Samples of Cindy's Writing . . .

 

 

                       

 

 

Non-Fiction Handbook Writing Sample

Ten Steps to Self-Publishing

(Introduction and First Chapter only)

INTRODUCTION

 

If you have ever written a book and then attempted to find a publisher, you probably have a stack of rejection letters to show for all your efforts and an enormous feeling of frustration. Maybe you don’t want to win the Nobel Prize for Literature. Perhaps you just want to share your efforts with family and friends or use your book as a fundraiser for your club or church. Self-publishing your work is a viable option that can give you the opportunity to showcase what you have done and to experience the satisfaction of holding your very own book in your hands.  

 

In the heady world of self-publishing, there are many different options and service providers. Bear in mind that print on demand publishers are in the business to make money, not for you, the author, but for themselves. Printing books is an expensive business, whether you use a print on demand publisher or a traditional printer. Of course, you are not confined to print: e-books present a viable and affordable option for self-publishers. This book will help you make informed choices and select the best route for you. 

 

Why Do It?

 

Many writers have a story to tell, knowledge to impart, experiences to share. The convenience of a PC has turned so many people into writers and inspired even more with the dream of becoming an author. Whether you are in the writing business to make money, to satisfy that inner voice or nurture the creative spirit within you, this book will help you get started on the journey and see your dream through to a completed project: a published book!

 

You’re about to recycle your manuscript and forget about your dreams of being an author. You’ve been turned down so often you just don’t feel like going the rounds once more and getting yet another generic rejection letter. Still, there is a small voice inside you telling you that maybe you have a winner on your hands. You just need a lucky break. Rather than turn to a vanity press and admit complete defeat, you want to tackle the job of seeing your manuscript through to the final product, then market and sell it yourself. Hey, you never know, you might just have a bestseller on your hands.

 

If you are a successful business owner or executive, publishing your book can give a huge boost to your career and even fast track you to the top. By sharing your expertise with people, you can put your business on the map and not only boost sales but also profits. Having a book to your name gives you the status of an ‘expert’ in your field and lends you that all-important air of credibility. Not only will you find that you are suddenly in demand as a valued consultant, but also organizations will vie to have you as their next guest speaker. As you can see, the positive spin-offs are enormous.

 

Many people have successfully made a career by starting with publishing their first book. People like Mark Victor Hansen, who self-published his first book and went on to make a billion-dollar business out of it, shows what is possible through self-publishing. Seminars, DVDs, software, CDs and coaching are just some of the possibilities for you to launch a successful career after publishing your first book.

 

Ok, now let’s get started in getting you to become a book author!

 

CHAPTER ONE: GETTING STARTED

 

Generating Ideas

 

Keep a Clipping File

 

All books begin with an idea. Where do you find the ideas that you can transform into a book? One way is to keep a clipping file. Often when you are reading a newspaper or magazine, you come across an account of a true event that is so extraordinary as to be almost unbelievable. There is the stuff upon which fiction is built. Or perhaps you found an article that talks about an area in which you have some expertise or interest. Sometimes the article includes an interview with an expert in the field. Once you have formulated your ideas, perhaps written a few sample chapters, you could run them by this expert, get some useful feedback and when the book is completed, send him or her a copy of your book with a view to getting a valuable endorsement.

 

Make it New: Thinking Outside the Box

 

If you feel that you just cannot come up with an original idea, often you can approach a topic from a slightly different angle. Instead of writing yet another book about toilet training for toddlers, think about it from the perspective of the toddler himself and inject a little humor into the subject.  

 

Hobbies and Interests

 

Look to your hobbies for possible book ideas. Maybe your passion is going to flea markets and garage sales. Over the years, you have developed some great techniques to ensure you get some fantastic deals. It is not something you’ve thought about, just what you’ve learned from your experience. Along the way, you have picked up some knowledge about antiques and you have learned how to spot the genuine article. You have honed your haggling to a fine art, bought some great stuff and made a killing on e-bay. Hey, what a great topic for a book:  Flea Marketing for Dummies.

 

Writing From Hands-On Experience

 

Maybe you are a stay-at-home mum with a gaggle of kiddies to look after. Think about all the neat little craft projects you do with them, from baking soda volcanoes to paper maché monsters. Wouldn’t other mums and daycare providers just love to have a kit with all the goodies for a specific project, or a handy book with easy to read, step-by-step instructions? See how easy it is to come up with great ideas from your everyday routines.

