Most likely you know you’re not going to get rich on a book. Let’s face facts, we can’t all be J.K. Rowling or Eckhart Tolle. But a book does lend credibility to your work and it’s a great way to introduce people to what you do so they will buy your other products and services.
Books are extremely helpful for landing speaking gigs, and they initiate back-of-the-room sales. Your book gives people a way to “take you home with them” after hearing you speak. Your book builds the know, like, and trust factor so people are more willing to buy your other products and services. Book launches are one of the best ways to create buzz for yourself and your business.
If you’re reading this, you have something important to say, something meaningful to share with the world. If you’re asking whether you should write a book or not, it’s probably because you’re hesitant for some reason. Otherwise you’d dive right in and just do it!
- You may be wondering if you have what it takes to write a book. You may see it as a major undertaking.
- You may feel like whatever you write wouldn’t be good enough or compelling enough.
- You may feel like you aren’t a good writer. Maybe you didn’t excel in grammar in school.
- You may not enjoy writing. You’d rather speak or teach.
- You may wonder if you have enough to say.
- You may feel like no one will read your book even if you write it.
- Or maybe you’re stuck on the logistics of how to get it published.
Do It Or Delegate It
If any or all of these are you, just follow these 6 simple steps for writing a non-fiction book. What you can’t do, delegate. It’s as simple as that.
#1 Get the information out of your head in whatever format works best for you.
Even if you aren’t a writer, if you have something worth saying, say it! Here are some possible alternatives to writing:
- Try recording yourself on audio or video.
- Get on the phone with a friend, talk and record it.
- Have someone interview you about your subject.
- Teach a class or give a lecture and record it.
All of these can be transcribed and later massaged into a book.
#2 Once the information’s out of your head, organize it.
Look at other books for how they are organized and use them as a model. In my Create A WOW book program I show my students how to organize their books using several possible formats. You just pick the one you like or create a hybrid of your own. Then follow my chapter structure formula, and rinse and repeat for each chapter. If you’re having trouble organizing your book, this is something I can help you work through on a consulting basis.
#3 Work your outline and flesh it out into a book.
By following your outline, you have a guide for completing your project. Set a goal for yourself. For example, perhaps you’ll work on one subject each day until you get the book done. If you really hate to write, you can give your transcripts to someone and have them ghost write your book for you. (I consider ghost writing books for people on a case by case basis. Never hurts to ask.)
If you’re short on material, this is a good time to get other people to contribute. Ask other people for quotes, stories or resources. In doing so, you automatically have others who will be happy to promote your book when it’s completed. When you’re short on content, think marketing. Think of popular individuals who can contribute content and let their followers know about your book.
#4 Edit It
Go back through your work and edit what you can. Then, whether you consider yourself a good writer or not, it’s always smart to have someone else edit your work. Whether you hand off your manuscript to a group of friends and get a “group edit” or hire a professional editor, you need more eyes on your work. If you’re looking for a good editor, I have a couple I use. Just contact me and I’ll provide names.
#5 Get It Into Book Form
You can design your own book if you have a technical inclination or are a graphic artist. But if you’re going to delegate anywhere, I’d delegate here. Rather than obsess over how you’re going to get your book into print after it’s written, just find a good book designer who submits your work to CreateSpace and Kindle and be done with it. If you are a bit of a do-it-yourselfer, my Simple 5 Step Kindle Creation and Publishing course is a great place to start. If you’d rather delegate all or a portion, contact me; I’ll give you my personal book designer’s contact information.
#6 Market Your Book
Book launches are a great way to build buzz about your book and get people buying. One of the main things I do with clients is help them come up with a compelling way to market their book and structure their book launches. If you’re interested, we could chat for 20 minutes about your book, I’ll give you some ideas to get started.
About Marnie Pehrson Kuhns
Marnie Pehrson Kuhns is a Certified SimplyAlign Practitioner™ who uses music and creativity to mentor you past barriers, fears and doubts to discover, create, align with, and deliver your soul’s song (the mission, message or purpose you are on this earth to live). Marnie is a best-selling author with 31 fiction and nonfiction titles. If you'd like Marnie and her husband Dave to work with you personally on Your Great Reinvention, get a FREE 20-minute strategy session with Marnie here.
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