You are actually expecting seven steps, but truth is, in writing a book, you only need three steps.
About three days ago, I self-published my book Power Content on Amazon. Let me tell you the story.
Someone had promised to help me with it for a long time, but there had been some delay here and there. And then, just a few days ago, I stumbled upon a video on Facebook by Ubong Okon – you should check him out. In three steps he taught us how to self-published our own book on Amazon.
I took action right away, and in about two hours my book Power Content was live on Amazon. Click here to get your copy.
Here is the most interesting part! I could ask Amazon to print out copies of my book and deliver to buyers anywhere in the world, and it is done! Life is that easy.
Now that you know how easy it is to get your book published and sold across the globe, let’s talk about how easy it is to flesh out your own book.
I do not have a single doubt that everybody is a book unwritten.
You definitely have a great book inside of you waiting to be birth and could change the world for good!
Writing a book, an art I recommend for every person, is one thing that outlive you and no one can ever take away from you.
But the challenge has always been, how do I write a book? Especially when you think you are not a writer.
Now you have the answers right before you.
There are a million and one principles out there on how to write a book. But I assure you, you can summarize all of them into this three fundamental key steps.
Follow these steps strictly, and in three days or less, you are an author!
- Decide in your mind, you want to write a book!
Being an author is never going to happen automatically. There is no magic here. You will never wake up one morning and viola! There is a manuscript in front of you. No! You must make the decision first in your heart. Like it is rightly said, “you can do anything you set your mind to”. But when your mind is not there, then, I’m sorry.
Two things happen when your mind is made up. No, three things. One, you are consciously awake to your project. This keeps you active and on the goal. Two, you are able to set a deadline. There is something I love about deadlines. The energy it brings and the inspiration that flows as the line approaches. Last, making up your mind, helps your subconscious mind works for you. It’s a powerful thing that God has made. When you are damn serious, your subconscious mind has a way of helping you achieve your goals.
If there is only one rule to writing a book, then it is this one! Make up your mind to write a book.
- Get your materials ready!
Get a pen and paper specifically for the purpose of your book. If you are more modern, which I believe you should. Get the Evernote app on your phone or tablet, click here to learn more about Evernote. Your laptop also serves perfectly. Any of these three will come in handy at different times. You can decide to stick to one.
Here also, you can put in place the right environment, if you have the means. For writers like us, we can write anywhere. But when you have a big project with a deadline, then maybe setting a particular place will make your work faster and easier.
![7 steps to writing and publishing your own book](https://www.inspire.show/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/photo-1522881451255-f59ad836fdfb-01.jpeg)
Now your mind is ready, your materials are ready! You are certainly making progress already.
- The last step to writing your own book is, perhaps, the simplest of them all. Write!
Hope that didn’t come out funny, because it is not. The most important step in writing your own book after you have got the first two steps right is to write. Just go ahead and write!
I will make this easy for you, so I am breaking the process of writing into three steps.
Step 1 – Pen down the idea you want to write about.
Your idea may really be so small, but it is what will guide the whole structure of your book. However, if you want a big book, then you need a big idea. And one that will stand the test of time. It is here you decide whether your book will be fiction or non-fiction. Let me share my experience with you.
I have always thought my first book would be fiction. Because I love stories. And I have a lot of stories lurking over my head, day and night. Yeah, it’s that serious. One very reason we launched the Write Your Hustle Series every Friday here on BeInspired Show.
![Write your hustle series with Mercy Omoregie on BeInspired Show](https://www.inspire.show/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/IMG-20200117-WA0018-1024x1024.jpg)
However, my first book, Power Content, is Non-fiction. And it was clearly spelt out when I wrote down the idea of the book. “I wanted to teach people how to create and develop valuable and compelling content to promote their brands and businesses, leveraging the digital space”. In other words, Power Content helps you build a visible, reputable and sellable online presence. It was easy to come up with that idea being a Content Strategist.
