How to write your book: from brainstorming to publishing, Katherine Conaway [Nomad Summit 2020]
This past weekend in Chiang Mai, Thailand, was the 8th Nomad Summit.
I attended the full conference day on Saturday & then taught a writing workshop on Monday, which I’m sharing notes from below.
For an overall review of the Nomad Summit event, venue, high-level takeaways, book recommendations, and links to all the other speaker notes I took, check out my main review:
- Anyone can be a writer, especially if your goal is to write & communicate information
- Using a process helps make it easier, instead of thinking of writing as a “zero → magical moment of inspiration → finished perfection” which is both intimidating & unrealistic
- 90 minutes isn’t enough time to write a book, but it is enough time to get a better understanding of how you can approach the project step-by-step to actually reach the finish line, whether that’s hitting publish on a book or a blog post
- My process is based on my experience with project management, branding, content strategy, and copywriting
- By following steps & building up content, the momentum should help move you to the finish line without ever really feeling like you’re waiting on inspiration / getting stuck with writer’s block
- I use my book, The Digital Nomad Survival Guide, as a case study with examples throughout every step of the process
My Writing Process
- DEFINE = what is your idea, who is your audience, why do they need this, and (therefore) how will you write it
- ORGANIZE = create a style guide, high-level outline, detailed content outline, and plan (schedule + milestones)
- DESIGN = creative brief for cover, visual references, creative kickoff with designer
- WRITE = chapter drafts, internal reviews, book draft
- EDIT = working with an editor, final draft
- PUBLISH = basic requirements for self-publishing on Amazon, formatting the book for Kindle, overview of launch approach & basic marketing
- Do keep making progress, even if it feels like small steps; stay organized; work with other people
- Don’t get overwhelmed and quit; don’t make it too broad or try to write about everything all at once; don’t wait until it’s perfect
Although I’ve given this presentation a few times, it was the first time I’d had some exercises throughout & gave people a chance to get some ideas “on paper” as we went. I think I like that format so there’s something to work from when they’re on their own afterwards.
I was happy to hear that people found it helpful to break it into a clear process, and quite a few asked me about making it an online course — which I wanted to do anyway! So that’s great to hear.
Someone suggested I make an audio book version of The Digital Nomad Survival Guide, and I am totally down for voice acting so I just may do it!
Katherine Conaway is a digital nomad, working remotely while she travels the world — on the road since June 2014.
