How to Write and Launch a Book in 2023 (Without Feeling Afraid)
Writing a book seems scary.
And this fear triggers 4 major mistakes.
How to write and launch a book in 2023 (without feeling afraid)?
The 4 most common mistakes:
- Writing alone
- Forcing a structure
- Unique knowledge points
- Focusing on the Big Numbers
Let’s break them down:
1) Writing Alone
The first thing I’ll tell you:
Most people think writing a book is an individual endeavor.
It’s not.
The reality?
When you talk to the most successful authors, they all start by talking about other people.
- How they worked with a group.
- How they collaborated
- How they had a ton of help
And this is what I always tell people:
Writing is NOT something you do alone.
You do the typing yourself, yes.
But you DON’T write a book as an individual.
No…
It’s a collaborative effort.
2) Forcing a Structure.
This is a big one for most people.
They think they need:
• a table of contents
• perfect structure
• rigid outlines
All this stuff, before they ever start.
But I would flip that around.
Analogy:
“You start this process with a compass, not a map”
And when I had the chance to interview Daniel Pink (who also happens to be my neighbor), he shared something interesting:
He starts with 2 things:
1. A notepad
2. A list of questions
And then he thinks about who he can talk to about those questions.
As I said earlier…
Books are not to be written alone!
3. Unique Knowledge Points
This is for my non-fiction writers.
I studied 150+ best sellers and found this:
Stories account for 80% of their written content.
NOT unique knowledge points.
So if you want to write an exceptional book:
– Identify
– Teach
– Tell
All through storytelling
It’s the proven formula for success.
4. Focusing on Big # ’s
People often worry:
“Is my book going to sell 1,000,000 copies?”
And that’s not the best mindset.
Here’s why:
Books are sold via word of mouth.
You want to find your first 200 fans and friends, and have them help spread the word.
It happens in phases.
And that’s a good thing ( I promise ).
The 4 major mistakes authors make:
1. Writing Alone
2. Forcing a structure
3. Unique Knowledge Points
4. Focusing on Big Numbers
So let’s break this cycle and utilize a community-driven approach for your next book project.