How To Write a Book Fast?
Ok, I am finally going to write a book. I have a publisher arranged and I am raring to go.
I obviously suck at writing so like most things in life I have developed a system to complete this task. I wanted to get a little feedback from other writers and share what I’ve tried so far…
Step #1 I bought & read every book I could find on the subject at hand
Step #2 I have interviewed 6 experts in the field
Step #3 I have created a clever hook and title
Step #4 I wrote a sub-title explains the biggest benefit for the reader to buy and read book
Step #5 I created 20 blue index cards with chapter names
Step #6 I have created 20 cards with sub-headlines for each thought in each chapter
Step #7 I have written a one sentence reminder of what I want to say on the back of each card
Step #8 I have written a closing page
Step #9 I threw away 5 whole chapters and 5 thought cards from each chapter
Step #10 I have written the table of contents as burning questions
My plan is to pull out one of the cared at a time and write for no more than 10 minutes. That’s 38 hours of actual writing time. I should be able to complete my book in less than 30 days at this pace working on it part time
Questions:
One: Experienced writers, am I crazy? Will this work?
Two: What would you write about if you wrote a book?
Three: Do you want me to post about my progress
P.S. If anyone is interested in helping me with this project please contact me here or DM me on Twitter
Thanks for commenting, I NEED your input, lease help
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Hey Perry, please DO post your progress! Very interesting….I've written a few myself "under the gun so to speak, not an easy task. I'll be keeping an eye on your blog
-Erich
Your plan for writing your book sounds great and should work very well. The post is not dated, so you may have finished the project by now — but I have a suggestion.
Next time you might consider mindmapping your book using some of the excellent software that is available to do this. Mindmapping will do for you basically what your blue cards do. But it is a powerful tool for getting the whole picture of what you want to say in front of you and then organizing it as you wish.
The software lets you just brainstorm what you want to say, arranging it in chapters/topics/subtopics. You can drag and drop items to different parts of the map. You can capture ideas and how you want to express them as you go — you know, those brilliant turns of phrase you come up with and then cannot remember exactly to save your neck. It will also allow you to list references, etc. that you may need to go back to.
I recommend FreeMind which is open source software available at http://freemind.sourceforge.net. It is simple to learn, very powerful — and FREE. It has been used to map projects much more complex than a book. But it is ideal for structuring a writing project.
Thank you for your greatest job
Hey Perry – good plan – here's a simple plan from a New York Times Best Seller author on how he writes his books.
http://thinkinghow.com/simple-process-to-manage-y...
It should fit really easily your plan – which is great. (don't mind if I steal that too….)
Hi Perry
I think just almost everything has been said. The only point I would make would be not to regiment too much. If you don't have much to say about a particular topic or sub topic, then just say what you want and no more. Don't force it.
Good Luck
Joe
Great post! Sounds like a good way to make content for a pay site too! Thats pretty much how i do it
Hi Perry
This copywriter in the UK wishes you luck! Here's an easy way for anybody to get their own book. Find nine co-writers in the same field or area of interest. Write one chapter each (have a tempplate format, keep it short and sweet). All contirbutors can use the whole ten chapter book for their own purposes so long as they don't change what others have written. Write a foreword and put your name on the front as the editor. You now have something to give away free or sell to your list. You also have nine other people promoting your work. Rinse and repeat…Best wishes Keith Grover, UK Copywriter
good luck!!!!!!
Good plan for someone who has a day job as well as the writing – I have to juggle the front end of a business and the creative behind it and I work in a similar way – bitesize chunks regularly.
Only two suggestions:
- Keep the bits that you threw out to one side. Your instincts are probably right, but you may find as you flesh out the bits you kept, that some of them are too thin. When you market test some of the ones you threw out may actually be some of the bits your readers want.
- Get customers to read it. Editors or fellow writers are good for style but ultimately customers are the best proof readers for saleability. I always get teachers to trial my stuff in class as well as children to read them and I make notes on what doesn't flow well in practice. Really important when your work includes instructions which will have to be implemented. Consider asking some potential customers WHO ARE NOT WRITERS to read it and test what they understand.
