From
Idea to Book:
Writing, self-publishing and print-on-demand… for your book
Joanna Penn
Free Workbook at:
http://www.HowToBeAnAuthor.com
Title: From Idea to Book: Writing, self-publishing, and print-on-demand…for your book.
Author: Joanna Penn
Edition: First Edition
Publisher: The Creative Penn
Copyright © The Creative Penn, 2009. All rights reserved.
http://www.TheCreativePenn.com
If you wish to adapt these materials or wish to hire Joanna Penn to speak about this material, then please contact us at: joanna@TheCreativePenn.com.
No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical or electronic, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Legal Notice:
While all attempts have been made to verify information provided in this book, the Author assumes no responsibility for errors, omissions, or contrary interpretation of the subject matter herein. This publication is not intended for use as a source of legal, business, marketing or accounting advice.
The Author assumes no responsibility or liability whatsoever on the behalf of any Purchaser or Reader of these materials. Any perceived slights of specific people or organisations are unintentional.
Contents
Introduction
How to read this book
Part 1: First Principles
1. Honour your dreams...and fulfil them
2. Why do you want to write a book?
3. What has stopped you from writing a book so far?
4. The psychology of writing
5. Tools to help you along the way
6. Writing is a journey but a book is a goal
7. Start now!
Part 2: The Process of Writing
8. From Idea to Book: An overview of the process
9. What should I write about?
10. What if there is already a book on the subject?
11. Where do I find the inspiration to write?
12. What if I am ‘blocked’?
13. When will I write? I’m so busy
14. How do I actually get on with writing?
15. I don’t like writing. Can I just dictate my book?
16. What about a title?
17. How do I structure my book?
18. How do I research my book?
19. Protect your words
20. What does editing involve?
21. The importance of rewriting and editing
22. What is proof-reading and who will do it for me?
23. How can I get a professional editor, copywriter, proofreader or formatter?
24. What is a manuscript assessment and why would I get one?
25. What is copyright and how does it apply to me?
26. What is plagiarism and how do I avoid it?
27. How long does it take to write a book?
28. How do I know when I am finished?
Part 3: Publishing, Self-publishing and Print-on-Demand
29. Why should I publish my book?
30. When should I think about publishing options?
31. What are the benefits and issues of ‘traditional’ publishing?
32. What is self-publishing? What are the pros and cons?
33. What is print-on-demand and how do I do it?
34. What is a vanity press? How is it different from self-publishing?
35. What are some tips on book cover design?
36. What about page layout/typesetting?
37. What is an ISBN and how do I get one?
38. What is an ebook and why should I have one?
39. How do I get my book on the Amazon Kindle and the iPhone?
40. I still want a traditional publisher:
* Do I need an agent and how do I get one?
* What is the slush pile and why don’t I want to be in it?
* What should go into a query letter to an agent/publisher?
* What does a submission letter to an agent or publisher include?
* What about rejections?
You have finished! Is it all worth it?
Next Steps
About Joanna Penn
About The Creative Penn
Bibliography
Introduction
81%
of people want to write a book.
The difference between you and
everyone else is.... you are actually going to write one!
Writing is a form of time travel, of connection to the reader through time and space. You lay out your thoughts and ideas in words which leap into other people’s brains and create new ideas and new thoughts.
Writing a book is truly a creative process. It is alchemy. You create something from nothing. What was in your head becomes a book in the physical world. It has become reality. That is magic and that is why we write. It is to communicate what we love, or care about, to entertain, to engage, or to enlighten our audience.
Writing is a tool for understanding yourself, for connecting with your unconscious, and expression. It does not have to have an end point. But if you truly want to write a book, then the finished product represents your thoughts and words at a point in time. It is a physical representation of a goal fulfilled.
“Thoughts become things. If you see it in your mind, you will hold it in your hand.”
Rhonda Byrne, “The Secret”
You can write to share your own life experience. Your words can touch people’s lives. Through writing you can also heal yourself and others. You can reveal your mind behind the scenes.
This book is aimed at helping you move from your initial idea or concepts to the reality of your finished book. Look at this book as a starting point, a springboard to catapult you into the writing process. At the beginning, everyone needs some encouragement and help.
