Writing Strategy

Book writing challenge

In preparation for the Book Proposal Challenge, which starts on Monday, publisher and host Alison Jones has provided attendees with a list of questions to make them think.

In her Extraordinary Business Book Club we are urged to “Take at least an hour to work through these questions honestly and thoughtfully” in her Business Book Kick Start. This is all about strategy.

“At its simplest, strategy is simply knowing where you’re going and how you’re going to get there,” Alison Jones writes –

WHY are you in business?
What is most important to you about the business you’re creating, and
What does success mean to you?


“Reflect on what your answers tell you about where you should be focusing your time and energy in your business to make it successful – not just financially, but in terms of your values and building the life you want to live. So with all that in mind, what’s your vision for your business in 20 years? (You’re about to write a book, after all, and books have a long shelf life.)”

And so I have reflected, written my goals for 3-5 years, and not tried to set a 20-year goal because, by then, who knows…..


Develop your business with a book

Writing a book is one way to develop your business by bringing you “known expert” status. As an author, books ARE my business, after all. So I have written that, in 3-5 years, “I will continue to spend my days writing, researching, networking, mentoring, editing, marketing.”


Next we are given an “incredibly useful tool you can use when writing your book as well as more generally in your business…Instead of thinking of your ideal customer as a type, imagine them as a real person.”
So far I have only a sketch on paper about my real person … In fact I have 2 people. John and Jenny are in their mid forties, and feel unfulfilled but reasonably positive about their potential as writers. They seek help, mentoring and support.

Similar sentiments have come from a talk I have heard this week from topnotch marketing strategist Kara Stanford. My take from her talk at the launch of a new Otterbourne group with Fabulous Networking was to focus on the psychology of the reader. Check Kara out at www.marketingspaces.co.uk

Watch my space as my business book develops.