Holy Spirit Scribes Part 1

This is a new series that might eventually end up as a book. We'll see. Many people have a desire to write a book. And many of them should. Some, not so much. This series will answer some questions for those determined to do so as well as those who should focus elsewhere...



The very first thing I would say to you if you are wanting to publish a book is to
either forget it or start a blog.

Why forget it?
The struggle to get a book written from concept to bookshelf is a massive undertaking and can truly create a ton of frustrations. Most people who succeed often never attempt it again. Keep in mind, we are talking about a normal length book, not a “booklet”. I can put together and publish a booklet (60 pages or under) in a week or two. Around 15 to 25 thousand words. Easy to accomplish. If I am only trying to make a point similar to an extended or multi-part sermon, it can be quickly accomplished. I have done many in such a fashion. In fact there publishing companies that publishes “sermon-to-book” books. My own publishing company can do those. They work well for the most part, but are per-word expensive. Meaning that the requirements are not as involved, but the sale prices can still be pricy and limit sales.

There’s an old saying that goes, “Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should”. If your book is to be effective in whatever area you are writing, your ability to write is not enough. And if you are still determined, then read on as the process will only become more complicated and difficult. And, even for the self-publisher, expensive.

Start a blog
Before I ever managed to publish a book, I wrote blogs for years. Likely a few thousand all together. Blogs fill the need to be able to write what you are thinking without being totally responsible for content, grammar, syntax, formatting, and a bunch of other things you will have to do when writing a book. In blogging, as opposed to writing a book, your investment (financially, time, and so on) is much smaller and therefore it will have less of an impact. For instance, if I write a novel which takes place in multiple places, I need to make certain it all lines up or the book as a whole is a failure. Screw up something in a blog and you might (big might) get someone to point it out to you. A blog which took you two hours to write, thirty seconds to edit, and two more minutes to upload and notify your readers that it is there.

Long story short, you need several key things in your life to actually write a book. But then, that’s why you are reading this book, right? I say that I want to discourage you because writing a book of significant length (200 pages or more) will require a significant part of your commitment and perseverance. You will experience everything from a hundred different forms of writers block, to needs for deep research, to costs for editing and graphics, and, the big one, sticking to it! It’s easy to become discouraged when you just don’t have the time.

Then there are other issues that will come up. Like the desire to make a living at writing. That might be the toughest thing to overcome. Especially if you know you are a good writer and can’t seem to stop writing no matter the topic or time. Getting paid to write what you desire to write cannot be your focus.

Hopefully, at this point, you have decided whether or not you plan to continue forward. If you have read this all the way through and want to continue, then, please, by all means, keep reading. After all, this booklet is meant to encourage and give you a few tools to conceptualize, write, re-write, re-write again, edit, re-edit, format, design your cover, print your proof, re-edit, re-print, re-edit, print, publish, post, and celebrate your completed book. And yes, you will sell it. How many you will sell, however is not why you are doing this. Read on...