You can achieve your dreams.
My dream was always to be a published author and to hold my book in my hands, to see my name on the front of the book.
It took me 9 months to write and self-publish my first book, “How to Enjoy Your Job”. It then took me another year to learn about marketing and promotion which is just as important as the writing. I wanted to put down all my thoughts before I forgot what it felt like. I went through roller-coaster emotions, a huge learning curve and accomplished a lifelong dream of having my own book finally in print.
We all learn from experience. I have made so many mistakes and learned so much from the process that I wanted to share it with you so you don’t make the same ones I did.
This book contains everything I have learned along the way, and will help you to go from that brilliant idea you’d like to share with others to holding your own completed book in your hands. Think of this book as tracks in the snow which will make it easier for you to follow a path to success.
One of the other key reasons why I wrote this book was because of the great number of people who desperately want to write but don’t. Through reading this book I am showing you that you can do it too, and with a lot less headaches and heartaches than I went through along the way.
Writing “How to Enjoy Your Job” included many of the feelings I had about working in an office environment, that I had kept bottled up inside me for 12 years. Writing that was cathartic and it also radically changed the way I worked. During the time it took to write this book, I cut my hours, took a less stressful role and “opted out” of that career path. Through that office position I had a means for income, but it was not where my soul was satisfied, and now that doesn’t matter because my soul is content in writing and in expression. It became a self-fulfilling prophecy that I suddenly found myself enjoying my job when I was there, and enjoying my life when I got home. You write what you need the most and I needed to enjoy my job.
“Writing
is magic, as much the water of life as any other creative art.
The
water is free. So drink. Drink and be filled up.”
Stephen King, “On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft”
Decide on your goal and then pursue it until it is complete. If you do this, you will succeed.
Take control of your own destiny. Maybe the first book you write will be just for practice. Maybe it won’t be a bestseller, maybe you won’t be able to retire on the proceeds, but maybe it will be a success. Or maybe you need to get the first piece of prose out of your system so your second book can be successful.
If you don’t get writing you will never know.
Don’t think too much about the process itself – just start writing! Decide what you can do, not what others think you can do. Take off the mental shackles that are holding you back and let your mind run free. Be open to possibilities! If you don’t write your book, you will have missed a life goal and you may live with regret.
This book is about how to go beyond being a writer to become an author. It will guide you from holding a pile of papers and notes, to holding your own completed book in your hands.
How to Read this book
This book is designed so you can read any section as a stand-alone piece. After all, there may be questions that you might want to know the answers to right now! You can also read it cover to cover as a coherent journey through the process. The choice is up to you.
It is a mixture of practical help and advice, as well as inspiration from people I have interviewed. There are quotes as well as practical strategies and tips, plus hyperlinks to internet sites you might find useful. Put your mouse over the blue words to follow the links.
I have included information on traditional publishing and marketing. I am a self-published author so the material is orientated towards what you can achieve yourself. There is a follow on ebook, “From Book to Market” which focuses on sales, marketing and promotion. There are recommendations for other books in the bibliography.
For more information, including articles, audio interviews, videos and resource links concerning this book, please visit http://www.TheCreativePenn.com
There is also a workbook available at http://www.HowToBeAnAuthor.com
You can post comments, questions or suggest topics at the website as well. There is a list of places to contact me at the end of the book. I appreciate your questions, feedback and stories!
Happy writing!
Part 1: First Principles
1. Honour your dreams… and fulfil them
Many people who want to write have always had dreams of becoming an author. They may have always loved books, bookshops and idolized authors. If your dream is to write, then do it to honor yourself, your story and your dreams. It is an achievable dream!
“If
we all did the things we are capable of doing,
we would literally
astound ourselves.”
Thomas A. Edison
Inspiring people can teach us lessons about life and Randy Pausch is someone who inspired me to follow my lifetime dream of becoming an author.
Randy loved teaching and used his “Last Lecture” at work to change people’s lives. He saw the potential in people, and believed they could achieve far more than they themselves believed. You can achieve far more than you think you are capable of.
