If you’re an entrepreneur, chances are the idea of writing a book has made its way into your orbit. Having built a successful business, you’ve likely overcome barriers, experienced singularities and had epiphanies that might benefit others. It’s natural to recognize a story within you. I know I certainly did.
Writing a bestseller has great appeal but it’s no walk in the park. It can help build your authority as an expert, acting as a highly credible stage for you to project your own voice. However, what’s often overlooked is the fact that very few entrepreneurs ever make it to publishing (and some who do, don’t achieve the impact they intended).
Most people feel they have a book in them. In fact, 81% of Americans believe they can write one but very few actually end up doing so. The fraction of those who go on to have a bestseller is even smaller.
If you’re reading this, you’re likely a part of the majority of Americans who share in the dream. Like you, I was guilty of that vision and for the longest time, I let my imposter syndrome inhibit me from getting started. Although I was already a successful Speaker Coach, entrepreneur, CEO, and mother, the idea of putting myself out there as an Author terrified me.
I kept thinking:
What if people think I’m full of myself? What if I actually have nothing to offer? What if people don’t even read the book?
In hindsight, the “what ifs” never go away. However, I’ve learned that doubts can never stop determination, so long as you remain passionate.
Finding joy throughout this entire process is what truly separates a disaster from a bestseller. I should know – I wrote two! Before embarking on the journey, follow these five steps:
1. Identify a purpose
I can say with utmost confidence that if you’re not writing a book primarily for yourself, then the project won’t be anywhere as impactful. Lead generation, new client acquisition and monetization will come (they did for me) – but I don’t believe they should be your main motivator.
The easiest way to determine whether you have a strong purpose is to answer these three questions:
- Who is this book for?
- What is it about?
- What is the key takeaway?
If you can identify them easily, then you’ve found your book. At every stage of the writing process, return to that purpose to make sure that the narrative remains intact. Otherwise, the book will fail to convey your message and the project won’t have nearly enough impact.
Without a clear purpose, the book-writing process will be taxing rather than fun and the outcome won’t near the bestseller outcome you envisioned.
2. Pinpoint stories and journey
Once the purpose of your book is determined, finding stories to take readers on a journey is the fun part. By pulling your memories, lived experiences, learnings and ideas into a structured outline, you can create a cohesive narrative throughout.
With my first book, Stronger on the Other Side, I kept returning to the same memories that made me who I am today. I called them my four “befores and afters” (moments of rebirth which were also the hardest moments of my life): a 17-day coma I found myself in; a fire burning my house to the ground; and others. These moments taught me how to find hope when all is lost and what I learned could benefit others too.
Although these stories were tailored to my own life, their underlying themes were relatable. By providing specific detail, they become tangible, impactful, and provide a perspective to readers – whether it’s a fresh outlook, a reflection on their own hardships, or simply comfort knowing that someone else had successfully made it onto the other side of a major challenge.
3. Lean on collaborators
No, you don’t need to write the entire thing yourself. Right from the get-go, there was no doubt in my mind that I would get a ghostwriter. After interviewing three, I really connected with one and I was so grateful that she took my project on.
It’s important to find someone you genuinely like: you’ll be spending a lot of time with them. You have to be comfortable enough with them to open up freely and to trust that they’re going to do your story justice.
The process was really enjoyable for me. I charted out the outline of my book and she would come up with different interview topics to go through each week. Slowly, chapter by chapter, the book came to life.
However, ghostwriting isn’t the only option; there are many other ways to collaborate. My second book, Lead Like a Woman: Tales From the Trenches, was multi-authored, which was a different but extremely fun experience (so much so that my third book, coming out shortly, will follow a similar structure).
It is less labor intensive in the traditional sense: although you’re not writing from cover to cover (the contributions of others will ease that burden), you’ll have to put in a lot of legwork: finding people to contribute and corralling those busy people into submitting by certain deadlines (which can feel not entirely unlike “herding tigers”).
4. Work with an editor to clean it up and finalize
When it comes to the editing process, there are a few things to keep in mind:
- Version control: Once you hand over your draft, don’t interrupt the editor’s workflow before they’ve had a chance to completely go through it.
- Familiarity: You’ll want to find an editor who knows you and the industry well. They’re going to know how to polish up your writing while remaining in your voice.
My best piece of advice for the editing experience: let go of the little things. Expert editors will take control – and their process is crucial. If you don’t have a professional editor to work with, find a skilled writer who already knows your voice so the outcome remains impactful.
5. Consider self-publishing
Most people assume that a self-published book can’t achieve bestseller status. I’ve done it – it can!
When it comes to publishing, your personal preferences should be the deciding factor. Having done both avenues, self-publishing my first book was a great decision. It helps accelerate the process: while publishing houses can take up to 1 year (sometimes longer) to get a book published, my first book was live in 3 weeks.
The “downside” to self-publishing: marketing your book is entirely on your shoulders. Marketing is going to be an integral part of publishing no matter what, so you can either pay for it or roll up your sleeves to do the work yourself. Self-publishing means having more intention with how your book is marketed but it will also be more time-consuming.
Here’s a bonus tip to reach bestseller status: go the multi-author route in order to speed-track marketing and exponentially get the word out. Having multiple people write the book means you have multiple people marketing it, too. The more “buzz” your book creates, the more sales it generates, the more reviews it receives and websites that talk about it, the closer it gets to earning that coveted “bestseller” prominence.
Ultimately, writing a book takes stamina: it’s a long process and a lot of work – and rarely does it become a major source of revenue. However, done for the right reasons, it can be incredibly fun and often freeing. It can support your bigger goals, inspire people in a way you never imagined and maybe even scale to a bestseller. But do it wrong and you’ve wasted time, energy and money.
If you can easily find your way through this guide – identifying your purpose, harmonizing your experiences and really committing yourself to the process – then you might have what it takes to publish your bestseller.