Can you write a book in a week?
Debbie Jenkins
?Ready to turn your ideas into a business asset? Let’s chat about your book strategy.? I help experts scale with your assets, not your time by writing, publishing & promoting SHORT VALUABLE BOOKS?
I regularly get asked a question along the lines of: “Can you write a book in a week? Or a Month? Or… [insert arbitrary magic number]?
My answer is usually: “Yes, it’s possible.”
Usually, this question comes after being sold on a program or package where the business owner believes they must have a book to become an authority. It’s my contention that whilst technically being an author gives you authority, being an authority gives you permission to write a book. If you’re racing down the fast track just to get your name on the cover of a book, let me ask you to pause for a moment.
Because, you’re not asking the right question…
A better question is “Should I write a book in a week.“
The answer to that is a resounding, “Maybe!”
I work with a client who once per year, every July, we write his next book, it’s become almost a tradition. In that month we rapidly go through the process of: create the working outline, refine the writing outline, recorded interviews, transcribe the recordings, write the chapters, edit, feedback, re-edit – to produce a draft of his book.
The reason we can do it so quickly is because during the year he has been regularly writing, publishing articles, delivering talks, running retreats, and testing out his ideas. We first write up a strong and detailed chapter outline based on his feedback throughout the year (working outline), then draft to the tested outline (writing outline).
After the month of writing, we send the draft out into the world. We test the draft with key people in his industry. Is it good enough? Do people understand? Is it clear, concise? We make edits, test again. Then it goes to a professional editor, before going to production.
So, whilst we write in one month, we’ve tested and polished throughout the year. And the full process takes many months.
The process we work through (and most people creating anything work through) is what I call the Chaos Constraints Creation Cycle.
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The process with my yearly client is:
Creation is the chief cause of chaos – so get used to it!
… we feed that chaos back into the process…
Repeat… the following year!
My client can do this because he writes to a very specific audience, a defined niche (grown from one real person), who are readily waiting to hear what he says during the year at retreats and conferences, and they’re smart enough to give him great feedback. He rewards their support with truly cutting edge thinking that helps them achieve what they need and get where they need to be (moves them from A to B). He understands their journey, pains, hassles, desires, wants and needs, and he delivers. He knows his book isn’t about him, it’s about them.
You know, your book isn’t about you, it’s about them. Except when it’s about you. Of course, if you’re just writing the book for yourself, you can do what you want! If you’re writing a book to be an author that’s OK, but if you’re going to the time, effort and cost to do it why not do a great job? Help someone, make a difference, and feel great about yourself.
So let “them” give you some important feedback, build this into your writing process, so you write a book that people want to read, that makes a difference and leaves a legacy.
Be good, and if you can’t be good be great!
PS: If you want my book on how to do this, it's in the comments!
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1 年One interesting use of books is as sales props. Write a book that entices readers to ask you for your solution. Distribute as many as you can for free. Eg at conferences where you are a speaker, five one to all participants.
Psychologist / Author / Executive Advisor / Board Director
2 年Debs helped me move through the chaos instead of being paralyzed by it. Get this book, but more importantly, hire her!
What's insightful in this for me is that it gives chaos a positive status. It's not that everyone else is sorted all the time while I have phases when I am definitely not, but that awkwardness, muddles and rethinking are a necessary part of the process towards creation. I can see that things need change and development before I can figure out what on earth to do to be organised enough get to actual, practical creation.
Helping you have richer conversations at work for greater clarity, better decisions and improved results | bestselling author, Top100 thought leader
2 年Matt Barnaby "a defined niche (grown from one real person)" :-)
Stop your readers getting distracted by wordy niggles?Business books?Fiction?The enthusiasm is palpable
2 年You make a great point, Debs – not ‘can’ you write a book in a week, but ‘should’ you?! The power of finding the right question to ask is often underrated!