Randy died in July 2008 at 47 of pancreatic cancer. But he died having spent his last months living a huge life. Through his “Last Lecture” which went on to become a book, he touched millions of lives. He wanted to leave a message for his children, but he also inspired the rest of us to honor our childhood dreams. You can watch it at http://www.TheLastLecture.com
If writing a book is your dream, then it’s time to start living it.
You are still alive, and every day you can get one step closer to achieving what you want in life.
Do you want to get to the end of your life with regrets on what you didn’t do with your life? The time is now. The place is now. Make this the time to write your book. The only thing limiting you is you.
2. Why do you want to write a book?
“Know thyself” is the inscription over the door at the Oracle of Delphi in Greece. Before you approach the blank page, know why you are doing this.
Here are some reasons for writing a book. Which apply to you?
Dream/Goal: It is a dream and a life goal of mine to be an author.
Change lives. I want to make a difference. I want to contribute and have an impact on people’s lives.
Legacy. I want to be immortal, to have my thoughts in print; to be bigger than just my life.
Money. I want to create another stream of income.
Career change. I want to live the life of an author, working from home, travelling to book fairs and conferences.
Fame and prestige. I want to be a famous author and win prizes for my books. I want to be respected for my writing.
Story. I have a message/ story that I need to tell the world about.
Family. I want to write down my thoughts and stories for my family
Need to write. I have a burning need to write. I have reams of my writing, but it hasn’t been put into book form yet.
Therapy. I want to write for my own therapy and to help others with the same problem
Grow business. I want to be seen as the expert on my topic. Having a book will help me grow my business/career.
Knowing why you are writing and what you want people to feel is crucial and will sustain you through the difficult times. It will keep you focused on the end result.
Robyn Freedman Spizman, in “Author 101: Non Fiction writing” suggests writing a Dear Reader letter. This outlines what the reader will gain from the book, why you are writing it and what you promise to deliver. If you can write this letter then you have justified your book.
3. What has stopped you writing a book so far?
So, why haven’t you written a book yet? Here are some common reasons:
Which of the following do you agree with?
* I am not ’an author.’ I am not ’creative’ . The book won’t be any good. People will criticize me and I will feel worthless. No-one wants to hear what I think.
* I won’t be able to write prize-winning fiction. I won’t make any money or become famous, so what is the point?
* I don’t have the time or the energy to write. It seems like a lot of hard work. What if I have to work every night and every weekend for months or even years to write this book? Will it be worth the sacrifice?
* I don’t know how to do it or how to even start.
* I don’t know what to write about. There are already enough books on the topic I want to write about.
* I don’t have a writing qualification or degree.
* I don’t know how to get published.
* I don’t want people to know that my mind is really like this. If I write it down, they will see the real me and that is scary.
* I’m afraid of failing, of looking stupid. I’m afraid of rejection. What if people don’t like my book? How will I cope with rejection?
* I don’t want the attention. I don’t want to market my book. I just want to live a quiet life.
These are all common fears and concerns before writing your book, but it’s time to stop thinking that you have to be an expert or a professional to write your thoughts.
Your book is your opinion. If it helps people or touches people, then your words will have been validated. If you are determined to write a book, then you need to overcome these constraints and start the process. This book will give you the knowledge, tools and inspiration to overcome each of these blocks.
4. The psychology of writing
Writing a book is hard work, and can often be a roller-coaster of emotion. Even if you are certain of your final goal, you can still become disheartened or affected by other people’s opinion. This section details some of the psychology around writing and will prepare you for what is to come. What you feel is normal and all writers go through this!
“Your
kryptonite is in your mind.”
Gene Landrum, author of “The Superman Syndrome”
Your own feelings
These are some of the feelings you can expect to feel during the process of thinking about writing, as well as throughout the process:
Passion and excitement. Let’s start with the best one! You are fulfilling your dream, you are writing your book! You are excited and passionate about your topic. You are bowled over with ideas, and brimming with plans and getting down to writing is easy! These feelings should sustain you at the beginning and your continued enthusiasm for your goal can keep you going.
But it is not all rosy – so you need to be aware of some other common feelings so you don’t stop just because you encounter them.
