You’re a nonprofit leader or an executive of a socially responsible company, and you’ve taken an idea that you believed in and turned it into an organization you are proud of. You worked and collaborated and listened. Most importantly, you learned a lot. Now, you’re ready to share your insight by writing a book.
Publishing a book has many benefits:
- Sharing your insights
- Establishing yourself as a thought leader in your field
- Increasing awareness about your organization
- Building your/your organization’s brand
A great example of an industry professional who successfully transitioned into a well-respected author is Atul Gawande, the surgeon and co-chair of Massachusetts Coalition for Serious Illness Care. In 2014, Gawande wrote Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End, which introduced new theories on end of life care formed through the work of his nonprofit. Being Mortal went on to be a #1 New York Times Bestseller, and was the basis of a PBS documentary in 2015.
Of course, not everyone’s first book is going to be a #1 NYT Bestseller. But here are some things you can keep in mind as you write that will better prepare you for the publishing process.
What kind of book is it?
The first thing publishers will do when they read your proposal is try to determine which category it falls into. Are you writing a memoir? A business book? A narrative nonfiction book? Make their job easier by deciding this ahead of time. A memoir will typically begin with an important moment in present day, or close to it. Maybe it’s you waiting to accept an award, or your company being bought. It then goes back in time and takes the reader chronologically from the beginning to that important moment. Business books, on the other hand, are typically organized by theme. Separate chapters into advice segments, or into defining moments in your career.
So what?
Like those beloved term papers you wrote in high school, a strong manuscript has a “so what?” running through it. Are you sharing what you’ve learned in your field, or issuing a call to action, or telling your personal story? Whatever it is, keep this reason in mind as you write to prevent yourself from drifting from your purpose. You don’t need to keep referring back to it, but use it as a guiding post.
Pick your details carefully
For example, if you’re writing a business book, be wary of including minute personal details. Although it’s tempting to delve into the huge fight you had with your co-worker, try to remember that like dreams, some personal memories are more interesting to the person they happened to than a stranger. That’s not to say you can’t include these plot points – personal anecdotes can make for a stronger manuscript. But before you describe that co-worker fight, consider if it adds to your “so what”?
If necessary, seek a co-writer
Even if you’ve built a world-changing nonprofit all alone from the ground up, while going to night school and raising three foster children, you’re not necessarily an incredible writer as well. Before you begin, consider working with a professional co-writer, or even an editorially-minded friend, in order to make sure your story is told in the most effective way possible.
Next steps
The go-to resource that aspiring authors should know about is Poets And Writers. This is a great way to find agents who are accepting unsolicited manuscripts. Many agents list not only their interests, but their contact information as well. Remember, they are just as eager to receive the next Being Mortal as you are to write it.
Finally, don’t get discouraged! Publishing a book can be a long process, and just because you aren’t getting bites initially doesn’t mean you never will. It took 5 years of rejections for Agatha Christie’s novels to get published. It’s all about finding the right fit. Good luck!
