If you’ve got an idea for a book – or several people have planted the idea that you have valuable knowledge that you should share in a book – don’t start writing!
That may sound counterintuitive, but when it comes to non-fiction, you will create a much better book if you do the prep work first.
What comes under ‘prep’?
Purpose, focus, competition, publishing options and structure!
Purpose
- Why you’re writing the book.
- What you want your reader to get from it.
- Why you? What is your spin on the subject?
Focus
- Who is it for? Be as specific as possible.
- What problems can you solve for these people?
- What do they want?
Competition
Know your marketplace.
- Who else has written books in the genre?
- What have you got to say that adds another dimension? (Let’s not reinvent the wheel)
- Which writing styles work best for the reader?
Publishing
- Do you want to publish with a traditional publisher? (You’ll need an agent for that)
- Do you know the different between independent & self-publishing options?
- What will it cost and what do you get for your money?
- What will it cost and what will you need to know to do this successfully?
- Do you know what royalty payments are likely to be?
Structure
- Have you mapped out your chapters by subject?
- Have you created your chapter structure?
- Have you gathered all the information you’ll need to assemble each chapter?
When you’ve done all that – you can start writing!