The style is important if you want acclaim, the content is more critical if you want word-of-mouth from the people you want to sell to.
Good luck!
Perry,
First off, I am not a writer, so even though I attempt to write an article everyday, I don't think I will be getting a Pulitzer anytime soon.
A couple of thoughts came to mind though.
> What makes interviewing 6 experts in the field the right amount? Did they give you that much info that you can reference them through each chapter? Or did they just validate your original thoughts?
> Is there an action step at the end of each chapter that will reinforce the thoughts you laid out in that chapter?
> How long did it take to write this post? I am thinking you might have 10 minutes into that to get it where you wanted to be. Are you setting yourself up for the best opportunity for success? I know you are busy, but can you give justice to the chapter points you want to make in 10 minutes? And how did you come up with that number?
Bottom line, of course, we want to be inspired by your progress (or at least I do)
Congrats on getting the ball rolling. Looking forward to seeing and reading about the journey.
It sounds like a fairly good system for someone with ADD! Perry you're a darn good speaker so whay not just spek to the subject of the outline you have?
Get it typed and then spend ya time editing or leave the editor to earn their money.
If you want feedback or proof reading gimme a shout
Alex
NOPE … I disagree!
It shouldn't take you a month.
It should take a couple of days max, after the outline is created. In fact — don't outline exactly … just mind map each chapter and turn on your Audio Firehose!
Outline it, then "teach" the outline on audio. Then, have it transcribed. Then either clean it up yourself or have someone do it — cheap.
2 hours of teaching is 180 page book … 4 hours is "Bigger" … ha ha! 6 hours, and you need to start talking about splitting into two books.
You'll be done in a week — or less!
I"ve done it before, and helped others do it.
Cheers,
JP Maroney
aka Mr Monetizer
http://www.jpmaroney.com
PS: Buzz me and I'll walk you through the process.
hi perry
a good basic blue print to get off ones butt and start taking action speaking as someone who a few years ago set out to write an ebook and never finished it typical
i got hung up on it being perfect impossible wasred so much time and finally after about 18 months
packed in the whole idea
regards
peter mcgrath
my typing is slow so
i create a mind map with the chapters and points i want to cover in the chapters and then read/ record each chapter and the points included and get my va to transcribe it for me.
Hi Perry
I have a couple of books on the go, so thanks for the clarity your plan brings to my task. Some of the comments above have real insight, too, so thanks to contributors also.
If you'd like a guinea pig them I'm keen
My two books are
1) Math Basics For Parents
2) Beyond Think and Go Rich
Thanks
Stephen Barrett
New Zealand
Perry, keep going on your venture quest for creativity. I think it's great and I respect you for getting out there and doing, not trying, but actually doing it. Good Luck on your writing adventure.
Perry – this is great. I'd like to give you a free review copy of my new book The Wealthy Author. I think you'll like what's on page 44 a lot. It's a 58,000 word non-fiction book and took me 9 (8 hour) days to complete using the approach I outline in the book. You can DM me at http://www.twitter.com/bookshaker
Hi Perry,
Congrats on your decision to write a book.
Can't wait to find out what it's about.
I'm considering writing my own book too and purchased "Author & Grow Rich" by Glen Dietzel.
It outlines how to write a book from beginning to end in only 12 hours!
I've found it pretty useful.
And all the tips provided by everyone else have been invaluable too.
Thanks everyone for your contributions.
Dave
Hey Perry,
I hope the following is of help. Based on the feed back here I have put together the following collective community steps to help myself with your great idea.
The Belcher Blog; 21 Steps to Easily Write Your First Book
Step 1: Whom do I want to write to? Who is my perfect client?
Step 2: What is the over all point that I wish to convey to my reader? What do I want them to take away?
Step 3: Buy & read the most successful books on the subject.
Step 4: Create a clever hook and title. Write the books that will remain on the backlists as long as possible. You want a relevant title that can sell for at least the next twenty years.
Step 5: Come up with 3 – 5 problems and the solutions for these problems
Step 6: Select the biggest problem and write a sub-title explaining to the reader the benefit in a way that makes the book a “must read”.
