Do You Have an Author Inside You?

Do you consider yourself a writer? Do you write a blog, or contribute articles to magazines, journals, or newsletters? I always joke that I’m more of an author than a writer. Words don’t flow onto the computer as freely as I would like. Honestly though, more than anything else, writing a book has advanced my career.

I didn’t always plan on writing a book. Ten years ago, I thought I would create a detailed handout, entailing information I seemed to be repeating for each client. What began as a handout became a packet, and before long, I know I had enough material to write an entire book. I announced to family and friends, “I’m writing a book.”

As the years went by, I had more children, my life got busier, and my book was pushed to the back burner. The year my youngest went to all-day kindergarten, I suddenly had more time on my hands. Seven years after deciding to write a book, it was finally complete and ready for purchase. (By the way, writing a book very much feels like birthing another child.)

Do you have a glimmer of a book idea in your head? Look up other books in your market niche; do you have another angle or new idea? Share your idea with a friend or colleague and ask their opinion.

If you have already decided to write a book, here are 5 tips for getting started:

1. Decide whether you want to self-publish or use a traditional publishing house. These are completely different routes, so make this decision first.

2. If you decide to self-publish, purchase You Can Write a Book, by our very own NE dietitian Julie Beyer. This will be the best $9.95 you spend in the process. Another great reference is Dan Poynter’s Self-Publishing Manual: How to Write, Print and Sell Your Own Book. If you plan to use a traditional publisher, become familiar with Writer’s Market.

3. Sign up for the NE Webinar: March 16, 2016, 1 PM EST “Putting Last Things First: Why 90% of Marketing Happens Before Your Book is Launched”, presented by Julie Beyer, MA, RDN and Electra Ford (1.5 CEUs). Or listen to the recording in NE Webinar Library after logging in to members only content. Non-members register by clicking on Store at the top of the screen.

4. Find a quiet spot and start writing. This is truly the hardest part for me. I love researching, talking about my book, marketing, and deciding on book covers. Actually typing the words are the most challenging for me!

5. Use the NE electronic mailing list to elicit the help of your NE colleagues. When you are stuck, ask for advice. When your book is complete, use your NE quarterly advertising to share your new “child”, I mean book, with us!

Niki Strealy, RDN, LD

NE Director of Member Services