STEPS TO WRITING YOUR BOOK!

1. Establish the WORKING TITLE.
In one sentence, write down what your book will be about. Set that aside and allow your brain to stew on your main title and a subtitle. Whenever you have a thought about the title, write it down on that document. Make sure this is clear: you need to know were begin, where to end and WHAT TO LEAVE OUT.

2. Brainstorm CHAPTER TITLES.
In 30 - 60 minutes write down every possible chapter title and subject heading that pops into your mind that has anything at all to do with your book. Try to come up with 60 to 90 possible chapter titles.

3. Choose the BEST TWELVE chapter titles that most directly connect to your working title.
 As you pick out your top twelve, you will notice many from your original list will make excellent sub-chapters under your top twelve. Some will need to be scrapped all together, because they don't really support your working title.

4. Make TWELVE NEW FOLDERS, one for each chapter.
 Label each folder with the name of each chapter.

5. Create THREE SUB-TITLES for each chapter and make a separate folder for each sub-title.
 Make sure each sub-title is somewhat detailed so you will remember what you were going to write about.

6. Take a smaller piece of paper or NOTE CARD write every chapter title and abbreviated sub-titles.
 Go to your local office supply store or wherever and laminate the note card. Keep the card with you at all times while you are writing your book. Read over your chapter titles several times a day. If you do this, you will train your brain to be on the look-out for great book material 24/7. (If I were you, I would laminate a dozen copies and give them to close friends and family members. Allow their brains to be on the watch as well.)


7. For the next several weeks or months BE READY for articles, news stories and illustrations to come your way.
 The reticular activator in your brain will notice material for your book you would not have even seen if you weren't ready for it. As you come across the book material, place it in the appropriate file.

8. BEFORE you start collecting information write the introduction and conclusion to your book.
Great writers know were to BEGIN, where to END and what to LEAVE OUT.
9. You will eventually reach a point you feel you have enough material. Before you begin putting it all together in one big manuscript, decide WHO YOUR AUDIENCE IS.
 And by audience, I mean one person. Make a brief description of the one person you are writing this giant letter to. The more detailed you make the description of this person, the easier it will be for your to write. As you write, picture that person sitting across from you and communicate to them in their language about what would matter to them.

10. The only thing you will need from this point is TIME. You should have all of material you will need.


If you need help, send me a note: randyallsbury@gmail.com

More Reasons You Should Write Your Book!

Beyond adding your unique perspective to the world of publishing, there are countless other reasons why you should write a book:

• It forces you to think in a much deeper context. If a book is nothing more than a bunch of articles or Blog posts, it's not really a book... it's a compilation. The true act of sitting down, structuring and framing a complete book is a much deeper thought process.
• It will give your business more clarity. That deep context from the last point leads into clarity. All of the research, writing and mind exploring usually gives you a perspective on your industry that your peers have never spent the time trying to explore and define.
• It establishes you as a credible authority. Clients and potential clients still feel that the act of writing a book and getting it formally published is an act of credibility. I, too, believe that people who have published works have more credibility in the marketplace.
• It's a great business card. It's a great thank you card.
• It doesn't have to be physical. Even self-publishing an ebook can be enough, just be sure to get a good editor or someone to help you find the right flow and structure.
• It gets you exposure in places you may have never had access to. I can't tell you how many times a week I get an email from someone who picked up my book and read it because they discovered it in an airport bookstore or at a shop in the mall. These are places where my Blog and the marketing materials of Twist Image can never reach.
• Strategic by-products happen all of the time. Someone sees the book and thinks to call me about something else and this turns into a business opportunity that would have never happened had it not been for the book being present in people's lives.
• Crap is crap. None of this matters if you publish something poorly. I'm assuming it's not just your perspective, but a well-written and well-thought-out personal perspective.

          ---From Mitch Joel

It's In You. Let It Out. Write Your Book!

Have you always wanted to write a book? Have you always considered yourself an expert in a specific area of your profession? These are two ingredients you need to stand out and become THE expert people trust.

Write your book to establish yourself as the expert.

Teach freely to gain the trust and respect of people.

In a recent Seth Godin blog post, he asked “How do they know you're not a flake?” In his post he pointed out what goes through the mind of people before they open your letter, click your link, return your call…

 

Here they are:

• Do I know this person?
• Did someone I trust send them over?
• Where does she work? (Ideo? the FDA? The New York Times?)
• Has she won an award? Is she famous?
• Are there typos and is the design sloppy?
• Are they pestering me?
• Do I already follow this person online?
• Does music play when I visit the website?
• Will my boss be pleased when I bring this project up?
• Who else is pointing to/referencing/working with this person?
• Is it too good to be true?

 

What if this person knows you wrote a book about the topic you are contacting them about?

 

Get it done. Narrow your focus and write your book.

 

The next time you speak to a group, you can be the person selling books at the back of the room.

 

If you don’t have time, click HERE. We help people like you. If you have questions about how we get your book from your mind onto paper, click HERE.