Watch Me Write a Book to Sell (Piece-by-Piece on Medium)
I’ll take you through the entire process.
In case you missed it, one of my March goals is to work on the Medium-Newsletter-Book framework that Jamie Northrup - Minimalist Hustler created.
I’ve been dilly-dallying getting started because it seems so daunting to me. However, that’s just an excuse to procrastinate, and it’s time to get it going.
I’m not 100% sure how this will work out, but how can I know until I try?
The book
With this article (and the series of articles to come on this subject), I’m going to take you on a journey.
I’m going to write out how to write a book to sell and then it will become another book for me to sell. (So meta, I know!)
I’ve already written an ebook that earns me money, but this one will be different from my first because:
- I’ll be writing it piece-by-piece on Medium first
- I’ll be learning how to sell it on KDP instead of Gumroad (or both? TBD.)
I see this project as a win-win.
My win: Figuring out what I’m doing as I plan my book out and write it on Medium. Plus, this gives me lots of new content to write.
Your win: See the process from start to finish. (And hopefully, it’ll be much easier for you to do once you see what I do.)
My writing assistant
I will have a writing assistant…ChatGPT!
Of course, I won’t use it to write any of my articles. You know how awful ChatGPT is at writing. But I’ll use it to help me plan the book.
In fact, I’ll show you how I came up with a starting point and an outline.
The ChatGPT prompts
Here’s the first prompt I used:
“Our target market is busy people who love simple side hustles to earn some extra money. Our book will be about creating their own ebook to sell as a fun side hustle.”
ChatGPT gave me a list of 10 problems, including:
- Lack of direction
- Content generation
- Design and layout
- Marketing strategy
- Etc.
I’m sure I won’t use all of these, but it’s a good place to start.
Then I asked ChatGPT to provide an outline that would address these problems.
The outline
Here’s the outline it came up with. This looks way too complicated, and my message is to simplify, so I’ll need to work on it a bit. It’s also very boring, but it’s a good enough starting point.
Introduction:
- Welcome and Introduction to Ebook Side Hustles
- Overview of the Benefits of Creating and Selling Ebooks
- Brief Outline of the Ebook Content
Chapter 1: Identifying Your Ebook Topic
- Understanding Your Audience and Market Research
- Brainstorming Ideas and Choosing a Profitable Niche
- Overcoming Common Obstacles in Topic Selection
Chapter 2: Planning Your Ebook
- Setting Clear Goals and Objectives
- Outlining Your Ebook Structure and Content
- Tools and Techniques for Effective Planning
Chapter 3: Content Creation Strategies
- Generating Ideas and Overcoming Writer’s Block
- Techniques for Compelling Writing and Storytelling
- Leveraging Your Expertise and Passion to Create Valuable Content
Chapter 4: Formatting and Design
- Overview of Ebook Formatting Standards and Best Practices
- Designing Professional-looking Covers and Layouts
- Tools and Resources for DIY Formatting and Design
Chapter 5: Overcoming Technical Challenges
- Simplifying Technical Jargon and Concepts
- Step-by-Step Tutorials for File Conversion, Multimedia Embedding, and DRM Setup
- Troubleshooting Common Technical Issues
Chapter 6: Crafting a Winning Marketing Strategy
- Building Your Author Platform and Establishing Your Brand
- Effective Marketing Tactics for Ebook Promotion
- Leveraging Social Media, Email Marketing, and SEO
Chapter 7: Time Management and Productivity
- Strategies for Balancing Ebook Creation with Busy Schedules
- Time Management Techniques and Productivity Hacks
- Overcoming Procrastination and Maintaining Momentum
Chapter 8: Overcoming Fear and Self-Doubt
- Understanding and Confronting Fear of Failure
- Building Confidence and Resilience as an Author
- Embracing Challenges and Learning from Setbacks
Chapter 9: Budget-Friendly Solutions
- Cost-effective Tools and Resources for Ebook Creation
- DIY Approaches to Editing, Cover Design, and Marketing
- Maximizing ROI and Minimizing Expenses in Your Ebook Side Hustle
Chapter 10: Standing Out in a Competitive Landscape
- Conducting Market Research and Identifying Untapped Niches
- Strategies for Differentiation and Finding Your Unique Selling Proposition
- Building Relationships and Collaborating with Others in Your Niche
Conclusion:
- Recap of Key Takeaways and Actionable Steps
- Encouragement and Motivation for Taking the Next Steps in Your Ebook Side Hustle Journey
- Invitation to Connect and Share Success Stories
Final Thoughts
My mind isn’t clear on how this is going to come together. I also don’t know how I can make each section a compelling Medium article. But it’s going to be fun to try!
Worst-case scenario? It’s another failed experiment that you and I can learn from.
Follow along with me to see how it goes!
About the Author
Hey! I’m Christina, an introverted book nerd on the outside, and a raging metalhead on the inside. 🤘 I’m a married mom to two teenagers (and 3 cats and a dog). I love Vegas 🎰, the band Chevelle 🎸, and murder mysteries 📖.
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