# The Art of Writing a Non-Fiction Book  ## Metadata - Author: [[Bryan Collins]] - Full Title: The Art of Writing a Non-Fiction Book - Category: #books ## Highlights - felt tired and embarrassed by my lack of progress. ([Location 66](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=66)) - mastering the one thing you have complete control over: yourself. ([Location 81](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=81)) - critical feedback is hard to swallow. ([Location 85](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=85)) - Don’t let the siren’s call of perfectionism seduce you. ([Location 90](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=90)) - seven of the most common writing mistakes aspiring non-fiction authors must avoid. ([Location 103](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=103)) - Mistake #1: I Should Write Different Things at Once ([Location 105](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=105)) - people who jump from one task to the next are up to 40% less productive. ([Location 111](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=111)) - When you are working on lots of projects, you’ll find it harder to create a writing routine that sticks. ([Location 114](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=114)) - one book at a time, please. ([Location 117](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=117)) - Successful non-fiction writers don’t risk losing their best ideas. ([Location 127](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=127)) - They keep their ideas in one place, and they review what they find. ([Location 127](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=127)) - A writing routine you stick to will help, as will one you follow before the demands of the day take over. ([Location 157](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=157)) - Work Harder ([Location 159](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=159)) - Then, your book becomes this BIG THING you’ve got to do. ([Location 162](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=162)) - you need a way of breaking down your book into milestones that you can reach one by one. ([Location 168](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=168)) - When you try to write and edit at the same time, you’re doing TWO different activities. ([Location 176](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=176)) - your internal editor – does his or her best work with a complete first draft. ([Location 179](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=179)) - I use what I discover to fall forwards, instead of falling down. ([Location 197](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=197)) - considering why you want to write a book. ([Location 219](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=219)) - Then determine what your non-fiction book is about. ([Location 220](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=220)) - figure out your why in advance. ([Location 233](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=233)) - Establish at least five to ten reasons why you’re writing your non-fiction book. ([Location 237](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=237)) - Obligatory Conventions ([Location 249](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=249)) - What Your Book Is About ([Location 271](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=271)) - controlling idea behind a book. ([Location 276](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=276)) - How is my book different to everything else ([Location 294](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=294)) - that’s out there? ([Location 295](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=295)) - You know what your book is about and who it’s for and you’ve even got a controlling idea. ([Location 306](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=306)) - Clarify why you want to write ([Location 308](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=308)) - establishing the controlling idea ([Location 309](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=309)) - The letters are less about earning a living than they are about learning ([Location 329](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=329)) - how to live. ([Location 330](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=330)) - Halbert wrote for his ideal reader first. ([Location 341](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=341)) - you should write for your ideal reader too. ([Location 343](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=343)) - narrow and deep is better than wide and shallow. ([Location 349](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=349)) - If you have readers, ask them what they need help with. ([Location 351](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=351)) - What kind of person would read my book? Who do I know that represents my ideal reader? Who can introduce me to my ideal reader? ([Location 360](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=360)) - Reach out to people on relevant Facebook groups, to your LinkedIn connections ([Location 361](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=361)) - I keep my reader research in a single document in Evernote. ([Location 374](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=374)) - positioning statement. ([Location 380](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=380)) - a succinct description of what your book is about and who it’s for. ([Location 380](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=380)) - Controlling Idea + Ideal Reader = Positioning Statement ([Location 382](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=382)) - here’s my positioning statement for this book: My book helps new writers write and sell copies of their first non-fiction book. ([Location 387](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=387)) - What if you don’t care about your ideal reader or what’s selling today on Amazon? By all means, write for yourself. ([Location 397](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=397)) - position your book’s ideas so they appeal to the marketplace and your creative muse. ([Location 408](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=408)) - find out what’s keeping your ideal reader up at night and write to them with an answer that fires you up. ([Location 410](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=410)) - You must give your readers what they want and still feel good about sitting down to write. ([Location 413](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=413)) - “Everything great in the world is done by neurotics; ([Location 421](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=421)) - you must develop your voice through continued and disciplined practice. ([Location 435](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=435)) - Proust overcame failure, he stopped trying to impress, and he developed his writing voice. ([Location 448](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=448)) - When you work to please others you can’t succeed, but the things you do to satisfy yourself stand a chance of catching someone’s interest. ([Location 450](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=450)) - Showing up consistently each day will help you express yourself. ([Location 469](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=469)) - Pantsers ([Location 486](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=486)) - Plotters, ([Location 491](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=491)) - Being a plotter enables struggling non-fiction writers to finish their books faster. ([Location 510](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=510)) - practising expressing yourself day after day – every day. ([Location 516](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=516)) - there’s a time and place for both types of tools. ([Location 532](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=532)) - students learn better when they take notes by hand rather than when typing on a keyboard. ([Location 538](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=538)) - I capture ideas on the go and store them in Evernote. ([Location 558](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=558)) - I write book chapters like this one using Scrivener. ([Location 558](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=558)) - That’s a lot faster than manipulating large blocks of text in Word or playing around with multiple files on your machine. ([Location 561](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=561)) - custom status in Scrivener to mark chapters as “Done”, “Not done”, “Ready for an editor” and so on. ([Location 567](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=567)) - Vellum. ([Location 571](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=571)) - Dictation helps you focus too. ([Location 590](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=590)) - It also encourages conversational types of writing. ([Location 591](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=591)) - When it comes to dictation, keep your mouth moving! ([Location 