In the world of self-publishing and custom book printing, we all have intrinsic stories to tell. Even more, everyone has a unique set of expertise and firsthand experiences involving something that, when written down, can help others pave the way for personal or professional success. But that is the real challenge here - writing it down.
You see, being able to translate your wisdom into print that captures your expert knowledge in a harmonic flow can be hard to master. Along with this, doing so in such a way that makes it easy for your readers to understand is another factor that can be a challenge all on its own. Because of that, we here at 48 Hour Books have compiled a list of tips and tricks to help you along your self-publishing journey so your fingers can truly reflect exactly what your mind wants to deliver.
The Pre-Requisites
Before you sit down and start writing anything, be sure to go through the standard pre-requisites to set yourself up for long-term success. This “checklist” entails answering questions such as:
- Who is your target audience?
- What is or will be your brand voice/authentic tone?
- What is the message(s) you are trying to convey?
- What problem are you trying to solve?
- What level of expertise are you looking to dive into?
Answer these questions in detail because doing so is what will give you the rails to ride on from beginning to end.
Nailing Down Your Layout and Chapter Formatting
Again, before getting into the nitty-gritty details of your sentences, the next big tip is creating your self-publishing book layout and creating structural chapter formatting. Out of all the things, this part is the most vital aspect because when done right, it can easily help keep invested attraction from your readers. For this one, think about creating an outline of each chapter with a sentence or two (along with bullet points) that you want to cover. If you need help with formatting, 48 Hour Books has free book templates, or you can request one of our expert prepress technicians to format your book for you.
A solid structure to keep with each chapter could be something like starting with an issue/topic, offering a storyline and/or detailed description of the topic, and concluding with side information or exercises for someone to follow through with actional steps. During this phase, think about integrating more personal elements into the mix to make it easier for your readers to connect with you from behind the words themselves.
Ensuring Concise, Logical Flow
If you have gotten to this point, here is where you can begin writing. Now, we can't tell you exactly what to say in your book, but we can give you some pointers on how to make it captivating and stay that way from cover to cover. To do this, ensure that each sentence and chapter you create is concise, delivers logical flow, and bleeds both passion and authenticity along the way. Unless you are writing a textbook, you want your wisdom to come off as interesting, seamless to understand, and delivered with a personable twist. In short, use your outline to navigate what you want to say and how to say it and write from your heart. We promise you that readers notice that more than anything else.
Have Another Expert Edit/Review Your Draft
Editing and proofreading are and will always be a fundamental part of self-publishing. Because of that, we recommend that you not only do this step yourself but also hire a professional editor to take a look and offer feedback. To take it another step further, consider connecting with another expert in your field to review it as well. This tri-editing approach is a sure-fire way to catch any errors in your flow, text, or context. It’s also another powerful way to gain different perspectives, different insights and perhaps give you reminders of different factors that you forgot to initially include. Keep in mind that editing can take more than one round but doing so with the right group of people is what will make your final, ‘ready to publish book’ bulletproof.
Summary – You've Already Got the Wisdom; Now It's Time to Share It
Being an expert in something, whether self-help-related or in the business sphere, is wonderful. It means that you have put in the dedication, time, and work to master something and are able to leverage that knowledge to instill positive impacts on both a granular and societal scale. And believe it or not, self-publishing and opting for custom book printing is still one of the best ways to do just that. Because when done mindfully, a book can have the capability to transform lives for the better.
In the end, never underestimate the power of knowledge across any and all industries. In addition, never underestimate how enriching expert perspectives and solutions can be at helping others wading in the same or similar waters. All in all, you’ve got the wisdom and knowledge already, and now is no better time to start sharing that with the world in a self-published book that is optimized for success. Because if there is one thing for sure, the world is built on the exchange of intelligence, knowledge, and wisdom, and consider yourself honorable for having the skills to be a part of that.
Ready to share your wisdom? Partner with 48 Hour Books today!
If you want to know how to publish a book, our website is a great resource. Know exactly what to expect after you place your order by reviewing our detailed pre-press and production schedules, shipping schedules, FAQs and more. Through our blog, learn the ins and outs of publishing, including terms you should know and tips on marketing, design and other important publishing topics.
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