CRANK OUT YOUR BOOK

The 30 Day Plan

Why?

● Professional exposure● Personal edification● Sales tool● Multiplier● Recognized expert● Prospect education (pre-sale)● Customer education (post-sale)● Confidence boost

WHAT'S STOPPING YOU?

● Making the decision?● Where do I start?● What do I write about?● How do I make the time?● How do I organize it?● How do I get it out?● How do I promote it?● Who would read it?

WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON...

● Non-fiction● Result-centered● Self-published● Idea-to-Amazon● Hard work● Removing obstacles

AGENDA

● The Experience ( 2 days )● The Content ( 20 days )● The Container ( 6 days )● Publish It ( 2 days )● Promote It● The Next Level

Part IThe Experience

CREATE WITH INTENTION

Guide your reader to an outcome:1. Shine a light on the problem2. Verify or validate the problem3. Show that it's even worse than that4. Provide the light at the end of the

tunnel

( Applies to: title, cover, content, description, bio, and any sticking points )

MODEL AN EXISTING BOOK

● Cover design● Writing style● Interior layout...

OPTION A

● Right-brained?● Thesis● Storyboard● No chapters*

( TomMarch.com/electraguide )

[ from Seth Godin's "Purple Cow" ]

OPTION B

● Left-brained?● Result● Deconstruction● Chapters

( Rest of the discussion... )

[ from Guy Kawasaki's "A.P.E." ]

COMMIT TO A DATE( be flexible on design & content )

GET BALL ROLLING*

● Outsourcers● Lineup editors / reviewers● Lineup cover designer● Create blog● Create social media accounts

Part IIThe Content

IN THE WILD

● What are people already talking about?● Read top 5 blogs, 10 articles each● Interview 5 experts● Present a unique point of view (in book)

Tip: read blog comments too

WORKING TITLE

● What result is your book creating?● Title = Headline (short, catchy)● Subtitle = Explain benefits (a how-to)

DESIRED RESULT

● What is the one thing you want your reader to walk away with?

DECONSTRUCTION( think like a Project Manager )

SYNDICATETitle

Chapters

Sub-chapters

Paragraphs

Bullet points

OUTLINE

● Create structured list from deconstruction

● Include background / theory● Include high-level how-to steps● Include high-level forms &

templates

Tip: the hard part is done!

INSERT GRAPHICS & REFERENCES

● Gather required stats, quotes, etc.● Public domain info & illustrations (<1960)

FILL IN THE GAPS

● Bulk writing / Brain dump● Go to library● Existing content / blog posts?● Write to one person (your Mom*)● Speak human (tell stories)

Type Talk

● Calibre-ebook.com● LiteratureAndLatte.com

(Scrivener)

● Nuance.com/dragon● Fiverr.com

EDIT

● 3+ reviewers● Friends● Family● Customers● Followers● Read backwards

Tip: get "advance praise" testimonials

ROUGH TARGETS

● 15,000 words● Short chapters / reading chunks● 10th grade reading level*

Part IIIThe Container

Final Title

● Unique● Keywords (subtitle)● Test (PPC, email subject, survey)● Domain available?

Cover

● Shoot for "arresting"● Simple (one image*, faces are good)● 15' rule (front & spine)● 1" rule● BookCoverArchive.com● 99Designs.com● Fiverr.com

Tip: good packaging sells

BIO

● Include photo● Model other author bios

TABLE OF CONTENTS

● Automated in ebook

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

● Inspirations● Contributing authors● Helpful editors● etc.

INTERIOR (TYPESET)

● Ebook: don't break it (fonts, layout, etc.)● Print: LarabieFonts.com● Print: PDF / InDesign

Part IVPublish It

PUBLISHER

● 3rd-party● Your company

COPYRIGHT

● Implied in US● Copyright.gov (plan to sue?)

ISBN

● MyIdentifiers.com/isbn (Bowker)● One required per media type● Can use Amazon issued● Print: barcode

PRICING

● In-line with competitors● Amazon recommendation● ebook: $2.99 - 9.99*● print: $12.99 - 19.99*

KINDLE

● kdp.Amazon.com● SmashWords.com● Category● 24 hours for approval

PRINT

● On-demand (not bulk)● LightningSource.com● 6" x 9" *● Back cover● Spine

AUDIO

● ACX.com

Part VPromote It

TIP

Promote your message,not the book

GIVE IT AWAY

● Lead generation● Speaking engagements● Consumer guide

BLOG

● Post a chapter per week● Push links to social media● Syndicate● Guest blog● About.me

WORKSHOPS / WEBINARS

● Mini training course● Book content (+ best practices)

AUTHOR VIDEO

● Interview or talking head● Put face to the book● Video search / traffic● Include bio & description

PRESS

● HelpAReporter.com

MILESTONES

● 10 4/5 star reviews● First 1000 downloads is hardest● >1000 Amazon promotions kick in*● Top 25 in chosen categories

Part VIThe Next Level

BOOK DEAL

● Sell 50,000 books on Amazon● Hit top 100 in genre● Be accessible● Develop a platform● Follow agents● Demonstrate you're a "sure thing"

BOOK WRITING COACH

Ann McIndoo [ AnnMcindoo.com ]"Talk Your Book"

MASTER OF PUBLICITY

Steve Harrison [ FreePublicity.com ]"Quantum Leap"

GRAND DADDY

Dan Poynter [ ParaPublishing.com ]"Parallel Publishing"

ENDLESS RESOURCES

● Google● kdp.Amazon.com/community● SelfPublishingPodcast.com● TheCreativePenn.com● #amwriters / #amwriting● Self-Publishing-Coach.com● A.P.E.● BookCentralStation.com● Local meetups

● CatherineRyanHoward.com● BookCoverCafe.com● WritersWin.com● Shelfari.com● BloggerLinkUp.com● PeoplePerHour.com● CraigsList.org● BookBaby.com● GoodReads.com

Tip: don't get sucked in

RECAP

1. Make the decision2. Come up with a unique perspective3. Create a sample cover & pin it to fridge4. Draft an outline & fill in the gaps5. Tell stories6. Get friends & peers to edit / review7. Publish8. Take a vacation

And get it done!

KEEP IT SIMPLE