Welcome back! Today’s post, the second in the “Self-Publish a Book” series is all about writing a great book. It doesn’t have to be the greatest book ever written, but as long as it appeals to a certain audience enough for them to write a good review, or recommend to a friend, you will be well on your way to finding success.
In the self-publishing world, there are anomalies: objectively terrible books which sell plenty of copies simply because the author is a skilled marketer. But who in their right mind sets out to write a bad book? Not you, I’m sure 😉
I won’t bore you with a list of hard-and-fast rules for what constitutes a good book. That being said, I’d love to point out some common habits shared by the most prolific and successful writers:
Read a lot of books
A good book teaches you a lot about writing. Read every book that has enjoyed critical acclaim and popularity in your genre, and try to analyze what makes these books different. Pay attention to things like the story, plot structure, and characterization. Go back to your own draft and see if you can apply your learning.
Make sure you have a plan
If you’re writing a novel, it’s often a good idea to “plot” your story beforehand. Chart how one event leads to another, which then causes a third thing to happen: you know, the story.
Diving into your first draft without a thoroughly developed structure will make it difficult to keep track of how your story progresses. When you’re dealing with tens of thousands of words, the last thing you want is to get overwhelmed and stop writing!
Know your audience
Are you writing for a young audience? For business professionals? Will they be fans of Dan Brown or Noam Chomsky? Knowing who your book is aimed at will not only help you choose the right tone and content, it will prove invaluable once you kick off your marketing efforts.
Give yourself deadlines
Do not get stuck in an endless loop of incessantly editing a chapter. We’re not saying that you should rush; merely suggesting you give your book the time it deserves by making sure you maintain a steady level of productivity. The National Novel Writing Month, where hundreds of participants write over 50,000 words in one month, is a perfect example of how clear goals and deadlines can do wonders for your writing process.
That’s all for this post! In the next post, we’ll be looking at something that will make or break your book: editing.
Even a failed screenwriter like myself can appreciate the common habits of successful writers. It is much the same for screenwriting. I can write a mean script, but I could never jump into the fray in order to market it. However the experience allowed me to write better and with more authority. You have some really good advice on your site. Thank you.
Hi Candace.
I’m glad you like the content. Please let me know if you want me to explore anything specific.
Thanks for stopping by!
Marios
You’re absolutely right Marios. Reading lots of books can really gain you a lot of insights of the author, their experiences and wisdom. For me reading books are a great way to get me mentored. I can learn from them and apply it in my own life. You’re right about choosing an audience and adjusting accordingly to their medium of communication. It’s an essential skill to have because you can repeat this process to another audience with a different means of communicating.
Thank you for your insights.
Jose
Hey Jose,
Thanks for your kind words. I agree, books are the cheapest way to get mentored. That’s why successful people read a lot. And it is also true that you should know your audience, as a writer or a blogger. It makes things so much easier.
Thanks for stopping by!
Marios
Your advice looks simple and easy to follow. Having a plan about the content and structure of the book makes it a lot easier for your rate of writing. I remember how I struggled in trying to put my ideas into book without having a proper structure to follow. Everything became a bit easier and flowed smoothly when I spent a lot of time into the overall structure of the book.
In your own opinion how long do you think it should take one to complete writing a book with a good plan and laid out structure?
Hey there,
It depends on the book. But as with a blog post, the structure is essential to the success of the book. I’d say for a small book, treat every chapter as a series of blog posts. And plan accordingly. You could record the book, and have someone else typing it for you!
Thanks a lot!
Marios
Writing and publishing an ebook on an important subject is another way for writers and bloggers to make money in this digital age, I’ve spent a few dollars buying ebooks on various subjects that interest me. I totally agree with the third point that says ; Know your Audience, It is the most important from my own perspective because it determines a whole lot of other factors to be considered.
Hey there,
It is true for everything you do. You should define and know your audience. Because you write for them, not for you (maybe a bit for you, but the target is the audience).
Thanks for stopping by!
Marios