Scared. You might also be scared of what people might think, of criticism of your work and your thoughts. You might also be scared of failing; either failing to finish the book, or not being published or successful.
Embarassed. You may feel silly or embarrassed about saying you are writing a book. It is considered a grand ambition that few achieve, so people look at you differently.
Self-doubt. Other people may criticize you and you can cope with that. But your own voice can paralyse. It’s the voice inside you that says, “I am not creative, I am not an author.” It’s the ‘you’ that reads your unedited work and despairs at how bad it is, who hides it away from other people’s eyes, who says, “How dare you think you are a writer?”
Frustration. This is a common emotion whilst writing. When you can’t seem to get the draft right; when you want to say something and can’t find the right words; when you can’t bear to read that section again, but you know it’s not good enough yet. You may also have expectations about how fast you can write and get published, as well as the quality of your work and how much money you can make. The reality is sometimes different. Getting a book from idea to the finished page can take longer than you think.
Exhaustion. You will also feel tired and over it at times. You will think that you have better things to do with your time. There will be concerns from your family that you are not relaxing, that you spend too much time on the computer. You are missing social life, TV, playtime with the kids, quality time with your partner. You get up early, go to bed late and you are tired.
All
of these are common, and all will pass in waves. We all feel this
way, and it lessens with time. Understand that you will feel this
way, let it happen and try to stay on the ride!
“I used to have those [self doubt] thoughts, but I just tried to block them out. Remember that anyone, really, can become an author.
It really is about having the belief in yourself that you’re worthy and you’re capable and that you can become an author”.
Kylie Welsh, author of “Impertinent Women”
Other peoples’ reactions
At
the beginning you might not tell anyone you are writing for fear of
what they think or might say – after all, lots of people talk
about writing a book, but few actually finish one.
Eventually you will tell people you are writing a book.
Everyone will have an opinion. People’s reactions are varied
and based on their opinion of the literary hierarchy. There is a
great deal of snobbery in the publishing world. It is a bit like
being asked which school you went to, or what job do you do. They
will expect you to be published by a well-known publisher and have
your books in the local Borders. Most people do not know there is
more to the publishing industry than this!
When you tell people you are writing a book, the comments are usually a mixed bag. In my experience there was a combination of criticism and praise.
Initially, there was criticism, negativity and judgment – or at least that is what it felt like to me. However, this is often perception, not reality. It is also directly related to the editing process. Some of the criticism I got at the beginning of the project was justified based on the quality of the writing and the ease of reading. I gave the manuscript to proof-readers too early on. I should have waited until after the first professional edit. However, the criticism started to die off as the editing process continued as I proved I was actually going to achieve my goal. I started to tell more people once the book was almost finished and the praise started to come in. The criticism also dies away (unless you have a controversial book); or perhaps you just feel it less.
Being over-sensitive to criticism is common with your first book. It is very close to your heart, a piece of your mind and your thoughts on the page. Criticism of your writing can feel like rejection of you as a person.
This is also related to your confidence as you may often start out sounding apologetic about writing a book, but your confidence level increases over time and you become proud of what you have done.
You will put a great deal of yourself into your book. Even if it is non-fiction, you will find it an expression of who you are. After all, what you choose to write about reflects on the person you are. People will judge you by the material (but then they may judge you anyway!) so you will have to learn to deflect any negative comments or unwarranted criticism early on in your writing career.
Sometimes people’s comments may hurt. You expect your partner or your family to be infinitely supportive, but sometimes they just don’t get it. You may also surprise them by what you write.
My Dad and my brother found it “surprising” that I wrote a self-help book. They were expecting fiction. I was upset because they didn’t know me well enough, but this was my own interpretation of the situation.
The problem is worse when you have written only one book. It is your sole expression of yourself in book form. It is the only thing for people to judge you on. Once you have written more books you can start to relax as there are different facets of you on show. An offshoot of this is that your confidence will also grow – you are now an author!
You must decide what is important to you – other people’s comments, or your dream.
“Writing
is a bit like going on a diet;
you should either tell everyone or
no one.”
