Thinking about writing a book? This is a terrific way to establish thought leadership in your industry and share your ideas. A book builds credibility for yourself and your company, attracts broad publicity and provides opportunities to engage the media. But while writing a book can have some tremendous benefits, it is no small task and should be approached with careful consideration.
Jennifer Gehrt and Colleen Moffitt, co-founders of Communiqué PR, recently finished their first book, “Strategic Public Relations: 10 Principles to Harness the Power of PR.” The book offers practical advice to help readers understand the morphing landscape and leverage contemporary PR to achieve maximum benefit.
Throughout the writing process, Jennifer and Colleen gathered invaluable insight from a variety of journalists, other PR professionals, and senior members of management teams. Below are a few points to consider when deciding whether to write a book.
The Writing Process
Consider working with a professional. As first time authors, Jennifer and Colleen worked with Andrea Carlos, a writer with more than 20 years of journalism experience, Mary Catherine Lamb, who helped with copy editing and fact checking, and Kate Basart, a book designer. All of these professionals provided invaluable insights and coaching to help make “Strategic Public Relations” a success.
“We were extremely impressed with Andrea’s writing talent and how smooth she made the experience for us,” explained Jennifer Gehrt. “Writing a book can be overwhelming but Andrea did a phenomenal job of helping to keep the process moving forward.”
Colleen Moffitt concurs, “Andrea’s insights drawn from years of experience were invaluable to us and we wholeheartedly recommend her.”
Secure feedback. Whether from those quoted in your book, other published authors or people in your industry, feedback can help you refine your message and create a book that will be a valuable resource for your audience. Jennifer and Colleen reached out to former colleagues, other PR professionals and friends who had written books to secure feedback and strengthen their book.
Before you Begin
Weigh the time commitment. Writing a book can take 250-500 hours of time for writing, interviews and review of chapters. This requires anywhere from four to 10 hours per week depending on how many weeks you want the process to take.
Evaluate the subject matter. Will the topic resonate with a large audience? Niche subjects have a place in the market, but they must not be too narrowly focused. It is also important to make sure your book is not a blatant advertisement for your company or products. You can evaluate your topic by developing a clear outline that summarizes content.
Know what has already been written. It is important to do some research to know what books are already on the market, how yours will differ and why your book will have wide market appeal.
Be clear on your motivation. Know what your objectives are in sharing your story. Are you trying to inform and educate people? Do you intend to write an entertaining best seller? Or are you leveraging your book to build your credentials in a particular field or industry?
“Writing a book is a commitment that requires dedication and patience, but we can attest, the rewards are huge,” says Colleen Moffitt of the process.
If you’re considering writing your first book, Jennifer and Colleen would be delighted to share their experiences. Please e-mail [email protected] with any questions.