Bookcraft 2.0
When his talk was over, the questions were answered, and so many copies of 10 Ways to Make It Great!
Here is what you should know about this series/case study, Bookcraft 2.0, going in:
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1. This series is crafted so that you can look over my shoulder as we repurpose content into a printed book. We’ll discuss every step in the evolution from pile of blog posts to finished book.
2. Phil’s Archives will be the content.
3. I’ll identify approrpiate content that Phil approves, and we’ll make a book.
4. I’ll write a series about each step so that everyone can watch what we do. This, of course, is the first entry in the series.
5. The series centers on making a print book from existing content. A print version easily can be offered as an ebook. The reverse can be significantly harder.
6. I might forget to name or detail some decisions. If you have questions, please ask. I’m happy to explain what I do or how I do something.
Now let’s check Phil’s archives for book ideas. Think we can find one? two? three?
Checking Phil’s Archives
Bookcraft 2.0 began this week, and I’m delighted to report it’s progressing as expected. Here’s what has happened so far.
1. I took a big picture look at Phil’s categories. My goal was to mentally grasp what might go together, keeping in mind that Phil’s definition of category names might be quite different from my own. I played with categories that might go together on paper and in my head. It was like predicting what will happen before you read the next chapter of a book.
2. I read every post in three categories. The three I chose were three that might relate to each other. Reading them gave me a sense of how much content was original content. Link posts and posts that heavily quote another blogger don’t convert well. Unless they have a strong section of standalone, value-added text that is truly outstanding, they are best left alone. Reading three sets of posts also gave me an idea of exactly how tightly or loosely Phil defines his categories.
3. I read every post in September and August, printing out posts with strong, original, content page by page as I read. Now I had the informational crossbars of an array — three categories crossed by two months. Some posts I read twice — by category and month. I was beginning get a feel for depth and breadth.
4. The patterns were beginning to show. I started to extrapolate. I had notes about what was emerging. I gave the notes “working” book titles.
5. By the end of the August archives, I was on the phone checking what I thought I saw with Phil. He confirmed that we’d have enough content for the two books I identified and that he wanted to pursue them.
6. I also shared a title for a third book. That book — which had occurred to me during the search — wasn’t covered in his archives, but seemed one appropriate to his content thrust. We decided we’d write that one together. We discussed first steps in getting that book started. But writing a book from scratch is another series altogether.
I’m going back into the archives today to pull the rest of the content — to confirm that we have enough content for the first title we want to build. A report on that will be the next post.
Notes on Finding the Idea
I offer these notes so that you’ll get the most from this series.
This first step requires the ability to see beyond what’s there to what could be. It also requires understanding what work it will take to reach that “will be” goal.
A wrong choice in deciding how to put the content together could result in an unfinished book and a great deal of frustration. Take your time and think about your choices from every angle. Set things aside for a day or two and look again. Do that two more times. If you’re not a big picture thinker by nature, get someone to help you. Things will go easier and faster, if this step is done slowly and thoughtfully, with plenty of planning and experience.
A great book, well planned at the beginning, comes together with logic and ease. One without won’t fit right even when a crowbar is applied.
–ME “Liz” Strauss
If you’d like Liz to help you find, or make, a book from your archives, click on the Work with Liz!! page in the sidebar.
Related articles
Bookcraft 2.0 Archive Mining: How to Get From Working Book Title to Rough Cut Content
Write a Book? Assemble the One in Your Archives!
1: How to Make Sure Real People Read Your Book
10 Ways to Make It Great!
I’m proud to say I knew you when.
That would be B.B.
Before Bookcraft.
This will be some of the best work you’ve ever done and will be a model for all those blogs out there that really say something.
You know, the ones that aren’t about other peoples blogs.
Hey Mike,
Thank you.
It’s going to be an adventure turning Phil’s blog into his second book. It’s fun already . . . Can’t wait to see where it takes us!
Now if we can just get your old archives into book form 😉
My Archives!!
They would make an encyclopedia!!!
Why do you think I’m ready to tackle everyone else’s? Too many books here . . . I’m hitting close to 1000 pages. Whew!
Here’s the new philosophy for 2007 -( read it out loud ) ” It’s all about me “.