Maeve Binchy, ‘The Maeve Binchy Writers’ Club’
Persistence and discipline
You will falter. People will criticize and comment. So you need persistence and discipline to continue through and write your book.
Persistence is especially important in the editing process as there are many iterations in writing.
As well as persistence, you also need the discipline to write. You may have thousands of ideas every day, but you need the discipline to work them through if you actually want to create a book. If you don’t have discipline, you will give up the idea when it is just a bundle of thoughts. Or you will give up after the first draft is criticised by your partner or your friends. Or you will give up after the 10th rewrite. Or you will give up when nobody wants to publish it. There are brick walls along the way, but persist and you will make it.
“Brick
walls are there for a reason.
They give us a chance to show how
badly we want something.”
Randy Pausch, ‘The Last Lecture’
Great writers have persistence and discipline. For example, Bryce Courtenay writes a book every year in 7 months and puts in 12 hour days of writing and research to do so. He is also a fitness fanatic having run 39 marathons and 12 ultra-marathons and exercises for at least an hour and a half daily. His book “The Power of One” has sold 7.5 million books worldwide.
Persistence
and discipline manifest themselves in “bum glue”. This
saying has been attributed to many people, Bryce Courtenay and
Stephen King included. If your ‘bum’ is ‘glued’
to your chair,, you have a much higher chance of actually writing
something than if you are off wandering around wondering how you’ll
ever get your book finished.
So you need persistence to stay
the course. Your desire to be an author has to outweigh any
sacrifices needed to achieve that goal. Your book will not
miraculously appear completely finished and intact. You need to keep
focused on the end result at all times through the process of
writing. Studies have shown that it takes 10,000 hours of practice
before you master an art. Writing is no different. No one starts out
being a master of the craft, so you need to put in the time. I can
tell you that the second book is easier than the first!
“Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work.”
Stephen King, ‘On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft’
5. Tools to help you along the way
Here are some of the tools and techniques I used to smash through this brick wall and get on with my writing.
You have permission to write
I hereby give you permission to write a book.
Maybe you don’t need that permission and you are off writing madly already. If so, brilliant - simply skip this section.
But many people need permission to start writing or at least permission to actually consider writing a book. Maybe you are one of them?
Perhaps you have been told that you are not good enough, or perhaps you believe you should only write a book if you have completed a Masters in Creative Writing. You may believe your work will be a disappointment unless you write prize winning fiction novel.
You might need permission if you have no formal education and you think your words might not be good enough for the literary world. Maybe you are at the other end of the spectrum where you are over educated, but you want to write popular romance books and that doesn’t fit with what people think you are. Maybe you have always wanted to write, but don’t think you could get published.
Permission to be creative is a delicate subject for those who may feel stunted in comparison to great writers whose works we read and compare ourselves to. But you need to see your work as valid in itself.
Your writing is your opinion. If it helps others, then that’s great.
“Do you need someone to make you a paper badge with the word “Writer” on it before you can believe you are one? God, I hope not.”
Stephen King, ‘On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft’
Acknowledge what you have already achieved in your writing.
You might think “I have never written anything,” but just think about that statement more carefully. What about...
* Your journals from the last 10 years?
* The technical / business writing you do at work?
* The notes you have made for your big novel?
* The poetry you have hidden at the bottom of your desk drawer?
* The letters/emails you have written from your travels describing your experiences?
* The stories you make up for your children?
* The training material you have written for courses?
* The essays you wrote at school?
What else have you written in your life?
Write
a list of your writing experiences and realize how experienced you
are already. You’ve made a great start!
Use positive self-talk and affirmations.
Affirmations are positive statements that reinforce your beliefs. Take a blank sheet of paper and write down the 4 most powerful statements you believe will help you to achieve your goal. Make them as short as possible. Some of your affirmation statements could be:
When I decided I was going to write a book, I felt that I couldn’t claim the words “author” or “creative” and apply them to myself. How could I dare to claim say that I am an author? Perhaps you feel the same way. Well, it’s time to claim these words for yourself!
Self-belief
is an important aspect of developing the right mindset to achieve
success in writing. Adopting a ‘can do’ attitude will
ensure that you complete your book.
