I am a consultant with 40 years experience in a specific industry and have started writing a management book that will present Lean Manufacturing principles tailored for my industry. I am hoping for some basic direction. I have written many articles over the years and even 20-30 page documents that provide overview level of various busienss management topics. Doing a book is much more challenging as I am learning. I have written some of the basic modules to this point which I see as chapters if you will. Now I have backed off and working on a detailed outline using a Mind Map software program to get all the pieces assembled at a high level to guide the writing process. I would appreciate any advise on how to approach this project. Am I heading in the right direction with my outline approach? Is there an approach to doing any individual module or chapter like starting with the end in mind and then filling in the blanks. Having some difficulty with consistency of approach. Mixing examples of case studies with with other chapters being factual lecture style writing. I do realize the need to find an editor and plan to do that once I get enough down to have a draft. In the past, writing articles, I have had editors straighten out my writing so I understand the value there. Thanks in advance for responding.
Hello Rich, Welcome to the Writing Forums. The majority of writers on this site focus on fiction and other forms of creative writing, but you may find a few non-fiction writers who can exchange ideas with you. Posting your own work should not be among the very first things you do here. It is worth taking the time to see what other people have done to improve their writing, and see if some of it applies to your writing as well. That is part of why we require members to review other members' work before posting their own for review. On the other hand, there are no restrictions, other than content and copyright rules, on showcasing your work in your member blog. Also, be aware that posting a piece of writing on any public site, including this one, will greatly diminish your chances of selling it for publication. Removing the writing later does not alter that fact - once posted, it is irreversibly considered published. So do not post anything more than a small excerpt of any piece you are planning to submit for publication. If you haven't explored the site yet, you should probably do so soon. Newcomers often gravitate to the Lounge, the Word Games, or the Review Room, but there is much more to be discovered if you poke in the corners. Remember to check out our FAQ as well, and be sure to read through the forum rules, too, to avoid any misunderstandings or hurt feelings. Respect for one another is our principal mandate. As for the Review Room, new joiners often wonder why we do things a bit differently on this site than on other writing sites. We emphasize constructive critique as a vital writing skill. Training your eye by reviewing other people's work helps you improve your own writing even before you present it for others to see. Therefore, we ask members to review other people's writing before posting work of their own. The Review Room forums on this site, therefore, are true workshops, not just a bulletin board for displaying your work (and on that note, please only post each item for review in one Review Room forum). Also, please use the same thread for all revisions and additional excerpts from the same piece of writing. See this post, Why Write Reviews Before Posting My Work? for more information. And while you're looking around, don't forget to check out our Weekly Short Story Contest and Weekly Poetry Contest. They actually run more than one week apiece, but any member may enter, and all members are urged to vote for their favorites. Enjoy your stay here, and have fun!
welcome, rich! if you want private help with this, i've mentored many how-to book writers, along with all other writing breeds, so you can email me any time... meantime, i'm sure you'll enjoy taking part in this best of all writing sites... love and hugs, maia maia3maia@hotmail.com
High Rich If you have problems getting it published in the future, you may want to consider breaking it down into what you call chapters and offer them as ebooks to internet marketers who have a list geared towards the market your looking for. Niche marketing as they call sounds very small, but some people make a lot of money with it. You will have to pay quite a percentage on each sale, but it may still be worth it. Peeps
Thanks all appreciate the feedback. I belong to another forum made up of Luthiers and I am always amazed at how peole in forums are always willing to lend advise. It is truly appreciated. I think I will lurk for awhile and know I will learn from all of you.
I'm surprised at you, Maia. You didn't look it up. lu·thi·er (lōō'tē-ər) n. One that makes or repairs stringed instruments, such as violins. [French, from luth, lute, from Old French lut; see lute1. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Retrieved September 02, 2009, from Dictionary.com website
