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Do You Have Enough to Say for a Book?

Do You Have Enough to Say for a Book?

by | Write Your Own Book, Writing Tips

Do You Have Enough to Say for a Book?

When working with writers, I hear about all sorts of obstacles. Not enough confidence. Not enough time.

One of the biggest is “Not enough to say.”

Sometimes people will begin to write a book and spill everything they can think of onto a page, only to find that all of their thoughts amount to just a short amount of writing.

Then discouragement sets in and the familiar lament, “I don’t have enough to say to write a book.”

This is a common problem, and one which most writers face.

Often the issue is that famous “writer’s block.” There are tons of techniques for getting over this hump.

On other occasions, the writer truly doesn’t know enough to say. The standstill is real.

That’s why one of my webinars in It’s Time For You To Write That Book 2.0 is dedicated to research and information.

When you are writing your book, you don’t have to be the origin of every idea you include. As long as you give credit, your book actually has more significance when you include quotes and thoughts from other writers. That’s actually a plus and not a minus.

And also there is that wonderful world of Private Label Rights and Public Domain. These are books, articles, photos, and other items which you are free to use as if they were your very own.

The rights differ from item to item, but often you can – and even are encouraged to- change them. You can add your voice and put these pieces into the context of your book. There are e-books available which can be edited and included in your portfolio.

I love talking about this, because it’s truly a treasure trove for authors. Even if you are the top authority in your field, your expertise is enhanced by the expertise of others.

So if you have thought that you didn’t know enough to write your book, you’ll get some good ideas from my On Demand Course. For a short time, the entire course with videos, audios, transcripts, and lots of bonuses can be obtained at https://OurCBI.com. At almost half price.

I hope you check it out. Your book is important for establishing your credibility, and others will be inspired and encouraged by what you have to say!

We’ll talk soon.

In the meantime, Keep on Soaring!

 

 

 

Writing Tips: Research

Writing Tips: Research

by | Write Your Own Book, Writing Tips

You have these ideas circulating in your head, and you can hardly wait to start writing them down. You know your subject and you know it well. Maybe your area of expertise is Biblical understanding of marriage, or prayer, or finances, or ministry to women in crisis. If you’re already an expert in your niche, then you can probably sit down and write an article, a report,  or an e-book without having to consult any sources.

Yet if you’re like most people, then you need to do some research before you start writing.  Even if you are an expert, researching other resources can help you to expand the benefit of your writing. And if you want to end with an accurate, useful article, then you’d better be sure you do your research the right way.

So here are some tips…

Create Multiple Searches

You’ll get a wider variety of sources and information if you complete several Google searches. Let’s suppose you’re looking up information about prayer. You’d want to do several searches, such as:

  • Praying for family
  • Praying for children
  • Praying for husband or wife
  • Praying for revival
  • Biblical prayer
  • Christian prayer
  • How to pray

These are just a few ideas. You will think of your own, but you will see that as you search, you will come up with quite a few sources of information.

Use Credible Sources

Anyone can put just about anything online. And that’s why it’s so important for you to get your information from credible sources only. This includes:

  •  Well-known experts. For example, you can trust people like Cindy Jacobs, Dutch Sheets, or Germaine Copeland in the prayer niche.
  • Established authority sites. These are sites like Elijah List or John Bevere’s Messenger International.org which are known for providing high-quality information.
  • News sites. Stick to major news sites, like Charisma News or Breaking Christian News.
  • Academic and research sites. These include official university websites as well as research papers in peer-reviewed journals. Oral Roberts University or Lee University are just a couple of universities which would have valuable information.

Verify With Multiple Sources

Even if you are going through credible sources for your research, be sure to use multiple sources.

In other words, verify all facts with at least two or three credible sources. In the mouths of two or three witnesses let everything be established. (Deut. 19:15)

Make Notes

As you’re doing your research, take notes about important points. If you think of your own examples, stories or tips, write these down too.

That’s because you’re going to want to close all your sources before you start writing to avoid accidentally plagiarizing anyone else’s material. Thus you’ll refer to your notes rather than referring directly to a source.

Tip: In order to create truly original content, it’s best if you find your own fresh angle for the topic. For example, many writing books and articles refer to the importance of telling stories to illustrate your points and grab attention.

Credit Your Sources

If you’re using multiple sources to do your research on something which is written about often, like prayer, then generally you’ll find that the information is the same across these sources.

Thus you just need to write the information in your own words and add in your own unique tips, examples, and stories.

However, if you’re gathering research on something specific, and quoting someone exactly, then you need to cite your source.

In this case, you’d track down the original scholarly journal and cite this journal at the end of your article, report, or e-book.

In summary…

You need to make sure your information is accurate by researching a variety of credible sources. However, you also need to make sure that any content piece you create is completely original.

So while you can certainly use a content piece for inspiration and research, you cannot copy or merely “rewrite” other people’s work. Instead, you need to write all your content in your own words, preferably adding in your own experiences whenever possible.

The result is fresh information, drawing upon the experience of others, but filtered through your own understanding. That’s how you can inform and inspire your audience.

As you continue with your research, you will find many ideas which you might like to use in your own articles. By drawing upon the experience of others – as well as your own – you bring new inspiration to your audience.

You and your audience will be inspired as you do.

Do You Dream About Writing A Book?

Do You Dream About Writing A Book?

by | The Church Awakening, Write Your Own Book

As I scan the internet, I am aware of something very significant. The Christian voice isn’t out there as it should be. Oh, there are lots of blogs promoting this doctrine or that – and even running down other doctrines. But that’s not what I am talking about.

I remember several years ago ministers talking about how we Christians let opportunities slip when TV first came on the scene. They said that many Christians even shunned TV as a necessary evil, rather than capturing the potential within the medium.

Now I am seeing the same with the internet. This is such an opportune moment for us as Christians. The internet is rich with ways we can get the message out for free – or at little cost. I would like to see us saturating this new medium with the Gospel…Many voices proclaiming the truth of God’s love, mercy, and redemption. And the message doesn’t have to stay in our neighborhood, it can be sent around the world with one click.

There are millions of people in the world who have no idea about Jesus – who He is or what His life, death, and resurrection meant to us and to them. So where are those who could help get the message out? You might be one of them.

Do you dream about writing a book? Have you been planning to start a blog? Have you been mulling over your special ideas? Do you ponder the impact your story will have on the lives of others?

Well now is the time to move forward – not just a step or two, but to a whole new level.

Are you ready?

Maybe.

Maybe as much as you long for this dream, you are also a little scared, a little nervous, a little hesitant. Maybe as much as you think you might be ready, you’re blocking your own way. You may be your own worst enemy.

The good news is, if you’re your own worst enemy, then the only thing standing between you and that book or that blog you’ve always imagined is… you! And once you recognize the issues that are holding you back, you can address them, one at a time.

That’s what I hope to help you do in a free e-book I’ve just published. I’ll discuss some of the main ways you can achieve lasting change and progress towards your dream. It won’t be easy, but it’ll be life-changing – if you are willing to do the work.

Be sure to click on HOME page to download your free copy of my e-book. I hope it will help you get started.

Forever Upward!