Are you author ready?

If you are considering writing a book, to help you to give your business an edge, you need to be well-prepared to ensure your book hits the spot.

What does that mean?

There are a number of key activities that ensure a non-fiction book is successful.

1: Know your marketplace

Who else writes in your genre?  What have you got to say that is different or deeper?  That’s usually your unique take on the subject.  Who publishes that kind of book?  And, most important of all, research how well your kind of book sells (tip: Check Amazon).

2: Get your focus

It’s important to know what your big takeaway is going to be.  When someone has read your book what will their ‘Aha’ be?  Keep that in mind and ensure everything in your book contributes to that.

3: Choose your publishing option

There are so many different publishing options that there will definitely be something for you, but you need to understand the pros and cons of each of these – traditional, hybrid, independent, self-publishing, on Amazon.  And they’re all different and offer different things.  Don’t choose until you understand what you’re getting into – but you do need to have made the decision fairly early in your book development process.

4: Plan the content

Non-fiction books are easier to plan than fiction.  There is a much more defined structure – and that makes them easier to plan.  You need to decide what each chapter is going to be about and what is the most logical order for these subjects.  Then gather the content for each chapter.  If you do this first, you’ll have a skeleton plan to flesh out and writing will be much easier.

5: Create your chapter recipe

Successful books have a structure that each chapter is built around, so creating this will also make the writing process easier.  Think of it like a recipe book, every recipe has the same structure – it helps people to get from the name of the dish (chapter title), through a familiar and easy to follow process (subheadings and types of information).  Best of all, once they’ve done one recipe, they know what to expect with the next one and don’t have to ‘learn’ a new process.

6: Schedule writing sessions

Your diary is your friend!  Make regular appointments with yourself to focus on developing your plan into narrative.  If it’s in your diary, it’s more likely to get done.  Choose times when you are at your creative best, not when you’re tired.

7: Editing & proofreading

Traditional publishers will edit and proofread your book, some hybrid and independent publishers also offer these services, but most don’t.  Never skip editing – your book will be better with a professional editor on your team.  Proofreading is the last thing you need to do before your book goes to print.

8: Publication

The time from when your manuscript is submitted to having your book available for sale varies hugely from publisher to publisher.  Traditional publishers may have a lead time of up to two years, while small independent publishers are much quicker and flexible and may be able to get your book out in less than 3 months.  If you self-publish you’ll need to do everything yourself, so it’s down to you!

9: Launch

Nobody knows your book has been published unless you tell them.  The six weeks prior to publication are your opportunity to build excitement and anticipation among your audience.  A launch day bonus bundle can do a lot to boost sales on your first day.

10: Marketing

Marketing doesn’t stop at the launch.  You’ll need a marketing plan that incorporates a variety of media to keep your book in people’s awareness.

*****

There’s a lot more to producing a book than just writing; the more you understand the more successful your book will be.