5 Things to Consider Before Writing A Book
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Most individuals would want to write a book, but maybe you feel you aren’t up to the task. However, as anybody who has followed through and published a book will attest, the process can be lengthy and laborious. There is a lot of stuff to consider before writing a book.
To succeed, it is critical to plan and prepare ahead of time. Hard work pays off: the longer you invest, the higher your odds of receiving a final manuscript of your book.
Ready? Follow these crucial steps before you begin writing your first word.
1. Determine the Subject of Your Book
You may believe that the first step in writing a book is to answer the question, “What do you want to write about?” However, this is perhaps the second most critical issue. Rather than that, the important issue you must address before proceeding is: Why are you writing your book?
Why Is It Important to Know Your Book’s Goal?
It takes a lot of effort to write a book. Maintaining enough momentum to accomplish the job, as with many long-term endeavors, will necessitate some substantial incentive.
However, the majority of prospective authors never complete their works.
This is why it is critical to focus on your reason for creating your book. Make it clear how you define your goal. What does success mean to you?
When you have a clear and important mission, it is easier to stay motivated and focused.
What Are Some Reasons To Write A Book?
There is no correct response to why you are writing a book. Try asking yourself the following questions to discover your “why”:
Are you attempting to advance your career or business?
Are you attempting to assist your readers in resolving a problem?
Are you attempting to become wealthy and famous?
Are you attempting to entertain your readers?
Are you attempting to persuade your audience to do something?
The answer to the aforementioned questions will influence you in what you write, how you are going to publish it, and whether you are satisfied with the final output.
2. Define Your Target Audience
Knowing why you are writing a book might also help you figure out who your target audience is.
Who do you envision as your ideal reader? The answer to this question will assist you in determining the appropriate topic, approach, and tone of your book/manuscript.
3. Define the Book’s/Manuscript’s Subject
You may already have an idea of what you want to write about. Alternatively, you may have multiple ideas and only need to filter them down to one. If you have been following the steps in this blog post, you’ve already determined what you want to achieve with your book.
Assume you wish to assist people in accomplishing a goal, such as being a better individual. The next step is to become more particular.
How can you assist your readers in becoming better individuals? Do you want to assist them in resolving their conflict with their adolescent? Or maybe to give them tips on how to be better in their day-to-day practices?
Whatever you choose to write about, it must be something that is significant to you or that you are knowledgeable about. You’ll be spending a lot of time with your book/manuscript, so if you’re not particularly interested in it, it’ll be difficult to keep hanging out with it when you’re just halfway through.
4. Conduct A Competitive Analysis on Your Book Idea
The next step in the process is to determine your proposal is viable. Unless you’re creating a book for strictly personal reasons, you should consider if your book is worth writing in the first place.
Here’s what you should know:
Is there a demand for it?
Is it already in the works?
How do you make your book/manuscript stand out from the crowd?
The basic steps outlined here will assist you in determining the viability of your book concept.
Look for books that are similar to yours.
A smart way to start is to just search on Amazon for books that are slightly comparable to yours.
If you’re writing nonfiction books/materials, type in your topic and see what comes up. Concentrate on materials that were published recently (within the last one to three years). Spend no time on the classics because they will not assist you in gaining insights into the present market.
Is there are a lot of books on your chosen subject? If there is a lot, that doesn’t imply there isn’t a place for more. However, it implies you should consider what special perspective your book can cover to make it stand out.
Look for other works in your genre if you’re creating fiction. To put it in another way, what category does it belong to? Popular genres include historical fiction, romance, fantasy, comedy, and science fiction.
Examine Amazon’s Bestseller Lists
To find out what’s selling the most, go to Amazon’s Bestsellers page and choose the category that perfectly suits the idea of your book.
The goal here is not to duplicate what is currently available. Your goal is to gain an understanding of the market. Examine the descriptions and reviews of the bestselling books, as well those that are similar to yours.
The Amazon ranking can also give you an idea of how well a book is selling. Keep scrolling down to a certain book’s product ranking. The final bullet point displays the “Amazon Bestseller Rank.”
Rankings are given in comparison to all books and the various categories that the book belongs under. For example, On Writing by Stephen King is placed No. 39 in the Words, Language & Grammar Reference category and No. 755 in Memoirs.
A lower figure indicates that more books have been sold.
However, converting rankings into estimates of actual book sales is difficult. Amazon does not disclose how sales rankings are generated. However, based on this information, ballpark estimations can be made.
Rob Eagar, a marketing strategist, analyzed the figures and created a graphic indicating the relationship between Amazon book ranks and sales. A book rated at No. 100,000 was selling around once a day, according to Eagar’s estimates.
Read Other Books on Your Genre/Subject
You should also try to read a similar published novel to yours. Unless a book was just released, you might usually obtain a copy of it at the library.
Examine how long they are, how they handle the subject, and how they are constructed. Examine the similarities between numerous novels to see if there is a technique to offer the information or plot that seems to function the best.
Most essential, you must ensure that you are not just repeating a topic or narrative that has previously been covered.
When Mark Twain remarked, “There is no such thing as a new idea,” he was dead on. It’s impossible. The secret is to take “old” ideas and give them a new spin. Reading what has already been published can assist you in avoiding replicating someone else’s work and will allow you to improve your approach to the subject.
5. Get ready for the Writing Process
It’s a good idea to have a rough notion of the structure of your book before you begin writing. Masking a general outline of the beginning, middle, and end can assist you in planning how to proceed with the writing.
Design the Structure
If you’re a plotter (organizes their book/manuscript in great detail) or a pantser (someone who “fly by the seat of their pants” and goes with the flow with their writing), you must first develop some structure for your book. It doesn’t have to be rigid, but it should serve as a guidepost for you as you embark on your writing adventure.
If you’re writing a nonfiction book, having some framework will assist you in evaluating if your research is lacking. It will assist you to see if you have an appropriate plot arc if you are writing fiction.
If a thorough outline isn’t your thing, don’t do it. However, the general framework of the beginning, middle, and finish will aid in keeping your novel on track.
Incorporate Yourself Into Your Work
One of the most crucial ways your book will stand out from the crowd is that it will be authored by you.
You have a distinct voice, personality, and point of view that no one else has. Marie Forleo, entrepreneur and thought leader, constantly states, “No one has or will ever have the unique combination of abilities, strengths, views, and gifts that you have.”
Your writing style, writing tone, and voice are all factors you may employ to highlight your distinct traits.
For instance, if you write about a complicated subject, such as finances, but in a warm and conversational tone, your book will likely appeal to someone just beginning to learn about the subject rather than an expert in the field.
Your voice is how you express yourself via your words. It assists you in connecting with your target readers. Your writing voice will attract your readers in the same way that you are drawn to particular personality types.