Writing a Book? Start At The End

So, you’re writing a book and don’t know where to start. Maybe you’ve started and things aren’t going so well. We have good news. Don’t start at the beginning. Start at the end. sounds crazy, I know, but bear with me. this technique solves a lot of problems.

Fiction and nonfiction have different steps because in nonfiction the book proposal sells the book so you don’t have to write the book. just the proposal and maybe two or three chapters. Unless you are self publishing.

Writing fiction is altogether different. Here you do have to write the book. Yes, the whole thing and then submit it to an agent, publisher, or self publish it. either way you need your fiction to be fully complete.

Start At The End

Your book must go through these steps from beginning to end. No, you going to begin at the end. These are the steps.

1. Idea
2. Who is your reader?
3. How will you market to this reader?
1. Rough out your marketing budget. Don’t expect to market the book without spending money. You’re competing with self publishers, professional publishing houses. There are thousands of book published every year. Your book must be seen to be sold.
4. Rough outline
5. Finished outline
6. Write the book
7. Edit the book¹
8. determine a publishing date from your publisher or your self publishing timetable
9. Start the book’s marketing campaign
10. Submit the manuscript to your agent, publisher, or self publish it
1. If self publishing you must get the cover ready, write the rear matter for a paperback.
2. Obtain the 2D laser code
3. Other self publishing odds and ends
11. Look into advertising, social media, public speaking and other advertising needs

Okay, now do it all backwards. Start with how you will market the book. Why? This forces you to consider the reader. The book must be targeted to the reader else it will not sell.

Never write a book without first knowing the end and who will buy it. That wastes your time, money, and frustrates you when the book doesn’t sell well.

1) There are several ways to edit your book:

1. Have it professionally edited.
2. Edit it yourself by writing 500 finished and edited words per day. This technique allows you to edit as you go so that when the book is complete the the editing is, too.
3. If editing yourself there are numerous online Artificial Intelligence (AI) editors for you to look at.
4. However you decide to edit your book – do edit it. Never publish unedited work.