Ten Tips to Get Started Writing Your Book
By Judy Cullins
You are far more likely to successfully write and publish your book if you follow these
tips before you write a single chapter.
1. Write your book's working title. It helps you focus and answer the readers'
questions about the topic. Most non- fiction has subtitles as well. It's better to be
clear than clever, but clever and clear are fine. _Passion At Any Age: Twelve Ways to
Unleash It_, _Self-Promotion for the Creative Person_, _Quadruple your book's Online Sales
in Less Than One Month_.
2. Write your book's thesis. A thesis is a sentence or so stating the audience's main
problem and how your book will solve it. Knowing the thesis before you write the book
keeps you on track. All chapters should support it. The thesis could be "Each of you has
passion and you can unleash it through these twelve steps."
3. Test your book's significance. While most writers fear their book won't sell, it
takes only two significances to write a book, and three for a great seller. Ask yourself,
Is it relevant? Then write it! Does it present useful information? Does it have the
potential to positively affect people's lives? Is it lively, humorous? Does it help answer
important questions? Does it create a deeper understanding of human nature?
4. Pinpoint your target audience, all-important to your book's success. No, not
everyone will want to read your book. How old are your prospective readers? Male? Female?
Are they interested in personal growth, science fiction, mystery, how-to books? What
challenges do they face? Are they business people? What magazines and Web sites do they
like? Are they Internet savvy? What causes do they support?
Once you know them, write a letter and tell them why you are writing your book and what
benefits it will bring them. Dear over-50 reader, "I'm writing Passion At Any Age to help
you live life full throttle - with more abundance, joy, and meaning."
5. Write your reasons for writing this book. Your reader, the media, the television and
radio talk show hosts all want to know why you wrote this book. Be prepared up front, so
you will shine when opportunities come your way. For instance, "I wrote this book because
so many of my clients and students asked me to. They didn't want theory; they wanted
practical how to's to help them live life well. This audience, primarily over 50, wants
and needs practical and spiritual tools to let their passion out.
6. Write down your publishing goals for this book. Do you want to give it away to
members of your family or a particular group? Do you want to sell it? How many copies do
you want to sell your first year? How much money do you want to make each month? What
publishing format will you choose - self publishing, traditional publishing, Print Quality
Needed or Print on Demand, or eBook?
7. Organize the parts of your book. In one file, keep your introduction; in another,
your index or resource section. Include your bibliography and keep a file of all people
you will quote in your book who may give you a testimonial later. Keep each chapter in its
own file labeled correctly so you can find it within minutes. Twenty percent of your
papers are important. Be sure to file them vertically and in order to save you time and
frustration as your book projects grows. Keep computer files also.
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