Writing your book: how to name it

I attended some pretty brutal writing bootcamps in the US.  Their principle of writing for business was quite simple. 

Did it work or not?

Didn't matter how great your writing, how elegant, how correct.  As far as they were concerned it was useless if it didn't produce a response.

And that attitude underpinned what new products or services they introduced.  Was it needed or not?  They did the research first.  If it came back with a favourable response, they went ahead and invested their money.

If not, they moved on... fast.  While it may seem a harsh approach, it does save money. 

So if you're thinking of writing a book, ebook or traditional, I advise you invest some time to research titles.  Like it or not, they can play a pivotal role in how people view your book.  And as important, if a publisher might be interested.

All you have to do is think Chicken Soup for the Soul.  Hate them or love them, those books are a testament to a successful title.

Do the research.  Please.  You'll save yourself a lot of heartache in the long run.

This post is based on an extract from The Writer's Little Book... with Big Ideas.  For more information on the book see http://www.writerslittlebook.co.uk/

Writing for your business: 5 ways to generate ideas

Look at your books
Choose 3 books. Write down wny you bought, borrowed or stole them from friends. Analyse why you like or dislike them. Check how easy or difficult they are to use. Can you write something on the same subject in a different way? Or can you write something in the same way on your own expertise?


 Listen to what your family, friends or work colleagues grouse and complain about
Does the same problem keep coming up? Maybe it’s a problem common to mums in your neighbourhood. Or a practical problem with equipment at work. Or some member of your family always struggles with technical whatsits that are easy peasy for you to sort

Start to ask around and find out if it’s the same more widely. What you hear will spark off some ideas.

Do some research
Write down 10 topics.  Needn't be anything to do with what you offer. Now dig for some research on the web, in your local bookstore or newsagent. Find out what is written about them. Out of your 10 words you might come up with a couple of suggestions to create articles, blog ideas or a book.

Make connections
Successful companies are not always those who only innovate. They’re also the ones who make the connections other people don’t consider. Allow your mind to range widely and think about connecting successful ideas, methods and systems from one sector and apply it to another one.

 Help yourself to generate more ideas
Creativity is not some talent only the few have access to. You can increase the flow of ideas in practical ways. Use an ideas capturing system. Can be as simple as a small jotter and pencil tucked in a pocket or bag. Or as complex as a recording system. Choose whatever works for you.

Then make sure you use it.

Just as your muscles react to regular exercise by being more efficient, so you creative juices flow in response to you paying attention.  Of course not every idea will be a winner.  But you know you may only need one to hit the jackpot.

Writing Stage 3: that all important pause

It might seem artificial to create a stage named pause. You could say that when you reach the end of writing you stop and then move on to looking back at your writing.

Based on my experience I’d like you to consider inserting this Pause stage into your writing process. I don’t know what you’re writing but if the piece is longer than a few pages you could be faced with revising or checking a complex layout, dense text and other people’s views.

At this point you need to put some distance between you and the words.  Here are some ways you can make the most of this stage.

Take the time out to do something unconnected with your writing
Mental exhaustion is a common result of intensive writing. You’re written out, wrung out maybe depending on what you’ve written about. Setting aside your work gives you the chance to revive. I know that when I’ve finished a long piece I can’t bear to look at it for a few days. I have no more ideas to add to it.

Check your physical state.
Have you ever finished a piece of writing, got up from the computer and almost stumbled. Although we know that it makes sense to time ourselves when working at a laptop or desk, it’s all too easy to become so involved that we forget to eat, take rest or any of the things that we need.

Now's the time to do whatever helps you restore your physical get up and go. Take a shower, hit the gym, go for a walk or run. All of those things will help to break down the stress chemicals that have built up in your body as you raced towards your deadlines.

Slumping in a chair at this point won’t be helpful. You’ll end up feeling more tired and drained. So get active in whatever way you enjoy.

Get creative
What activity so absorbs you that you forget time and place?  Apart from writing I mean.

Now’s the time to indulge yourself and listen to music, paint, garden or whatever activity you enjoy that isn’t related to work.

What’s the purpose of this?

It’s to start those ideas again brewing in your brain. Without you being aware of it you’ll kickstart your enthusiasm to look at the writing with fresh eyes... and ideas.

Trust your unconscious to help you out here. If you’ve been clear of your intentions for the writing, and you’ve allowed yourself free rein in the writing, then that’s fertile ground for your unconscious mind to start sorting. When you sit down to edit, all kinds of connections will come to you that you can add in to your piece and strengthen it.

And stop feeling guilty taking this time out. See it as a separate stage in your writing process and then you can justify it to anyone who thinks that you’re only taking time off.

This post is based on the section in The Writer's Little Book... with Big Ideas.  For more information about the book go to http://www.writerslittlebook.co.uk/

Article Writing: are you a sprinter or a marathon runner?

I’m not a runner; in fact my PE teacher, and yes I know how old that makes me sound, told me I seemed allergic to exercise.  If I'd had more courage I'd have told her I was only allergic to the kind she promoted, like running on the spot.

