So you want to write a book? I’ve had so many questions lately about how to start writing your book that I figured I’d post this. Most of you 
want to write your life story so stop talking about it and do it. You either write or you don’t write, those are the options. For those of you who are asking (even before you’ve written your book) how you get a publisher – you have to know that the publishing industry is changing by the second. Gone are the days when you can send in a book idea, get a nice hefty advance and instantly get on the New York Times Bestseller List. Publishers nowadays want to see that you have a following, a fan base (certainly a Facebook Page) and to be sure that you, the author, can sell your own book. They don’t want to take any risks whatsoever.
Also, if your book is a memoir and you’re not famous, you are very unlikely to get a deal. I’m just warning you. BUT – things are changing so drastically that you can do it yourself. Self-publishing is changing a lot and no longer has the lame, you suck and couldn’t get a “real” publisher stigma. Many authors are taking advantage of the easy opportunities out there to get their books out. You don’t have to worry about printing boxes of books and keeping them in your garage either. There are many places that do Ebook publishing and it is very easy.
And guess what? If you have a book out and your fans love it, you may just inadvertently get an offer from a bigger publisher. I know, it’s annoying being dissed until you’ve made it and then they want you. But such is life. You think that is bad? Try working in Hollywood.
You can also find a small Independent Publisher (there are loads of lists – here’s one) who may front you the money for your editor, formater, designer and marketing and get paid back with your book sales. Usually they have good % deals to share proceeds with you and they don’t walk away with the lion’s share. My next books are with a publisher that does not even take submissions, most don’t. I was lucky to meet them in one of those kismet meetings and they have been very helpful. Finding an indie publisher can be just as frustrating as a big one though, but what are you worrying about? You have to write your book first!! That’s right, you have to write a book. Forget creating a proposal. Just write your book! Do it.
If you are serious about this and you’re not just asking me to be asking, you must set a deadline to be done with your first draft by. Set a deadline for yourself three months from now to have your first draft. You can do it. Do it. You’re serious, right?
Step One – Outline
Create an outline. I already wrote the template out for you, it’s easy. Yes, it’s easy. If you write out the answers to the questions in theBe Your Own Hero Workbook, and you answer super honestly, you are on your way to having your book outline. It’s already written in the Hero’s Journey format. (Read this post about How To Write Your Own Hero Story) Just fill that workbook out. Better yet, flip through the book as you write your answers on your computer. Go through eight pages a day for fifteen days. There’s your outline.
Here’s another post about using the workbook, along with a way to download it cheaper. (Having the hardcopy is way better btw, and saves printing costs in the long run)
Step two – Write
From HikingArtist.com
Write your book. Yes, you actually have to write a book. I can’t tell you how to write since everyone has a different voice but I will urge you to write in your voice. Write how you speak. Take the answers you made in your outline and expound on them. Flush the story out, add more details, give yourself some great dialog. You sound awesome. Expound upon your outline for one month, every day. There’s your rough draft. (notice I did not say first draft, I said rough draft)
Step Three – Rewrite
Rewrite the whole mess of words you have. Reread it and then rewrite it. If you hate rewriting and think you’re a genius from the first page, learn this simple fact – WRITING IS REWRITING. You can never avoid a rewrite. Spend the next month rewriting your pages, every day. There’s your first draft. If you’re ahead of schedule, good! Read it again.
Step Four – Have Someone Read It
Have someone you trust read your first draft. Have them honestly tell you want they think about it. Does it make sense? Are there any holes in it? Do you want to scream at them as they tell you what they thought? You’re probably onto something. Only take the notes on the things that ring true for you. Does something they said remind you of what you were already thinking of changing or adding? Address it. Do they tell you how to write it and how to fix it and how they would do it? Ignore that. Only take the notes that you were already secretly thinking. And of course take the notes that happen to be the Ah, Ha, I never thought of that ideas! Those are genius. Address those.
Step Five – Hire a Professional Editor
From HikingArtist.com
What? You mean my aunt Rosie is not my editor? But she gave me great notes! She likes my book. Your aunt Rosie is not a professional editor, sorry. You need a professional editor if you want a good book. It’s just that simple. A good editor is like a golden magical seed that you keep in your pocket. They are usually right, too, listen to them. Here is a group of editors that I have worked with and I really like them — Words Into Print. (I have worked with Marlene and Michael. Only tell them I sent you if your book is good. If it’s terrible, please don’t mention my name. You can say you found them on the Internet. If you took that way too personally, go reread your book and know that I adore you and just want to help.)
