writing a book 101

Writing a book 101Writing a book 101

Getting Started Getting Started and how to and how to write your write your breakthrough breakthrough

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Copyright 2010 Javed MohammedCopyright 2010 Javed Mohammed 11

Write for Life CoachJaved [email protected]

breakthrough breakthrough novel or booknovel or book

Everyone has a story to tell.Everyone has a story to tell.

nn What is yours?What is yours?nn Who is your Who is your audience?audience?

nn How do you How do you

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nn How do you How do you want to tell it want to tell it and to whom?and to whom?

nn Where do you Where do you want to tell this want to tell this story. story.

What is the best medium to What is the best medium to get your message across?get your message across?

nn Lecture, opinion Lecture, opinion newspaper, newspaper,

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newspaper, newspaper, short story, short story, book, film, book, film, podcast, TV.podcast, TV.

For written form, what’s the For written form, what’s the best format? Is it a,…best format? Is it a,…

nn Short storyShort storynn MemoirMemoirnn NovelNovelnn NonNon--Fiction bookFiction book

WhiteWhite--paperpaper

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nn WhiteWhite--paperpapernn Feature filmFeature filmnn DocumentaryDocumentarynn PresentationPresentation

If you already startedIf you already started

nn Have you run out of gas?Have you run out of gas?nn Lost bearing? Lost bearing? nn Do you have writer's block?Do you have writer's block?nn Anxiety? Anxiety? nn Have you been critiqued to death?Have you been critiqued to death?

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nn Have you been critiqued to death?Have you been critiqued to death?nn Given up hope? Given up hope? nn Have manuscript but no publisher?Have manuscript but no publisher?nn A book but no publicity?A book but no publicity?

Don’t give up, there is hope..Don’t give up, there is hope..

Like all great projects, Writing Like all great projects, Writing NeedsNeeds

ll Good IntentionsGood Intentionsll Clarity of goalsClarity of goals

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ll Realistic ExpectationsRealistic Expectationsll A great ideaA great ideall Brainstorming Brainstorming

Writing NeedsWriting Needs

nnA lot of A lot of material material either in either in your head your head

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your head your head or from or from researchresearch

Writing Needs toWriting Needs to

nn Explore Explore ideas, ideas, compare compare

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compare compare and and contrastcontrast


ll Fundamentals: Fundamentals: Write, edit, Write, edit, Rewrite, and Rewrite, and keep doing it till keep doing it till

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keep doing it till keep doing it till you know ityou know it’’s s your best workyour best work


Consultation: Consultation: Family, Family, Friends, Friends, Editor, Coach, Editor, Coach,

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Editor, Coach, Editor, Coach, Literary AgentLiterary Agent


ll PrayersPrayersll PersistencePersistencePatiencePatience

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ll PatiencePatience

+Energy

Stages of writingStages of writing

HoneymoonStage (Just wait till you see my book))

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+Energy

-Energy

+Energy


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+Energy

-Energy

RealityKicks in

(Remorse: What did I get myself into?)

+Energy


You’re not aloneEditor, Coach, Friends cheer you along

Transformation

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+Energy

-Energy

Editor, Coach, Friends cheer you along

+Energy


But you keep goingEditor, Coach, Friends cheer you along

Your ride the Roller Coaster

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+Energy

-Energy

Editor, Coach, Friends cheer you along

+Energy

Stages of writingStages of writingSuccess Stage(JK Rowlings move over)

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+Energy

-Energy

Before you start, rememberBefore you start, remember

nn There are over 275,000 books There are over 275,000 books published in the U.S.published in the U.S.

nn There are only 5 Major There are only 5 Major publishers of books (and many publishers of books (and many

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publishers of books (and many publishers of books (and many smaller ones)smaller ones)

nn The best sellers get most of the The best sellers get most of the publishers marketing dollarspublishers marketing dollars

nn The most famous authors get all The most famous authors get all the buzz.the buzz.

So what does all this mean?So what does all this mean?

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Is there no hope?Is there no hope?

