Why don’t you write a book?
Most professional people complain it takes too long. They are too busy. One professional coach said she was not a natural writer. Another feared it wouldn’t sell, or it would be too much effort. A professional speaker says she is so busy marketing herself, she doesn’t know where to find the time to write.
These are reasons, but they aren’t real, they are myths. You can write a book–even a lot of books–fast!
Fast depends on you, your intention, and attention that you will give your book
Fast depends on your creating a blueprint of simple step-by-step strategies to write a fast, focused book.
Getting Your Book Written–Myths and Options
1. Takes talent.
Actually, the less writing know how you have, the better. In my innocent beginnings I thought I was a speaker, a trainer, a teacher, a coach. I didn’t think of myself as a writer!
Yet, because my audiences kept asking for information to take home, and from encouragement from other writers, I started writing short books, booklets, and special reports. I didn’t write the end-all-be-all book of 200-400 pages. Instead, I wrote a series of short books, each taking about a month. No more messy (and unprofitable) handouts. I saw a need and filled it.
Because I didn’t know what I didn’t know, I published them myself–just me and my trusty copy shop. I remembered a famous quote from Jim Belasco, management consultant. He said, “Do what you do best, and hire the rest.” I asked several graphics professionals for help–got some quality cover designs.
2. Takes creativity.
Dan Poynter told me many years ago that information can be repackaged for a particular target audience. It doesn’t take creativity, it just takes some editing, rewriting, and adding a few new ideas and resources to please the consumer.
Like myself you can package several books together for back-of room sales. They can provide more than $3,000 a month if you have several titles.
3. Takes time.
Some writers claim it takes 2-10 years to write a quality book, but not necessarily in 14 days. It will take longer if you change your focus, your format, and try to be perfect. That’s why you need to do some market-driven planning before you write your book.
It’s far easier to write a book right then to have to go back and redo it to include benefits in all its parts. Like me, you can write a series of short books, each taking about a month. Just see a need and fill it.
You don’t have to write a 200-page book to be a credible author, and today’s Online audience prefers short books, especially eBooks.
4. Takes writing ability.
If you can talk you can write. Readers want books written by a wise and savvy friend who will guide them gracefully to success. They want passion and natural writing more than perfect syntax.
After you write your book, you can get it edited by a professional, or if you want to save time and money, edit it as you go by using proper headings that state your audience’s problem he wants solved, and following that with a concise answer.
5. Needs an agent or a publisher.
You know what a book could mean to your career, or your life. If you didn’t write a book, you’d miss a lot of fun, you’d miss being a star or on radio/TV talk show with your popular or trade nonfiction book, or you’d miss sharing your unique and important message with others.
All well and good, but how will you get people to look at your book? Maybe an agent or publisher? The sad truth is they will only accept on 1-2% of submitted manuscripts and it takes up to two years to publish the traditional way. They bet on big name authors they know can sell books.
Some authors think that the publishers will market and promote the book. Maybe for a few months, but the author must pay from book sales to take those painful book tours. Publishers let you go after a few months and you are on your own to promote. Instead, start a promotion file of contacts and organizations just as you write that first chapter.
6. The book may not sell well.
Know that if you have a book that shares new, unique and useful information, it has enough significance to sell well. A book is far more salable when you know your particular audience–their habits, fears, complaints, desires and dreams.
Write an audience profile before you write your book, so your book has an angle, and will stand out from the crowd.
Think of the benefits of writing a book to you! Your book expresses who you are. Your clients, associates, and companies who need speakers or coaches need your book. A book ensures a constant stream of clients who consider you a leader in your field. People Online are looking for your topic every day. Whether you market your book offline or Online, people want your solutions, inspirational words, and stories. What follows? A lifelong, constant stream of income.
Ray Bradbury said, “I wrote the first draft of _Fahrenheit 451_ in just nine and a half days.” He also advises us to write short articles or stories. They can become a longer book. A page a day will yield at least two books a year. If Ray Bradbury can write a book fast, so can YOU.
Judy Cullins, 20-year Book and Internet Marketing Coach works with small business people who want to make a difference in people’s lives, build their credibility and clients, and make a consistent life-long income. Author of 10 eBooks including “Write your eBook Fast,” “How to Market your Business on the Internet,” and “Create your Web Site With Marketing Pizzazz,” she offers free help through her 2 monthly ezines, The Book Coach Says…and Business Tip of the Month at http://www.bookcoaching.com/opt-in.shtml and over 145 free articles. Email her at Judy@bookcoaching.com.
