1. Know your why
Don't write a book to make money. Write because you have something to share.
He made about $35k pre-tax. Some people earn more with less time invested.
Peter wrote a book because it was difficult for him to become a product manager.
Don't write a book to make money. Write because you have something to share.
He made about $35k pre-tax. Some people earn more with less time invested.
Peter wrote a book because it was difficult for him to become a product manager.
2. Find an audience
His customers were new and aspiring PMs.
New PMs often struggle to pick up best practices on the job.
Aspiring PMs need help breaking into a field that looks for product experience.
His customers were new and aspiring PMs.
New PMs often struggle to pick up best practices on the job.
Aspiring PMs need help breaking into a field that looks for product experience.
3. Create an outline
Peter spent a week just reviewing it with other PMs. With their input, he landed on three main sections for the book.
At the end of each section, he included interviews with product leaders to offer other perspectives.
Peter spent a week just reviewing it with other PMs. With their input, he landed on three main sections for the book.
At the end of each section, he included interviews with product leaders to offer other perspectives.
4. Start writing
After a few weeks of writing and editing the same pages, Peter knew that he had to move faster.
He would finish the first draft for each chapter before making edits, no matter how bad that draft was.
This rule dramatically increased his output.
After a few weeks of writing and editing the same pages, Peter knew that he had to move faster.
He would finish the first draft for each chapter before making edits, no matter how bad that draft was.
This rule dramatically increased his output.
5. Cut, cut, cut
Peter was determined to cut all unnecessary words, sentences, and anecdotes from his book.
He cut over 30% of the words from every chapter.
Peter was determined to cut all unnecessary words, sentences, and anecdotes from his book.
He cut over 30% of the words from every chapter.
6. Find early reviewers
Whenever Peter finished a chapter, he would send it to new and aspiring PMs whom he had mentored.
He wrote the book in partnership with his target customer.
He also tested each chapter by repackaging them into PM training sessions.
Whenever Peter finished a chapter, he would send it to new and aspiring PMs whom he had mentored.
He wrote the book in partnership with his target customer.
He also tested each chapter by repackaging them into PM training sessions.
7. Try traditional publishing
He emailed a few tech book publishers.
• "It will be tough to get visibility among others."
• "You don't have a platform to leverage."
They said.
Traditional publishing was more for established thought leaders or people with a large following.
He emailed a few tech book publishers.
• "It will be tough to get visibility among others."
• "You don't have a platform to leverage."
They said.
Traditional publishing was more for established thought leaders or people with a large following.
8. Build a launch plan
Three months before his launch date, Peter started drafting a marketing plan with:
• launch schedule
• Kindle listing details
• early reviews
• channels to promote the book
• pre-launch website
By launch day, he had 1,000+ email subscribers.
Three months before his launch date, Peter started drafting a marketing plan with:
• launch schedule
• Kindle listing details
• early reviews
• channels to promote the book
• pre-launch website
By launch day, he had 1,000+ email subscribers.
9. Get professional help
After 8 months of writing and editing my book, he was ready to hire professional help.
Peter then paid for an editor and cover artist on Reedsy.
He spent more time working with the book cover designer. Having an eye-catching book cover is critical.
After 8 months of writing and editing my book, he was ready to hire professional help.
Peter then paid for an editor and cover artist on Reedsy.
He spent more time working with the book cover designer. Having an eye-catching book cover is critical.
10. Launch
a) Soft launch: he sold it on Amazon for $2.99 ($9.99 regular price) and encouraged friends to buy. He'd got about ten reviews.
b) Public launch: A week after, promoted it with his email list, social media, and on Product Hunt. It sold 500 copies in the first week.
a) Soft launch: he sold it on Amazon for $2.99 ($9.99 regular price) and encouraged friends to buy. He'd got about ten reviews.
b) Public launch: A week after, promoted it with his email list, social media, and on Product Hunt. It sold 500 copies in the first week.
11. If he could do it all over again, he would:
a) Build in public. He could have got a larger audience by launch day and could have sold it on Gumroad.
b) Don't sell yourself short. He listed the book for $2.99 during the first week but the target customer could afford $9.99.
a) Build in public. He could have got a larger audience by launch day and could have sold it on Gumroad.
b) Don't sell yourself short. He listed the book for $2.99 during the first week but the target customer could afford $9.99.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
