Strategize First to Write Your Book Faster, Smarter, and with Impact
Plan first so your book reaches the right audience, opens bigger stages, and attracts better consulting opportunities.
“I wish I’d come to you from the start,” he said. The author, a political hopeful, had spent months drafting and revising his memoir only to end up with a manuscript that felt scattered. Some parts overshared, others left the reader hanging, and the uneven organization diluted the story’s impact.
Fortunately, it wasn’t too late.
I was able to provide an in-depth structural edit that gave him a clear compass to fix the problems.
The only problem?
He still had to make all the edits—and he was tired of writing and revising, ready to move to the next stage of the publishing process.
“I’ll definitely come to you before I start my next book,” he said.
Background
Structural, or developmental, editing uses the same process as ghostwriting (and it’s how I provide book coaching to authors, too). All start with a deep dive into who the author’s audience is, what the author’s goals for themselves and their audience are, and what the book’s overarching message is.
The difference?
Developmental editing happens after the author has already written the manuscript, and in most cases revised it multiple times. With ghostwriting and book coaching, we nail that vision down from the start to stay on track throughout the writing process.
It saves the author time, energy, and frustration.
Why Are These Things Important?
“I help you write not just a book, but the right book.”
Those words from my ghostwriting mentor are burned into my brain. Too many people want so badly to get a book out that they just start writing without considering where their book could take them. They might even invest quite a bit of time and money to ensure a quality book, including putting a big focus on promotion and marketing, only to find that their “success” is taking them the wrong direction.
For example, if a therapist knowledgeable about addiction wants to attract speaking gigs, consulting opportunities, or ideal clients centered around trauma, the last thing she should do is write a book on substance abuse – even if it’s her expertise. Instead, she should focus her book on trauma therapy.
What Kind of Ripples Do You Want to Make?
There’s something irresistible about standing by a pond surrounded by rocks. Some primal instinct or childhood nostalgia, maybe, drives you to pick up a stone and throw it in.
Now, I’m not here to discuss where the urge comes from. The question I have is this: how big do you want your ripples to be?
Throw a handful of gravel and you’ll get some tiny, scattered splashes.
But if you want to make waves, aim a big rock just right. That’s exactly what my Book Blueprint Planner will help you do.
Stand Above the Crowd
The unfortunate truth is that the publishing world has exploded, with books published in the US rising from less than 300,000 in 2007 to over 3 million in 2023. Partially due to this deluge, over the course of an author’s lifetime, most books sell fewer than 200 copies.
How do you get yours to stand out and make an impact? It’s key to clarify your vision for your book from the start (having a professional alongside to help you with the process is a savvy investment, too!).
Important Points to Consider
Now for the particulars:
Who It’s For
Narrowing this down is paramount. Too many aspiring authors I talk to say things like, “It’s for anyone who needs inspiration,” or “whoever it can help.”
Even people who have a target demographic (empty nesters, female coaches, or executives with burnout, for example) should consider narrowing down even further. Burnout for older male executives may look quite different from burnout in thirty-something female executives.
Since I’m from Texas, I think of it like target practicing: if you aim at the middle, you’ll hit the target even if your aim is off. However, if you just fire blindly in the general direction of the target – well, good luck!
The point is, when you focus on an ideal audience, your message will be stronger and may even attract readers who aren’t in your target demographic. A great example from the fiction world is the Harry Potter series, written for adolescents and teens, yet it garnered a readership of all ages and backgrounds.
Setting Goals:
- For yourself. What do you want out of your book? This question sets the course for your writing process. Are you leaving a legacy? Providing a resource you haven’t found elsewhere? Building a platform to get into public speaking?
- For your readers. What should they get from the book? When they close the cover, what will they know? How will they feel? What will they be motivated to do?
- For you and your readers together. Should they follow you on social media or sign up for your newsletter? Enroll in your course or coaching program? Hire you?
Knowing the answer to these questions will guide your organization of the book and the writing process itself. You’ll have more clarity on what to include, what to leave out, what tone to use, and so on.
How Do I Get Started?
Surveys indicate that between 51-81% of Americans want to write a book, and with self-publishing becoming easier than ever, many are doing so. This isn’t necessarily discouraging news; with many people cutting corners to get their books into the world, having a quality product means you’ll stand above the crowd.
Still, many other aspiring authors never achieve their dream of being published because they get bogged down with countless revisions, writers’ block, or discouragement.
So how can you start and finish strong? Glad you asked!
I’ve designed a Book Blueprint Planner to help you through these questions, and it’s free. This workbook guides you through all these questions, as well as offering a series of follow-up emails that give you tips once you’re through.
Because the goal of becoming a published author is achievable.