Step 7: Take 20 index cards and create chapter names.
Step 8: Take 20 more index cards of a different color to write out sub-headlines for each chapter thought.
Step 9: Write a reminder on the back of each card of what I will want to write about.
Step 10: Write a closing page to the book. Starting with "THE END" in mind.
Step 11: Organize the cards and then write out the chapter names in the form of a question.
Step 12: Set up a time with my “perfect client” who can drill me on the questions while it is recorded.
Step 13: Prepare as many “stories” for each question to illustrate the main point of your answer. Interesting and ‘entertaining’ points make the best connection with the reader.
Step 14: Have the recordings transcribed.
Step 15: After getting the transcription back go through that transcription, quickly tidying up anything the transcriber missed, then get the transcription into the hands of 3-4 volunteers to add feed back and additional questions.
Step 16: Read over the transcription and comments from the volunteers each day spending no more than 10 minutes adding or subtracting content.
Step 17: Hire a writer/ editor
Step 18: After the manuscript comes back for final review then have it typeset.
Step 19: Have the cover graphics created along with the website and sales copy.
Step 20: Get an ISBN, Amazon listing, etc.
Step 21: Sell books.
write how you speak! I use a speaking program to get my script read back to me aloud so i can hear how it sounds. Avoid passive speech – e.g. the ball was thrown by john instead of John threw the ball.
don't write huge sentences, split them up with commas or full stops.
Found 5 more suggestions: writters site, software, self publishing idea. http://mashable.com/2009/09/16/write-novel/
Lots of good advice above, hopefully I'll add to it. As a copywriter I not only write several "books" a year worth of online and offline collateral. from time to time I've also had to ghostwrite some client books just to make sure they met the launch deadline.
And I thought I had it down pat and then this post from you with some things I hadn't thought of, so I'm wrapping them into my process.
Eating the writing elephant one bite at a time is, inspired. Like you I write the closing. I also write the headline and lead early on. Other than that I break the collateral down into sections and set deadlines to have at least the roughs of them done.
Step #10 is a… ahem, novel approach. I like it. I'd ditch the cards and use the digital equvalent though. I do my roughs in Microsoft OneNote because it's easy to move the pieces around to see how they might fit together.
Copywriters who write anything else have a distinct advantage because we're used to writing to produce an effect with every sentence.
Twitter handle below if you'd like some help.
http://www.twitter.com/walterterry
That's a good system. Do I smell another ebook?
I used 3×5 cards in writing two screenplays (which sold but never got filmed) and they worked well. I also used variations of what you laid out, but not as thoroughly for a couple of books too.
You've asked for advice and you have a lot of it. I would say to write in your own "voice." Be Perry, well mostly, maybe not all.
Be careful of perfiction, uh, perfuctin, I mean getting everything purfect.
Oh, and be sure to get a spell checker too. I could recommend mine if you like.
Do use a professional editor. You can afford it. First, a line editor. Someone who simply corrects grammar, spelling, and maybe some ideas about basic layout and structure that you might change.
You're writing pretty straight forward instruction, but there's no reason why you can't write your own story within it too. It's inspiring and certainly will show others they can do it too. Imagine if you'd had the information you're about to write for others when you started out.
Stay open but reamin true to yourself and your ideals.
Write on!
Tom Justin
Dont forget to send rough drafts to famous people to endorse your book. Robt Kiyosaki's (Rich Dad)latest book "Conspiracy of the Rich" was advertised as the first interactive book. He published a chapter online and asked for comments; would you like to be the 2nd using this method? Publish your own book on Blurb (see Mashable) and cut out the middle man. Dont forget to publish for Kindle (Digital Reader) they are 1/3 of Amazons profits. You can buy a lock so people cant print or copy your work.
I'd like to see your progress as you go along.
Plans are essential for non-fiction. Otherwise you're bound to leave out something important. You say your book will be completed in 30 days but I think you mean you'll have a first draft in 30 days. As Hemingway said, the first draft of anything is shit. Always. The problem is that when you've put in a whole lot of work, you're not in the best frame of mind to be objective about your 'baby'. So you'll need to put it aside for a while before you rewrite and polish. Great way to get started, though. Good luck.
