If you’re beginning to understand why dogs get so excited about a person on the sidewalk or a squirrel in the backyard, perhaps it’s time to think about jumping into the kind of project you usually don’t have time for. If you’ve been writing a blog for a number of years, that could just mean turning your blog into a book.
I’ve been writing my blog for so long that I have more than 300 published posts and 60 more drafts. To be honest, not that many people have read all that material. I didn’t start my blog to gain colossal readership. I wanted prospective clients to be able to get a sense of how I think, how I work, and what kind of person I am. Mission accomplished.
Still, all that written material made me think. Why couldn’t I turn those blog posts into a book?
I came up with what I think is an original and super helpful angle several years ago but wound up stymied. It all seemed too jumbled and positively overwhelming, so it was easy to relegate the project to the long-term, to-do list.
A couple of weeks ago, however, I had what I call “an epiphany of the obvious.” Instead of putting together one comprehensive book that tries to be everything to every writer, I’m now going to produce three slender handbooks for people writing fiction, nonfiction and memoirs.
That may sound daunting, but I’ve already got about 120,000 words already written. Talk about a head start!
What’s next?
First, I need to revamp my outlines now that I’m aiming for three smaller, targeted books.
Once I have the new outlines, I’ll figure out which book I want to start with and jump in. The process with each should be the same. I’ll cut and paste, and write new blog posts to fill the holes (which I’ll also post on my website). Then I’ll weave the whole thing together into a cohesive whole and revamp as necessary. Having ghostwritten two national bestsellers, I sure know how to do that.
I have no illusions that these books about writing will be bestsellers. Nope. Not a chance. But I’m guessing they’ll bolster my credibility as a writing coach and help set me apart from my competition. Even better, they’ll help a few writers along the way.
Before turning your blog into a book, analyze your objective. If you have a decent-sized readership and a related how-to topic, you might just sell enough books to make it worth your while. Of course, if your book cements your reputation as an authority, book sales will likely cease to matter.
On the other hand, if you have an area of expertise coupled with a massive audience and a platform to match, and haven’t already pumped out that book, I have five words for you: What are you waiting for?
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