“If you think you can or if you think you can’t, you’re right.”
Henry Ford
Your language and your self-talk will shape your world. Your thoughts can be a trap that keeps your mind imprisoned. You need to believe in yourself and talk yourself into it. Start referring to yourself as an author and it will happen.
You can see the inner critic as useful feedback, but do not listen to all of what it may say. Listen to it, write it all down and use it to improve your work. Whichever way you listen to your inner critic, learn to dismiss thoughts of self-doubt or self-worth as they will not serve you well in the writing process.
Start
saying what you will become.
The more you speak
your future, the more it will be real for you. Try saying these words
out loud:
* I am creative.
* I am an author.
* I create books that people love to read.
* I am a wealthy author.
* I love my life as an author.
* I am a best-selling author.
* I will achieve my desire to write a book.
* I will get through this process easily and without stress.
* I have everything I need at my disposal to be a success.
* My words are worthy of being in print.
How does saying these words make you feel?
Do you want to achieve these things? Do you feel wrong saying them because you are not there yet? Don’t worry, this is common too! It is called “incongruency”, where your words do not fit your actions. But this is powerful as your brain wants to be in a congruent state where your words fit your actions. By saying these affirmations, you will give your brain the direction it needs to start working towards it.
When I first started saying these words, they sounded ridiculous, but over time I actually realized that those words applied to me.
Decide on the words you want to use and then repeat these words daily so over time they become your reality.
Keep your affirmations brief so you can say them easily and remember them. You could also carry them with you on a small card in your wallet, or written in a diary. Use the present tense and add emotion into them. Make them specific and positive so you are moving towards something that when you achieve it you will know it has happened.
“Think
positive thoughts intensely.
Grow enthusiastic images, boldly.
Speak only wonderful words to yourself, constantly.
Feel
fantastic, now!”
Mark Victor Hansen & Robert Allen, “The One Minute Millionaire”
Make a Vision Board
Vision Boards are visual affirmations that help you visualize success. They are big posters that you stick pictures on with what you want to achieve.
What is your vision for your book?
You can make a vision board easily by cutting pictures from magazines or printing them from the internet. Stick them on a piece of card and put them where you can see them. You can also make them as a movie using Windows Moviemaker and save them on your desktop.
With a bit of computing skill you can have very lifelike pictures. I have put my books on Oprah’s Book Club and stuck it on my wall. I also have book sales figures, media appearances and a speaking gig at the Hay on Wye festival in England. Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen had their book showing as #1 on the NY Times Bestseller list on their wall 18 months before they made it there with their first “Chicken Soup for the Soul” Book.
Act as if you are what you want to be.
If you want to be an author, put “author” on your business cards. I did this for a networking event. The first month I was petrified everyone would find out I wasn’t published yet. I had to stand up and say, “I’m an author” in my introduction. Scary stuff! Of course, people will ask you what you do for money as well, but you have to start somewhere! People were actually really interested. I told them my publication date was a few months away. Many of them also wanted to write books.
If you act ‘as if,’ people treat you as if you already are, and soon you can be that person. You can grow into it. Fake it until you make it. It’s not lying, it’s just starting early!
If it helps, you can even try dressing differently. I wear bright, recycled sari skirts and jewelry when I am an author. I wear predominantly black, with no makeup or jewelry when I am at my day job as a business consultant. They are different personas – both important facets of me.
Get some support for your goal
Everyone needs support. Here are some ideas:
* Surround yourself with enthusiastic friends who don’t judge your ambition
* Get a mentor who can keep you focused and writing
* Find a writing group near you and go regularly
* Find a writing group or forum online with similar interests
* Ask a member of your family who you trust to be your support. Sometimes it is not who you think!
* Remember you are not alone. There are many writers in the world you can connect with, you just need to find them.
Take a break sometimes. Clear your head.
When you reach that breaking point and you just don’t want to write anymore, get away from your desk. Leave your writing alone and do something completely different. Take your latest copy and put it in a drawer or an envelope. Open it up again when you are ready to look at it with fresh eyes. This will help your sanity and also you will see what needs changing more easily. When you are too close to your material, your vision can become clouded and it can all become too much.
