spaAs an editor, book doctor, and ghostwriter, I work with people who are in many different places with their books. Some have finished manuscripts. Others just have a gleam in their eye. Most want to be farther along than they are.

I offer three secret strategies in Creativity on Demand: Write in the Zone for people who want to finish their books, once and for all—or who have all the ideas but nothing written down, or who have been thinking about this book for years but haven’t finished, or who are almost finished but can’t quite stop writing. These strategies are designed to create clarity and confidence about your book, and to get you to the finish line.

Almost nothing—and for some of us, really nothing—is better than finishing the book you’ve had on your mind forever. When I finished Chasing Grace: A Novel of Odd Redemption, I had such a surge of self-esteem, relief, accomplishment, and even grace that I could hardly contain myself. I wish that, and more, for you. The first Secret Strategy for finishing your book is the SPAS system. In coming posts, I will cover Secret Strategy #2, “Spaghetti in the Colander” and Secret Strategy #3, “You Are Not Alone.”

SECRET STRATEGY #1: THE SPAS SYSTEM
This strategy gives you the absolute foundation of your book, and of your promotion–so even if the book is already written, answering these questions puts you ahead of the game. You’ll also uncover and clean up any niggling doubts or uncertainties that keep you from finishing you book with confidence and aplomb.

SPAS stands for Subject, Purpose, Audience, and Structure. Everybody knows we need to be clear on these four areas—but most of us roll our eyes and turn the page when we are actually asked to write down specific answers to the SPAS questions. It’s real grunt work, and we don’t think we should have to do it. We already know this stuff. Jeez!

My answer is: Do it anyway and start with Beginner’s Mind, as if you’d never done it before. Pretend you’ve never even heard of doing an exercise like this, and nudge yourself into the Zone as you answer these questions. Be open to new levels of clarity, confidence, and even cheer!

SUBJECT

  • What is your book really about?
  • What do you want to say?
  • If your book is nonfiction, what problem are you solving?
  • If your book is fiction, what problem is your main character solving?
  • Why is your solution unique?
  • Create a one-sentence answer to the elevator question: What is your book about?

PURPOSE

  • Why do you want to deliver the message in your book? Tell the truth. Your answer may be “to make money,” “to advance my career,” “to get more speaking engagements,” “to make sense of my life,” “for revenge” (this was Saul Bellow’s), “to show people how to do something,” or a million other reasons. Your reason isn’t as important as telling the truth about it and bringing that truth from your heart and gut to the page.
  • What is the solid benefit that your book provides? Try this even if you are writing a novel. Maybe your benefit is just to tell a riveting story.  Many people use this formula: “My book helps ____________ (audience) to _____________ (How does it look when the problem is solved?) so that they can ____________ (What is the end benefit?). Here’s an example, using my book, The Soul of Selling. “The Soul of Selling helps coaches and solo entrepreneurs to get extraordinary sales results with ease and joy so that they can have successful businesses.”
  • What do you want readers to take away with them? What will they get out of reading your book? Knowing that you are filling a specific need can help you write with more enthusiasm and Zone-awareness.

AUDIENCE

  • To whom do you want to deliver this message?
  • Who is your target reader? (Hint: It is not “everybody.”) What are the demographics? Name one specific person you know who is in the target market for your book. Think about how wonderful that person will feel when he or she opens your book and gets the wisdom you are delivering. How will his or her life be better as a result of reading your book?
  • If you don’t feel comfortable using someone you know, make up a generic or composite Target Reader. Make a list of this person’s demographics and characteristics. Find a picture that looks like that person might look and keep it on your desk.
  • When you write, pretend you are sitting in a chair across from this person. Tell your story to him or her.  your information. What do you want to say? What questions does he or she have for you?

STRUCTURE

  • How is your book organized? (Secret Strategy #2, “Spaghetti in the Colander,” will help with structure.)
  • What is your Table of Contents?
  • Does one chapter lead to the next?

When you have finished answering your basic SPAS questions, congratulate yourself. This is hard, important work and it will help you finish your book.

What have you done in past to finish writing projects?

FINISH THAT BOOK: Secret Strategy #1, “The SPAS System”

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