Tag: books

Are audiobooks or ebooks “reading?” Are they really “books?”

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What does it mean to read a book? This is a surprisingly difficult question to answer. It used to be, you sat down with a book and you read it, one page after another. Now you can experience a book through your earbuds while walking in the woods or sitting on a bus, on look … Continued

5 reasons that authors should write a fat outline for every chapter

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You know it’s smart to plan book chapters before writing. So don’t start by writing. Start by crafting a fat outline — you’ll save yourself anguish and improve your work with editors and other collaborators, too. What’s a fat outline? It’s a skeletal layout of what’s going to be in the chapter, laid out in … Continued

What tasks should authors outsource?

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Authors can’t do everything. What should they hire others to do for them? Assuming you’re working with a publisher rather than self-publishing, here’s a list, ranging from tasks you really shouldn’t outsource to those you probably ought to. Do this yourself. Here’s what you can’t or shouldn’t delegate. You could outsource these tasks, but don’t … Continued

Deductive vs. big-bang book structures

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As you structure your book, deductive logic is leading you astray — especially if you are an academic. State big conclusions first, if you want readers to keep reading. The logical, and wrong, way to structure a nonfiction book Here is the logical way to structure a book: Very nice. Very easy to follow. Very … Continued

Essential lessons from 42 nonfiction book projects

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I’ve made a hell of a lot of mistakes while working on 42 nonfiction books. I learned from them. And although my clients may not realize it, that is why they pay to me work with them. I show them how to do it right, and how not to do it wrong, based on all … Continued

How to write a book

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A nonfiction book is a huge undertaking. But writing a book is easier than you fear. Here’s how. A book is an idea Start with a differentiated idea that’s relevant for your audience. No idea, no book. If you know something few other people know, that’s your idea. If you have no idea, don’t write … Continued

Restarting a stalled book project

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I had a half-written book. It had languished for a while. I felt stuck. This is how I brought it back to life — without wasting all the work I’d done. Why my book was stuck A while back, I’d started a book titled How to Write a Business Book That Matters: A Comprehensive Guide … Continued