Writing a book can be daunting and fulfilling, and therapeutic. Either way, this takes time.
The questions below will help you figure out and formulate your book. These were taken both from the process I used to pitch to publishers and from what I learned reviewing (internally) books for Springer Publishing.
Why Are You Writing This?
My most recent book, Poetry: Written by a Human on Life, Lust, Love, Friendship & Family, was written because I felt a new era of writing was going to be the norm, using artificial intelligence. To me, compiling my writings over the year was like archiving for history. I mention how some of the writings were written on pen and paper and typed in a typewriter, then scanned into a pdf and stitched together.
Once you know why you are writing a book, know that people will have their opinions. It’s always good to listen, but weigh it against their expertise in the subject matter you are writing about and if they are going to back you financially to get it done and published.
Who Would You Say Is the Ideal Audience for This Book?
Then break it down a little more specifically. For example, is it for people starting a business or ready to exit their businesses?
Take it to another level by asking about the needs of this audience. What problems do they face? What problems would this book solve, if any?
What Is Your Messaging?
You can write a sample chapter first and ask people you know to read it and let you know what that chapter says to them. That can give you an idea if you are on the right track with your messaging.
The Rolling Stone Culture Council is an invitation-only community for Influencers, Innovators and Creatives. Do I qualify?
Further Questions
Here are some other questions to ask yourself. You can revisit the answers at any time to give your perspective on where you started in this journey because books take time.
• Do you have a beginning, middle and end in mind for this book? Does it align with the title and chapter descriptions and audience?
• What would be the keywords you would use?
• What is useful about this information and what value does it have to the reader?
• What other books are out there on this topic? How is yours different?
• How could you outsell the other books on the market (angle and substance)?
• Now that you have written chapters, are they in the right sequence (order)?
• Should any chapters be added, deleted, moved or recombined?
• Ask yourself, what is the strongest part of this book? What is the weakest?
• What is different about your book? What void does it fill?
• What price would you consider appropriate for this book?
• Would you buy this book if you didn’t write it? Who would you buy it for?
Logistics to Consider
These are some questions you can ask yourself when figuring out where or how to publish.
Where in the world is this subject more needed and has a receptive audience? Is it so niche that it is limited? This is OK, you would save time and money by focusing on the niche vs the general audience if that’s the case.
Is there anything you can do or add that would still be in alignment with what your message is but also make it more appealing to a wider audience? What is useful on a level of passion and human interest?
When it’s all said and done, you might find yourself wanting to write another! You’ve got this. Enjoy.