 

The World of Work

 

Perhaps you are running your own home-based business. It wasn’t easy getting the whole thing started and there were lots of obstacles in the way. Why not write a manual for other people who have escaped from the traditional 9 to 5 office job or who are thinking of opting out of the daily commute and becoming their own boss? You can make money by sharing the benefit of your experience with others, whatever you do.

 

Use your Imagination

 

Don’t feel you must be constrained within the boundaries of your own knowledge and experience. Some writers will tell you that you should only write about what you know. If every freelance writer followed that advice, he would starve before he wrote an article. 

 

Develop your research skills, find out where to get the information you need, and

understand that you can write about virtually anything. If you want to set your book in the Middle Ages and write about making beer the medieval way, then do some thorough research, become an expert and go for it.  

 

Questions to Ask Yourself

 

Immerse yourself in popular culture to find topical ideas for books. Check out talk shows on TV and radio to discover what pushes buttons and gets buzz. Surf the Web for ezines: see what sells and what you can do with a slightly different approach. Next time you find yourself in the supermarket, spend some time looking at the racks of magazines. Based on what you read, see and hear, ask yourself these questions:

 

       What do people want out of life?

 

             More money              Leisure Time               Good Relationships

             No Stress                    Good Job                     Interesting Hobbies

             Sports                         Good Health                Time to Relax

 

       Who are the groups these articles target?

 

Baby boomers represent a huge target audience. For the most part, they are rich and successful, they refuse to grow old and they want the good life, the best their money can buy...What can you offer this demanding group of consumers that will help them attain their goals?

 

       Families represent another interest group. Name a big issue that may be on the mind of a parent.

            How to juggle career and family life

                        How to make time for the kids

            How to make time for yourself

            How to keep the romance alive in the marriage

                        How to reduce stress in the holidays

 

       Take a look at seniors as a focus group. What issues concern them?

Staying healthy

Keeping fit

Maintaining their independence

Personal finances

Keeping in touch with family

 

How to find a winning topic that sells

 

Now you have gained some valuable insights into targeting audiences and what drives them. Finances, time, leisure, love, work and health issues dominate the headlines of popular magazines and the line-up on talk shows. If you want to further refine your research into hot topics, try these sites:

http://inventory.overture.com/d/searchinventory/suggestion/ 

http://groups.google.com

Overture will let you know how popular each keyword is based on the number of searches in the past month. That will give you a good idea whether your topic is one in demand. Google groups is a good place to find out people’s concerns and problems, to which you may just have the solution to. 

 

Choose a topic that fits into one of these basic categories, and then make it appear easy to achieve the desired goal by providing step-by-step strategies. You want the goal to appear attainable, so always put a number value on your topic: “Twelve Easy Steps to…..” or “Thirty Ways to…..” By encouraging your audience to feel that they can achieve this goal, they will feel more compelled to buy your book. 

 

Topic Examples for Self-Help Books

 

Check out some of the following ideas when planning your book:

 

·         Getting Ready for Christmas: Ten New Approaches to Gift Buying

·         Twenty Terrific Ways to Keep Stress out of Christmas

·         Pay Your Bills on Time:  Ten Steps to Staying Ahead of the Game

·         Staying Healthy at a Desk Job:  Ten Fun Exercises to Do at Work

·         Calamity Cleanup at Home in Five Easy Steps a Day

·         Messiness Madness: Ten Tools to Sanity

·         How to Get Along with Extended Family: Fifteen Ways to Keep Peace

·         Keep Romance Alive: Twenty-five Ways to say, “I Love You”

·         How to Avoid Morning Madness: Six Simple Strategies to Getting Your Act in Gear

·         Ten Ways to Making your Do List Doable

·         Ten Ways to Help Your Child ‘Beat’ the Bully

·         Ten Valuable Ways to Save a Troubled Marriage

·         Empty Nesters: Twenty Ways to Keeping Your Life Full

·         How to Get a Raise in Ten Easy Days

·         How to Plan a Successful Wedding

·         Eight Steps to Practical Party Planning

·         Finding a Hot Deal in Obtaining a Mortgage

·         Ten Shopping Tips for Getting a Great Price  

·         Fifteen Ways to Finding a Great Job

·         Seven Steps to Strategizing for a Successful Retirement

·         A Helpful Handbook for Putting Fun in your Party

·         Ten Terrific Birthday Themes and How to Make them Fun

·         Ten Stress-Free Strategies to Taking Time for Yourself