Nobody else knows what you know, just like they don’t know what I know.
Either we tell ’em what we know, or they’ll never know it.
You’ve got a good start with this niche of turning peoples content into a book, but you have to do it yourself, or I won’t buy into it.
If I had $40 worth of past sales, nobody would give a cracker, but having sold over $40 million worth of product means I’ve been there, sold that and didn’t give change back.
To be the (wo)man, you have to beat the (wo)man. And you can’t beat the (wo)man, unless you actually get in the ring with ’em.
Time for both of us to get ‘er done.
I’ll go first, Grasshopper and you can follow my lead.
Deal ?
Mike,
I hear you. I’m wondering what this means you’re holding in store for us.
I’ve got a few books here, you’re right. I shouldn’t make light of that. I should make them happen. Time to get on with things. Ah time.
What I’m holding on to is the fear of putting my experience down on paper.
But after watching Jet Li’s Fearless at the theatre last night, I’m adopting that attitude for ’07.
In ’07. ol’ Mike will be writing more article length features, some White Papers and producing more infoproducts that have profit potential.
That lake house ain’t gonna appear, unless I conquer the fear.
Hey Mike,
It looks like you and I are in for a wild ride!
I’m with you, wherever the need arises. I have no fear of paper. It fears me. 🙂
Liz -I think this may very well be the start of the best series you have ever written. I certainly don’t plan to miss one of these posts! Though the series is an awesome idea, the business is an even better idea (and I LOVE the name – sounds almost Wiccan). Maybe you can help me when I can afford you!?!
Mike – You seem much different “in person” than you do on your blog! I like your philosophy, dude (especially the observation in your first comment – things are getting nuts out there – aren’t they!?)
Hi Ann,
Thanks. I think this is going to be an outstanding series as well. The hands-on part makes it so relevant. I really appreciate Phil’s participation as “guinea pig” so to speak. He’s a perfect choice because on first glance, it would appear that it couldn’t be done with his blog — too many link posts and posts about other bloggers.
That’s where experience and creativity kick in. 🙂
Ann, you can afford me. 🙂
Check out the Work with Liz!! page in the sidebar. A start in the right direction with some sweat equity would go a long way.
It’s good that you know early that you might want to do this. You can write with it in mind. That makes it a whole lot easier.
Thanks Liz, glad you’re along for the ride.
Hi Ann – In the flesh and blood, I tend to be even louder and more intimidating than I try to be on my blog.
It’s hard enough to convey the small bits-o-wisdom without being obnoxious. The truth is – it’s really that simple.
I’m really going to go for the brass ring in ’07. I hate to point to one event, but the underlying tones and lessons learned by the character played by Jet Li in Fearless made me aware of what I needed to learn.
The Universe snuck in a few hard lessons, some small truths and a couple of ugly realizations on me.
The bad part is I paid to learn ’em.
The good part is I only paid $8 to learn ’em.
8 bucks?!!! Now that’s a bargain!
Yeah, simple is so hard for folks to get.
Ah Ha moments do sneak up on us, don’t they. Then they hit us up ‘longside the head. Best listen to ’em or else they come back and whup us again.
Ann, you are so silly!
On a side note, Mike, I think it’s great to produce products and sell them through a blog, but it’s a slippery slope and someone needs to be really careful if they’re going to do that. I’ve “de-listed” some of my once favorite blogs because I couldn’t take being “sold to” anymore.
I think people selling on their blogs have to always remember that their relatioship with their audience is #1 and selling isn’t. If you keep nurturing that relationship, the sales (where appropriate) will follow and I don’t think your audience will abandon you. If you don’t, you’re just another used car salesman and we’ll all leave!
Phil will do that well – he already does. Others I’ve seen haven’t been so good at it.
I’m sure you’ll do fine!
There’s a difference between offering something for sale and selling me.
Sorry, I didn’t make that as clear as it needed to be.
The infoproducts won’t be a part of the blog. I have eproducts in various stages of completion for several niches that are in no way connected to my blog.
For example, I’ll soon be in the mandolin and banjo markets with a free ecourse and then paid eproducts and maybe a physical product to follow.
