5 Lessons I Learned When Writing My First Book

I never expected to write a book.

After the pandemic kicked into high gear in 2020, I saw many people getting laid off or losing their jobs entirely. I wanted to help where I could, so I started letting my network know they could come to me for coaching.

Over time, much of my advice became repetitive. To save time with the many folks I was meeting with, I started compiling that advice into a checklist. Then it became a multi-page document, and then boom! What I was sharing was the beginning of a book. It snuck up on me, to be honest—a happy accident.?

Much like the advice I was sharing, I wanted this book to be a handbook for professionals interested in growing their networks than a narrative of my career progression.

The process of writing and publishing my first book was a huge learning experience for me, one that I will always be grateful for. If you are considering writing a book or are just interested in the process, here are five lessons I learned when writing my first book.

It's essential to have a defined audience for your book.

When I started writing, I needed to figure out who would be reading my book. My chapters had specific purposes, and each section flowed logically from one another so that the audience could easily comprehend what was going on in any given paragraph or chapter without feeling lost. I knew who they were because I was once like them and needed a solid process to manage my network for the long term.

Having a clear audience in mind for my book made the writing process much smoother and helped me stay on track.?

It's OK to ask for help.

When I first started writing, I focused on doing it all myself. But after a while, I realized that was not sustainable or necessary. Asking for help doesn't make you weak; it makes you bright. I reached out to friends and colleagues who were better writers than me and asked for their feedback. I asked people to contribute their experiences in networking and if I could quote them in the book. Those quotes gave me even more ideas on what I should focus on and, in the end, made the book even more relevant.

After all, it's a book about networking. How could I do it without including my network?

It will take much longer to publish than you expect.

I thought writing the book would take the longest time, but a lot goes into publishing a book, from editing to design to marketing. The publishing process took me about nine months, from start to finish. If you're thinking about writing a book, be prepared for it to take at least a few more months than you initially thought.

Don't let that discourage you. There are a lot of abandoned manuscripts out there, so don't add yours to the pile. Your experience is valuable, so don't suppress it from others.

You need an excellent team to help you publish.

I was lucky enough to have the support of my wife, friends, and business partners throughout the process of writing and publishing my book. But I also realized that you need experienced people to help make the process run smoothly. For example, you'll need an experienced editor to help you make your book the best it can be. You'll also need a good designer to help with the cover and interior layout.

Dara Beevas and the great folks at Wise Ink Media helped me tremendously, and I can't thank them enough.

When unsure about the book and its overall value, your publisher is an essential voice of reason to help you get through those times of self-doubt.

You will learn a lot about yourself during the process.?

Publishing a book is a very personal experience. It's an opportunity to share your story and knowledge with the world. In the process, you will also learn more about yourself.?

Writing my book was a way to document what I had learned so far in my career. It was also a way to reflect on my networking journey and figure out what worked well for me and what didn't. I was able to audit my processes and mindset in a way I hadn't ever thought I'd be able to. Even if nobody reads the book, this experience alone gave me precious lessons I couldn't have achieved in any other way.

In conclusion.

Where is the book, you ask?

It's not available for purchase yet, but I hope to have it ready VERY soon. Remember, it will take much longer than you expect, so plan accordingly but promote early! ??

If you are interested in being alerted when the book is available, follow me here on LinkedIn and YouTube !

Despite all the challenges of writing a book, I had a lot of fun doing it. I am excited to share my knowledge and experience with others, and I am eager to see my vision come to life on the printed page. If you're thinking about writing a book, go for it! It's an enriching experience.?

Have you considered writing a book? What would it be about?

Let me know in the comments!