Your idea, certainly may be different. You may want to teach people how to Cook Banga Soup. Oh, this book will sell on Amazon, trust me. You may want to teach people how you overcame a particular addiction. Sort of a weird idea, but it’s all cool. Your idea could even be that story that has always been in your mind since you were 10 years old. Such as “How the butterfly finally became a pretty bird” I made that up. Yeah, writers always make things up. Feel free to work on it if you have no idea yet.
But I’m sure you get the point already. Your idea is the controlling theme of your book. There could be other themes. It is also from your idea you generate the title of your book.
Let’s move over to the second step.
Step 2 – Write down the structure of your book.
I call this the skeleton of your book. Here, you will write down in numbers or letters which would later become your chapters, everything you would like to talk about in your book. Some writers call this your outline, but I see it as the skeletal framework of your book.
Let’s take our first topic for instance; “How to Prepare Banga Soup”, The different skeletal parts of the book could be:
✔Ingredients for preparing your Banga Soup.
✔How to properly wash your Banga in two minutes. Menh, people will pay a fortune for this.
✔The actual process of making your Banga soup.
✔Three suggested compliments to enjoying your Banga soup.
Now add your foreward, which could be from a renowned chef, your introduction and conclusion to the above four chapters, you have a perfect skeleton of your book to be published on Amazon! Isn’t it amazing?
Your book is almost alive, let’s put a finishing touch. The last step to writing your own book.
Step 3 – I call this The Fleshing out.
Remember what you have above is just a skeleton, you need to give it some flesh. And this comes really easy when your mind is made up. This is where you make explanations, do your research, share your experiences, give real-life and practical examples, refer to other experts in your field until you have a robust, accurate and detailed book for your audience and of course the world!
In fleshing out “the ingredients for preparing your Banga soup”, for instance, you could list out all the ingredient, talk about their relevance to the soup, their functions, their nutritional benefits to the body. You can even go as far as the market to buy them and their prices. Let the inspiration flow and just write.
- Last, on writing your own book – proofreading and editing your work.
I think this is the hardest part of writing a book. I could write an article in two hours, like the one you just read, actually wrote it in less than two hours but would take a whole day or more to edit it. You want to make sure that you are putting out your best and that every word counts!
You can always self edit your work using sites like prowritingaid.com and this should be done when you are through writing, not while you are still writing.
However, it is always better to have a third eye go through your work. And as a Professional Writer and Editor, you can reach out to me on that, and be guaranteed a flawless, standard and world class book!
So now, let’s get started!!!
Make up your mind, get your materials ready and just write!!!
Congratulations in advance on your new book!!!
Let’s hear from you below at the comment session, if you are an author, what steps did you take in writing your own book. And if you are a soon to be author, what are your next step of action?
Online Business Consultant
Content Strategist, Author.
Click here to get your copy of Power Content.
Great and insightful write up
Thank you. Glad you got value!
Thanks for the insight… We will find it handy
You’re much welcome. Absolutely!
This has got me thinking…Am.working on one but the distraction here is just too much…..Nevertheless I won’t give up
Thanks Mercy…you’re good.
More Grace
Please don’t.
Thank you sis. Amen. 🙏
I gained some more jabs…. I AM COMING!!!💪💪💪
.
.
Thanks ma’am Mercy🙏💥💥💥
Glad to hear that Dare! WE ARE WAITING. 😍
You’re much welcome!
Thank you so much ma. I’ve gone through the first and second stages but I suddenly lost interest because I felt i wasn’t an authority in the area I wanted to develop a book on. However, I’m really inspired by your write up and thanks also for the many references. I’m in Benin city and I would love to get your book.
I am glad you are.
You don’t have to be an authority to write your own book. As a matter of fact, your book can make you an authority. We have a new book on How To Write Your Own Book. You should check it out too.
This is very helpful.. Thanks for this.
You’re welcome.