Every niche I get into, I follow this same route – lotsa free content and then some you can buy if you like.
Some people buy because they liked the free stuff, some buy out of guilt, some don’t buy. All 3 are okay with me.
I do have a sales ebook almost done, but it’ll be free – ala the method used by David Meerman Scott and Seth Godin, among others. Their free ebooks have gathered in a whole lot of readers and that’s the model I meant to convey.
If I do anything sales oriented, most likely, it’ll be free to my readers and sold to others, at a later date, in a different form.
That would be marketing speak for ” would you like to try a sample of this knowledge-on-a-toothpick ? ” – ala the grocery store method of getting your tastebuds whetted and then letting you buy it if you like the taste.
It’s a lot easier to sell food to a hungry person.
And it’s easier to get a return visitor to your restaurant if they’ve had a chance to taste the food, try the service and get more than they paid for.
Absolutely! Being a relationship geek, Liz – you get it – as does Phil. Mike Sansone would get it too. Some others don’t and, whether true or not, they LOOK like they’re just in it for the money. That’s such a turn off to most of us simple folk out here.
That said, when we all find a great resource and talented person like you, Liz, we’ll flock to your offerings because we “know” who you are and that you’re sincere. People like you are the ones that should have offerings of products – because you’ll do them right (and we all have to eat, don’t we :-)!
Mike – that sounds like a great approach – hope it’s in one of your e-books!! 😉
Mike, Your plan is genius! It’s exactly how the world works and how people think about it. . . . but then, I know you knew that!
We have to flail until we get to simple . . you’re always saying that.
Hey, Ann,
Thank you. You remind me of something I read. I think Steven Streight said it on the Lizstrauss blog a couple of weeks ago. He said that point was to be helpful, not hypeful.
I get tired of being sold. I can tell the difference a mile away. At home here we say, “Don’t buy it back.” There’s a lot of buying it back going on these days . . .
Folks know what they need. I trust them to find it.
Thanks for the support Liz !
Sorry Ann – All the really good stuff only gets to my personal coaching clients.
I only let on to about 20% of my secrets and sell the rest …. just like the palns says !
(Insert Evil Laughter Here)
It’s all part of my plan for ” Total Market Domination “.
Elvis had TCB – I got TMD !
(More Evil Laughter)
Hey, Mike,
Ann and I are talking by email. I think we’re going to meet up in Philly and drive down to see you.
We need to catch a glimpse what that evil laughter sounds like in person, and find out the lessons from the master. 🙂
I don’t think I could learn y’all anything you don’t already know.
You’uns is two smart ones and all you need is to take action and disseminate all them learnin’s you already got.
Just like me, most people have enough information, just not enough implementation.
I ain’t all that – just loud about it !
I know that Southern boy trick. I love the accent. My dear it makes me swoon. I could I possibly keep up with someone who talks so fancy as ‘at?
Wow, I guess I’m a little late to the comment party. I must say that working with Liz thus far has been a TREAT, and I am learning a TON. If you’re thinking you can’t do this, Liz can help you and you CAN do it! 🙂
Let the journey begin…
Hey Phil,
You should see the pages I’ve got. We’re going to be talking very soon. I need to get your feedback on some ideas. 🙂
AWESOME! I can’t wait!
Give me about another hour!
Did you see your book in the sidebar?
I just noticed the book. Thanks for the link love. Let’s hope it sells many books!
Aw, Phil,
It’s there, because people should know about it and learn from it!
Hmmm… all I did was drive down to Bowling Green (KY) for dinner ( I remember that you’ve been there Liz ) and you guys start selling books from the bar ?
I knew I should have ordered in and not miss everything.
Hey Mike,
Those books were there before you went to Bowling Green. I put ’em up last night when I reader told me that I ought to. 🙂
I wonder if it was the same place we went to dinner. 🙂
Liz, this is the best ever!
Thanks, Cat!
I’ve been in Phil’s archives all evening!
I love this series! I’ve always thought of how I could turn my blog into a book, and your writing this is proving very insightful 🙂
Alvin,
Thank you for your comment. Yesterday was very quiet. I was wondering whether folks were finding this series useful. It helps a lot to have feedback.
Do let me know if you have questions. 🙂