You’re an author. You know how it goes. That thought starts
rolling around in your head and you can’t shake the idea that someone needs to
write a book about it. The more you ponder, the more you realize you are
that someone!
So you sit down, roll up your sleeves, and stare at the computer
screen. Where do you go from here? What’s the next step?
•
Do you just start hammering out thoughts and edit them later?
•
Should you systematically begin outlining the chapters?
•
What books will you research to help support your message?
When I wrote my first book for Harvest House Publishers, I had already submitted
to them a book proposal for Moms Raising Sons to Be Men.
In case you’re not aware, if you submit a completed manuscript
to a traditional publisher—rather than a book proposal—you’ll likely get a
rejection letter. Not necessarily because your work’s unacceptable, but editors
are so inundated with submissions they simply don’t have the time to read
entire manuscripts.
What will give you a fighting chance to be considered by
an editor is a book proposal that includes:
1.
A table of contents
2.
A synopsis of each
chapter’s theme
3.
A sample chapter
4.
Information about other
books similar to yours
5.
Why your book needs to be
published
6.
How you’ll market the
book
(For more read: Book Proposals that Sell by Terry Whalin.)
Once my proposal was accepted by my publisher, I had a wonderful
road map for writing the book as I followed along the proposal’s already well-planned
table of contents and chapter themes.
Since the books I write are grounded in biblical principles to
help the reader build a no regrets life, I take very seriously the opportunity
the Lord has granted me to mentor multitudes through the pages of my books and
articles.
So, planning and organizing my thoughts isn’t enough. I first
spend a great deal of time praying for God’s wisdom, guidance and discernment
as I study Scripture throughout the writing process.
Also, I never write a book without a solid team of prayer
support. I am confident that doors have been opened and Truth has been taught
because of this amazing support of prayer.
Finally, I read books that will help grow my perspective and
support the message I want to share.
Proverbs 24:6 says, “For by wise guidance you can wage your war, and in
abundance of counselors there is victory.”
Learning from other authors can bring victory when writing might
feel like you’re waging a war against:
•
A culture that does not necessarily hold to your biblical
perspective (but desperately needs to hear it)
•
Responsibilities that steal away your precious writing time
•
Your own thoughts of discouragement
•
Temptation to quit
Temptation to quit is something I regularly battle. To date, I
have published 6 books. With each one I think, this
will be my last. But then a new thought starts rolling around in my mind
and back to the computer I go!
Rhonda Stoppe is the No Regrets Woman. With more than 30
years of experience as a marriage mentor, pastor’s wife, author and speaker,
Stoppe leads women of all ages to live lives of no regrets. Stoppe is the author of Moms Raising Sons to be Men, which mentors thousands of moms to guide sons toward a
no-regrets life, If My Husband Would Change, I’d Be Happy & Other Myths
Wives Believe, helping
countless women build no-regrets marriages and Real-Life Romance, a collection of real-life love stories. Her
latest release is The Marriage Mentor,
written with her husband, Steve. Visit
Rhonda Stoppe’s website www.NoRegretsWoman.com for more resources on love, marriage and
parenting. She is also active on YouTube
(Rhonda Stoppe No Regrets Woman), Facebook (RhondaStoppeNoRegretsWoman) and on Twitter (@RhondaStoppe).
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