April 2012 E-Book Challenge: Begin Writing

Strataware Version 2 word processor screenshot (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

And the second week of the 4 Week Write Your Own E-Book Challenge begins…

Are your ready for another productive week?

Remember: Productivity is key.

Now that you have completed the brainstorming, organizing and outlining tasks, it is time to move onto the actual writing. I know that some people prefer to write out a manuscript on paper before typing it into there word processor. However, the process really does go significantly faster if you enter the words directly into the processor. You may not be able to finish the e-book otherwise.

You have two weeks to complete the actual writing.

The last week of this challenge is reserved for editing.

Research

Before beginning the first day of writing. Do a quick search online for any information you may need to write your e-book. This should not take a long time, because you are writing on a topic you are already passionate about. Note sources, in case you have to site them in the book.

Scheduling Time

If you are lucky, you will be able to work on the writing aspect of this challenge all day each day. Or most of the day Many of us have day jobs, though, so we will have to come up with a schedule for writing.

Set a specific block of time, if possible, for each day (starting today!) of the next two weeks for this task. Maybe two hours a day. Maybe four. The amount of time spent may vary by day. For instance, you may only have one hour to spend writing on Monday and Tuesday of the first week, three hours Wednesday through Friday, then all day on Saturday and Sunday. This is fine.

The amount of time needed will depend on how quickly you type, how long the manuscript will be, and your daily responsibilities. This time block can be adjusted part way through the second week, to give you more time or less, dependent on how the manuscript is coming along by that time.

Note that some people prefer to schedule writing so many words a day, or even a chapter a day.

Let Everyone Know

Tell people you cannot be interrupted at these times, unless there is an emergency. Turn the cell phone off. Turn the answering machine on. Hang a note on the front door as a reminder. And let your immediate family know that you love them but you are working on a project that needs your attention.

Begin Writing!

Sit down at the computer and urn it on. Open your idea notebook. Go into your word processor and begin writing! Use this initial block of time to write a Dedication and About the Author page, as well as an introduction to the book. If you have the time, begin writing the first part or chapter to the book. If not, rest assured that you have completed the first two or three pages of the book.

Each day, write during your scheduled block of time. (Or, write however many words you have scheduled. Or, write the chapter for that day.) Do not worry about editing. This will come later.

NOTE: Note that single parents with young children/babies will have to schedule their time accordingly. This may mean writing during naps or after the children are in bed for the night.

ACTION STEPS:

1. Write each day during your scheduled time!

2. You may notice, as you write, that new ideas pop into your head. This is fine. Go with it.

UP NEXT: Second Weekly Follow Up

Happy Brainstorming!

Shannon L. Buck

http://thefitnessjournal.wordpress.com

http://frugalrecipes.wordpress.com

http://livingthelowincomelife.wordpress.com

Related articles

• April 2012 E-Book Challenge: Brainstorming, Organizing and Outlining (howtolivethefreelancelife.wordpress.com)

April 2012 E-Book Challenge: First Weekly Follow Up

Brainstorming during the point of entry planning session. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Català: Imatge de pluja d'idees (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

How are you doing with your first week of tasks for the 4 Week Write Your Own E-Book Challenge? It can be both fun and time consuming, I know. It may also make you nervous. Don’t worry about that, though. You are doing just fine.

Have you finished your beginning brainstorming tasks? I’ll bet you had fun with that. I always do.

You should have organized the needed pages in your notebook according to topic now, and have been working on more brainstorming techniques to finish the subtopic lists for each topic. The subtopic brainstorming activity can take time, and you may not be finished yet. This is fine. You have the weekend to finish up. The next challenge step will not be posted until Monday.

Remember to number the subtopics in the order in which you wish to mention them.

NEXT: April 2012 E-Book Challenge: Begin Writing

Shannon L. Buck

http://thefitnessjournal.wordpress.com

http://frugalrecipes.wordpress.com

http://livingthelowincomelife.wordpress.com

April 2012 E-Book Challenge: Brainstorming, Organizing and Outlining

Notebooks (Photo credit: Wm Jas)

And the first week of the 4 Week Write Your Own E-Book Challenge begins…

Are your ready?

Writing an e-book can be a challenging and time consuming task if it is not planned out accordingly. However, by setting a schedule and buckling down, you will be able to write an e-book within a one-month time frame.

In this challenge, I will guide you through the process of creating one of these books, explaining the steps and offering examples of how to perform them. My goal is to help you create something special. Something all your own that can be given away or sold on your own website or blog.

Brainstorming

The first step in writing an e-book is coming up with a topic. Sit down with a pen and notebook, and brainstorm ideas for your e-book. You will want to write what you know, so as to limit or eliminate the amount of research time for the project. Make a list of topics that you are passionate about, things that you enjoy and know something about. Some examples include: Blogging, cooking, babysitting and article writing.

Once the step above is complete, note which topics you would be most interested in writing on. Enjoying what you write is key to finishing the challenge.

From the second list, decide what the topic of the e-book for this challenge will be. Start a new page in your notebook, indicating possible titles at the top.

Now brainstorm a list of topics you would like to cover in the book. For instance, if the e-book will be about article writing, you might touch upon topics such as generating ideas, brainstorming, finding writing opportunities and editing your own work. Think about everything you want to write about and enter a short (a few words) explanation after each.

