"All you need is the plan, the road map and the courage to press onto your destination"

Earl Nightingale

One of the best ways to ensure a successful outcome for any big goal is to have it broken down in stages with a detailed step by step action plan. This is particularly important when a project has many moving parts and the lack of a structured approach can potentially add additional and unnecessary time and expense, or in the worst case scenario - a never ending project.

Writing a book presents enough challenges for authors without the added confusion or niggling thought of "what's next". With the best of intentions: "Just write (insert number) of words a day" is a common suggestion or response to the question "How do I write my book", asked by new and aspiring authors.

The problem with this well intended advice is, it does not give you a start, middle or most importantly an end. There are many authors "just writing" (some for 20 years) and still nowhere near "finished". Not quite 20 years, but I was one of them.

Writing a book is a big task and whilst I would never deter anyone from doing so, I do recommend they get an understanding of what is involved before putting pen to paper. Especially as it may change their approach to the task.

Now with all of that being said, I have also learned the lesson of "too much information, too soon". In my eagerness to ensure an enquiring author had all the information - I have them everything, including all the details. They were overwhelmed and stepped back from the project.

Lesson learned. Below is my overview of the journey broken down to four stages. There is a brief overview of what each stage covers and where to focus first.

The Five Stages of the Writing and Publishing Journey

Whilst they may look the same. Every book is as individual as its author and the journey to match.

Planning:

Plan well and you set yourself up for success.

This stage is all about: research and information gathering, both from your perspective of gathering information for your books content and for the process of getting it to print and into your readers hands.

I provide all authors with a questionnaire to complete. This process not only "unpacks" the vision and message of their book, it also provides an overview of what they know and don't know about the process as a whole.

With similarities to a mini business plan, the questions are designed to have the author consider things they may not have been aware of.

Key Objectives of the Planning Stage are:

Research (testing and validating the reader demand of your book)
Quotes and Proposals of Publishing Options and packages (budget)
Understand your own workload versus outsourced work (Timeline Planning)
Unpacking the Books Content Framework

A copy of the Questionnaire can be accessed via the FREE #7DAYBOOK Kickstarter Challenge.

"The first draft of anything is shit" - Earnest Hemingway

Producing:

In this stage, it is all about Content Creation, and there are many ways to achieve this.

Traditionally, it has been to write or type your content. These days it has become the new "norm" to record your book and have it transcribed by an external party.

This is how authors are able to get to their first full draft in as little as a week. The advantage of recording your book is the conversational tone as opposed to the rigidness of the written work (we just seem to overthink it, when we write!).

Whether you write or record your book, the key and secret sauce to making this part of the process easy, is the "unpacking" of the content and framework first. Once you have the outline, and the key points you want to make, getting to first draft becomes a fill-in-the-blanks process.

Other content produced in during this stage would be Authors Bios and press releases.

Publishing

Publishing is the process of preparing the book for print and distribution. This includes the editing and proofreading process.

Once you have the final edited and proofread copy of your manuscript, from here it is to the designers for interior layout and cover design. With the final approved copy of the layout and cover design - it is time to hit Publish.

This whole process can be outsourced to individual freelancers or publishing house to manage as a whole (it all comes down to how much time you have versus money).

Promote

This where the fun really starts. There are many authors who promote their books from the start and for two common reasons.

1. To promote. build a following and pre-launch buzz.
2. Public Accountability

Promotions cover a range of activities from book signings, launch parties and speaking gigs. What you do is all dependent upon what your end objective is.

Where to Start?

1. The very first place to start is to get clear on your books objective - are you writing to share your story, or a book to build your business. How will it fit in amongst the other products and services you have.

2. Understand your timeline and budget. Who will be a part of your Publishing Team, will you outsource?

3. Know yourself, your weaknesses (are you self driven to complete projects or do you need an accountability partner). To understand where you have succeeded and failed with past projects, allows you to work to your strengths and have a plan B, C & D for areas you may falter.

Click on the "chat with me" button to the right of the page and book yourself in for a FREE author's consultation.