But I Don’t Know what to Include
Over the years I’ve written hundreds of family stories. Most of these were around 1,200 words long, and outline what the family is all about, their passions, history, goals, and dreams. The funny thing is that nearly every single one of them, when we began the interview to get all the juicy details, said some variation of, “I don’t know what you’re going to write about, we’re a boring family!”
Then, as we got into it, I found out they’re not boring and they have an incredible story within them.
So, if you want to write a book, but you’re “incredibly boring,” here’s a few places you can dive into to find that sick story that’s going to resonate.
Convert Your Podcast into a Book
Millions of Americans have at least dabbled in podcasting. With smartphones acting as the recording devices, the barrier of entry is incredibly low. Check out the Left of Normal Podcast if you’d like some insights into my world.
Round up those episodes, and look them over. Each one could potentially become another chapter in your book. They’ll take some fine tuning; you can’t just copy the transcript and hope for the best. But the bulk of the ideation work is already done.
Convert Your College Degree into a Book
Okay, so maybe you haven’t dived into the world of podcasting, but there’s a good chance you’ve learned a thing or two along the way. If you went to college, you took a deep dive into a particular subject and could be considered an expert on that.
Take all that information you learned while pursuing your college degree, and weave in some personal stories. Perhaps tales from your college days (blurry as they may be), or perhaps some tales from modern life on how you’ve reinforced or applied your learning.
Convert Your Adventures into a Book
Many people aren’t college graduates. In today’s world, that degree isn’t quite as valuable as it was in yesteryear. Sometimes people choose a trade and make a fantastic living doing that. Others lean into their more adventurous spirit.
Whether you went to college or not, if you’re big into adventures, you’re big into storytelling (you just don’t know it yet). No matter your passion, you’ve racked up countless tales. For me it’s rock climbing, mountaineering, and backpacking. Every time I ventured out, I was setting the stage for a new chapter. People love to read about those adventures (such as, how to climb Granite Peak) so they can find inspiration or just to know more about your passions.
Convert Your Expertise into a Book
Over the years, you’ve become really good at something. Maybe that started in college when you earned your degree, and then it was developed and improved upon throughout your working career. This area is actually who I help the most with their ghostwriting.
When you’ve spent a lot of time in one industry, you get pretty darn good at it. It’s great to be good at your job, but it’s greater to be able to pass that knowledge and expertise along to the next generation. Show off that expertise – then read about different ways you can use that book to further promote yourself.
Convert Your Hobbies into a Book
Maybe that expertise doesn’t fall within the traditional job structure. Maybe your biggest insights come from a hobby that you love. Lean into that and share the knowledge.
For me, most of the year, I get out there and muck around in my garden. I grow baby plants indoors, I raise them in the garden, I nurture them and provide food for the family because I’m just doing something I love to do. I could write a gardening book. Something like, “Ten Ways to Spend All Your Money on a Garden that Produces a Single Tomato.”
Hire a Ghostwriter to Help Your Write Your Book
Five ways to draw inspiration for your book. But that doesn’t mean you actually have the time, the skills, or the desire to sit down and write that book.
That’s where a ghostwriter comes into play. A ghostwriter works closely with you to mimic your voice and do the hard work of creating your story. In the end, you’re a published author, but you didn’t spend hours and hours typing it all out.
Learn how the ghostwriting process works, then set up a time to chat with me about your idea.