Organizing

It is important to organize the brainstormed list of topics into a cohesive format. Begin a new page in your notebook, and list the topics you want to write about in the order they should appear in the book. You might think in terms of steps. What is the natural procession for your e-book? What should your reader do or learn about first? Second? Last? Decide now how your e-book will be set up.

Outlining (and more Brainstorming)

Writing one topic at the top of a new page. Continue this for as many pages as you have topics for, giving each topic one page. (For an extra long book, I might use two pages per topic.)

On each page, make notes on subtopics that you want to write for the given topic. If you remember, you wrote a short note after each topic during the brainstorming session. Now is the time to expand on that. Go through each topic page, expanding and brainstorming more ideas.

Go through each idea under each topic and number them in the order in which you would like to write them. This is your last step, and is done when you have completed all the brainstorming activities have been completed. Admittedly, this is not the most attractive way to complete this task. However, it does work for me. Over time, you will find your own ways to organize information.

The brainstorming task in this last step may take until the end of the first week. This is fine, and expected. Each day you might come up with new ideas, so don’t rush this process.

NOTE: Listing ideas is only one way to brainstorm ideas. Some people use charts, mind maps or other tactics. Research the topic of brainstorming if this method does not work for you.

ACTION STEPS:

1. Do the brainstorming technique in mentioned in this post, or incorporate your own.

2. Organize your beginning thoughts.

3. Outline your ideas. Keep thinking about what you want to write, and keep your notebook and pen with you at all times to record thoughts that come into your mind.

UP NEXT: First Weekly Follow Up

Happy Brainstorming!

Shannon L. Buck

http://thefitnessjournal.wordpress.com

http://frugalrecipes.wordpress.com

http://livingthelowincomelife.wordpress.com

Journaling/Blogging the 4 Week Write Your Own E-Book Challenge

I love to journal and to blog, and feel that it is important to do so when taking challenges because I can keep track of all aspects of the challenge, from questions I have to emotions that I am feeling. Doing so also helps me to follow along, and provides a recording of what challenges I had and accomplishments I am proud of.

Blog Machine (Photo credit: digitalrob70)

You may want to do the same for this challenge. Discuss different aspects, such as how you enjoy the recipes and what you are learning about nutrition and yourself.

Feel free to post your answers here when they appear in the challenge, in your journal or on your own blog. You can even link to this post in your own blog entry.

Enjoy the challenge!

Shannon L. Buck

http://thefitnessjournal.wordpress.com

http://frugalrecipes.wordpress.com

http://livingthelowincomelife.wordpress.com

April 2012: 4 Week Write Your Own E-Book Challenge

Welcome to the challenge! My first challenge to you is the 4 Week Write Your Own e-Book Challenge. This challenge is a fun way to crank out your first e-book, or a way to challenge yourself to write more e-books throughout the year. I will leave the page and posts here on the blog, so you can refer back to them whenever you feel the need.

e-book (Photo credit: Ángela Espinosa)

NOTES:

• Each week, read the informational post that will be available on Monday.

• Use the techniques for steps, such as brainstorming, that are mentioned here, follow your own techniques, or search out other ways of doing things. The internet is your friend. It will provide you with a plethora of ways to accomplish the tasks provided.

• Complete the tasks.

• Read the weekly follow up posts to make sure you are on the right track with your tasks.

• Writing takes a lot of time, and is not a very active task. You will want to be sure to combine good eating habits with exercise to keep you healthy and energized during this challenge.

Learn more about this challenge here. The link will not take you away from this blog, but to a new page that I have created here.

Enjoy the challenge!

Shannon L. Buck

http://thefitnessjournal.wordpress.com

http://frugalrecipes.wordpress.com

http://livingthelowincomelife.wordpress.com

Join the 4 Week Write Your Own E-Book Challenge

April 2, 2012 marks the first day of the 4 Week Write Your Own E-Book challenge. This challenge will take time, but it will be well worth your effort. Each week, we will work on one step of the challenge until the e-book is finished.

Česky: Amazon Kindle třetí generace, ukazující původní text románu Bílá velryba. English: Third generation Amazon Kindle, showing text from the novel Moby-Dick. Esperanto: Amazon Kindle de la tria generacio, montranta originan tekston el la romano Moby-Dick. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Until then, there will be a couple of introductory posts, explaining a little more about the process, and a way to enjoy the month by recording the process you choose to use.

Enjoy the challenge!

Shannon L. Buck

http://thefitnessjournal.wordpress.com

http://frugalrecipes.wordpress.com

http://livingthelowincomelife.wordpress.com

Writing for Magazines

Image via Wikipedia

I am thinking about approaching a few different magazines about writing for them. When I do, it will be the first time I have approached anyone that was not a content mill or other such entity that required an application.

Last night I finished my first ever proposal letter for a certain niche market, and I have four publications that I will be able to send it to. I will submit to one publication at a time. Wish me luck on this!

I am considering other publications as well, in different niches. Honestly, I get bored far too easily if I stick to writing on only one topic. I wonder what experiences other writers had their first time approaching an online or offline magazine like this. I am nervous, but will not let that stand in my way. I did let my nervousness get in the way last year, but cannot expect to succeed in life if I continue with this practice.

Shannon L. Buck