Life is short and sometimes you need to live for the moment! Take time out and go lie in the hammock in the sun.
Finally, learn from Picasso
These are some valuable lessons learnt at a Picasso exhibition at the Brisbane Modern Art Gallery. Although these are focused on the world of art appreciation, not writing, the lessons are the same. It was an exhibition of lesser known drawings, prints and some of his personal collection of paintings as well as photos of him in his various studios. Here are some startling revelations I discovered while touring this exhibition that helped and encouraged me in my writing:
You don’t have to be perfect. Not everything Picasso did was a masterpiece. There were sketches and doodles displayed that he could have dashed off in no time at all when he was clearly just playing with ideas. Authors should be more like this. Don’t expect everything you write to be a masterpiece the first time your put your thoughts on that blank page. Play…try things out…ask your friends…relax…and in time one of the things you do will be a masterpiece.
Be authentic. Many of the pieces Picasso collected were from friends or by friends, people he admired, phases he went through. Each tells of something he saw in them that wasn’t necessarily obvious. Some of the pieces are rough and basic - some of great artistic importance. He just collected what he liked. The sketches were of real people, with bulbous noses or protruding stomachs, naked people with no airbrushing. All of these images are authentic. Stop trying to be what others want you to be. Stop trying to like what you think others want you to like. Just be authentic. Get to know yourself and investigate the original you.
Don’t put yourself in a box. You can wear as many hats as you like. Don’t constrain what talents you have. Did you know that Picasso also wrote poetry? He was not just a visual artist, but expressed himself in many ways. You don’t have to define yourself by one idea or talent. You can add “writer” to your list of adjectives about yourself.
Let inspiration guide you. One of Picasso’s most famous paintings is Guernica, a copy of which is displayed in the United Nations headquarters. He was inspired to paint it after the Nazi bombing of this little Spanish town and it has continued to inspire people with its anti-war message. We need to allow ourselves to be moved, and when we are inspired, to act. Don’t let the day in, day out everyday life kill inspiration and passion. .
6. Writing is a journey, but a book is a goal
You will most likely write throughout your life. Writing has a purpose all of its own and is valuable for its own sake. But writing a book is a goal.
A goal has an end point. It has set time limits. It is achievable. It takes sustained effort over time.
“Set
a goal that is big enough that in the process of achieving it,
you
become someone worth becoming.”
Jim Rohn
Your goal to write a book is important. Life flies by in the blink of an eye. Achieving your goal is a milestone in that life.
What are your goals for your writing and author life?
Your main goal may be to write and see your book published. Other big goals may be to speak about your book on Oprah, or to become a full-time writer with huge advances. There will be smaller goals to achieve on the way to achieving these main goals.
Write down what your big goals are for writing, and then write down the mini-goals which are achievable steps along the way.
Here are a few suggestions to help you on your way to reaching your big goal:
* Research and brainstorm ideas about your book including the title
* Publish an article in a certain magazine
* Be featured on TV talking about your book
* Get media training for radio and TV interviews
* Make a book trailer
* Make a new stream of income by publishing your e-book
* Join a networking group
* Start a blog
* Speak publicly about your book
Be congruent with your goal
Congruency is a state where you are aligned with what you are doing. Your actions fit with your underlying desires and skills. Make sure you are congruent with your goals and that your behavior is also in sync with them. For example, if your goal is to get on Oprah, you can’t shy away from public speaking. You will need to promote yourself and pitch TV stations. Your goal to write must also be congruent with action i.e. you must actually write!
All your energy must go in the same direction. State your intentions with clarity. If you want to write a book, set the goal and start moving towards it.
Goal setting is important to staying motivated. Set small daily goals that are easily achieved as this will boost your levels of self-confidence. Strive to write for a half hour every day. The words themselves needn’t be spectacular (especially at first) as it’s getting into the habit of writing that counts.
Set your goal for when you will finish your book. Mine was to hold a copy of my first book in my hands on my birthday – March 11, 2008. I missed that mark, but I held it in my hands a month later on April 10, 2008. That is close enough to say I reached my goal! I have now set a goal to complete a book every year, ready by April.
