How To Author A Book

Do you dream of becoming an author? Experts say over eighty percent of people want to write a book. Why is it so few who accomplish the task? Let's be honest, writing a book can be difficult. In the beginning the task may seem overwhelming, insurmountable and even impossible. But with a little know how and diligence or should I say discipline, you can do it easily. You can accomplish your dream of writing a book, then do it over and over again. The author has completed the process over twelve times at the time of this writing. Here's seven decisions you need to make to discover how to be an author this year.

1. What kind of book do you want to write? Before you get started, decide what kind of book you want to write. Select a genre and category that your book will fit in. For example, will it be non-fiction or fiction. Will you write a memoir, family history book, self-help or religious teaching book? When you do this you can aim sure and hit the mark of a completed book.

2. Who will read your book? After deciding what kind of book you are writing, then you will pinpoint your targeted audience. You know, who will read your book? Your intended audience are the people who are most likely to buy your book. You shouldn't expect everyone will be interested; for they won't. For instance, in one of my classes I was explaining what it means to pinpoint your targeted readers. Not listening, a student and friend of mine said, "I know all women are potential readers/book buyers of mine."

What I would have told her if the class hadn't ended and she had been willing to listen, all women is too broad for a target. Decide what your potential reader is like. Is she an entrepreneur, stay at home mom or career woman? For example, one friend of mine targeted women entrepreneurs with her business book. Another business book author, targeted Christian women entrepreneurs and another set out to reach African-American entrepreneurs. All three aimed well and are selling lots of books.

3. Will you pursue traditional publishing or self publishing? You must decide whether you will pursue traditional publishing of your book or self publish. There are pros and cons of each method. If you decide to shop your manuscript with publishers. You should plan to write a book proposal and query letter before your book is finished. Many experts say, the only way to approach the traditional publishing industry these days is with an agent. As a self publishing expert, there are three paths to self-publishing I recommend. CreateSpace, LSI or one of the print-on-demand companies. Again, there are pros and cons to each option. With CreateSpace and LSI you will need to handle yourself or outsource all the advanced publishing tasks of the process. With one of the print-on-demand companies, they will take care of it all for you but you will not be the owner of the ISBN.

4. How will you structure your book? To gain clarity in your vision of writing a book, you should create an outline, at least a rough draft outline of your book. Then I suggest writing your map or a content outline, a prelimary of your table of contents. It is true, how will you know you have arrived at your destination if you don't have a clear vision of where you are going. Many prefer mind mapping over a linear outline. I suggest trying them both to see which fits better, unless you already know your preference. If you think about it, most of us outline in every day life. We make tons of lists (list outline) and doodles (mind maps)of ideas. Well, at least I do; I suspect you do too.

5. When will you write? If you have a busy life (like most of us do) and still want to write a book, use the cumulative approach. Set a schedule to write and accomplish a little at a time until you are finished. A busy Mom friend of mine, wrote her first book on weekends and little stolen blocks of time. For example, set your writing schedule and goal to write a chapter every weekend. If you are writing a twelve chapter book, in twelve weeks you would be finished.

6. Will you write it yourself or hire a writer? Celebrities and the wealthy are not the only ones hiring ghostwriters these days. If you don't have the time to write a book but still want one, consider hiring a ghost writer to write it for you. The writer could take your professional notes and add research to them; then form it into a book. It would be in the ghostwriters contract that the writer is a writer-for-hire, therefore you can put your name on it. Also, if your talent for speaking is stronger than writing, consider recording your speeches and/or workshops to have them transcribed. Then hire a writer to form it into a book. Of course, there's always the age-old method of setting yourself to task and writing it. With a little focused time, energy and know how, you can do it.

7. Will you do it all alone or will you ask for help? My advice is, don't try to do it alone. There's lots of help all around you. You will discover it the moment your commit and start. Gerald Ford said it best, "The moment you commit, heaven moves on your behalf." Use your talent at the highest level; enlist the help of your family, friends, hired assistant for lower level task like research, editing and proofreading. Most are happy to be a part of the prestigous task of writing a book. Also, consider taking a book writing course or hiring a book coach to guide you through the process.

Don't hesitate any longer. My vote has been cast. I know you can do it. Even better now, you know how to be an author. So, get started today. Make the seven decisions above and write your book with speed and excellence. Your book writing coach sends best wishes for your success as author.