While running those laps, I thought of another goal that could drive, or empower me. The time has come, I think to begin the process of writing a new book. After finishing this morning’s two blog articles, I took the first steps toward writing a book proposal for the next book I want to write. For me, the book proposal begins with an outline, and an outline begins with my staring at a blank wall. Truthfully, the outline began yesterday as I was running around the track. I had reached the goal of running a 1,000 miles without a day of rest.
In writing a book proposal, I begin to plan the kind of book I want to write. At this stage, I’m thinking about a book I want to have ready for distribution at the same time as my release. It should launch the career I want to build as a speaker, consultant, and teacher. I do not want the publisher to release the book until I will be free to participate in media efforts that will bring the book publicity.
The process between writing the proposal, and seeing the completed manuscript as a published book, takes about three years. That’s because completing a proposal requires a solid two to three months, at least for me. I have begun sketching the outline. That means identifying the overall topic of the book and the word count. I expect to write a manuscript of 100,000 words. The next step is to identify the chapters I want to write about, and the topics I want to cover in each chapter.
Once I complete the outline, I write the first 10,000 words. After I feel comfortable with the sample chapters, I write all of the reasons why a publisher should have an interest in my work, why I am qualified to write the book, what type of an audience would have an interest in this type of book, how long I need to complete the manuscript, and the steps I can take to promote the finished book. Essentially, the book proposal becomes a kind of business plan and through it I must convince the publisher to invest.
After completing the proposal, I distribute it to my mentors for suggestions. Then I submit it to the literary agent who represents my work. The agent then shops the proposal to prospective publishers. If he secures a publishing agreement, I complete the manuscript. Once finished, the publisher schedules the book for release. The entire process takes about three years; at least that has been my experience with the previous books I’ve written. In three years, April of 2012, I ought to be free. So if I want to have a book ready, the time to begin the proposal has come.
I ran 10 miles this morning, lifting my tally to 1,013 miles over the past 115 consecutive days. In the afternoon I taught the final Entrepreneurial Compass class for this session.
Monday, 6 April 2009
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