But I do like watching athletics and guessing at the psychology that draws people to different events.  I particularly like long distance events because of the need for strategy and planning over a period.

In any kind of running, mental attitude is as important as physical ability.  Particularly in distance running like marathons. It’s you against the road.

You might ask what has that to do with writing?

I link it not only to the actual writing but the activity that drives the writing. Article writing is now one of the strategies that we have to use if we run any kind of business.

And just as in running when a marathon has to be divided into sections, so you’re not overwhelmed by the distance, so your writing has to be broken down into the things you have to write. Marathon runners often talk about ‘hitting the wall’ at a certain point of the race. That might be the equivalent of a lean spell with your writing when it seems like you have to force yourself to write anything.

All writers face dry spells; certainly I do and having recently gone through one maybe it will help if I offer you the solutions I found. To a large extent it’s back to the psychology of writing. If you’re running a marathon  there will be times another single step might seem impossible. But runners keep going because they’ve executed the routine of running a marathon so many times that stopping becomes unthinkable. In writing sometimes you feel ‘written out’ when it’s tiring to type and think of the words you need.

Just as there are strategies in running, so there are equivalents in your writing.

• Take on plenty of fluid and energy drinks

Take this literally and make sure that it’s not your body’s tiredness that is causing your mind to refuse to work for you. Physical tiredness causes mental exhaustion so make sure you have a balance of activities and you’re not slumped over your computer for too long. Get up, stretch and go outside for fresh air or if that’s impossible open a window. Drink plenty of water. Mental and physical tiredness can also result from physical dehydration.

• Limber up for your writing

Depending what you’re writing, you need to carry out research. Not doing this basic work before you      start writing means you’re not prepared. Running a marathon without regular and sustained training          sessions would be at the least foolhardy and at worst possibly fatal if you’re not fit.

Speed and fluency in writing comes from being in tune with your subject and knowing what you want to say. Research underpins your writing and gives you the confidence to allow the words to flow.

• Avoid the boredom

Boredom kills creativity. Stone dead. If the passion has gone out of your thoughts about your business, product or service then you’ll find it difficult to write effectively.

Being in business is tough. We can admit it and know it’s certainly not all good. There are many down times too. Accepting this natural cycle means that you will be better prepared for them.

I came across a great strategy in the work of David Bach some years ago. If you really feel that you can’t achieve anything productive, then have a clear out or tidying session.  Creating space, even if it’s only on your desk, shifts the energy around you and allows a shift in your mental attitude. I don’t know why it works but it does. Maybe it’s because you see a clear desk and then you see your way clear to do something. However small, it’s a break out of that trough you’ve sunk in and then you’re away again.

Being passionate about what you do is the strongest strategy in writing. Keeping that energy level high is vital to keep your writing positive and optimistic.

Being creative doesn't stop you being businesslike

Over the last twenty five years I've been associated with several small businesses, some of them my own.  I can confidently state that if there's a business mistake to make, I've probably made it.

That's why I know if you're a writer of any kind and intend to make money from your writing, you need to adopt some businesslike attitudes.  It might scare you, especially if you think of the tax implications but that's all the more reason to face up to certain facts about being in business.

1. A little structure underpinning your business from Day 1, will save you headaches in the long term.
2. Not all accountants are rogues and can also save you pain if you use them with care.
3. Assuming you will attract clients and behaving as if you know what you are doing pays off.

This is particularly so with regard to terms and conditions of trading.  Doing work for clients is one thing.  Getting paid for it is another.

One of my jobs in a company that employed me was to chase up invoices for goods.  Getting paid was ten times worse if the paperwork wasn't in order.  It gave them the chance to nitpick.

If you're in the East Midlands there's an event that might help you start off on the right foot. The University of Nottingham's Ingenuity Programme holds Breakfast events on a variety of topics. The meeting on 12th March includes a talk by Margaret Burrell, and expert in Terms and Conditions. 

http://www.ingenuitygateway.com/

Homestaging your book

Have you ever thought about how people will approach looking at your book?  Of course it would be great if they started at the front, read all the way through to the end and considered the whole thing totally wonderful.

From experience as a librarian,writer and observer of book buyers, that's not what happens.

I've seen the following happen:

• start at the back and look at the comments
• flick through to see how long the chapters are
• go to the introduction to learn about the author

In short, every which way happens.  Which is why you need to consider this not only when writing the book but working out the layout.

I'd equate it to how people view houses for sale.  Some are thinking about the plumbing, some about the garden and still others wondering how they can fit in all their ornaments.

And you need to consider how your writing can appeal to all of them.

This is a short extract from The Writer's Little Book... with Big Ideas.  For more information on how to purchase this book please go to http://www.writerslittlebook.co.uk/

Writing East Midlands Flash Fiction Competition

Writing East Midlands has teamed up with Derby Telegraph and Waterstones Derby, to launch a Flash Fiction Competition for Derbyshire Writers.


Award-winning author Stephen Booth has agreed to judge the competition, with the shortlist and winning story being published in the Derby Telegraph.
For more information: http://www.writingeastmidlands.co.uk/