February 1, 2008

When you, quite literally “write the book” on your topic matter, you become the de facto expert in residence. Therefore, when you truly dominate your subject matter, it’s time for you to share your knowledge in book format.

If you’ve been blogging now, you have a body of work which you will draw from when developing your topic outline for your book.

A typical trade publication focuses heavily on niche material: and if there are others in your field or industry who need your knowledge, a book is a great way to get it to them.

Here are 35 steps to organize your thinking for your masterpiece (and let’s hope this is just the first in a series, because you are so knowledgeable, you will only fit the first part into this volume)

1) First of all, how will your book tie in with your current products and services? This is the beginning of your marketing plan. Who are your competitors? What types of books sell in your field?

2) Brainstorm topics related to your process: Be messy. Develop a big list. Map out all the pieces.

3) Develop an organizational structure or a map of how different sections relate to each other.

4) Crystallize an outline for the book, based on that structure. This is an iterative process.

5) Refine your outline and create chapter headings

6) Collect data, reports, and white papers that relate to your subject matter.

7) Create a list of other “thought leaders” in your field. Find other authoritative texts in your field.

8) Do you need pictures, charts, or tables to illustrate your thinking? Sketch them out so you know what you’ll need

9) Open a word processor document and format the page to 1.25″ left and right margins, 1″ top and bottom margins. Create styles like Heading 1, Heading 2, and Heading 3. Specify your body text to be double-spaced at 12 pt font in Times New Roman or another serif font.

10) Start a “potential titles” list.

11) Begin writing an introduction: tell us who you are, what you’re writing about, and why you feel compelled to write about this topical area.

12) Write an acknowledgements section: who has helped you get to this point?

13) Now it’s time to write. Write each chapter. Write as much as you feel comfortable in each chapter. Then write an additional ten pages for each chapter!

14) Visit the bookstore and Amazon.com. Who else is writing in your field? Anything interesting? Take notes.

15) Write some more. Write regularly and if you feel blocked, do something different until you feel ready to write again.

16) Finish the writing. Decide on the title. Hurray! You have a manuscript.

17) Now it’s time to edit. Print out your work on single-sided pages, set aside a quiet time, and read your book with fresh eyes.

18) Spellcheck your manuscript.

19) Go back to your manuscript and start editing for clarity. Cut passages out if they’re windy or discombobulating. Show, don’t tell. Use action verbs.

20) Have someone develop your tables and charts, as needed. Label them and leave space for where they belong in the manuscript.

21) Get permissions from photographers and other artists for your images.

22) Now it’s time to fact check. Check any outside references and footnote them, if necessary.

23) Edit, this time for readability. Does the passage make sense? Are you explaining a complicated concept in simple terms? Hire an editor for the editing phase.

24) Edit again, this time for grammatical errors. Get rid of hanging prepositions, split infinitives, and dangling gerunds. Do your tenses match?

25) We’re getting close! Have ten of your friends read an advance copy of the manuscript. Solicit their feedback. Listen to their feedback: they are your friends and they want you to succeed!

26) Address reader comments from this review process. Are there any errors or omissions?
Now’s the time to catch them and fix them up.

27) Time for some artistic touches: find a graphic artist to create your cover.

28) Apply for an ISBN number at isbn.org. Some self-publishers will offer this as part of their services.

29) Get your copyright notice into the manuscript.

30) Find your publisher. You may publish the manuscript yourself with a vanity press, you may use a publishing service to print your manuscript on demand (POD), or you may find a large or boutique publishing house that specializes in your type of book. Allow adequate time for the review process. Potential self-publishing options include Lulu.com, CreateSpace.com, and Booklocker.com.

31) Print the book.

32) Receive copies and autograph the first 100. Congratulations!

33) Make sure your marketing materials highlight your book. Add a link from your website and blog.

34) Make a list of interested people and send them complimentary and review copies: encourage them to generate buzz about your book.

35) It’s time to sell, sell, sell!