Wow some great comments on your writing adventure. Good work man sound like a great plan.
One thing I thought of is why not make your chapter headings related to long tail phrase in the niche you are writing in.
Then set up some mini sites related to each chapter pointing back to the book?
Just a thought, hmm, think I might try that myself
Start writing/typing.
Hi Perry,
I totally love the idea. I've written my first little e-book recently and I just slogged through it – it was fun but took effort and dedication – and that was only for 40 pages! (now I just need to figure out how to sell it!)
I have recently started on a "proper" grown up book and I keep stumbling, putting it down, picking it up and putting it down again. Thanks not only for a brilliant idea for keeping up the pace but also for generating so much feedback from your readers on this blog, the advice they are giving is invaluable for anyone in my position.
We would love to feature a story about your progress on http://www.AspiringMultiMillionaires.com if you would be interested.
Best of luck
Paul
Perry, with all the added content you got in just a few hours from people here giving advice about "How to Write a Book Fast" it wouldn;t surprise me if your admittedly lazy self ended up quickly writing a book about "How to Write a Book Fast" and you are now on Step 11 which you didn't put in your system above- which is "Step 11" Empower Others tin Your Influence Base to Create As Much of the Book's Content As Possible (using the Social Media Matrix strategies I teach to reach as many people as possible with the message)", and then you can go on to "Step 12: Tying it All ogether By Connecting the Dots"…after that "Step 13: Edit book" can be outsourced to a better writer than you, "Step 14: Get book Published" is already lined up ready to go…
I think you'll do it. You seem like the kind of guy who can do what you put your mind to. Based on your blog, you could use a good proofer and copy editor (not trying to insult you, just being straightforward). I do want to see your progress. I do want to hear the story, and I applaud your writing ambition and having a publisher lined up. Great! Write on!
Perry,
Sounds like you already have all the hard work done.
Would love to follow your progress.
Good luck!
Sylvia
Hi Perry,
Thanks for sharing your steps in writing a book. I believe that passion about a subject matter that we are very familiar with would add great flavor and style in terms of making the book sound real, practical and meets the reader's expectations and application in their daily lives.
I have written 3 full length books and hundreds of articles, and I *always* use Mind Maps for brainstorming, organizing the material, and putting in the summary paragraph of each section, and then fleshing it out. When I export to a document it is basically ready for final editing and fine tuning. Using this method allows me to see visually how all the parts fit together, and when i want to reorder things or play around with different concepts, I can do it easily, right on the screen. Very powerful. Very flexible.
I use NovaMind http://www.novamind.com because they have the best overall product, are much more responsive and helpful than other companies, and let me make visually stunning Mind Maps very easily.
All the best with your writing.
You need a good story to start each chapter
You need good stories to illustrate each point.
You need interesting ways to connect each section.
Simple stuff will work, complicated won't.
Mahesh Grossman, author, Write a Book Without Lifting a Finger
http://www.AuthorsMBAblog.com
http://www.GetAnAgentNow.com
Love the organisation strategy, that will certainly help me in my writing! Although I've thought about using mind maps too – just another way to skin the cat.
I think Tracey's advice to get a proof reader is valid – I suck at proof reading me own stuff.
Best of luck I look forward to the updates.
Best
Steve Cockrane
Question: Did you not have to write a formal book proposal for this publisher? If not, that's too bad because although it's a pain in the butt, the book is easier to write after that. Among other things the proposal includes main premise, comparison to other similar books on the market (your competition), chapter titles and 2-paragraph summary for each chapter, and two sample chapters completely written. After I've done the book proposal, the actual writing is something like coloring in the picture in the coloring book. The proposal draws the picture. The writing colors it in. The chapter progression and chapter summaries go a long way in helping chart the course for your book. Get a good book on writing non-fiction book proposals.
My suggestions are simple: Write as you speak. Speak from the heart. Be honest. Write quickly as thoughts come to mind, Don't use words that end in 'ing' if you can avoid it. Rephrase the sentence if you have to. Finish the manuscript and then….Start to edit.
