So you’ve weighed the pros and cons and decided it’s time: you’re really going to write your book. Now what?
Even if you write a lot, the idea of writing a "real" book can seem intimidating. By putting your writing into book form, it feels more public and even a little scary. To many people, even publishing an ebook seems "safer" than publishing a book, so they never make the leap into print.
However, publishing a real dead-tree print book gives you a level of credibility that no ebook can match. Being a book author sets you apart and positions you as an authority. Think about it: if you’re reading a magazine, you almost never see bloggers quoted as experts. And you certainly don’t see quotes from ebook authors. You see quotes from published book authors.
Writing and publishing a book isn’t as difficult as you might think. For most people, the really hard part is actually writing something. As a business owner, freelance writer or blogger already, you have an incredible advantage. You write!
Here’s the high-level overview of the steps:
1. Ask your community about their biggest problems.
2. Brainstorm ideas and use a mind map or outline to organize them.
3. Research the competition.
4. Refine your topic and search for content you can "recycle."
5. Define your book’s unique selling proposition.
6. Set aside writing time and establish deadlines.
7. Learn about the book business and decide on a publishing path.
Step 1 is probably the biggest hurdle for many aspiring authors: deciding on a topic for your book. As a business owner, you have customers and maybe even a blog, so you already have a community you can talk to about your ideas. Great books solve problems. Find out what these problems are and you’re halfway there.
Got Questions? Get Answers.
If you are feeling overwhelmed with questions about the process of writing your book or mystified by publishing business issues like ISBNs or discounts, a Book Brainstorm call can help. It’s amazing how much ground we can cover in an hour. One call may be just want you need to get over your "stuck spots" and move forward.
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