If you've read Part 1 of this series and have now decided to move on to Part 2, I'm going to assume that you are now convinced that writing a book is a unique and powerful way to increase your status in the marketplace, as well as your bottom line.
So now it is time to roll up the shirtsleeves and get to work. Ready?
One saying that I particularly like is this: "hard thinking early in a project is better than hard work late in a project."
Here's what I mean: Before we take on the physical task of writing the book, we need to engage in a few mental tasks. Two "mind" activities need to be completed before we can go to the next step.
1. Decide
2. Create a Plan
Task #1 - Decide
Here's what I mean by decide. The first step in writing your own books is to make some choices about what you will write about and for whom you are writing. If you own a guitar store, for example, you could write a book about owning a guitar store. Or you could write about collecting guitars, or the history of guitars, or how to buy a new guitar, or how to repair an old guitar... there are unlimited possibilities.
And the audience for each topic is different also. One appeals only to other guitar store owners. One only to collectors, and so on.
Do you see what we are getting at here? Unless you narrow down your specific topic (the "what"), and the target market (the "for whom") you will end up with an unfocused and wandering book that will most likely never get completed.
Deciding on the specifics brings clarity and order to your thoughts, and to your project. So take a moment right now and clearly state the TOPIC for your book, and the TARGET for your book.
"But," I hear some of you saying, "I don't know which topic to choose!" That's exactly the point of this step. Decide. Go with your gut and pick something. You can always adjust the situation later, but without a decision you can't move on to the next task.
Task #2 - Create a Plan
Okay, so you've decided on your topic and target. Now we begin our planning stage. To do this, we're going to - to borrow a phrase from Stephen Covey - begin with the end in mind.
I want you to think about your topic and target, and visualize what you imagine the final product to be. Will it be a 30 page eBook? A 200-page paperback? A 400-page hardcover book sold at Barnes & Noble?
Will it have color pictures or fancy graphics? Will it come with a companion CD or a workbook? Do you imagine a back cover filled with quotes from famous industry professionals?
Really go deep on this until a clear image appears - and sticks - in your mind. This is the image that will keep you going when things get difficult, and will answer your questions when they come up.
Please take a moment write now to complete this, and get the planned outcome firmly in your mind. When you have that task complete, you are ready for Part 3 of this series.
So now it is time to roll up the shirtsleeves and get to work. Ready?
One saying that I particularly like is this: "hard thinking early in a project is better than hard work late in a project."
Here's what I mean: Before we take on the physical task of writing the book, we need to engage in a few mental tasks. Two "mind" activities need to be completed before we can go to the next step.
1. Decide
2. Create a Plan
Task #1 - Decide
Here's what I mean by decide. The first step in writing your own books is to make some choices about what you will write about and for whom you are writing. If you own a guitar store, for example, you could write a book about owning a guitar store. Or you could write about collecting guitars, or the history of guitars, or how to buy a new guitar, or how to repair an old guitar... there are unlimited possibilities.
And the audience for each topic is different also. One appeals only to other guitar store owners. One only to collectors, and so on.
Do you see what we are getting at here? Unless you narrow down your specific topic (the "what"), and the target market (the "for whom") you will end up with an unfocused and wandering book that will most likely never get completed.
Deciding on the specifics brings clarity and order to your thoughts, and to your project. So take a moment right now and clearly state the TOPIC for your book, and the TARGET for your book.
"But," I hear some of you saying, "I don't know which topic to choose!" That's exactly the point of this step. Decide. Go with your gut and pick something. You can always adjust the situation later, but without a decision you can't move on to the next task.
Task #2 - Create a Plan
Okay, so you've decided on your topic and target. Now we begin our planning stage. To do this, we're going to - to borrow a phrase from Stephen Covey - begin with the end in mind.
I want you to think about your topic and target, and visualize what you imagine the final product to be. Will it be a 30 page eBook? A 200-page paperback? A 400-page hardcover book sold at Barnes & Noble?
Will it have color pictures or fancy graphics? Will it come with a companion CD or a workbook? Do you imagine a back cover filled with quotes from famous industry professionals?
Really go deep on this until a clear image appears - and sticks - in your mind. This is the image that will keep you going when things get difficult, and will answer your questions when they come up.
Please take a moment write now to complete this, and get the planned outcome firmly in your mind. When you have that task complete, you are ready for Part 3 of this series.
What are some things you can do right now to make your writing clearer? Those are exactly the questions I've spent the last 10 years researching, and you can find out the answers by visiting me at http://www.FictionSecrets.com. Enter your first name and email address, and you'll receive set of articles covering this subject.
Kevin Franz is a successful fiction author and online marketer. For more than twenty years he has made his living putting words to paper, and he has helped thousands create their first written works. He is currently showing internet marketers how to incorporate the techniques of great fiction into their online sales efforts.
You can find the details on his blog - http://www.kevinfranz.wordpress.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kevin_Franz
Posts
