| Good project management (and writing a book is a | | | | Let's say that you've decided to write your book |
| project) says that you need to have proper | | | | from scratch. Actually it doesn't matter how you |
| requirements before you try to plan how to | | | | create the book, but that choice is the most flexible. |
| accomplish the project. That's just part of the | | | | Now how are you going to physically write the book? |
| planning task. But what questions should you ask | | | | Are you going to sit at a computer and wear out |
| when planning your book writing? | | | | your eyes and fingers? Are you going to use a tape |
| In a previous article I've already given you five | | | | recorder and then have it transcribed? Yes, those are |
| questions. But that barely scratches the surface. So | | | | grey hairs, but it that's not why I used that term -- |
| here are five more things you should plan while | | | | portable digital memo recording device is too blasted |
| writing a non-fiction book: | | | | long, thank you very much! Or are you going to use |
| 1. How are you going to create the book? Look, let's | | | | five live secretaries to write your book in series? If |
| be upfront here, I sell a system on book writing. You | | | | you decide to do the work yourself you need to |
| can find it via the link at the bottom of this article. | | | | decide how. Of course if you've given the work to |
| But there are other ways to create a book than | | | | some other deserving soul, they get to decide how. |
| writing it. And notice I used the word create not | | | | But someone needs to make that decision. |
| write. One of the big decisions you need to make is | | | | 4. What story angle will you use? Even in a non |
| how you are going to create a book. Are you going | | | | fiction book, you need to have a story angle. Why |
| to write it from scratch? Are you going to re-write it | | | | are you writing the book? Not the real reason which |
| from a collection of articles? Are you just going to | | | | we've already discussed. But the reason you're going |
| use a collection of articles? Are you going to use a | | | | to tell the reader. If they're both the same then |
| transcription from a presentation? And there are | | | | great! It makes integrity in you story easy. But even |
| other ways. Which one is appropriate for this book? | | | | then there will be things that you are willing to share |
| 2. Who is going to create the book? Reality check | | | | and things that aren't any business of the reader. |
| time. Many big name "writers" and consultants don't | | | | Why is this topic important to you? How do you |
| write their own books. Do you really think big names | | | | know what the reader is feeling? How do you know |
| in real estate development and software | | | | your ideas will work for the reader? What is the back |
| development have the time to write a best seller? | | | | story to the book? All this makes up your story |
| Their communications manager does the work. They | | | | angle and affects how you will present your ideas. |
| have other people who are nameless do the work. | | | | 5. What other products will you create? The system |
| They have other big name consultants do the work | | | | I sell and use myself to write books is actually part |
| for them. They share the workload with someone. A | | | | of a much larger system to create learning content. |
| big part of my income as a freelance writer comes | | | | What is learning content? It's all the material in a |
| from being nameless and letting others take the | | | | course, irrespective of what media is used to present |
| credit for my hard work. You have the same | | | | it. One topic has within it a series of different |
| opportunity. So are you going to write your book? | | | | products: books, live seminars, webinars, coaching, |
| Or are you going to co-write the book? Or are you | | | | audio, video, home courses, workshops. Even if you |
| going to use a ghostwriter? There are alternatives. | | | | only write books, every topic has the ability to |
| 3. How are you going to write the book? Okay, this | | | | create multiple books. So which books will you create |
| looks like the same question as before but it isn't. | | | | from this topic? And how do they all fit together? |