Be Intentional with Your Number One Focus, Part III

What is the most important thing a new author should focus on? There are many elements to writing a book, especially publishing your first. I've identified two of my three contributing elements of the writing process. The last one is of utmost importance. Here are the three things a new author should consider: 1) Why? Why do you deserve to publish? 2) Know your target reader, and 3) "Finishing is better than starting..." (Ecclesiastes 7:8, New Living Translation).

Create an Outline

How can you finish your manuscript? What is the fastest most effective way to ensure completion? Create an outline. This ensures success. Writing becomes a little easier. Even if you don't stick to the outline, develop one anyway.

Having an outline reduces rambling and getting lost in the woods. I've done these enough times. Get excited about an idea and book. Pour onto the page without direction and go drive into a dead end. Always ending up on something of insignificance that takes away from the key messages.

Without an outline you are in the fast lane to becoming overwhelmed and limiting your potential to meeting book objectives. Concentrating on examples and topics that doesn't give your reader the nutrients they need to get full and stay healthy.

Finish the Book Strong

Again, one of the most important things a new author should focus on is to finish writing the manuscript. Have an outline and then write your heart's desires and see your thoughts flourish and excel at winning a complete rough draft.

Conclusion

Finally, we discussed my top three elements of the writing process an author should consider. Be intentional by knowing your reasons for publishing. This could be used as another instrument in motivating oneself to proceed. Another intention is identifying that specific reader to help cater your messages. Finally, stay intentional by finishing your book with an outline. The outline prevents you from jumping on the merry-go-round to nowhere. Let's start your book today. Contact me.

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Tackling the Introduction

What is the purpose of your reading? Why select your copy? What promises will you deliver? These are some of the pertinent questions you will answer in your book’s Introduction. Go Harder The Respect Institute is a public speaking program I partook in. I recall the instructor demanding that we create a strong Introduction and Conclusion. They emphasized the significance of producing a hook to entice the audience, and Conclusion to thoroughly wrap up the talk. Avoiding Common Author Mistakes After publishing seven books, I’ve learned from my mistakes and matured in book development. My experience and direction will undoubtedly support your publishing endeavors. Working with In Her Own Ink will validate and reinforce effective strategies to build your manuscript. I discuss practical tips on the building blocks of writing an Introduction in my book, In Her Own Ink: Strategies for Creating from Author to Author. I drill authors on t...

Keep Your Eye on the Prize

You’ve started writing your book and the motivation drops as well as your progress. How do you stir your passion? How can you rekindle your flame? When I hit a roadblock, I’ll do one of these three activities or all of them. Reflect on my reasons. Revert to my writing ritual. Review the list of questions my reader may have. Proven-Strategies for Creating In the beginning stages, I’ll jot down my reasons for publishing. Five or more reasons I deserve to publish. I keep this note in the miscellaneous section of my binder. I discussed these tasks in my book, In Her Own Ink: Strategies for Creating from Author to Author. The writing ritual is where motivation meets discipline. What motivates you into action? Which song, quote, or image gets you moving? Generally, I watch a couple of performances on YouTube that spikes my professional keenness, and produces passion. I do this repeatedly, prior to diving into the mental work of my book development...

Speaking their Language

In my book, In Her Own Ink: Strategies for Creating from Author to Author, I discuss the importance of meeting our readers where they are. Opposed to using expert jargon, incorporate layman’s terms. A book for therapists will largely differ from a book for the general public. Use Appropriate Language I have a friend who is a children’s book author. She shared with me how she discovered her book’s terminology, and length of storyline was not a good fit for the age range she targeted. She only discovered this concern after researching her competitors. Researching Competitors Depending on the type of book, you might research competitors to determine whether your level of dialogue is ideal. It is a great idea to review competitors’ work, however, I encourage you to do this prior to starting your manuscript. Whenever I’m working on a book project I avoid looking over competitors' narratives to avoid being heavily influenced by them and becoming a copycat. Conclusion Unless you'r...

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