I don’t know if you’ve ever noticed, but this site contains a challenge. It has been here for about four years. The challenge is quite simple: Write a blog post per day and a book per year. Are you up for it?
As the site states:
The point [of the challenge] is to blog your book. So, start at the beginning of your book and proceed from there until you reach the end. A post per day for a year…or less…should do it.
If you don’t want to blog a book, then blog on one topic every day for a year. Then mine your blog for content you can repurpose into a book. You’ll surely have enough for a book by the end of a year if not before.
Of course, I’m not asking you to do two different things. Just one.
Are You Ready to Blog a Book
If you already blog, this challenge is a no-brainer. Plan out a book post by post, and start blogging it!
Well, it’s not quite that simple–not if you want to blog a marketable book. To do that, you first have to produce a business plan for your book. That document gives you a chance to evaluate the competition and the market. Then you can use this information to craft a book that attracts readers—to your blog and later to the printed or digital book. That means you write a book that will sell.
If you don’t have a blog, get one up and running quickly! (Contact me if you want help with that; I’ll direct you to an affordable WordPress designer.) Then produce a business plan for your book and for your blog. Create a blogged-book plan so you can write and publish posts on a regular basis and build a manuscript at the same time.
You can learn about how to create a business plan for your blog and book in How to Blog a Book as well. (Read Chapter 4: Your Book’s Business Plan.)
Are You Up to the Challenge?
I love challenges. When you take a challenge, you stretch. You do things you don’t always believe you can do. In the process, you realize what you are capable of accomplishing if you push yourself past your perceived limits.
Do you feel you are up to the challenge of blogging a book?
Even if your answer is “no,” do it anyway. Forge ahead. Blog that book!
Because you can—post by post. I know you can.
How to Blog Your Book
Chunk your big book idea or project into 300- to 700-word pieces. Write them one by one and publish them on your blog. In no time, you will have written—blogged—your book. You’ll have a manuscript ready for editing.
Isn’t that what you want—to have completed a manuscript so you can turn it into a book? Of course, it is.
The only thing standing between you and fulfillment of that dream is…well…a bunch of blog posts. (And maybe your own limiting beliefs and negative thoughts.)
So take the challenge. Blog a book in a year (or less). Blog more than one book in a year. Realize your dream of becoming an author—maybe even before the end of 2015.
To learn more about blogging books and booking blogs, click here to order your copy of the new and revised edition of How to Blog a Book today.
Hi I am a new writer and I had some queries that I don’t seem to be able to find the answer to.
I intend to buy your book “how to blog a book” but I have seen quite a few contradicting comments online about my next stages while writing and before publishing. I am currently in the early stages of writing my non-fiction book, and I planned to create a blog and use social media pages to help advertise my book and begin sharing my knowledge.
I came across an article that said non-fiction books should come with an audience/platform the publisher doesn’t bring that to you, so pre advertising seems like the next step
But I have also seen articles that say if u publish with an agent they can take full control of your book, including title, cover etc, and if I have pre advertised else where can this effect my chances of getting published with some agents?
Because if I have chosen my name and created a logo already this then limits the publishing agent
What would you suggest?
Good questions, Rochelle! Yes, for a traditional publisher to pick up a nonfiction author, that writer needs an author platform. Larger publishers require larger platforms than smaller publishers. Publishers will not build this for you, and they do little to help promote the book after release.
An agent doesn’t take away control. They should collaborate with you. However, a publisher will control the title, cover, content, and design of your book, as well as price and release date. But they are experts! This is a good thing. They will not make you change your branding or logos–especially if they are good and support you and your book.