So You Want To Write a Book? (Refresh Portland)

RE F RE SH P ORT L AN D TRAC
Y O S BO R N @limedaring SO YOU WANT TO WRITE A BOOK? Lessons learned while self-publishing   Hello Web App

Y O S BO R N @limedaring

Y O S BO R N @limedaring WHAT TO WRITE ABOUT? Spoiler: Nearly anything.

Y O S BO R N @limedaring Find another cofounder O R Do it myself?

Y O S BO R N @limedaring Four years later, still annoyed at the Django tutorial ecosystem.

Y O S BO R N @limedaring TAKEAWAYS ! •Do you have another perspective on a topic?   Can you write more than a blog post?   Turn it into a book. •Create an outline — will be useful for writing as well as pitching publishers.

Y O S BO R N @limedaring WORK WITH A PUBLISHER Or self publish?

Y O S BO R N @limedaring TAKEAWAYS ! •Worth it to pitch the top publishers. •Self-publishing is more work, but a lot   more reward.

Y O S BO R N @limedaring GET A LANDING PAGE UP ASAP Yes, before the whole writing bit.

Y O S BO R N @limedaring TAKEAWAYS ! •Create a landing page as soon as possible. •Start collecting interested emails.

Y O S BO R N @limedaring CROWD FUNDING Get an “advance” without a publisher.

Y O S BO R N @limedaring TAKEAWAYS ! •Use crowdfunding to gauge interest as well as earn an “advance.”

Y O S BO R N @limedaring WRITING Might be the easiest part. Might be the hardest.

Y O S BO R N @limedaring R I P : (

Y O S BO R N @limedaring TAKEAWAYS ! •Write in Markdown, as it easily ports to   other platforms.

Y O S BO R N @limedaring DESIGN More pretties!

Y O S BO R N @limedaring TAKEAWAYS ! •You can do it yourself (a lot of design resources and advice out there)… •Or you can work with a designer to lay out the book, which might cost $$$.

Y O S BO R N @limedaring MARKETING Marketing marketing and more marketing.

Y O S BO R N @limedaring TAKEAWAYS ! •Share your website as many places as possible. •Create a drip marketing system.

Y O S BO R N @limedaring SELLING Dolla dolla bills y’all.

Y O S BO R N @limedaring TAKEAWAYS ! •Worth selling your book on as many platforms as possible. •Recommend Amazon for reach, Gumroad for royalties, and Leanpub for ease.

Y O S BO R N @limedaring PRINTING Pain in the butt but oh so pretty.

Y O S BO R N @limedaring TAKEAWAYS ! •Print a test book early to use in marketing. •Keep an eye out on your per-book price:   try to get it below $5 a book.

Y O S BO R N @limedaring RESULTS Worth it?

Y O S BO R N @limedaring THE PROCESS ! •Determine what you’re going to write about. •Decide whether you’re self-publishing or not. •Set up a landing page. •Write write write. •Figure out how you’ll be selling. •Market market market. •Launch

Y O S BO R N @limedaring THANKS! Follow me on Twitter: @limedaring

So You Want To Write a Book? (Refresh Portland)

So You Want To Write a Book? (Refresh Portland)

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