111 - How Do You Form A Business Book Manuscript?

Intro:
Hey Guys! Nicole Gabriel here! I’m the host of the Let’s Get Your Book Published podcast. I’m also the author multiple books, a Book Designer, and a Publishing Coach as well as an intuitive Business Coach.

I’ve been in the book business for awhile now and I’ve helped many clients get their book published over the years. On this podcast I share personal stories, client stories, and the truths about the publishing industry….

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Today’s Podcast:
How Do You Form A Business Book Manuscript?  5 Simple Steps

It’s been a busy time in the publishing world and I seriously cannot believe my last episode was recorded 2 weeks ago! I’ve been telling people I swear it’s like I just wake up and my head is back on the pillow and my day is done! Time is moving along at warp speed! We have most certainly been through some challenging times as of late! I know there is that old saying that time flies when you are having fun, but I’m guessing that very few of us are having fun right now. You are likely learning, avoiding, processing, or wading through some personal response to today's global challenges. None of us have answers right now. We are all just doing the best we can. I want to encourage you to stay focused on what brings you joy and do your best to release low vibrational fear. I’m sure you’ve probably thought that if you could focus during this time it would be a great time to write a book, since many of us are still working remotely. But, I know it can be hard to know what to say to people when there is so much uncertainty.

When you write a book you are taking on the role of leadership in some way, so during these times it can feel a bit daunting to step up and into your mastery. But, this is where authenticity shines. You don’t speak on topics you cannot claim to have a certain level of mastery of! If the geopolitical situation of today is not something you can claim mastery on, then you hone in on the topic you know. You just stay focused on what you do and do well. Like I said to a new author the other day - you aren’t an expert website designer, you aren’t a full time author, but you are an expert in your business - so stay focused on that when you write!

But, for the sake of building your book manuscript, let’s just take it down to basics and get you going on a baseline manuscript that will set a foundation for your book. I was given these 5 steps by a book coach some years ago. They won’t get you far, but they will get you started on a pretty basic business book. The 5 steps are:

5 Steps To Building Your Manuscript

• Hook the Reader In
• Introduce Yourself as an Expert
• Tell the Reader What You Will Deliver
• Over-Deliver
• Give Them A Call to Action

Hook the Reader In
As you can guess, the hook is the thing that reaches out to them and pulls them for more. I would elaborate on this by suggesting that this is identifying the problem and letting them know you have a solution. You can reach out to them with some fancy marketing slogans and a variety of different methods. You’ve just got to find that one thing they are drawn towards then tell them how you can help.

Introduce Yourself as an Expert
Now that you’ve hook in the reader you need to tell them why you are the person to help them. What credentials or experience do you have to build your credibility as a subject matter expert?

Tell the Reader What You Will Deliver
Now that you’ve found the thing that they need and you’ve let them know you are the person for the job, you’ve got to tell them exactly what you are going to deliver. The book is an experience from the beginning of the journey til the end. You are always building a report with the reader throughout the engagement, but now you’re providing the value proposition and how the investment of their time will be rewarded by hanging out with you for a few days by reading your book. You might engage them with some super value-add material but then tell them if they hang in there there is more. It’s kinda like one of those late night TV ads…but wait there is more!

Over-Deliver
The over-delivery is the more. You thought you were coming on this journey with me, but now that you’re here, let me also give you this… This might be a list or a download link or something they actually can’t find in the book, or it might be on top of an extra in the book. There is a little element of surprise in the over delivery. Your reader is going to like you for giving them a bonus. And, they are going talk about you because who doesn’t like gifts? What you overdeliver can sometimes be that memorable thing that they like so much that they tell their friends about and they also buy your book. Better yet, this is the foundation to bringing you on to coach, teach, or speak at an event your reader is hosting.

Give Them A Call to Action
When you’ve completed your entire manuscript you will tell the reader what you want them to do now that they’ve read your book. This might just be a challenge…I challenge you to pay it forward, or I challenge you to do that thing, or I challenge you to live a better life. The best challenge is one that returns for more. If you challenge them to join you in your next program, speech, event, or to read your next book, or share one of your lists or extra downloads or something that is a bonus then you’ve encouraged them (and their friends) to come back for more. You’ve just got to define what your “more” is. Your challenge should encourage them, yes, but it should always seek to inspire them for a repeat engagement or follow-up with you. You want to engage with them long-term. How can you do that? If your goal is not to be a professional author then you want to pull them into your ecosystem and into whatever is more profitable than a $24.95 book.

Now, of course, there is far more required to build the remainder of the manuscript—we can talk more about that when we engage. But, here’s a trick I gave on a few of my earlier podcasts. If you identify the number of pages or word count you’d like for your book - say 50,000 words - then you divide this my the number of chapters you want to write and that’s how many words go into each chapter. The chapter titles will correspond with your message or offering. Think of it like an outline…15 things that highlight the title or subject of your book. Depending upon how you are planning to use the book, these chapters might coincide with how you are speaking, coaching, teaching, or training. A stand-alone topic could be your speech while another might be your coaching method, for example.

A quick episode today as many of my clients have been preparing to launch their books lately and I’ve been pretty busy. I just wanted to drop you a hello and let you know I’m still here. I love what I do and I look forward to sharing more with you in the future. Please let me know what you’d like to hear. I might do a few more interviews with new authors or hone in on a particular topic in the future. Please stay aware out there as our world is getting a bit crazier. Remember that, in the end, god wins.

As always, I wish you peace, love, and light on your journey! I’m happy to help you on your book project when you’re ready! Give me a call or text at (808)280-5559.