WRITING A BOOK

WRITING A BOOK

Who's the smart person who said that there is a book in all of us? Well it's true isn't it? Don't you hear people say 'Oh I could write a book on that subject'? Or 'I could write a better book' ?

Modern technology has made it much easier to publish a book. Here are a few tips for you, just in case you decide to write a book.

The first thing you need to do is to set a reasonable deadline for your book. Most of us procrastinate because we want the book to be perfect, or because we're afraid of failure. As a result the book remains in our heads or on random pieces of paper and it never gets published.

Think of your first draft as version number one. Once that's done you can improve on it and call it version number two. Just like Microsoft now has version no. 8 – each time is an improvement on the last one.

Nowadays there are a lot of self-publishing houses where you can print on demand. At a reasonable cost you can print just a few copies. The advantage of this is that this will enable you to see what your book looks like in print.

Of course before you do that you've got to have a good outline and table of contents. Some people write a book and then try to work around the table of contents.

If you're not sure of how to go about it then use a best-selling book in the same genre as your book as a model. Try and imitate the structure of that particular book.

Now once your book is ready you need to get publicity for your book right? Otherwise your book will just sit on the shelf collecting dust.

So how do you make your book stand out? How do you get media exposure? You need to have a 'hook'. You need that one line that they can use to attract an audience. Just as you need to sell your book, the TV and radio producers need to look at their ratings. So give them that one line that will help them get viewers.

Let's say you're a dietician and you've written a book on 'Healthy Fast Foods made in a jiffy'. The TV anchor would probably say 'Coming up..... Fast foods that can actually be good for you'. The people listening or watching the show would be interested in something like that, right? And they'll wait to see what it's all about.

Think of it as 'Coming up ….........' Now what do you need to add to make it interesting? Once you've done that you've got your hook.

Now go and write your book.

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Joe Bunting has a great blog on writing called The Write Practice. He has also published a book called   Let's Write a Short Story!  Here's one of his recent blogs:

Don’t be a Resolution Writer

With a clear conscious, I can promise that desire had little to do with the conception of this post. If my desires dictated when this would be written, it would be put off a few more days. Fortunately, my will, and not my feelings, determine my actions as a writer.

Photo by Nationaal Archief

 An underrated attribute – the will of a writer

What separates the in-shape person that works out year-round from the unhealthy one that each new year vows to start working out again? The unhealthy one is riding the emotions of the new year, banking that they’ll feel those same emotions for the next 365 days. Every day is a new decision with new circumstances. Extra work. Early morning. Other priorities. As the emotional high lessens, so does the frequency of their ‘yes’, until finally, the question no longer exists.
For the other, the decision has already been made. Each day from that point on confirms their decision to be healthy. There is no longer a choice, the only option is to be in-shape.
I love writing. I desire to write. But I’m not thrilled about writing every single day. Some days, I’m distracted. Other days, my brain just isn’t working, or I’m not feeling confident. Of course, the desire is to write when inspired. There’s nothing wrong with that. We’re artists. It’s the days that don’t inspire that separate an in-shape writer and an unhealthy writer.

“A writer who waits for ideal conditions under which to work will die without putting a word on paper.”

Don’t be a New Year’s resolution writer. There is a cycle for this kind of writer:
Inspiring high -> emotionally-based decision to write  -> inspiration lessened by time ->which lessens willpower ->which lessens confidence ->personal disappointment enters ->willpower gone -> writing ends until next inspiring high.

Three ways to not depend on feelings

1. Writing is a privilege

Without realizing it, we look at writing as a sacrifice. The late nights, the writer’s block, the low pay, it all leads to a self-pity way of thinking that weakens our will to write consistently. Calling yourself a writer is a privilege that many wish to do, but never will. When that privilege is understood, you’ll take a new approach to your writing.

2. Practice undesired writing

Look at those times you don’t feel like writing as gifts to practice – like swinging a weighted bat before stepping up to the plate. When you don’t even feel like a writer and can still write well, you know you’ll be  ready when that moment of writing inspiration shows up.

3. The decision is a noun, not a verb

Don’t struggle anymore with the daily decision to write. The only decision that needs to be made is, “Am I a writer?” If the answer is yes, the actions will follow. Writers write. If it’s who you are, you won’t be able to make any decision other than to write.
The posture of our thoughts will decide if writing will be an aspect of day to day life.
Are you relying on feelings and desires to write consistently?