Reward yourself when you achieve these steps towards your big goal. Celebrate every step of the way.
7. Start now!
If
you want to write a book, then you must start writing. If you have
bought this book, you have an intention. Now make that a reality.
“Get black on white.”
Guy de Maupassant
Inertia
is the feeling of not moving. There is a lot of energy to get your
book started, but once you are moving then you are off. You can spend
years saying “I want to write a book,” but it might only
take a few months to actually write one depending on how driven you
are.
So, put words on the page. Get started now. Your book will not write itself!
Part2: The Process of Writing
8. From Idea to Book: An Overview of the Process
As a framework for the next chapters, here is the process from idea to book. When you break it down into these steps you can see it is achievable goal.
Your
Idea Cloud is full of possible books. This is your starting
place. Take all your writing, your ideas, and decide what your book
will be from this mass of ideas.
Write
and Rewrite. Get your book into that important first draft stage.
This is your main chunk of writing work. Research, write, read, edit
until you have a version that is readable end to end.
Proofreading
and Editing. Submit your book to a professional editor and then
give it to friends and a few members of your target audience for
reading. Collect feedback and rewrite as necessary. This step cycles
with Step 2 because you often revisit these steps a number of times
before you have a finished manuscript.
Typeset and Cover design. Your finished manuscript needs to be formatted into a book. You will also need to have a cover designed.
Printing.
The final manuscript is signed off and goes to the printers and then
you finally get a copy of your book in your hands. This is also the
point where you load your book to Print-on-Demand services and ebook
retailers. Now is the time to celebrate!
Distribution and Sales. Your books need to be distributed for sale, through the internet , bookstores and other channels. People need to find it in order to buy it!
Marketing
and Promotion. This goes across multiple stages of the project
and continues into the future. As long as you want to make sales, you
need to promote and market your book and yourself as the author.
Commitment and Persistence. Throughout the process you need to keep faith in yourself and your book. You will make it through. You can get from idea to book and you can fulfill your dream of being an author. You also need enthusiasm and motivation to keep yourself going.
9. What should I write about?
This is where you draw from your idea cloud and work your thoughts into a coherent idea for a book.
Write down all your ideas for books. Include all your interests, passions, thoughts, random musings and anything else that comes to mind. You might already have diaries, poems, short stories, ideas scattered around. Start to organize this material and review them for core ideas.
Evaluate these thoughts as to whether they would actually make a book. Are they more relevant for an article or blog post instead? Will this topic keep your interest for the months ahead?
There are two main approaches to what you should write about. Which suits you better?
Market Based:
Decide your goal and your market and write into that directly. For example, you want to become a blockbuster crime fiction writer. So you research this market, dissect blockbusters in this genre, and then write something similar.
If your aim is to make money and not just write what you love, then you need to consider your market before you write.
Do some research and you will find exactly what your target market is looking for when they purchase books. Know your target market and how to find them.
In terms of making a lot of money out of your books, it is recommended by many to write books on the same theme if you want to build a loyal audience. You become known for a particular type of book and so you write on that topic. People buy multiple books in that series which sells more books overall. One of the big pluses of sticking to a particular genre is that you have fans already and a welcome audience for your next book.
Interest Based:
Write your passion and what interests you and see where it goes. Start to shape the material into a book after you have started. Write what you love to read.
What themes keep you awake at night? What do you like to read about in the papers? What subjects fascinate you? Weave them into your work.
I asked other budding authors what they were writing about and received very diverse answers:
a fantasy novel
memoir about her life in Myanmar.
a modern romance.
A novel about a violent soccer fan.
non-fiction self-help/business.
We are all different. Write what fits you as a person. Everyone has something valid to say.
You need to write what interests you, what burns in your heart. It is difficult to start with the end point as you may struggle through the amount of time it takes to succeed.
Write about aspects of yourself. Who are you?
“Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart.”
William Wadsworth
Don’t write something because you think that’s what you should write.
I always wanted to be a prize winning fiction author. That was the pinnacle of creative success as I saw it. But when it came to writing a book, I realized that I had never really written any fiction.