By Nina Amir
Each
time you begin a writing period, use this six-step process, which has been
adapted from my book, The Author Training Manual: Develop Marketable Ideas, Craft
Books That Sell, Become the Author Publishers Want, and Self-Publish
Effectively.
1. Create
a folder on your computer called “[Your Book Title] Writing Guide.” Place within it the following 3
documents:
1. An
overview of your book, including a book pitch, a book description or synopsis,
a list of reader benefits (even for fiction)
2. Create
chapter documents and place them in the Writing Guide folder. Open a document for each
chapter. Copy and paste that chapter’s summary, or the section of your synopsis
that pertains to it, into the document twice. Leave the first summary intact.
For nonfiction, break the second duplicate summary into bullet points or
subheadings with spaces in between. (If you find it easier, you can determine
what questions you need to answer, what benefits you need to provide, or what
solutions your need to provide to address the topics about which you need to
write.) For fiction, break the second duplicate summary into scenes, shorter
dramatic arcs, or flashbacks. Do so with separate sentences, short phrases or
paragraphs with spaces between.
3. Before
each writing period, open your writing guide and review the first three
documents. Do this to remind yourself
of the book you want to create and to stay focused on your idea and the
promises you are making to readers. In particular, read the pitch to stay
focused on your book’s topic or the story you want to tell. Refer to this
anytime you feel lost, stuck, or off track. Refer back to the list of benefits
to remind yourself of the value readers expect from your book and to be sure
you deliver it.
4. Write
using the bulleted chapter summaries. Open a chapter document. Review the complete
summary at the top to remind yourself of the content of that particular
chapter. Then, write your chapter moving from bullet point to bullet point,
section to section, scene to scene (writing in the space underneath each) until
you get to the end of your chapter.
5. Reread
your chapter summary or synopsis. When done, skim over your draft chapter and
determine if you achieved all your stated goals. Did you cover everything in
the summary? If not, make notes on what you left out so you can add those
points in your second draft.
6. Return
to your “[Book Title] Writing Guide.” Reread the pitch, book description, and list of
benefits and consider whether during your writing period you delivered on the
promise of the entire book in this particular chapter.
Use this guide to easily
write your book and craft a marketable manuscript as well.
Nina Amir, author of the bestselling How to Blog a Book: Write, Publish, and Promote Your Work One Post at a Time (Writers Digest Books) and The Author Training Manual: Develop Marketable Ideas, CraftBooks That Sell, Become the Author Publishers Want, and Self-Publish Effectively (Writers Digest Books), transforms writers into inspired,
successful authors, authorpreneurs and blogpreneurs. Known as the Inspiration
to Creation Coach, she moves her clients from ideas to finished books as well
as to careers as authors by helping them combine their passion and purpose so
they create products that positively and meaningfully impact the world. A
sought-after author, book, blog-to-book, and results coach, some of Nina’s
clients have sold 300,000+ copies of their books, landed deals with major
publishing houses and created thriving businesses around their books. She
writes four blogs, including Write
Nonfiction Now and How to Blog a
Book, self-published 12 books and founded National Nonfiction Writing
Month, aka the Write Nonfiction in November Challenge.
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