How This All Started
My friend and the recognized self-publishing expert Dan Poynter, better known as The Book Guy, is known for saying everyone has a book inside of them. I know I do, and I'm going to prove it over the next couple of weeks. That's right, weeks.
While I have yet to put pen to paper, in many ways this book has been percolating in my brain for the better part of a year. If you are a regular reader of this blog, you know I have been examining perspectives on social media marketing from as many angles as an entrepreneur can have – and there are many, many more to examine, given the millions of entrepreneurs and business owners out there. I like that!
Why are We Here?
So, it is that path that I plan to explore. After speaking to thousands of entrepreneurs from numerous industries over the last couple of years on this topic, I believe I have a good idea what is needed for small business owners like you and me to take full advantage of this revolutionary marketing platform. Naturally, having been an entrepreneur myself for over the last 20 years, I intend for this book to especially help you get business traction with social media in the simplest way possible.
The true purpose of this series of posts is not to just take you through the process of writing a book, getting it published, and marketing it, but to show you how bringing your audience into your personal world is a humanizing and effective use of social media. Here's the thing: since I'm not a social media guru, rather a business owner like you who happens to have a solid understanding of this platform, just following along is a likely way for you to learn from the perspective of another entrepreneur – me.
I'm a regular guy who is writing for regular guys (and ladies) like you. Suspend your disbelief and lets take a trip together. What can you expect to learn: how to use the power of intention for accomplishing a major milestone, how to orchestrate a successful marketing campaign using social media, and possibly how traditional marketing methods need to be ruthlessly reexamined if you plan to excel in the new economy?
Why This Will Work
The first step when undertaking a project like this is to clearly understand who you are so that you can build a system that works for you. Putting that another way, how do you get your best results? This is a vital consideration, and exactly why I am taking this particular approach.
Here's what I know: I work best under the pressure of peer accountability and short-term deadlines. How do I know this? From experience mostly, but there is also another way to gain some insights into your preferred way of getting results. Take the Kolbe A Profile. If you need help getting started or interpreting the results, my friend Jason Cupp is a Certified Kolbe Consultant who will gladly help you out.
Back to the plan. I will write this book, somewhere around 200 pages, plus or minus, within the next 15 days. That will be the first draft. I will share my progress, the thrill of victory, and the lessons learned from the occasional mistakes. Whatever happens, I can assure you that it will be real.
For clarity, I have not yet written a single word. I have a title that I am very excited about, especially since I have also managed to secure the matching URL's, but for now I will be keeping it to myself. The process begins right after I hit the "publish" button on this post. I will write an average of 4,000 – 5,000 words per day to get the first draft done. Then I have some business responsibilities and holiday travels planned. After the Thanksgiving holiday I will be on a tear to get this book published in time to offer it up to audiences that I am already scheduled to speak to this winter. What's possible? Join me and we'll both find out.
How You Can Work With Me
What interests you about this endeavor? Let me know by leaving a comment. If you can get involved with me, I have a feeling you'll learn a few things too. Do you have resources or ideas that have worked for you? Would you like to write a book some day? Have you tried and failed. Have publishers rejected you too? Let's share everything we've got to help as many as we can. Tomorrow I'll share some thoughts about publishers and self-publishing.
Anything else? Uh, yeah…wish me luck!
Photo Credit: Libraryman
Great to hear Jeff. I wish you luck.
I will definitely appreciate the perspective of an entrepreneur instead of a “guru” for once.
Do you have any idea when it will be published? Do you have a deadline for that? Will you be selling your book before it’s published?
Let me know if you need anything from me.
Jeff,
Congratulations on your book writing project launch!
I wish you success and will follow your progress. As a fellow speaker and small business owner, I look forward to reading your book and learning how I can take advantage of social media marketing. And I also hope to learn from your book writing process since one of my goals is also to write a book (to help people improve their presentation skills).
I just read an article that quoted speaker-humorist John Kinde, who joked that he owns a mortuary that offers coffins with ISBN numbers on them for speakers who die with a book still in them. Good for you that you’re never going to need one of those coffins!
Gilda – Thanks for the kind words and inspiration. In many ways, this has been a long time coming. I got into speaking because I wanted to be a writer and was advised “you need to be a speaker if you want to sell books.” Well, that was years ago and here I am finally getting around to this.
I’m not expecting this to be easy, but I nevertheless feel confident this is the right time for me and my topic. Either way, I’m on the hook now, aren’t I?!
Jeff
Chris – Thanks for checking in. I’m figuring I will need a month to edit it. I’m hoping to see books in the middle of January. If not, I certainly plan to have digital versions available.
During the editing time I will be moving through my research for printing and distribution. I have done some work in that area but have not made any decisions yet. There are many more choices available these days, especially considering the digital and print formats and how the two can be integrated into a marketing plan.
So, in that regard, I would love to know about any research you have done and how you narrowed things down.
Jeff
Hey Jeff,
Sounds like a fun challenge. After having been part of the publishing process a couple times now, the most valuable thing Ken Blanchard taught me was to take a 80-90% draft and share it with ~ 50-100 people you trust to give you candid, constructive, and detailed feedback. Then you can use this feedback to polish the final before publication. These people can also provide good endorsements. Ken also taught me that less is more. Make a few key points in the book rather than trying to boil the ocean. If people like your first one, you can always write another.
Judd – This is sound advice, coming from pros like you and Ken Blanchard that have been down this path a number of times – and succeeded. So, consider yourself on the list.
Ha ha, trying not to boil the ocean is exactly what I’m working on today. That Bob Marley song “So Much Things to Say” keeps playing in my mind! So, I’m making a list of points that will get combined, trimmed, and otherwise arranged for better reading. Lots of things will fall onto the floor that will find their way into the next book, or even a future edition of this one.
Thanks for the inspiration my friend.
Jeff
Great article! Hope you won’t mind if we share this to our authors. Keep on writing!
BookWhirl – Amen to that! The book still isn’t in print, but the learning process continues – and it looks like the result will be an ebook, workbook, and a book.
Thanks for your comment.
Jeff
I am sure your book is going to be excellent. Personally, I learn lots of valuable ideas and shortcuts from you blog postings. Good luck!
Giorgi – Thanks for the kind words. And look at this – a picture!
I have wondered who was behind that film clip.
Jeff