YOU could be AN AUTHOR by this time next year!

7 easy steps to starting your nonfiction book

1) Create a roadmap. It’s not that hard. You probably already have a topic in mind. Write it down on a piece of paper. Now write down 10 things you can explain about that topic. Voila! You have a working title and an outline. You can jazz up the words later.

2) Study your competition. Are there other books out there that cover your subject? Search for similar topics through online booksellers at amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com or borders.com, or check the U.S. Library of Congress at loc.gov and click on “Search our catalogs.” How is your book going to be different? What can you do to make it better than similar books?

3) Target your audience. Who’s going to read this book? CEOs? Hourly workers? History buffs? Cat lovers? You’ll need to keep these readers in mind as you write. Pretend you’re speaking to them and let the words pour out naturally. Remember to write to their level of understanding. It’s likely they don’t know as much about your subject matter as you do.

4) Think about marketing. How will you sell your book? You can’t expect it to fly off bookstore shelves just because of its interesting title. Will you sell it at your seminars? Promote it on a specialized web site? Publicize it through an organization because of your affiliation? What special skills or contacts do you have that will help this book sell?

5) Consider publishing options. Will you self-publish this book or go the traditional route and seek a big-name publishing house? If you self-publish, will you go through a boutique publishing company or a print-on-demand service? If you decide to seek a large publisher, do you need an agent?

6) Assemble your team. Look at your own strengths and then think about where you might need help. Are you so busy that you need a writing coach to walk you through the creative process and hold you accountable to deadlines? Do you want an editor to help make your writing as strong as it can be? Do you need a copy editor to go over the final manuscript and double-check behind you for spelling, grammar and style? Maybe you need an attorney to make sure you’re on firm legal ground. Or a publicist to help create a buzz about your book. Or an agent to represent you in approaching major publishing houses.

7) Vocalize your plans. Tell people you’re writing a book. Tell everyone you meet. Someone you tell may know someone who knows someone who can help you. And the more you say it, the more you believe it yourself. Before you know it, you will be an author!

Want to get started? Contact DiVerse Media for a free consultation. Click here to download our WORKSHEET.

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