When we set out to write our books, we grasp for a structure so we have clarity right away about how to organize our book. That makes sense, but the book’s ultimate structure might not be what you start with.
Still, you must start somewhere. Some possibilities include:
- Personal narrative
- How-to based on professional expertise
- Inspirational daybook
- Book of your art or photography
- Fiction, either short stories or a novel
The purpose of the book can inform the structure. These coaching inquiries can elicit clarity about the book’s purpose:
- Who is the audience?
- What do you want them to feel, think or do after reading your book?
- What is the nature of your material – essay or instructional?
Answer the above questions in writing.
If you haven’t already, devote one notebook or computer folder to this project. Gather notes, drafts, ideas and images in one place for easy reference. It doesn’t matter how messy the contents are, just that you have one container for your work.
How will readers interact with your material?
When you know the answers to these questions, you’ll see how people will be experiencing your material. You will know whether you’ll be working mainly with text or also with images, videos or hyperlinks.
Depending on your goals, your material could exist in several forms, depending on how people prefer to interact with it.
Your book* could be:
- Paperback
- Electronic book
- App
- Webinar
- Podcasts
- Installation
- And more…
*We’ll continue calling it a book for simplicity’s sake.
What form will best hold your material? Jot that down.
Reminder: Use free writing to get your words on the page quickly and easily. No matter what the final form, I suggest free writing as the way to get your first thoughts out on the page. With these preliminary ideas to work with, you can see where you need to add or take away to hone your message.
Organizing your material by developing a chapter template
Okay, have you gotten a sense of what form your book will take you may feel more at ease. Still, you wonder what will actually be in this non-fiction inspirational book.
Here’s what really helps my clients: develop a chapter template. Brainstorm the elements you want to include in each chapter. These could include:
- Introduction
- Stories
- Suggested work for the reader
- Inspirational quotations
- Illustrations or images
Once you have a chapter that works, use that as a template for subsequent chapters. Keep in mind that the ultimate form may change, but at least you have something to start with. It will feel great to have a sense of how you want to organize your book.
List the elements you want to see in each of your chapters.
Identify the following elements I want in each chapter and why:
- Introduction – to be clear on what this post will give the reader and why they need it
- Lists – to help a range of readers identify themselves in the writing
- Reminders – I’m going to assume a certain knowledge of (if not regular practice of) basic writing strategies.
- Coaching inquiries – to help authors write from and about what’s true for them and their work, not merely from a formula
- Suggested homework throughout the text and at the end in a list – for readers to do so they’re writing their books along with me
This post is a sample chapter for me. What does it make you feel, think and do?
Draft a sample chapter to see how each element builds upon and increases the impact of your work.
To sum up: this week’s writing homework, if you choose to accept it:
- Answer the coaching inquiries to clarify your book’s purpose.
- Choose an initial form – how-to, memoir, image-based.
- Brainstorm elements for each chapter.
- Draft a sample chapter.
Let me know in a comment below how this helps you organize your book.
Hi Cynthia, I will participate in Claim My Athority.
My first fix:
Gather all my notes, writings, and images in ONE computer file.
Thanks,
Barbara
Barbara!
I’m delighted that you’re claiming your authority to write your book. You’re already well on your way.
Getting all the material in one place is a powerful first step. You’ll be able to see what you have so you know what’s missing.
Hopefully this organizational step will also help you feel more focused, too.
I look forward to watching your book develop. Thanks for participating!
Hi there –
I’m so in. I think I have some of these questions answered, but I was just this week working on a “mission statement” of sorts, because I get lost in the weeds and forget about a cohesive purpose.
I love the steps you’ve given us and I look forward to the next two weeks working on them.
A vook, you say? This is new. Or I’m old. Could be both. 🙂 Going to google that term RIGHT now! 🙂
Thank you for the series, Cynthia!! You’re so good at what you do. Can’t wait for a CSB update next week.
Karen
Karen,
Thanks for letting me know you’re following along. It’s funny, writing a book as a once-a-week blog. I had planned the mission statement piece for this week, but then while talking to my guinea pigs, I found people immediately need to have a sense of structure or they start flailing.
So, after next week’s post, look for the one about doing a manifesto, or guiding core principle for the book.
A VOOK – imagine a series of short videos that tell a story. I don’t know if they’re popular now, but Seth Godin made one that I looked at. I loved it.
Hi Cynthia, I am really excited to do your structure steps. Now I have to pick between the three books I’ve started.
I love the steps because I don’t look too far ahead and scare myself to death.
I will claim my authority and see where it takes me!
Marnie,
Great news! I know it’s not always easy to choose between projects. Often with my clients two of the projects may actually merge into one, or elements from one project belong with another. So the choosing isn’t so painful!
And yes, focus on immediate steps – that’s usually where the greatest pleasure is.
Thanks for letting me know you’re on board to claim your authority!
Hi Cynthia,
coincidence or confluence? Just when I digg out that years old manuscript of a novel, you come alaong with a write-along. So, yeah, like hell I’m in. If only to find out whether this thing is supposed to live (nod to Leonard Cohen here).
Since I’ve worked on this thingy on and of for over ten years now it’s quite an overgrown mess. I’m using your questions to (re-) find my original impulse here. Pun totally intended. 😉
Bring it on, then.
Alexandra
Alexandra,
What’s the difference between coincidence and confluence? I like pondering things like that.
I’m glad you found us and want to play along. Particularly because I think this material will apply to fiction and non-fiction alike, but want to test it. So I’m glad to have a novelist on board!
Enjoy your process!
Hi!
I am in the middle of writing my book and am loving it, though challenging at times. I’m glad I came across the post, I think the next thing for me to really look at is how to develop a chapter structure and what I want the chapters to look like. I have written and written but I haven’t yet fully decided on chapters.
Thanks!
Cynthia, I really enjoy the help with structure, I’ve been writing a long time, although I just had a shift that would bring to books together. I have looked here for help in putting things together. I have a deadline for Sept. 1, now that I’m shifting things things around, I’m sure if I can be finished by then. My book is a how-to, with stories,
Kathryn,
Glad this was helpful for you!
I say go for your September 1st goal, work as hard as you can toward it and see where you are then. If you don’t meet it, you know you’ve done everything you can to make progress. That’s the important part.
Keep writing!
Cynthia, so sorry for the typos, I meant two books are coming together.
And I’m not sure I’ll be done by September.
I have noticed you don’t monetize your site, don’t waste your traffic, you can earn additional
cash every month because you’ve got high quality content. If you want
to know how to make extra money, search for: Boorfe’s tips best adsense
alternative