Is your book "amost" done? What if you could really finish it in just three months?
Registration for the 90 Day Book Challenge is closed.
Almost everyone has a book or part of a book that has been "shelved." Hard drives and file cabinets are full of these wanna-be books.
Why is that?
As a coach, consultant or entrepreneur, you undoubtedly have read the advice that writing a book establishes you as an expert and gives you tremendous leverage, so clients start coming to you. When you have written a book, you have:
- Instant credibility
- Increased PR opportuntities
- The ability to command higher fees for your services
- Tremendous personal satisfaction
In addition to being able to call yourself a book author and earning money from selling books, having a book gives you amazing promotion possibilities.
Members of the media quote book authors constantly. If you've written a book on a topic, you know more than 98% of the world on the subject. A book can lead to speaking engagements and partnership opportunities as well.
You Know Why You Want to Be a Published Author
As a business owner, you can publish a book for less than the cost of a magazine ad, and it keeps on giving, long after the magazine or newspaper has been recycled.
Unlike publishing an ebook, publishing a real print book gives you a much higher level of credibility. Anyone with freebie PDF tools can put out an ebook. A print book is tangible. People are far, far more reluctant to throw away a print book.
As a consumer myself, I can tell you that I delete PDFs or audio files off my hard disk all the time. I never throw away books. I might donate them, but the only "books" I have ever taken to the recycling bins at the dump were software manuals for obsolete products. (And they were really old before I could bear to throw them out!)
The reality is that writing and self-publishing a book can make a huge difference in your career and your life. I know my books have led to changes in my life I never could have foreseen.
Many people set out to write a book, but many never finish.
Does This Sound Like You?
After talking to countless small business owners who have expressed interest in self-publishing a non-fiction book, we've discovered a number of common problems aspiring authors and self-publishers run into. Does this sound like you?
- I have a topic and I'm pretty sure I know what I want to write about, but I just can't find the time to write a book.
- I have my book outlined, and gathered a bunch of material, but I can't figure out how to tie it all together so it makes sense. I'm stuck!
- I have a draft, but I keep rewriting it. I'm not sure if the angle I'm taking on the topic really works or not.
- Every time I sit down to write, I feel anxious. I have so many ideas, but they all swirl around and I get so overwhelmed by the enormity of the project, I don't make much forward progress.
If these and other problems are keeping you from achieving your dream of becoming a published author in 2009, take heart.
We've been there, and we can help you achieve your dream!
We've Been Where You Are Right Now!
Three years ago, right around this time, I had three drafts of books languishing in a virtual "drawer" on my computer. One was an ebook that James and I wrote that we sold for a while, but that I'd never really felt completely good about.
Every time I opened the Word file, I got depressed. The information was solid, but the writing wasn't quite right, so I didn't want to turn it into a print book.
The other one was a partially done cookbook. Again, it was half done and I had "shelved" it for months.
I also had a bunch of pet care information that I wanted to turn into a book, but it was a gigantic digital disaster. I wouldn't even open the Word file, since it was so demoralizing. However, in early 2006, we made a commitment to become book publishers. Since January of 2006, we have published nine books:
I'm not going to say that writing a book is easy, but it is quite doable if you make a commitment to it.
Writing Is Easier When You Have Support
Many times we know what we need to do, but need a little help to make it happen. For example, every year more weight loss books come out. They all pretty much come down to the same thing. You know intuitively what you need to do.
You might decide to set a reasonable, healthy, and achievable weight loss goal, but it's a lot easier and more fun if you have accountability and support from experts and other people to help you meet your goals.
Writing isn't really all that different.
You know what you need to do, but it's a lot easier if you get a little help and support from people who have "been there and done that." The fact that so many people have told us that they need help getting their book done is why we've decided to offer a new program to help aspiring authors meet their dream of writing a book:
Introducing The 90 Day Book Challenge
The 90-Day Book Challenge gives you the support and accountability you need to really get a manuscript done. We share with you the same techniques and tips we have used to write (and publish) 9 books in less than 3 years.
As an editor for many years (since the early 90s), I have seen the good, the bad, and the really bad when it comes to writing.
Books are "shelved" because of a number of problems, and some actually are quite easily solved. It's almost never a problem with the writing; generally the problems are related to either the topic selection or the organization.
The reason we decided to set up this course is simple: as we have talked to more people about self-publishing, we've encountered a lot of people who want to self-publish a book, but haven't got the most crucial component yet: a manuscript.
The 90-Day Book Challenge is designed to fix that problem! At the end of 90 days, you will have a manuscript you can feel good about handing to an editor for final copyediting or proofreading.
We also offer book production services for self-publishers, so if you are stalled out because you are paralyzed wondering what happens next, we can explain your options.
A Full 90 Days of Support
Remember, before you can be a published author, the first thing you must have is a manuscript. So with the 90-Day Book Challenge, you get the support you need to make that happen.