Yes, editors cost money and sometimes quite a bit of money (maybe 2-5K). Start saving now. Your editor is your most valuable expense. Pay for it. Then listen to your editor, address the notes that ring true for you and voila – you have a book! You did it! Now what do you do with it? Sometimes the editors you work with may have connections to literary agents. If they think your book is good enough, they can make an introduction. But in these times, even professional editors will tell you that you may be better off just getting the book out there yourself. You mean self-publishing? But I want a big company? I want an advance. I want, I want, I want. Yeah, I know. But it’s time for a serious wake-up call. The industry is changing and if you’re not famous, or have some kind of huge selling point, or they’re making your book into a movie or you’re related to such-and-such, you need to take a bite out of reality pie. Do you think I got a big publisher for the Be Your Own Hero Workbook? No, I did not. I actually did not even try. And guess what? It sells on Amazon. It does. Life is amazing.
Step Six – Get Your Book Professionally Designed
Get your book layout done and your cover designed professionally. Hopefully your designer can also format books, but usually they are just the artist to create your book cover. I’ve always worked with Jennifer Welker. I’m even convinced my publisher to use her on my upcoming book – Will Date 4 Food. She’s really good and I’m loyal. Here is her website.
I have also worked with animator and artist, James Murray. He did the dancing header on my website. Look up at it! Isn’t it cute? He also drew my little goth girl for the Be Your Own Hero Workbook - the book that helps you with your healing and your book outline! Here is his website - http://www.jamesmurray.tv
I have also worked with Khayyam Wakil. He designed my twitter background. Check it out, it’s gorgeous! http://twitter.com/angelashelton.
There are tons of sites out there to find other designers and people to help you with the layout of your book. If you go to Create Space (Amazon’s publishing company), there are tons of PDFs you can download to help you layout your book yourself. Doing the formatting yourself can be really irritating but in the end, if you have to do it to save money, at least you learned how to. Follow the help guides!
Step Seven - Get your book on Amazon
Amazon is the biggest book store out there – get it on that huge virtual bookshelf! If you are mad at Amazon for whatever reason, probably that they are an outlet for anyone (even creeps), then read this post I wrote – Why Blame Amazon? In fact, don’t blame Amazon, utilize them to get your words out there.
Create Space (Amazon’s publishing company) really is the simplest place I’ve found to do it yourself. Why am I telling you to go to Create Space when I have a publisher, you ask? Because it’s an pain in the butt to find a publisher and if you are going to spend years trying to get your memoir published, why not get it out there while you wait? And I have a publisher for four of my upcoming books but I have used Create Space myself too. I used it for the Be Your Own Hero Workbook! It’s a site that works. The help sections are great, all you need to do is read the How-Tos they have already provided. I don’t need to reiterate it all word-for-word.
The beauty about a place like Create Space is that you do not have to pay to have 10,000 copies of the book printed, start a warehouse and worry about fulfillment and customer service. You simply upload your book elements and Amazon does the printing and shipping. We love that. Believe me, I printed up the first truckload of my doc myself and shipped them out of my backyard in the beginning. That is not fun, especially when you get an order for hundreds in one day. (Oh, for us all to have that good problem on all of our books.) The point is, you need to write, not worry about running a warehouse. Blech.
Step Eight - Promote Your Book
Actually, you should begin this process even before you start writing – if you’re serious about getting your book done that is. If you’re going to play around and not get it done, don’t worry about this step. But if you are really going to do it, start promoting it. Start a Facebook Page for your book and share it with all of your friends. That way, you can get them excited about it and when you release it, you can let them know. Actually, I should have a page for the Be Your Own Hero Workbook come to think of it! Maybe I’ll do that later after I get back to work on my next book.
My publisher had me start Facebook pages and Twitter accounts for my next books, The Adventures of Tilda Pinkerton and The Magic Hat Shop, even though they are being edited and the illustrations are not even finished yet. If the publishers are wanting this kind of thing that far in advance, you should do it too! (I didn’t share those links just for example, please go “like” my pages too and tweet me! Thank you.)
Plus, you might ask if you have to do all of this yourself, why in the world do you need a publisher? Good question! (sorry Elliot) The fact is that you don’t if you can promote your book yourself. Watch what the indie and the big publishers are doing. They are promoting. If you really want to follow the publishing rules, you can upload your book to your new Create Space account, print off advance copies (it may cost you 4 bucks a book) and send them to people you’d like a quote or a review from. Make sure you’re asking people who are in the field of what you’re writing about, or who are authors who have written similar books with a large following. You can also send your book to big bloggers and ask for a review. You can just Google promoting my book and there are loads of places to send your book to if you have the funds to do it.
Once you get some quotes and reviews, have your designer add them to your book cover and voila, the design is done! Make your book available on Create Space on all the channels and outlets and then start promoting it on Amazon. Ask people to give it a good rating, “like” it and write about how much they love it. Again, I really should do this exact thing for the Be Your Own Hero Workbook since you are now using it to write your own books!
Happy Writing. Don’t give me any excuses. You’ve been asking me how you can write your book and get it out there and I just told you!
Now, please go “like” the workbook!
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