Research and beta reading for upcoming book on writing and self-publishing a meaningful book

[Gregory]

I'm in the process of writing a book about how first-time authors can write an important nonfiction book about something they are highly knowledgeable or passionate about and mimic the standards of traditional publishing (including commercial success). I have much of the content outlined and written already, but I'd like to brainstorm some questions or topics that other self-published authors have that I might not have addressed.

So, what are your most pressing questions? What would you want to see in a book like this aimed at more serious authors than that typical "anyone can write a bestselling book in a month" crowd?

I would also be interested in picking up a few beta readers who want to look at early versions of the content and give critical feedback. I'll be happy to credit you in the final release and send you a free hard copy when it's ready.

It's divided into seven parts and expected to be about 120,000 words when done with editing.

Part I - Philosophy
-What it means to communicate meaningful ideas.
-How communication has evolved since prehistoric and preindustrial times and why books are still the best way to communicate meaningful ideas.
-The pros and cons of self-publishing vs. traditional publishing.
-Why uniqueness and impact matter more than anything else when choosing what to write about.
-Introspecting to determine what you care enough to write about and become known for.

Part II - Strategy
-Arriving at the style, value, and unique angle of your book.
-Comparing the purpose and structure of your book to its marketplace competition.
-Spotting holes in the market where reader demand has yet to be fulfilled by a quality book.
-Discovering the ideal reader and target audience for your message.
-Learning about Amazon.com’s search function, category breakdown, and bestseller ranking system.

Part III - Creation
-Cultivating the ideal writing environment and internal conditions to suit your creative nature.
-The function of different parts of a nonfiction book’s traditional structure.
-Crafting an outline that captures the essential parts of your message and will keep you on track until you finish your first draft.
-Writing to educate, entertain, and clarify misunderstandings while keeping your voice authentically yours.
-Working with ghostwriters, old content, dictation, and other nontraditional means to ease your writing burden.

Part IV - Refinement
-The functions of developmental editing, line editing, and copyediting
-Learning to love destroying what you have created for the sake of optimizing your message.
-Rearranging content so it appears in the ideal order for cohesion and retention.
-Working with beta readers and their feedback to rectify shortcomings and emphasize strengths before release.
-Reconsidering the focus and purpose of what you have written, including the addition of new types of information.

Part V - Presentation
-Avoiding the pitfalls that make your book look poor quality, cheap, or amateurish at first glance.
-Choosing a title, subtitle, description, and cover design that will optimize attraction for your target audience.
-Formatting the interior of your book for a professional appearance in paperback, hardcover, and eBook mediums.
-Narrating your audiobook or finding a professional to do it for you.
-Setting up and optimizing your book’s Amazon.com listing to convert visitors into buyers.

Part VI - Promotion
-Getting your book in front of your target audience through sharing guest content and submitting your book for critical review.
-Selecting the best Amazon.com search keywords to rank your book for.
-Putting your book in the ideal Amazon.com subcategories to keep it high in the ranking or become a bestseller.
-Preparing your book for foreign markets through translation and unconventional promotional techniques.
-Generating verified, positive book reviews from Amazon.com users before and after launch.
-Social media, email list, and pay-per-click book marketing tactics to keep your book in front of qualified buyers.
-Using your physical book as a business card or in-person promotion.

Part VII - Reward
-Reframing your self-conception and social narrative as an author authority on your subject.
-Appreciating the new levels of personal meaning that come with being a communicator of important ideas to massive audiences.
-How professional life changes with reliable passive income and the other opportunities a successful book makes possible.
-Repurposing your book’s content for videos, courses, and other mediums to expand your influence.
-Planning your next publication without letting your initial success or lack thereof become a creative trap.
-Dealing productively with results that aren’t as good as you’d hoped.

Thanks,
Gregory V. Diehl
P.S. my background is in various forms of education and branding.

[William]

Based on the memoirs that I wrote I would say that your points should include personal experiences and humor. I say this because when I wrote the book I did not know, and was frankly surprised that it has become useful to companies as a sales and business training manual.

Your book sounds like a unique and useful addition that will benefit aspiring writers. I wish you the very best of luck.

[Gregory]

William wrote: "Based on the memoirs that I wrote I would say that your points should include personal experiences and humor. I say this because when I wrote the book I did not know, and was frankly surprised that..."

I can confirm that. I wrote a business book called Brand Identity Breakthrough and was quite surprised during the beta reading stages how many people kept telling me to include more personal stories, even if they weren't directly related to branding. I talk about that a lot on the creation section.

[Felix]

I like your approach and am just finishing my third non-fiction book. Would be happy to participate if you PM me.

[Gregory]

Felix wrote: "I like your approach and am just finishing my third non-fiction book. Would be happy to participate if you PM me."

Thanks! Sent.

[William]

Gregory wrote: "William wrote: "Based on the memoirs that I wrote I would say that your points should include personal experiences and humor. I say this because when I wrote the book I did not know, and was frankl..."

and after 2 years the book is selling better than ever.

[Patricia]

I agree with the personal experiences and humor! My first non-fiction (which includes personal experiences and humor) is currently in editing as I work on writing the next. I am still exploring my self-publishing options and looking into marketing. I would love to read a book like yours and would be grateful to be a beta reader!!

[Gregory]

Patricia wrote: "I agree with the personal experiences and humor! My first non-fiction (which includes personal experiences and humor) is currently in editing as I work on writing the next. I am still exploring my ..."

Awesome. Sent you a private message.