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Absolutely there is: You can Absolutely there is: You can still make a difference!still make a difference!

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We just have to work harder, We just have to work harder, smarter, everyone. No Excusessmarter, everyone. No Excuses

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How? How? Control the ControllablesControl the Controllables

ll Use Use Alternative Alternative mediamedia

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mediamedia

Let’s take a lesson from the Let’s take a lesson from the movies.movies.

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But I’m not famous!But I’m not famous!

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Don’t worry. Don’t worry.

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Copyright 2010 Javed MohammedCopyright 2010 Javed Mohammed 2525But if you’re rich it helpsBut if you’re rich it helps

I’m not rich either?I’m not rich either?

Well you could sell your kidneys.Well you could sell your kidneys.or how about a garage sale?or how about a garage sale?

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OK there is one last option. OK there is one last option. Be controversial!Be controversial!

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That’ll get you in the newsThat’ll get you in the news

But do you really want a price But do you really want a price on your head?on your head?

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That’ll get you in the newsThat’ll get you in the news

Actions you can takeActions you can take

nn Take a Take a creative creative writing classwriting class

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writing classwriting class


Read, Watch,Read, Watch,Listen with a Listen with a critical critical

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critical critical eye & eareye & ear


nn Write a short Write a short story, an story, an opinion piece opinion piece

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opinion piece opinion piece or yes J.K. or yes J.K. move over, it’s move over, it’s my turn, I my turn, I have a killer have a killer story!story!

I have a story to tell, now I have a story to tell, now what?what?

You’re off to a good start, now breathe in,You’re off to a good start, now breathe in,Get set,… Get set,…

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Research itResearch it

nn Has subject Has subject been covered been covered before?before?

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before?before?

Go to Amazon.comGo to Amazon.com

nn Check out Check out similar titles, similar titles, subject mattersubject matter

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Are you the best person for this Are you the best person for this task or should you partner with task or should you partner with someone?someone?

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Best of all Best of all have a plan, have a plan,

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have a plan, have a plan, an outlinean outline


Start Start somewhere, ,

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somewhere, , anywhere anywhere


••Write and Write and

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••Write and Write and keep writing.keep writing.


••If you can If you can write regularly write regularly at a fixed at a fixed

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at a fixed at a fixed time. If not time. If not any time you any time you get the get the chance.chance.


••Once you get Once you get to the end of to the end of the first draft, the first draft, put it away for put it away for

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put it away for put it away for a few days. a few days. Then go back Then go back and start and start editing.editing.

Become or recruit an AficionadoBecome or recruit an Aficionado

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What’s a…?What’s a…?

nn Aficionado: a Aficionado: a WellWell--wisher, awisher, an n enthusiastic admirer, a fan. enthusiastic admirer, a fan. Someone, anyone who shares your Someone, anyone who shares your feelings and expresses empathy. Someone feelings and expresses empathy. Someone who will partner with you, be your who will partner with you, be your

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who will partner with you, be your who will partner with you, be your cheerleader, mentor, coach and realitycheerleader, mentor, coach and reality--

check.check.

Almost The EndAlmost The End

And remember, a And remember, a writers life may not writers life may not lead to fame and lead to fame and

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lead to fame and lead to fame and fortune. But you can fortune. But you can write your own write your own ending. ending.

The EndThe End

And you too can live And you too can live happily ever after happily ever after with a few bumps with a few bumps

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with a few bumps with a few bumps here and there.here and there.

Need a coach, mentor, Need a coach, mentor, Aficionado?Aficionado?Drop me a line, write a comment, check out my blog, send me a percentage of your first royalty check.

http://writeforlifecoach.wordpress.com/

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http://writeforlifecoach.wordpress.com/

Javed MohammedMilpitas, CAEmail: [email protected]

Peace

ReferenceReference

nn All images are used under “fair use” and All images are used under “fair use” and obtained from the public domain. They are obtained from the public domain. They are the property of the respective copyright the property of the respective copyright holders.holders.

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