When you sign up for the 90 Day Book Challenge, you receive...
12 Monday Mastermind calls to start off your writing week right!
Each call will have an introductory topic, then during the balance of the call you can ask me questions and tell me about any "stuck" spots you are having with writing or your book. The idea is to keep you focused on realizing your dream of finishing your book every week!
Here are the topics we'll cover:
1. Refining your book's topic and understanding your target reader.
2. Setting your project goals.
3. Mining your archives for content.
4. Carving out time to write.
5. Setting up a preliminary outline.
6. Getting out of your own way and getting "unstuck."
7. Avoiding procrastination and understanding the value of "percolation."
8. Including storytelling in your writing.
9. Associating and organizing your ideas.
10. Power outlining.
11. Editing tips to make your editor love you.
12. Getting feedback from others.
BONUS: A special bonus call on your publishing options.
The mastermind calls are scheduled to be held on Mondays at 2 pm Pacific time starting January 26. The goal is to accommodate people in US time zones, but if many participants have a conflict, just let us know. We can be flexible and try to adjust the time. However, all calls will also be recorded, so if you need to miss one you can listen later at your convenience.
Worksheets for Each Call
We'll also provide worksheets for each call, so you don't have to take notes furiously. The worksheets will be emailed to you before the call.
Some worksheets include tips, others include fill-in-the-blank areas, so you can jump-start your thinking on your book project.
Access to a private forum to talk about your book and post your progress
In between the calls, you can get support from me and other people in the class. Post a link to an article you've found with great advice, or copy in a passage from your book that you're struggling with and get feedback from others who are going through the 90 Day Book Challenge with you.
Because I'm serious about helping you really finish your book, every week you will have "homework." (And I don't mean homework in a bad way, but in a good way!)
After the first kick-off call, I'll ask you to publically state your goals on the forum. Maybe you need to write a chapter per week. Or finish some research you put off. Or maybe you want to write a short book, so you only need to write 500 words one week. It depends on your project.
If you already have articles you plan to "recycle" into your book, we'll encourage you to find ways to incorporate them into your goals too. Your goals are exactly that: yours.
You'll get encouragement from your classmates and me on the discussion board to help you get that book done!
Every week on the discussion board, you will post your progress. If you wrote less than you hoped one week, we'll help you understand and overcome the challenges that may have slowed you down. Maybe another week you get on a roll and write two chapters. Let us know because that inspires everyone! The idea is to keep you on track and moving forward.
One Half-Hour Laser Coaching Call Per Month (3 Calls Total...a $225 Value!)
We'll schedule 1 call per month with you so you can get personal feedback from us on your project. You'll get personal support to help get you past your "stuck" spots.
A Free License for our IdeaWeaver Software (a $49.95 Value)
Although we encourage you to write in any software you understand and enjoy, we recommend and use our own IdeaWeaver writing and creativity software for our own books, so we are including a free license to the program for everyone who signs up for the 90-Day Challenge.
We sell this software for $49.95, and it can be a great tool if you do a lot of writing. (Note that it runs only on PCs, but we can recommend some similar options in the Mac software world, if you are interested in this type of writing software.)
For those who want to try out IdeaWeaver, we'll schedule another special bonus call early in the program to help you get started and answer your questions.
A Microsoft Word "Author Template"
Don't feel comfortable writing in IdeaWeaver? That's fine too. We're also including a Microsoft Word Author Template that virtually forces you to think only about writing and not about formatting.
You'll produce a properly formatted manuscript that any designer should be able (even delighted) to turn into a finished book because it won't be junked up with a lot of Word-induced messiness.
A Copy of Our Latest Book:
Publishize: How to Quickly and Affordably Self-Publish a Book That Promotes Your Expertise ($24.95 Value)
While you're not busy writing, you can learn more about your publishing options with our new book. Publishize is designed to help consultants, coaches, and business owners who want to use a non-fiction book as a marketing tool, but who have been overwhelmed by the expense and complexity of the self-publishing process explained in classic books on the topic.
In Publishize, I describe our new approach to self-publishing, which eliminates many of expensive pitfalls new publishers encounter.
Both the IdeaWeaver CD and Publishize will be mailed to you after you sign up.
The 90 Day Book Challenge Runs from January 26 through April 26
If you've been disappointed by other "book in a box" programs, don't forget that the 90-Day Book Challenge isn't a boring lecture or CD full of audios telling you what to do (and that you may never get around to listening to).
The 90-Day Book Challenge is an interactive "action group" where you work with other people and a professional editor (me!) to make your book happen.
Even if you can't make the calls, they will be recorded, so you can listen later. You also can get feedback throughout the weeks of the Challenge through the private discussion area.
If you've been looking for accountability and support to get your book done, consider taking the challenge!
NOTE: Registration for the 90 Day Book Challenge is Closed
Still have questions or need more information? Just send me an email and ask!
