1/ How hard is it to write a new chapter for a book?
Where do you start? What do you do for inspiration?
Anything which is worth doing well takes time.
During the launch for Founder Puzzles in July, I thought, I should document this as a #casestudy for #founders & #startups
2/ I already had a short lecture on road map to launch in my #bootcamp for founders. We had run two exercises on how to sell a million copies of your book. We had just executed on a #launch.
One would think that would be enough to put together a short chapter? It wasn't
3/ For me the most common starting point is paper. I jot down a few points in my journal. If I am lucky the words start to flow.
In this case I wasn't.
Backup plan is a morning walk where I dictate a short lecture to myself. This tends to work well but in this case, did not.
4/ We are now down to the last option. A mind map of the chapter, also on paper helps identify the central theme, the key takeaway.
Which in this case was extending exposure and understanding twitter reach.
Finally, progress
5/ If you are writing a data driven chapter, you must start with data. This was the starting point.
How the hell do I turn these four slices of a pie graph into a chapter which is worth reading and worth sharing?
6/ Time to go back to the last 4 lectures on this topic given over 4 years. To see if I could find direction on how to re-organize the chapter based on my own words.
The chapter and the data set both evolve. I now have a few graphs but the words are still missing.
7/ Back to the drawing board in search of a structure that works. I have five themes that I need to stitch together
a) A history of launches
b) Lessons from those launches
c) A framework for launch
d) Founder Puzzle casestudy
e) Takeaways
Make it so.
8/ I finally start writing. Some days its just bullet points. On others I get a paragraph out. Three weeks go by.
There is only one way to describe the jumbled collection of thoughts on my laptop.
It's a mess.
Ditch it and start all over again.
9/ Come to twitter and post a thread.
Sometimes threads serve as great writing leads. Sometimes it commentary on the threads that generates new connections.
You would be surprised at all the places I have found my muse.
10/ Something is in there but it has to marinate for a few days. Time, space and distance.
I switch off. Focus on my half marathon training. Come back later.
Spend two days filling in the gaps and the holes. I still hate what I read but its better.
11/ Ten weeks after the original inspiration, today, finally pull it together in a fabric that holds.
13 pages, 6193 words on everything we get wrong as founders when it comes to launch.
A road map to launch. But not yet Someone else has to read it and confirm that it works.
12/ Call in the usual suspects. Ask them for help and commentary before the chapter goes to editor for a first pass.
@Huk06 says he is too busy digging out ads for unmentionables and sends over a GIF.
It's still not done.
13/ Normally not this hard. And a lot more fun.
But I am off coffee and chocolates, in training and winter isn't here.
Can't wait for November to arrive and the words to start flowing again.
Off to the next chapter. Rinse and repeat.
How does your creative cycle work?
14/ Also feedback is a gift
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