The Successful Author Mindset: A Handbook for Surviving the Writer`s Journey, Penn Joanna

• Why write a non-fiction book?
• Can I write a book if I'm not an expert?
• Originality. Or, "there are so many other books on this topic"
• Who are you? Personal stories and the writer's voice
• The day a non-fiction book changed my life
• Fear and self-doubt

Part 2. Before You Write: Business

• Types of non-fiction books
• Business models for non-fiction books
• Who is your book for? Identify your target market
• Decide on the topic for your book
• Decide on your book title
• Your author name and pseudonyms
• How long does your book have to be?
• How long will it take to write the book?
• Your perspective on time
• Writing a book proposal

Part 3. Writing and Editing

• Gather and organize existing material
• Research, interviews, surveys, and social listening
• Structure and organize the book
• How to write the first draft
• How to dictate your book
• Turn your blog/podcasts/videos/talks into a book
• Speed, quality and perfectionism
• Focus and shiny object syndrome
• Writer's block
• Co-writing a non-fiction book
• How to turn a boring book into an engaging read
• Elements of fiction in non-fiction
• Does non-fiction have to be true?
• Legal issues: Using real people, quotes, lyrics, images, and citing sources
• Self-editing a book
• How to find and work with professional editors

Part 4. Publishing and Product Creation

• Your publishing options
• Use different formats to create multiple streams of income
• Non-fiction book covers
• Book formatting for non-fiction
• Pricing your book
• Your book sales description
• Categories and keywords
• Turn your non-fiction book into a multimedia course
• Updating your books over time

Part 5. Marketing Non-Fiction

• Two models of marketing and the importance of mindset
• Book-centered marketing
• Paid advertising for non-fiction books
• Author-centered marketing. The power of a personal brand
• Build your author website
• Build an email list
• Integrate email marketing with your book
• Content marketing for non-fiction books
• My non-fiction marketing journey

Conclusion and your next steps.

It's time to (finally) write your non-fiction book

It's also about surviving the roller-coaster of the creative journey.

Self-doubt, fear of failure, the need for validation, perfectionism, writer's block, comparisonitis, overwhelm, and much more. When you're going through these things, it can feel like you're alone. But actually, they are part of the creative process, and every author goes through them too.

This book collects the mindset issues that writers experience, that I have been through myself over the last nine years, and that perhaps you will experience at different times on the creative journey.

Each small chapter tackles a possible issue and then offers an antidote, so that you can dip in and out over time. It includes excerpts from my own personal journals as well as quotes from well-known writers. I hope it helps you on the road to becoming a successful author.

The book includes:

Part 1: Mindset Aspects of Creativity and Writing

• Self-doubt and imposter syndrome
• Need for validation
• Fear of failure
• Fear of rejection and criticism
• Your inner critic
• Fear of judgment
• Perfectionism
• Writer's block and procrastination
• "I'm not creative. I don't have any ideas"
• "My writing isn't original"
• "Why write? There are too many books in the world already"
• "I don't have the time or self-discipline to write"
• "I'm not finding writing much fun. It's hard work."
• "I keep starting things and not finishing them"
• Dealing with friends, family and writer's groups
• "How do I find my voice?"
• Comparisonitis or "Everyone is better than me"

Part 2: Mindset Aspects after Publishing

• Anti-climax and creative dissatisfaction
• What is your definition of success?
• What happens when you tell people that you're an author?
• "I'm overwhelmed"
• Dealing with fans, authenticity and drawing the line
• Haters gonna hate
• Ambition, fame and fortune
• Giving up

Part 3: Tips for Success on the Author Journey

• Know thyself
• Understand and hone your creative process
• Develop professional habits
• Manage professional relationships
• Take control of your writing career
• Find your community
• Keep learning
• Schedule rest and take time off
• Think long term. Create a body of work