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    The Book of Five for Authors: Everything Authors Need to Know About Nonfiction Books
    The Book of Five for Authors: Everything Authors Need to Know About Nonfiction Books
    The Book of Five for Authors: Everything Authors Need to Know About Nonfiction Books
    Ebook144 pages1 hour

    The Book of Five for Authors: Everything Authors Need to Know About Nonfiction Books

    By Bobbi Linkemer

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    About this ebook

    The Book of Five: Everything authors need to know about nonfiction books is a collection of easy-to-follow lists for writers of nonfiction books. The book is divided into eight subjects every author should know about before you write your first book. The book contains advice for new and aspiring authors who want to excel at your craft; the essential steps in writing, publishing, and promoting a nonfiction book; and the finer points of staying organized, building your brand, and debunking popular myths about book writing.

    These are ten questions you should ask if you knew what you didn’t know:

    What are:
    5 questions aspiring authors should answer?
    5 mistakes new authors make?
    5 ways a book coach can guide you?
    5 reasons to plan before you write?
    5 parts of the book you will write?
    5 reasons you need a book designer?
    5 publishing options for nonfiction authors?
    5 ways to build an author platform?
    5 reasons to become a blogger?
    5 tips for keeping track of everything?

    Plus thirty more questions and answers!
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBookBaby
    Release dateAug 21, 2015
    ISBN9780988578050
    The Book of Five for Authors: Everything Authors Need to Know About Nonfiction Books

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      Book preview

      The Book of Five for Authors - Bobbi Linkemer

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      FOR NEW AUTHORS

      5 Questions Aspiring Authors Should Answer

      You want to write a book, or at least you think you do. You’ve got a great idea, or at least you think you do. People tell you have got a best seller. You’re not so sure. You’ve heard that writing a book is really hard, but you’ve also heard it’s a piece of cake. No wonder you’re confused. How do you know if this is the right thing to do? Here are 5 questions aspiring authors should answer before you commit to writing a book.

      1.   Why do you want to write this book?

      If you are a first-time author, you need a good reason to write a book. Why? Because it’s a long haul, and being in love with your topic will help you get through the journey. If you do a good job of promoting your book, you may actually make money on it. Although, if that is your reason, think again. That’s not a good reason, and it may not happen. You need a better reason—a mission. What do you want to accomplish? What value do you want to deliver to the reader? Like that old TV commercial, Where’s the beef? your question should be, What’s the benefit?

      2.   What’s holding you back from writing it?

      Is it that writing a book is an overwhelming project? Perhaps you feel you wouldn’t even know where to begin. Or is it that your plate is so full, you simply don’t have the time? You can overcome every one of these reasons! All big projects seem overwhelming when you view them in their totality. Mountain climbers preparing to climb the Himalayas don’t expect to do it all in a single day. They do it one step at a time, and that is exactly how one writes a book. Anything you do for the first time has an element of mystery, simply because you haven’t done it before, but a visit to any bookstore will clearly demonstrate how many thousands of people have solved the mystery.

      3.   Do you have what it takes to write a book?

      First it takes desire. Do you really want to write this book? You must be excited about your topic and believe you can you keep that desire alive through every step of the process. Second, you need a plan. You need to think through every aspect of your book from its content to its marketing before you begin. Because a nonfiction book takes months to plan, research, and write, the third thing you need is a long attention span to keep you interested and involved. The fourth element is self-discipline—doing what has to be done, sticking with it even when it’s not fun, and reasserting your commitment as many times as necessary. Finally, you need support and guidance from a writing coach, a good editor, a book on writing, or even a writing group. This can make all the difference between going on and giving up.

      4.   How is your book unique, special, important?

      There are probably many other books on your topic. You need to know what they are, how your book is different or better, what void in the market it will fill, what problem it will help solve, how readers will benefit from reading it, and why anyone would buy it. Sources of this information are amazon, Google or your favorite search engine, and, of course, real bookstores. Don’t be concerned if you find that your topic is not unique. In fact, you don’t want it to be unique. You want it to be better.

      5.   What makes you uniquely qualified to write it?

      If you are a bonafide expert, this will be easy to answer. Simply show how your credentials relate to the topic. Otherwise, consider your relationship to the subject matter. Why does it interest you? Is it a memoir or a personal recollection? Anoutgrowth of your education or work? A topic you have thoroughly researched? A philosophical or spiritual exploration? Why are you the best person to write it?

      If you have spent some time answering the questions, you should have a clearer idea of whether you really want to write a book. That’s important information. If the answer is yes, you’ve given yourself a green light to proceed.

      5 Characteristics Authors Must Have

      The debate between whether authors are born with or cultivate the traits that help them succeed has never been resolved. But in either case, at the beginning, there is only a tiny spark that must be fanned and kept alive over time. There are many such characteristics, but some are more significant than others. What follows are the 5 characteristics authors must have.

      1.   Talent, tenacity, determination

      Talent is a gift, but talented writers don't always succeed. Given a choice between talent and dogged determination, a person with determination has a better chance of succeeding. Promising authors who are passionate about writing and publishing their books most often get through the process. Some had talent; some did not. (They all had good editors, by the way.)

      2.   Obsession &self-discipline

      Obsession: to be hooked instantly and forever on an idea, a goal, or a desire.

      Self-discipline: purposefulness, resolve. Developing self-discipline is a four-step process: (1) A goal (knowing what you want to achieve); (2) The decision (to go for it); (3) A plan (that is possible); and (4) action (working the plan).

      3.   Curiosity & imagination

      Curiosity is the unquenchable thirst for knowledge; imagination is the process by which we create something entirely new out of that knowledge. If everything that exists is already known, then curiosity impels us to search for what is known, and imagination sees it in a new and original form.

      4.   Trust in the creative process

      Creativity is mysterious. An artist or inventor takes existing elements—ideas, materials, words—throws them into a pot, stirs them around for a while, and ultimately produces a completely original product. That product is unlike anything like anything else in the world. It doesn’t matter what goes into the mix; what comes out is always unique.

      5.   Mind like a sponge

      This means a lust for learning and the ability to absorb and retain what is learned. People with such minds take in as much as possible; think about it; talk about it; write about it; and, especially, make new and original connections out of it. Then, they integrate all of this information—make it a part of themselves.

      Perhaps talent is innate; perhaps it is a seed that is nurtured and encouraged to blossom. In either case, it is only one of several traits successful authors cultivate. While some may seem to come naturally, such as curiosity and imagination, others take real effort. Understanding these attributes is the first step in making them part of you.

      5 Rules For New Authors

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