In recent past articles, I wrote about "Why Should I Write a Book or Ebook," "What Should I Write About," "Who Is My Ideal Reader?," and "The Cure for a Common Case of Writer's Block." Next in this sequence, I wanted to offer some straight tips about how to write that book or ebook. Or basically how do you download your brain onto the page? This is a common issue I find with new writers; they either don't have the confidence or know-how to tackle the overwhelming idea of writing a book! They have great ideas and they're experts at what they do, but they've never written a book, and they look at it like some kind of scary monster.
Well, I'm here to tell you it's not! It's one of the most liberating feelings I know. To sit down at my computer and let my ideas spill out of my head, through my fingers, and onto the screen is exhilarating. If you follow some simple tips, and schedule the time to do this, your book or ebook could be done in less time than you imagine. Recently I held an interview on putting your ideas into an audio or video format. This could take the place of an ebook or book if you feel more comfortable talking into a recording device or filming yourself talking. Another interview I conducted showed you how to talk your book into a recording device and then have it transcribed. This is one of the quickest ways to get your book out of your head. And another interview I did talked about putting your expertise into the form of a tips booklet which could be anywhere from 12 to 24 pages. Your tips are approximately two sentences long, which I think would be pretty simple for most people to do. These are some of the quickest ways to get your ebook or book done.
Now, if you want to go the traditional route, my recipe is this: get your idea clear in your head as to why you want to write, what you want to write about, and who your ideal target is. Then create an outline/table of contents which takes the reader from where they are at the start of your book, to where you want them to be at the end. For example, if they have a problem that your book is a solution to, remind them of their problem at the start of the book, then take them through the steps to a solution as you share your expertise.
Once you have your outline, it's just a matter of filling in the blanks with existing content you already have, or sitting down and pouring your knowledge onto the pages. Take your website content and past ezines, articles, and blogs and use that to get started. If you set aside two-hour blocks of time as often as you can, you'll see your book quickly taking shape. Once you get over the initial feeling of overwhelm, you'll find your rhythm and you'll produce your book or ebook quickly. You just have to make sure to stay focused and know how to overcome your distractions or challenges. Plan ahead whatever you need-whether it's an accountability partner or a ghostwriter/editor/coach like myself.
I encourage you to create your book or ebook as an info-product for passive profits! Happy writing!
HOMEWORK: Schedule a 2-hour time slot in the next 2 weeks to sit down and create your table of contents. Then send it to your accountability partner. Also, please contact me with "questions" in the subject line if you'd like me to send you my list of questions that are helpful to ask yourself upon venturing forth with your book writing.
Copyright © 2009 Andrea Susan Glass and WritersWay. Andrea Susan Glass, owner of WritersWay, specializes in personal and professional development ghostwriting and copyediting. She helps small business owners and entrepreneurs produce and promote books, e-books, and other info-products to brand their expertise, impact others with wisdom, and build passive income. To sign up for a valuable monthly ezine and to get the free report “Your Info-Product Success System” visit http://www.Info-ProductSuccessSystem.com.
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