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How to Overcome Obstacles and Adversity Blog
Write Your Book in 90 Days
by Ray A. Ransom, Ph.D.
I was recently asked by an author and educator, "how to develop concepts for writing a book." Because of the impressive credentials of the individual, I couldn't understand the reason why my knowledge would be of benefit to someone who appeared to be as knowledgeable. There was no need to question the individual's motives for making the request, so I began to write my answer to the question. It was at the second paragraph of writing that I realized the answer that was so easy for me to provide, could be of vital importance to making a difference in the lives of others. The intent to write a blog has been with me for several years, but I didn't want to create a dialogue with supporters, fans, and readers that had little or no substance. Because my area of expertise is overcoming obstacles and adversity, I decided to make that my blog's name with the understanding that participants submit questions, inquiries, and comments related to obstacles and adversity they or someone they know are experiencing. Also, it should be understood that I'm not rendering accounting, legal, or psychological advice. Help me to make this the most dynamic and true-life solutions blog online by sticking to the subject matter and commenting with respectful and beneficial information that could change the lives of those who follow it. No topics are barred, as long as they deal with having and overcoming personal obstacles and adversity. Like my books and speeches, you'll find my answers are based on true-life experiences that few would care to acquire.
Here's how to write your book in 90 days.
Develop your concepts in a totally isolated environment without electronic or individual interruptions. Try one hour in the morning before everyone else gets up and one hour at night after everyone goes to bed. You could utilize two hours of isolation time together, as long as you spend at least two hours every day thinking and writing.
Think about why you are writing the book. What is the message you want to relay to the reader? Who is your targeted audience? Is there another book that's already written on your subject? Will your book provide a niche solution, resolution, or something different than what has already been written? Do you have a story to tell throughout that delivers your message? How will the book be marketed? How many pages do you want the book to be? Will the book be paperback, hardback, E-book, audio-book, CD, MP3 or all formats?
Do an outline of 10 to 20 chapters with a heading in each chapter covering a part of your specific message. After outlining, you simply start writing whatever comes to mind when looking at the chapter heading. It doesn't matter if your thoughts cross over from one chapter to another after you start writing. You can always cut and paste the information under the appropriate chapter after you've written a few pages. It doesn't matter if the grammar or punctuation isn't 100% correct, just write and correct as you re-read it from time to time. If you get stuck, re-read until the thoughts start flowing again and keep writing.
The key is to start writing something and commit to writing at least two hours every day. The words will come. Before you know it, you'll have 10, then 50, then 100 pages written. Consider writing 100 to 150 pages total; it’s ideal for most subjects. If you consider writing a book with more than 150 pages, you might try breaking it up into two 100-page books, or three 80-page books. Set a 75-day deadline to have your book written. After completing the manuscript, you must proofread your work to tighten up grammar and punctuation. Give yourself a 15-day deadline to have your manuscript edited and completed. Accept the criticism of a professional content editor, but never rewrite your thoughts to please what might be the editor’s subjective way of thinking. After making the editor’s corrections, have a professional proofread your work. After the professional proofreads your work and you’ve made the corrections, proofread the entire manuscript at least four additional times: out loud, word-for-word, line-for-line, and silently before sending your work to press or final PDF or other format.
Getting concepts from the psyche to the typed page is as simple as thinking and writing. They already exist within the writer. You would not be thinking of writing a book without a conceptual foundation from which to bring your message to life. Developing is simply thinking and physically writing what you think until it evolves into a logical message.
Posted by: Dr. Ray Ransom (12/29/2013)
The Overcoming Obstacles and Adversity Expert
www.DrRayRansom.com