Remember the old adage, Q: How do you turn a mountain into a molehill? A: You climb the mountain one step at a time and it gets smaller. The same applies to writing your book. How do you turn the book writing mountain into a molehill? You turn the big overwhelming project into several smaller ones to gain success.



More and more people are successfully completing their books in less time. Even your competitors are getting it done. Why not join them. Here are some tips to get started writing your book:

1. Write the back cover as sales message before you write your book.

This benefit driven outline helps give your book direction and helps you focus on what's really important to your readers. Most books will only allow for 50-75 words. That gives you about 8-20 seconds to impress your prospective buyer.

Make this message passionate. Include only what sells: reader and famous testimonials, a benefit driven headline to hook the reader to open the book and read the table of contents, and bulleted benefits.

2. Compose your book's 60 second "commercial" before you begin writing.

Have you heard a 60 second radio commercial recently? The information is distilled into sound bytes to be effective. Make your 2-3 sentence book blurbs into a sound byte. Like a radio commercial where you only have a few seconds to get your message across, condense your sound byte into a 60 second tell and sell.

Use your mini commercial at networking meetings, in the elevator, in the grocery line, anywhere you only have a few seconds to tell about your book. Composing your commercial should include your title and 3 top benefits.

3. Create and organize your book files.

Researchers say we waste over 150 hours a year looking for misplaced information. Create an organization method that fits you. For example, to save time and get organized you can create a master folder with your book's title. Inside, keep a separate file for each chapter. Assign each chapter a short title that will make sense later. If you don't have a title then assign names by topic.

Put research notes or resources in each chapter named folder. Make a how-to folder as well, such as short-key notes, style or formatting notes. With this system you can manage multiple projects easily. Stop wasting time with disorganized, unfinished projects that don't produce and help you get your message out in excellence.

4. Write down your chapter's format.

Readers enjoy easy-to-read maps to guide them through your book. They love consistency. It is disconcerting and unprofessional if you change formats throughout the book. In non-fiction books, except chapter one each chapter should be similar length and have same sections or categories. To make your chapters come alive, use engagement tools such as anecdotes, your stories, sizzling headings, photos, maps, graphs, exercises, short tips. Readers enjoy easy-to-read side bars in boxes.

5. Write your publishing goals down for your book.

Will you self-publish or shop for a traditional publish? There are serious pros and cons for either method. Find out the differences so you can make an educated choice that suits you. If you are self-publishing, consider the POD technology for your book. There are lots of good choices that will publish your book for you at an affordable price.

If you are opting for a traditional publisher, get an agent and a contract before writing the book. Then shop agents and publishers with 2 chapters and a knock-out book proposal. Invest in one of the current market guides and research the best fit for your work. It raises your chances considerably if you know what kind of manuscripts a particular company is looking for.

I admit it; getting started writing a book can become a huge mountain in the way of your book's success. Even so, it doesn't have to stay that way. You can do like the author did; turn the book writing mountain into small molehills. Start today; complete and release your significant message to the world. Divide and conquer all!