Have you ever thought about writing your story?
➡️ Are you a leader who wants to author a nonfiction book?
➡️ Do you want to have more impact or build your legacy?
➡️ Do you ever wonder, “Does the world need another book?”
➡️ Would you like to feel proud when you hold your finished book in your hands?
The books in the photo below are just a few that our authors have published in the last few years. Each represents a lifetime of learning or a significant time in the author’s life. These people had a story to tell, and the world is better for their willingness to share it with us!
Do you have a story to share but you’re not sure how to make it happen?
So often, authors tell us that–before working with book professionals–they became stuck with writing, editing, or designing their books. And it doesn’t have to be that way.
You can incorporate your story, voice, brand, and message into a book that influences and inspires your audience. By doing this, you can have more impact and build your legacy.
The legacy projects we do usually fall into one of these three categories.
- Personal memoirs – Flying Sideways, by Fred and Peggy North, and A Quest for Identity, by Parastu Ahang Mehdawi are both fascinating life stories of achievement despite rough beginnings
- Lessons learned as an entrepreneur – Love Based Culture by Ivo Nelson and Rock Star Millennials by Kathryn Spitznagle are the lessons learned in the business world.
- Inspirational stories – Two Decades Behind the Badge by Kurt Geisinger and Agnes, Bea, Cancer, and Me by Helen Bullen give the reader a behind-the-scenes glimpse of life that will make you laugh, and cry along with the author.
The Process of Writing Your Legacy
Recently, book coach, Deborah Ager and I sat down to discuss the process of putting together a manuscript based on personal experience and learned wisdom. Our Linkedin Live conversation was an opportunity to answer the writing and publishing questions we hear all the time.
- How to tell your story and what story structure works best
- 3 ways to present yourself and your ideas in a personable yet professional way
- What you need to know before working with a book cover designer or book coach
- How to include illustrations or photos to illustrate your points and have more impact
- How to craft an eye-catching cover design that sells your book
How to tell your story and what story structure works best
Deborah Ager developed a three-stage process for building your book. These stages include:
- Clarify – Clarify the big idea, identify your reader, finalize topics and build a book map
- Storify- Refine the structure, select compelling stories/content, and write draft 1.0
- Amplify – Revise draft 1.0, write/edit manuscript 1.0, and polish prose
Stories have power. Deb shares an example of how the value of stories was proven through an experiment that demonstrated the way stories turn inexpensive thrift store items into products buyers find valuable.
3 ways to present yourself and your ideas in a personable yet professional way
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- Write a high-quality book to transform readers.
- Write to your audience first. This results in personable writing that connects with others.
- Empathize with your reader with your big idea.
Imagine what people learn from your book and their appreciation for you helping them.
What you need to know before working with a book cover designer or book coach
Before hiring a book coach or designer, you should do your homework and review their work, understand their process, and ensure you feel comfortable with them. You’ll be working with this individual for several months at least, so make sure you like them!
The next step is to discover what exactly they will be doing for you. What do you need help with?
At Becky’s Graphic Design, we work with authors AFTER they finish writing and editing their manuscripts.
Our services include:
- Self-publishing education
- Cover design which includes paperback or hardcover print, ebook, and audiobook format prepped for printing
- Interior formatting of the manuscript which complements the cover in design style
- Management of project upload to the printer of choice
- Design of marketing materials to promote your book release
- Assistance and guidance to successfully launch your book
We educate the author on the options for self-publishing (or more traditional publishing) we design the entire cover spread, format the interior, create the eBook, and manage the upload to the POD or commercial printer. This includes managing all the aspects of self-publishing, including metadata, marketing graphics, and your book release.
What you can include to illustrate your points and have more impact
- Photos – Adding photos to your book is a great way to enhance the story and is possible with prints or digital photographs. We will help you prepare them properly and decide the best option for black and white or color application.
- Illustrations – You can incorporate illustrations you provide, we create or we can help you hire an illustrator for complex concepts.
- Quotes, Callouts, Epigraphs, Sidebars – Any and all of these are great options we love to add to books we work on.
How to craft an eye-catching cover that attracts your ideal readership
The first step to creating the perfect cover for your book is to understand your audience and your story. What will catch your reader’s eye and cause them to stop and “pull the book off the shelf” for a closer look? These are the questions we ask before we begin the design.
The next questions asked before beginning the cover layout may include the following:
- Does the title offer a visual concept that needs to be highlighted?
- How long is the title and subtitle?
- What colors represent the subject matter?
- Is there imagery that will attract the ideal reader?
The final cover must represent the words inside and attract the intended audience while only being a thumbnail image surrounded by other books of the same genre. Simple right?
Watch the replay on YouTube
Becky Bayne (designer) and Deborah Ager (coach/editor) combined have helped more than 60 authors publish nonfiction books.
This “How to Publish Your Book” event is one in a four-part series about how to become an author by crafting a high-quality nonfiction book that makes you proud.
Ready to begin?
Hiring the right team to get the best design possible is imperative. We work with our authors to make sure their cover ideas are heard and we guide them with the importance of understanding what will attract your readership.
We’d love to discuss your book with you and help you prepare it for publishing.
Connect with Deborah and find out more about hiring a book coach and start working on that manuscript today.
If your book is written and edited, our team is ready to help you understand the options for self-publishing and designing your book. Book a free call here.
