Everyone has a book inside them, or so the saying goes. But few people get that book out. Often it's because of lack of time. So, how can you get your book written inside a week or two?
I was talking to a friend yesterday who complained they couldn't find time to write their book. They had an idea, but could never find the time. They wanted to know how did I manage to get books written so quickly - was there a magic formula I used. So I told him my story and thought I'd share it here.
I've written 27 books which have been published by traditional publishers, plus I have written five books which I have published myself. Not one of these books has taken me more than two weeks to write. And, even though one of them is 12 years old, it still continues to sell well in seven different countries in five languages and is one of the most borrowed books in libraries (according to my PLR statistics). So, even though it only took two weeks to write, it can't be that bad!
Here's my 'trick'. When I get an idea for a book I get a ring binder and label it with my book title. Then I chuck into that ring binder some blank paper and a few plastic punched pockets to store things in. Then as I go about my work over the coming days I'll just scribble down on the paper in my folder any ideas I get which might be useful for the book. Also if I see any articles in newspapers or magazines, I'll rip them out and place them in the plastic pockets in the binder. Similarly, if I see a web page which might have some value to my book, I'll print it out and shove it in the binder. I do not make any value judgements, I do not try to put things in order, I simply chuck everything that might be useful into the ring binder. I also jot down questions that people ask me that are related to the book subject and I try to come up with my own questions which the book might answer. Anything and everything is collected into the ring binder.
Once I've got a reasonable collection of material, which might take days, weeks, or months to accumulate, I'll then go through it and start to put it in order. I'll use the list of questions I've written to help guide me in this and then I'll use the sorted piles of information to help me come up with chapter headings. This might take me a day, but by the end of that day I'll have a complete, detailed outline of my book - plus all the associated background information which will help me write it.
Then I can start writing. To do this I often go away from home. In the past I used to hire a holiday cottage somewhere idyllic. Nowadays I go to my own holiday home down near Bognor Regis. But it means I can write without the distractions of the office. If you have a book of, say 30,000 words to write, that's only 5,000 words a day for six days. That's one chapter in the morning and one in the afternoon. Or, put it another way, you need to write around 750 words an hour - or one word every five seconds. Now that's not many is it?
It might sound a daunting task, but with a detailed outline and all the background information already prepared, it is actually quite straightforward. I'm convinced that people who can't find the time to write their book haven't actually formulated their ideas fully or got their information collected. Once you have down that, the writing is relatively straightforward.
So, in short, getting your book written in record time is easy if you follow a 'system'. Mine is:
* Collect any information that might be relevant
* Write down any idea which might be relevant
* Sort through all the information and ideas you collect and put them into an order
* Write a detailed outline of your book - chapter headings, sub headings etc.
* Take some time off from your normal work - a holiday away for a week, say
* Set yourself a daily target of words to write
Barbara Cartland used to write 10,000 words every day. You might not like her work, but there's no denying she was successful at what she did. Being organised and having a target to reach is the only way to get that book written. Your book will never get written if all you do is wait for 'enough time'.
Graham Jones is a psychologist who has specialized in the way we use the Internet. He is an expert on information products and runs Infoselling.com where you can get a FREE report on how to sell your own infoproducts.
professional maid services Park Ridge ..As writers, we initially tend to be either more cerebral... Read More
How to avoid mistakes that undermine your credibilityYou're probably already... Read More
While novels do not usually attempt to convey concepts about... Read More
This article is to help identify which style, technique or... Read More
Think you can't write a book that will sell? You... Read More
Without denigrating the work and contribution of Syd Field to... Read More
When most people consider writing a book, they don't think... Read More
Whether you're interviewing for a new job, trying to woo... Read More
In his book, "Achieving Financial Independence as a Freelance Writer,"... Read More
What am I going to write about?Which topic is the... Read More
I've just come back to work after nine glorious, sun-drenched... Read More
At some point, every serious writer is forced to sit... Read More
No matter what you are writing, the first priority is... Read More
Nothing is more daunting for any writer than having to... Read More
Dave, I just got a contract for a book... Read More
Sometime one must coax the words out.Each day is a... Read More
Back in my school days, if the teacher demanded a... Read More
Many experts recommend reading as a way to get ideas,... Read More
List-making is a favorite journaling technique and is often used... Read More
Great writing transports one vicariously to realms that the reader... Read More
Word processors are so widely used now that I tend... Read More
Griselda spent hours polishing up her resume. No detail was... Read More
Regardless of what sort of writer you are and how... Read More
If your dream is to get published, the chance is... Read More
The urge to write fiction seems God given for some,... Read More
cleaning lady near Lincolnshire ..As you set out to create your first niche non-fiction... Read More
Have you ever written a letter to a friend? Ever... Read More
What is Sense of Place? It's the image of a... Read More
Since the headline is the first contact your readers have... Read More
One of the nice things about being an author is... Read More
Story Structure Templates are the fastest way to write screenplays.... Read More
A few magazines refer to their written idea sources in... Read More
Anyone who has read any of my articles on the... Read More
Dr. Phil's Life Strategies, #1 New York Times Bestseller catches... Read More
It would be very selfless or noble of me to... Read More
There are a lot of tapes and books and CD... Read More
LATER, LATTERLater means afterwards; latter is the second of two... Read More
Did you know that your back cover information is, after... Read More
Charles Dickens was born in Portsea, England, in1812. His father... Read More
My Dad has this old joke that goes, "What's the... Read More
The Big IdeaOkay. So youve figured out that you would... Read More
Last week I was having a quick browse on eBay... Read More
Questions and answers on writing life experiences for ourselves and... Read More
The urge to write fiction seems God given for some,... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?It should.A theme is a one-line explanation... Read More
Golden Rules For New Writers - Things you need to... Read More
These 8 tips on using characters in your stories will... Read More
Have you heard the term 'ghostwriter' and wondered what they... Read More
What a wonderful resource the Internet is!Students find information to... Read More
"Do I send samples, a media kit, or just the... Read More
Writing |