I know of no faster way to write a book, an article, or a note on a post it sticker.
Good Luck and Enjoy!
Perry, one thing to remember is that it's important to get the info from your brain onto the paper, no matter how "rough" it is. We tend to edit ourselves when we write and that stifles our brains. Get it out, worry about proofing, prettying, and editing later. It took me a while to learn that (former teacher so had some serious programming to erase), but my writing is now faster and better than it was before.
Hope that helps.
That'll work! My guess is that with all the work you've already put into it the book is already written!
What will stop you from getting it completed in 30 days?
If I were to write a book it would be about how to lighten up on your way to success.
And YES! Share the process and post your progress!!!
–Mary K
¸..· ´¨¨)) -:¦:-
¸.·´ .·´¨¨))
((¸¸.·´ ..·´ -:¦:-
-:¦:- ((¸¸.·´* Light
EXPECT MIRACLES!
Whew! Perry for a minute there I thought I was going to run out of excuses for not writing my own stuff but as usual you came through! Now I can justify my inactivity for at least as long as you are on this because I can say I am checking out your process.
So, will it work? Who knows!
Either way take your time!
I'm currently finishing the final manuscript edits for my 11th book "When Will My Life Not Suck"? The other 10 (all non-fiction) are still in print with traditional publishers as will WWMLNS. Stop kidding yourself. Writing a book, at least a good one, is pregancy, labor, and delivery. It's not gonna pop out like a Pez from the dispenser. Rush it and you'll regret it, maybe not from a sales standpoint, but from your own evaluation of its quality AFTER it's published because you'll think of a hundred things you'd change if you could. A book has to simmer and marinate. Book writing is writing and revision, writing and revision and more revision. Renowned novelist James Michner once said, "I'm not a great writer; I'm a great re-writer."
Perry, I've heard it said that writing is easy….re-writing is hard! Your plan is brilliant because it helps you accomplish the most important thing–the first draft. Then, you can follow the advice of some other commentators to improve the follow-up drafts until you are ready to publish. Way to go and much success on this project!
I love this idea! I can totally imagine this working for me. Thank you!
I like the clean and modern open uncluttered LOOK. Try now and then to put in something New you have noticed and learned from, it helps to draw attention to our thinking more about it.
It seems we read so much that we never really see the things that are there: EXAMPLE-Teach a little lesson no matter how simple it is to you, It might set up a following to a group that can build on the subject
by returning for each new one.
Also ask that group for a to ask A simple Short Question that you MIGHT glean from and answer in a QUESTION-Answer's Section-Later .
CHECK OUT LINK BELOW FOR SOME IDEAS FOR YOUR OWN LAUNCH E-Book Building!! Manly
eBooksWriterLITE_e.exe
Perry I also wanted to write a book like you but it seems an enormous task. I suggest post this to elance and let someone write for you.
Another suggestion, why not let your readers help you write the book, each chapter post it on your blog and let your readers talk about it that would be a great idea. Surely someone will lend a hand…
Congratulations on doing your first book. My advice, see how the great ones do it (Ziglar, Trump, Kiyosaki). I am sure you can't go wrong if you follow New York Times best sellers, right???LOL I anxiously await, ready to find out more of who you are, and what you stand for, and how you help others. Write what you know and feel, let the editors do the rest.
Dude, I have to be honest. I hate writing
My suggestion is to dictate your thoughts and have someone else put them into print.
Did you read Annie Lamont's "Bird by Bird"?
I haven't yet…turn me on
Hey Perry,
Sounds like you’re on course. I teach people how to write and publish their book. you’re doing a lot of what I teach. A few keys to remember:
1. know exactly who you are writing to… imagine writing to that one perfect client.
2. Organize, organize, organize. The more organized your “points” are, the easier the rest of the process is.
3. Try a keep your cost per book as low as possible with ordering a very low minimum. (ex. I can get my book printed for $2.22 each with NO minimum order) This means you can maximize profits, or afford to give them away as a “fancy business card.”
Love your stuff!
BTW My last book was written, published, and listed on amazon in only 3-weeks.