Last week, my yoga class sat in our “meditation” poses on our mats while our instructor, Jeff, outlined the day’s practice for us. He told us about an interesting article he read and the surrounding debate about what does (and doesn’t) make for an effective yoga practice.
“In the article,” he explained, “the writer noted that just because you can do a head stand, that doesn’t mean you’re practicing yoga.” We all nodded in agreement. “I want you to think about what that means today, and what it means to you to have an effective practice,” he added.
But the thought that immediately popped into my head wasn’t about yoga at all—it was about how applicable this statement was to writing a book as well. After all, any semi-literate adult can write…but does that make you an effective writer? Does it mean you can write a successful, engaging book?
What You Want Isn’t Always What You Need
It was a timely metaphor, as just earlier in the week I had a phone call with a budding entrepreneur who contacted me requesting book copyediting services. But as we talked about his project, I realized that he needed much more than that. His manuscript was already twice the length of the average book in his category. He had never had anyone else—let alone a professional—review the work, which was his first (and his first draft).
“Every bit in here is really great content,” he explained when I questioned his lack of revision and the overall word count. And I’m sure that is absolutely true. But as I explained to him, that doesn’t make for an effective book—it just makes for a really long list of tips, thoughts, and ideas. Not exactly bestseller material. Worse, he intended to use the book as a launching pad for a new business venture, through which he hoped to build a speaking career. For such a bid to work, one needs to make sure the book it absolutely top-notch, with excellent organization that supports the flow of the content and the transmission of ideas to the reader, not to mention great writing. Anything less would be akin to writing a business proposal in one sitting and then sending it out thinking it will bring venture capitalists pounding on your door.
Everything I was hearing told me that this would-be author was not heading down a path that would take him where he wanted to go.
Good for the Goose AND Gander
I gave him some advice and cost estimates, and I wished him the best of luck. I never did hear back from the gentleman in question, though I truly hope he took my advice to heart. Maybe I’ll hear from him yet. I hope so.
When you are an expert who decides that a book would be useful to your business plans, consider this: You are the expert at what you do, and you want other people to pay you for that expertise—so why would you deny yourself the expertise of someone who can help you craft or polish a book that has significant value to your goals and dreams?
In other words, just because you can write 100,000 words doesn’t mean you’re writing a book. And it sure doesn’t mean you’re an effective writer.
Founder of The Writer’s Ally, Ally E. Machate is a bestselling book collaborator, award-winning editor, and expert publishing consultant who loves using her insider knowledge and experience with the publishing industry to lead serious authors toward success. She and her team live to help make great books happen, whether that means showing a writer how to improve a manuscript, get an agent, or self-publish; or coaching an author on growing her platform to sell more books. Since 1999, she has supported hundreds of authors on their publishing journey and takes pride in serving as their books’ best ally.
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