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.

1. CRANK OUT YOUR BOOK
The 30 Day Plan

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

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

6. Part I
The Experience

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

13. Part II
The Content

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)

16. DESIRED RESULT
● What is the one thing you want your
reader to walk away with?

17. DECONSTRUCTION
( think like a Project Manager )

18. SYNDICATE
Title
Chapters
Sub-chapters
Paragraphs
Bullet points

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

22. EDIT
● 3+ reviewers
● Friends
● Family
● Customers
● Followers
● Read backwards
Tip: get "advance praise" testimonials

23. ROUGH TARGETS
● 15,000 words
● Short chapters / reading chunks
● 10th grade reading level*

24. Part III
The Container

25. Final Title
● Unique
● Keywords (subtitle)
● Test (PPC, email subject, survey)
● Domain available?

26. 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

27. BIO
● Include photo
● Model other author bios

28. TABLE OF CONTENTS
● Automated in ebook

29. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
● Inspirations
● Contributing authors
● Helpful editors
● etc.

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

31. Part IV
Publish It

32. PUBLISHER
● 3rd-party
● Your company

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

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

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

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

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

38. AUDIO
● ACX.com

39. Part V
Promote It

40. TIP
Promote your message,
not the book

41. GIVE IT AWAY
● Lead generation
● Speaking engagements
● Consumer guide

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

43. WORKSHOPS / WEBINARS
● Mini training course
● Book content (+ best practices)

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

45. PRESS
● HelpAReporter.com

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

47. Part VI
The Next Level

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"

49. BOOK WRITING COACH
Ann McIndoo [ AnnMcindoo.com ]
"Talk Your Book"

50. MASTER OF PUBLICITY
Steve Harrison [ FreePublicity.com ]
"Quantum Leap"

51. GRAND DADDY
Dan Poynter [ ParaPublishing.com ]
"Parallel Publishing"

52. 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

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

54. And get it done!
KEEP IT SIMPLE