lives.
About Writing
Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?
We don’t believe in “forcing” anything, so we write under just about any circumstance and in any environment. But, the flow has to be there. Neither of us sits down and says “it’s writing time.” That almost always means, for us anyway, it’s not really writing time! It’s “sitting in frustration time.”
Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?
Our model throughout the entire book is pretty standard: story, tips, answering possible objections, and “assignments” to have real world practice with the tips. We have gotten so used to that model that we have no need to outline it formally since it’s in our head.
Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?
We are both sticklers for spelling and grammar. We can’t simply pass an error! But, we do proofread extensively afterwards too.
Did you hire a professional editor?
No. We both have a lot of writing experience from college and we figure, between the two of us, we can get it right.
Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?
Sometimes we do. It has to be driving, uplifting type of music. Popularity is about creating a positive, exciting energy around a person. Music that fits the bill helps get us both in the zone.
About Publishing
Did you submit your work to Agents?
No, we decided beforehand that we’d go the self-publishing route.
What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?
It was a conscious decision. We knew getting published was a long shot and would require us to do most of the promotion anyway (while losing control and getting less money). We figured we’d just do all the promotion ourselves and keep the control.
Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?
We hired a friend who was just starting out in graphic design.
Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?
We have a plan, but are always modifying it as we encounter successes and bumps in the road.
Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?
I’d advise them to get a lot of help along the way. Receive constructive criticism from a variety of sources, hire a graphic designer, enlist formatting and other help from other indie authors, etc. Also, learn to write well. Being creative is pointless if you can’t write in a way that is clear, concise, and accessible.
About You
Where did you grow up?
We are twin brothers who grew up in a small town in Ohio (USA).
Where do you live now?
We both live near the Columbus, Ohio area now.
What would you like readers to know about you?
Our readers should know that, when it comes to the tips in our books, they aren’t just theoretical. They genuinely transformed both our own lives. We used to be our target audience!
What are you working on now?
We’re putting the finishing touches on a popularity book for teens right now. It should be released around June. We have confidence tips for teens of both sexes. We’re marketing it as an anti-bullying book, as well. We hope we can help frustrated teens and their parents.
End of Interview:
For more from Jonathan and David, visit their website.
Guys, get your copy of Be Popular Now from Amazon US (paper or ebook) or Amazon UK (paper or ebook).