So, You Want to Write a Book - But You Don't Know Where to Get Started?

Few would disagree that one of the quickest ways to elevate your career is to write a book on your "subject" - but if the whole idea has your knees knocking like jelly, then you'll definitely want to discover the quick and easy route to becoming an author...

Step One - Decide on your audience!

Assuming you're writing a book that's related to your work, decide first on who your target audience is before you set pen to paper. Writing for a specific group of people is not only easier, but it enables you to be perceived as an expert within that group. You must also decide on the level of knowledge of your average reader and write accordingly. In this way, you avoid being patronising - or writing above the comprehension level of your reader.

Step Two - Get to work on your structure!

It's all too easy to get the writing bug and produce pages covered with fascinating streams of consciousness. The problem however, arises when you need to format the book into some kind of structure. Wading through 70,000 words to find a particular topic takes hours, is frustrating and will leave you so disheartened that you may well choose to give up the whole project as a bad job.

It makes sense, therefore, to consider your book's structure - before you start writing the content. Doing this is often easier if you write the book jacket first. This helps you streamline your thinking and reading it often not only is inspiring but it also reminds you to remain focused on your target audience. It's also a good idea to plan your contents page with chapter headings in the early days too - this ensures that there's a flow for the reader and a route map for you. (Also, if you want to play about with the structure, it's far easier to simply cut and paste chapter headings than it is to move swathes of purple prose.)

Step Three - Consider becoming an author of a tips booklet first!

If you're really keen to get into print as quickly as possible, why not consider writing a tips booklet? Not only does the booklet quickly - it should only take you a couple of days to write - give you something that you can sell to clients or use for PR purposes but it will also provide you with an excellent framework for when it comes to writing your book. Tips booklets are not only cheap to produce but they also provide you with an easy opportunity to become an author.

Step Four - Keep your writing style simple!

Understand that one of the keys to good writing is to keep things simple. While it's tempting to imagine yourself as the next literary discovery, in truth you'll do better to keep your writing easy-to-read so that it doesn't get in the way of the message. Trainee journalists are taught to write for individuals with a reading age of 12. Scary but true! Unlike classic reporting - which calls for writing in the 'third person' (for example, "It is believed that..." rather than "We believe that") - your book will come across as warmer and more accessible if you write as though you were talking to one reader, personally.

Step Five - Grab your readers' attention!

With millions of books out there, you're going to have to work hard to make your book sell. As well as an attention-grabbing headline, you also need to build up a sense of curiosity - and make sure that it runs throughout the book. You can easily achieve this by giving a teaser at the end of each chapter for what's coming next...

And finally...

Writing a book is hugely satisfying - and can help improve your personal profile, both within the media and your local community. Stick to these simple rules and who knows, you might even be the next JK Rowling!

1 Decide on who your target audience is before you set pen to paper. Writing for a specific group of people is not only easier, but it enables you to be perceived as an expert within that group.

2 Write your book jacket before beginning to write your book. Similarly, work on the chapter titles before writing the book itself. Doing both of these tasks first ensures that you get the structure right - and will save you hours of work and heartache later.

3 Get realistic - and write a tips booklet. Not only is it quicker and easier - but it will give you a useful framework for when you do write the book.

4 Keep your language simple and make your book personal. Language that's flowery and fails to get to the point may well serve your reader by sending them to sleep but it's unlikely that they'll keep reading.

5 Understand that you must grab - and keep - the reader's attention. You can easily do this through the book and chapter titles and at the end of each chapter, give a teaser for the following section!