Broad-stroke overview of a systematic self-publishing process. This presentation is intended to help aspiring authors overcome any obstacles they may face during the writing, publishing and promoting of their first book. Includes tips and resources for each phase of the process.
3. 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?
4. WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON...
● Non-fiction
● Result-centered
● Self-published
● Idea-to-Amazon
● Hard work
● Removing obstacles
5. AGENDA
● The Experience ( 2 days )
● The Content ( 20 days )
● The Container ( 6 days )
● Publish It ( 2 days )
● Promote It
● The Next Level
7. CREATE WITH INTENTION
Guide your reader to an outcome:
1. Shine a light on the problem
2. Verify or validate the problem
3. Show that it's even worse than that
4. Provide the light at the end of the
tunnel
( Applies to: title, cover, content, description,
bio, and any sticking points )
8. MODEL AN EXISTING BOOK
● Cover design
● Writing style
● Interior layout...
9. OPTION A
● Right-brained?
● Thesis
● Storyboard
● No chapters*
( TomMarch.com/electraguide )
[ from Seth Godin's "Purple Cow" ]
10. OPTION B
● Left-brained?
● Result
● Deconstruction
● Chapters
( Rest of the discussion... )
[ from Guy Kawasaki's "A.P.E." ]
11. COMMIT TO A DATE
( be flexible on design & content )
12. GET BALL ROLLING*
● Outsourcers
● Lineup editors / reviewers
● Lineup cover designer
● Create blog
● Create social media accounts
14. 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
15. WORKING TITLE
● What result is your book creating?
● Title = Headline (short, catchy)
● Subtitle = Explain benefits (a how-to)
19. 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!
20. INSERT GRAPHICS & REFERENCES
● Gather required stats, quotes, etc.
● Public domain info & illustrations (<1960)
21. 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
48. 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"
53. RECAP
1. Make the decision
2. Come up with a unique perspective
3. Create a sample cover & pin it to fridge
4. Draft an outline & fill in the gaps
5. Tell stories
6. Get friends & peers to edit / review
7. Publish
8. Take a vacation