Dreams in Action

Pretty regularly, people ask me for writing advice. Many folks have an idea or a story they want to turn into a book. Yet, since I’m an athlete who’s an author, rather than an expert in the publishing business, I don’t always know exactly what to say.

I can tell you what worked for me, though, and I can point you in the right direction to get all the answers you need.

For anyone who wants to publish nonfiction, here’s my first recommendation: 30 Days to a Successful Book ($14.95) by Karen Risch and Victoria St. George. For organizing your thoughts, expressing yourself, understanding your audience, learning how publishing works–really, everything to do with the discipline, artistry, and the practical aspects of making a book–this one nails it.

You’ll follow the exact same process I did when I put together the proposal for Running on Empty, which you can use whether you’re planning to find an agent or to self-publish. Get it before you write your first chapter! It’s a guidebook: something you don’t just read, but instead a series of questions you answer to create a business plan for a book, to fully conceptualize it so you can both write it well and sell it. Not for nothing, it also includes advice from my stellar literary agent, Stephen Hanselman, with a self-assessment that helps you tell if what you’ve created is any good.

True, there are a lot of other resources on the book world. What’s different about this one is that it is so direct. No fluff! Just specific, actionable advice that will put you on the right track for creating a book that you can be proud of and that people will want to buy and read.

Get 30 Days to a Successful Book for the specifics, and in the meanwhile, here’s some general advice based on what I have learned so far: Continue reading →