Produce Your Bestseller—10 Tips for the Non-Writer

Any industry expert can become a published author. (To be a great writer, all you need is a great editor.) Here are 10 tips to get you started:

1) Have something important or interesting to share.
• Make sure it’s important to more than just you. (Survey your audience about whether they’ll find the topic useful. Or share knowledge about topics that clients have asked you about repeatedly.)
• Share your expertise or research others’ expertise (but then make it your own).

2) Find a unique or creative way to present it.
• Is any idea on earth really new? Perhaps not, but packaging old ideas in creative new ways will make you look like a brilliant original.

3) Create a business plan for the book itself.
• Include action steps and timelines (and rewards for when you reach milestones).
• Answer the following questions (and others): Will you approach a publisher or self-publish? Will you publish it in print or electronic format? Who will do the layout and design? Will you need illustrations or photos? How will you price it? How will you sell it?

4) Create an outline for the content.
• Your ideas may not flow logically unless you plot your thoughts on paper. Then once you’ve done so, enlist outside support. Rather than writing the entire book and sending it for editing or proofing, get a professional editor’s opinion on whether the outline flows logically. It will save you time, money, and pain in the form of rewrites.

5) Start writing.
• Set aside a specific time of day to do your writing. It’ll soon become part of your routine.
• Type your thoughts on your computer… or
• Write your thoughts down on paper… or
• Dictate your thoughts into a recorder… or
• Have someone interview you. (Draft questions in advance so you’re prepared.)
• Compile work you’ve authored in the past. (Have you shared content with clients over many issues of newsletters? Then compile all related information into a book on a specific subject.)
• Hire a gifted writer in your company to do the dirty work.
• Hire a ghostwriter.

6) Hire a professional editor and/or proofreader.
• Enlist at least one outside and objective opinion to challenge your arguments.
• A professional editor will help you choose a style manual or create an industry-specific style guide.
• A professional editor will help you avoid legal risk.

7) Hire a professional designer to do justice to your words.
• You’ve put in blood, sweat, and tears to complete your book or writing project. So don’t stop there. Make sure it is visually appealing as well—so you don’t lose your audience before they even start reading.

8) Hire a reputable printer.
• Talk to graphic designers to see who they’ve used for printing projects. Don’t risk not having your book ready on time.

9) Follow the rest of your business plan.
• Complete the rest of your plan, according to your original intentions. Don’t stop now.

10) Celebrate your accomplishment!
• Reward yourself for the hard work and time you’ve invested.
• Take at least a week off before starting your next book project!
• Enjoy whatever fame comes your way.