In the past two weeks I’ve had three conversations with people wanting to “learn how to write.†In a future blog I may compile some thoughts about that since the conversation comes up regularly (and the other day, a former student expressed appreciation for having learned “how to read” in my classes–but that’s another post, too). Often I get asked by students about turning their doctoral dissertations, theses, or D.Min., projects into a book. Below is what has become my standard response.
- First, think some more about your idea for a book. Writing is thinking (which is, I suspect, the reason people generally don’t write or seem reluctant to participate in blogs).
- Decide what kind of book you want to write: What is its purpose? What is its message? Who is the audience?
- Decide if you’re going to pitch it to a publisher or self-publish (don’t decide on self-publishing unless you are willing to promote the book and will make money from it).
- Buy, borrow, or steal a copy of The Writer’s Market and bring yourself up to speed on the business and inner workings of the publishing world.
- Re-read your thesis. You’ll have to reconceptualize it as a book, which is a different “product” than it is now—so be prepared to throw out about half of it, change the writing style, and take it in a different direction.
- Visit a bookstore or do a search on Amazon on what’s out there that is similar to your book idea. Make a list of these books, with bibliographic information, and keep it for future reference. This tests the viability of your book project; publishers sell what sells.
- When a writer’s conference comes up, attend it. You’ll get two things out of it: (1) basic information on the publishing game, and (2) inspiration, also, maybe an idea or two. Look at the other frustrated, bitter, neurotic, needy, pathetic writers that attend. Ask yourself, “Do I really want to become one of them?”
- After you’ve thought about your book some more, do a mindmap (for my last book it took me 40 minutes to mindmap what pretty much was the final product. I followed up by making a mindmap of each chapter after that)
- Once the mindmap is done, re-read your thesis. Re-organize, cull, and use only the parts that fit into your mindmap.
- Do some basic research on your topic. What do you have to say that is unique?
- Now, write your book proposal (buy a copy of Larson, How to Write a Book Proposal—a good investment. Follow it religiously and literally).
- Give your proposal to a couple of friends, and one person who doesn’t like you very much, to critique. Read the feedback and tweek the proposal accordingly.
- Research potential publishers (see The Writer’s Almanac) or go back to the list of books you researched and use the publishers on that list.
Send your proposal to ten (10) publishers, with a cover letter. - Wait.
- While you’re waiting, publish one or two chapters from your book as articles for a journal or a magazine. If you sell the article, recycle it in other magazines. When you get your payment for your article, take me out to lunch.
- Wait some more.
- Build character by learning how to deal with rejection after the seventh publisher turns you down. Begin to look like those writers you saw at that conference.
- When a publisher offers you a contract, sign it. Since this is your first book, don’t try to negotiate–you’ll work a better deal on your second book. (Decide too, what is acceptable to you in the contract. I have second thoughts when there is no royalty advance, but that’s just me.)
- Write the book, NOW, after the contract, and not before. Writing is lonely work. Learn to curse and swear.
- Be prepared to hate your book and wonder why the heck you wanted to do this, because you’re going to have read it four or five times and edit it countless times.
- Submit your final manuscript on deadline (a late submission is a death wish in publishing)
- Wait
- Receive your galleys. Curse and swear and read the d*mn thing again. Make changes and ship it back to the editor (on time!).
- Wait one to two years
- Receive your published book. Celebrate with friends, become famous. Take me out to lunch.
- When your first royalty check comes in, forget about awful experience of the ordeal, the frustrations, angst, deadlines, writer’s block and hours locked away staring at your computer screen and start on your next book.
“If you’re going through hell, keep going. ” Sir Winston Churchill
