Writing my Book

self publishing

2011-03-02T04:38:00.000-08:00

Met a guy at a networking meeting on Tuesday morning (6.30am - what was I thinking?!) who runs a self publishing company which might be an ideal route for my book. While being published by a renowned name would be fabulous, it might not prove to be the most lucrative direction. However, if we self publish then we need to do all the marketing for the book so we need to look at the options.

For now though, need to put fingers to keyboard and get on with those 1000 words a day!

Setting a target

2011-02-27T07:42:00.000-08:00

I think that to stop a project just running on and on, a target or goal completion date is needed. Rather like needing to hold a party to make sure the decorating is done or the garden completed. I also know that I am far better with short term projects.

To this end I have now decided that my goal is to have the first draft of the book completed by the end of June. That gives me 4 months - not long but then I need to be pushed and I am hoping that the book could be published in time for Christmas! Wow, just thinking about it being an actual book is exciting (and scary at the same time).

So four months and 70,000 odd words to go. That is 18,000 or so words per month = 875 words a day. Quite a few so I had better get cracking.

By the way, I still have not finished cataloguing all my research but it is getting there - I have the boxes now!!

What to write?

2011-02-22T08:21:00.000-08:00

It has hit me. The hardest thing about writing is, surprise, surprise, knowing what to write. By that I don't mean the actual subject matter but rather how you will arrange it, the order it should run in and areas of focus. Really the tools for getting started - a starting point.

So, today I have worked on each different chapter, outlining in basic form what each will include. This has given me around 10 subheadings in each chapter. From this skeleton, I have then gone back and added a sentence for each heading. Suddenly, my empty chapters are beginning to fill up. I can see the structure of my book emerging!

It also occurred to me last night in the bath just how I am going to lay out each of the chapters which has given me so much more focus. Now, don't think this has been easy and has really happened overnight as I have been thinking about this for months but, of course, I didn't have my faithful blog to need to write to. So already this system is working - fantastic!! Time will tell how long it last though.

For now I have decided to write each chapter in five parts. Now I am full of enthusiasm to get writing. So,my next question will be should I start putting together my writing, or, should I sort out all my research material into relevant chapters first?

Questions, questions, questions. Perhaps a glass of wine this evening will prompt an answer. For now it is back to the day job.

Let the story begin

2011-02-21T08:46:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Day 1 - D Day! Woohoo. This blog is going to keep me on the straight and narrow and help me get my book written (hopeful I know). So, quick bit of back ground, mainly to keep me clear as to exactly what I am trying to achieve here.

I've always wanted to build a house and write a book. Three years ago we began a huge house building project which I was, for my sins, project managing. We built a 12,000 sqft house from scratch with no previous building experience. Yes, it was a massive roller coaster ride but I would do it again, learned loads about myself, created something I am hugely proud of and need to now get it all down in writing (just in case we decide to do it all again!).

So that was wish one dealt with. I kept a diary of the entire build which of course is bits and pieces all over the place and I now need to pull it together. And so the story will begin. My book will

* tell our building story
* explain the technical terms and explain the building process
* give top tips and highlight the lessons we learned
* walk you through the entire build process
* give you the enthusiasm and courage to take on your own project I hope!

It will be a great momento of the whole event and something to pass down the family to illustrate just what a more than slightly barking bunch we are. This will also be one for the girls - we are all the wives, mums, girlfriends, partners out there who think we are not capable - WE ARE!

This blog will chart the process of the book writing, mainly to make sure that I actually get on with it.

And that will be wish two put to bed!

So here goes...