In a post today ( in BBC News ), discusses the government of India’s strong interest in returning to the expansion levels of yesteryear. With a former growth rate of around nine percent annually, India’s latest growth rate has been around 6.5%+ recently. Actually, 6.5% looks great compared to many countries around the world for [...]
Getting Organized for Forward Momentum
Preparing a rough outline with section and chapter heads was my last post toward helping you write a book. Today, we’ll cover writing a book by organizing your materials in one comprehensive location. Necessary materials include:
a) three-ring binder with interior pocket, writing instrument and ample supply of three-hole paper for notes
b) three-hole organizational tabs to separate note paper by segments and chapters and,
c) two+ 4GB USB flash drives.
Carry this three-ring binder everywhere. Ongoing story: I never know when an idea will come to mind and am constantly ready to jot notes pertaining to one of the chapter subjects (or introduction, foreword, back cover, “about the author,” testimonial segments).
When an idea comes to mind, I immediately write the idea on paper and insert the idea within the tab segment corresponding to the ideas’ topic. Another application for the note paper and binder idea comes when researching book material and need to take notes and jot down references.
I carry 4GB flash drives because these media devices are small enough to carry easily and substantial enough to hold much material. I choose 4GB flash drives because 2GB flash drives are too small to accumulate a large amount of material for a manuscript and 8GB is too large to depend on in case the flash drive is damaged or lost.
Two flash drives insure that I am never caught by surprise without adequate media storage while away from the office. Also, on one occasion, one of my flash drives malfunctioned and all the material from the bad flash drive had to be transferred to the second flash drive for peace of mind.
If carrying a three-ring binder everywhere is a burden, BE SURE to carry adequate note paper and writing instrument with you…transferring any notes taken to the three-ring binder system on a disciplined basis.
Helping you write a book through always carrying note paper and writing instrument crystallizes thoughts and keeps you on a disciplined timeline toward completion of writing a book. In two days, I will discuss options for different book formats and recommended page lengths on the road to writing a book.
Mike McCann
Mike-at-GlobalBusinessCafe.com
Last week, I opened with choosing a specific topic for a book. It’s important to passionate about the topic/genre you choose because there will be many hours of research, writing and marketing involved with your topic choice…be happy and passionate from the beginning. On the last step on how to write a book later this week, I will reveal a major development in books that will expand an author’s potential audience exponentially…stay tuned.
Throughout this presentation on “How to Write a Book,” I write from the viewpoint of a nonfiction book. For fiction writers, the steps are similar, though fiction writers need to think about “plot,” “characters,” and “unique angles.” Let’s go to the next step that will help to keep you focused and organized while writing a book – the outline.
Outline
1) General List – Make a general list of the main topics (and sub-topics) you want to cover in your book. Brainstorm here and don’t think about organizing thoughts yet. I like to have a WORD file started with a working title of my book to record this list.
2) General Pages – Introduction, Title Page, “About the Author,” Addendums, etc. are examples of general pages to list within the proper place in the list on step one.
3) Working Outline – Merging the first two steps above will provide a working outline resembling a working Table of Contents (currently called: “Contents”). Books routinely have 10-14 (some more) chapters. Key is to be succinct with writing, while covering the books’ subject completely.
4) Add-ins – Make a list of any add-ins (pictures, shadow boxes, images, etc.). Assembling add-ins from the outline stage will allow an author or publisher to visualize a completed book with chapters and visuals.
During the outline stage, do not be concerned with page counts, marketing, etc. Concentrate on recording all your thoughts and putting these thoughts in a logical outline format…this will speed up your writing and keep focus.
Mike McCann
Mike-at-GlobalBusinessCafe.com