What it Takes to Create a Book in Three Not-So-Easy Steps

“For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?” ~Jesus, as recorded in Matthew 14:28

So you have an idea for a book. Great! Now, before you commence to write, sitteth yourself down and consider whether or not you’ll be able to bring your book into the world.

Here are the steps from start to finish. Depending on your preferences and budget, some of these tasks can be hired out.

Planning the Book 

Determine your goal for writing this book. (A book coach can help with this.)

Decide the point of the book. (A book coach can help.)

Define your audience. (A book coach can help.)

For Memoir: Collect your memories using emails, letters, journals, interviews with friends and relatives. If using a ghostwriter, he or she will conduct extensive interviews to find the point of the book, the shape and character arc, and the key scenes.

As you gather materials, focus on the memories and scenes that serve your main point. You can’t tell every anecdote and detail, no matter how interesting. 

If your book is nonfiction, find out what similar books have been published. If someone else has already written your book, maybe you should choose a different idea, or think of a fresh approach.

Writing the Book 

Determine the genre of your book and get familiar with the conventions of your genre.

Keeping in mind your point and goal, create an outline. (A book coach can guide you through this.)

Using the outline, write the first draft scene by scene. (A book coach can shepherd you through this process, though you'll be doing the writing yourself.) Check expected word count for your genre, and stay within it! Note: Remember your audience, and write something they will enjoy.

Have a developmental edit or editorial assessment done.

Revise the manuscript using editorial feedback.

Seek feedback from Beta readers and make further revisions.

Get a copy edit.

Have a professional proofread your manuscript. 

COSTS: Book coaching: averages $500/month. Coaches usually offer packages for your particular need.

Editorial assessment $1,400

Developmental Editing $2,400

Beta readers can be friends or colleagues. You can hire one on Fiverr for less than $100

Copy Editing $1,700

Proofreading $1,100

Publishing the Book 

Choose a publishing route: self, traditional, or hybrid? Depending on the route you choose, you will have more or less help from the publisher. However, whatever route you take, you will be responsible for marketing/promoting your book.

Choose an appropriate title for your book. A book coach or marketing expert can help with this.

Format your book for publication (ebook and paperback/hardback).

Write a 'publisher-ready' book description. A book coach can guide you.

Design a book cover.

Create a book launch plan and launch your book

Publish your book on online retailers

Market the book 

COSTS: Formatting $500 

Cover design $300-$1500

Professional marketer $1k and up

How Long Will It Take?

How long these things take depends on how much time you and others are able to devote to it on a daily or weekly basis. It can take six months to forever. The more you hire out, the more you depend on the schedules of others. If you are a first-time author and plan to publish traditionally, you should know it usually takes a very long time (months or years) to secure the services of an agent (unless you are famous).

You Must Work to Reach Readers

No matter how brilliant your book is, it is nearly impossible to reach readers without some marketing. Even if you sign a book deal with a major publishing house, you will still be required to market the book yourself and work with the publishing house’s marketing department.

Is This a Good Idea?

I believe that if anyone knew all that is required to create a book and “put it out there” today, few people would attempt to do so! As with careers and marriages and babies, books are easy to begin, but we often find it challenging to finish well.

Ironically, as a book coach, I sometimes find myself trying to dissuade people from writing books because I feel that they are not truly called to do so. They have an idea, they think it might make a good book, they run it up the flagpole. These people may have a story to tell, but perhaps it would be better told as a podcast, a testimonial, a blogpost, a song. The writing and publishing of books requires a number of specific skills, some of which you may already possess, some you may have to learn, while some tasks will remain outside your abilities, and you will have to ask someone else to do them for you.

My word of encouragement to you, believing writer, is that if it is God’s will for you to write a book, you can do it. If help is needed, ask for help. He will supply it. If you are called to do this, you will have “sufficient to finish it.” The world needs good books. Someone has to write them. You might be one of those someones. Now that you hear the call and know the cost, will you, by faith, begin to build?