It's Time To Prepare for the New Year's Resolution

January 1 is less than a month away and so are your resolutions. If you have taken the challenge of writing a book, congratulations. Here is what you can do to ensure success.

The following article has been published before, but I'm re-writing it for this resolution purpose. Follow this step by step method t0 keep motivated to publish your book or work through the writing, editing process and self-publishing process.

1. Outline your book-Begin with a blank page or empty word document. On that page, write the book’s topic anywhere you’d like as long as you know it’s the focal point of the brainstorm. Then, write as many words as you can to support that topic.

For example, in Get Rich in a Niche, I started with the topic “write, publish and market to a niche”. Then I plastered all the white space with phrases such as: marketing ideas, how to write, formatting, kindle, CreateSpace, Lightning Source, Amazon, internet marketing, social media, become an expert, spinoff, perpetuate, time management, etc.

2. Prioritize and categorize words and phrases. Some of the words and phrases may be related, have similar meanings or support different categories. These categories will become your chapters and the supporting phrases are subchapters.

For example, the words: how to write, and formatting describe the topic writing; kindle, CreateSpace, and Lightning Source describe publishing options; internet marketing, Amazon and social media are marketing topics, and so on.

Keep developing ideas until you have at least seven major topics.

3. Continue with the theme of single word and short phrase development. Once you have enough topics for at least an 8 chapter book, begin laying out the chapter content. Each topic should have 4-7 subtopics. This all depends on how long you want your book to be.

For example, in Get Rich in a Niche the brainstorm about the chapter on how to writelooked like this: How to write a book-writing, formatting, how many words per day, cover design, chapter set up, time management, and etc.

Once you have 7-10 chapters outlined, then you have enough information to begin writing your book. The book’s development may require more research, but you will have enough to get you started.

4. Once your book is outlined, start your writing plan. Nothing says you have to write in chapter order. Just keep organized enough to know which chapter you are working on. Give each chapter a separate file and incorporate the files into a single manuscript once the writing is done.    All that is necessary to begin is to write a few paragraphs for the introduction and summary. Next, write a few paragraphs supporting each of the sub chapter topics.

5. Make realistic goals. Follow the plan in point 4, but ensure you set a daily writing goal. Start with 200 to 500 words per day and build on that. With just 500 on each page and writing 500 words per day, you can write a 150 page manuscripts first draft in 150 days.

6. Once complete, start working on the re-write. Read your work and make sure your writing is strong enough to support each sub paragraph, each paragraph, each chapter and finally the book.

7. Begin working on editing. You can edit yourself (a way difficult task), but there are many ways to get your book edited by others at low cost. Start with friends, family, acquaintances or anyone who would volunteer and give good feedback. Or, you can do like one author does and pays a few thousand dollars for a great editing service. He uses their input to teach himself how to be a better writer.

8. Finishing touches. Begin formatting your book for publication. Include copyright information, dedications, foreword, table of contents, appendices, and other parts of the manuscript that are not part of the main content.

9. Provide to publishing method(s) of choice. Self-publishing includes: Lightning Source, CreateSpace, kindle, LULU or one of the many other self-publishing options. Or, you can go the traditional route.

You can write a book and self-publish in well under a year. There are many great formulas and methods employed by authors. For this method, all you need to do is provide an adequate outline, solid content, and a dedicated writing discipline. Keep at the work practicing good time management and who knows what good you can add to the world.

Jeffrey W. Bennett, ISP is the owner of Red Bike Publishing. Jeff is an accomplished writer of non-fiction books, novels and periodicals. He also owns Red bike Publishing. Published books include: "Get Rich in a Niche-Insider's Guide to Self Publishing in a Specialized Industry" and "Commitment-A Novel". Jeff is an expert in security and has written many security books including: "Insider's Guide to Security Clearances" and "DoD Security Clearances and Contracts Guidebook". See Red Bike Publishing for print copies of: Army Leadership The Ranger Handbook The Army Physical Readiness Manual Drill and Ceremonies The ITAR The NISPOM