595](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=595)) - It took me some trial and error to figure out how to build dictation into my writing workflow. ([Location 601](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=601)) - Keep your chapter outline next to where you dictate, so you know what you’re about to say next. ([Location 616](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=616)) - Write early drafts using dictation software; edit later drafts using your keyboard. ([Location 617](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=617)) - Only use as many digital tools as you need. ([Location 619](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=619)) - So spend most of your time working on your drafts. Concentrate on improving your craft. And then build relationships with your readers. ([Location 632](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=632)) - Associate ONE Place With Writing ([Location 665](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=665)) - The ‘where’ doesn’t matter as much as having that space, where you write consistently. ([Location 680](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=680)) - science is on the side of early morning writing. ([Location 688](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=688)) - writing for 60 to 90 minutes. ([Location 696](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=696)) - Ask yourself what your ideal morning routine looks like, and write it down on paper. ([Location 697](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=697)) - find enough time to write without interruption before the day begins. ([Location 705](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=705)) - Before you go to bed, write a note to yourself about what chapter you’re going to work on. ([Location 706](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=706)) - Like a lot of writers, I doubled my weekly word count by rising early to work on my book. ([Location 722](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=722)) - when I write, I feel lighter. ([Location 727](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=727)) - the blank page consistently and being able to work without interruption. ([Location 731](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=731)) - working alone presents a different set of challenges. ([Location 733](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=733)) - took me years to learn writing is one of the most important things I need to do each day, ([Location 735](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=735)) - pick a time for working on your book every day, ([Location 740](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=740)) - Truman Capote, who said, “That’s not writing, that’s typing.” ([Location 768](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=768)) - a future file ([Location 777](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=777)) - if you wait for inspiration to arrive, you’ll be stood up. ([Location 782](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=782)) - Whatever You Write, You’re a Collector of Ideas. ([Location 786](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=786)) - reading is part of your job. ([Location 798](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=798)) - If you fail to feed your mind, don’t expect it to serve you quality ideas when you sit down in front of the blank page. ([Location 799](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=799)) - Keep a swipe file ([Location 833](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=833)) - Pinterest, for example, is a social swipe file. ([Location 835](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=835)) - If you’re a lousy writer, all the best ideas in the world aren’t much use to you. ([Location 853](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=853)) - Feynman discovered his students had memorised their textbooks line by line. ([Location 868](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=868)) - They were able to recite basic physics laws like, “Light is reflected from a medium with an index,” but they had no idea as to the why behind these laws. ([Location 869](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=869)) - You have only told about what a word means in terms of other words. ([Location 877](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=877)) - ‘Do I understand what I’m writing about?’ ([Location 882](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=882)) - Researching a non-fiction book is like diving to the bottom of the ocean and looking for treasure. ([Location 885](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=885)) - Once you finish reading a book, go back and review your notes, annotations and so on. ([Location 894](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=894)) - export your notes to your computer. ([Location 895](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=895)) - Feynman offers four steps for understanding and teaching complicated topics. ([Location 916](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=916)) - controlling idea ([Location 918](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=918)) - offer your perspective, you’ll avoid the problems Feynman’s Brazilian students faced. ([Location 921](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=921)) - Write down what you know, what you did, what you experienced and what your readers should do. ([Location 925](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=925)) - Non-fiction writing often feels like painting. You’ll spend time going back over your work. ([Location 931](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=931)) - During your rewrites, fill in the gaps in your book ([Location 936](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=936)) - you “must not fool yourself – and you are the easiest person to fool.” ([Location 938](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=938)) - Challenge yourself to refine your work until it’s as clear as possible. ([Location 941](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=941)) - Many of the textbooks were lousy, false and hurried. ([Location 955](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=955)) - Be honest about your opinions. Have the courage of your convictions. Hold your research and topic to account. ([Location 966](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=966)) - He understood it’s not enough to know an idea. You must understand the thinking behind it...and ([Location 970](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=970)) - Figure out what you agree or disagree with and how concepts and ideas relate to each other. ([Location 973](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=973)) - Create a simple mind map of the last book you read, ([Location 979](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=979)) - you need to be able to step back from your ideas. ([Location 986](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=986)) - Professional non-fiction writers know how to arrange their thoughts... ([Location 987](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=987)) - controlling idea, ([Location 990](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=990)) - Act one is the beginning of your book. Usually, act one begins with a memorable scene, a dramatic incident or a call-to-action. In this act, hook your reader by introducing a problem or by setting up the story driving your book. Act two is the middle build of your book. In the meat of your book, elaborate on the problem and heighten the conflict. Show what’s at stake and present challenges you or the reader must overcome. Act three, the final third, brings resolution or closure for your readers. It includes a climax where you either solve the big problem your book is addressing or offer a resolution. The reader experiences a payoff or gets the solution they paid for. ([Location 1001](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=1001)) - my outline and table of contents evolved. ([Location 1024](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=1024)) - Categorise Your Book’s Key Ideas ([Location 1026](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=1026)) - Expand on Your Key Ideas ([Location 1030](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=1030)) - Flesh out Your Entire Book ([Location 1033](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=1033)) - Arrange Your Ideas ([Location 1037](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=1037)) - Live with Your Book Structure ([Location 1043](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=1043)) - Start Writing Your Book ([Location 1046](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=1046)) - Set up Your Spreadsheet ([Location 1062](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=1062)) - ‘Act’, ([Location 1063](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=1063)) - ‘Chapter’, ([Location 1063](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=1063)) - ‘Idea’ ([Location 1063](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=1063)) - ‘Word count’. ([Location 1063](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=1063)) - Pick an Idea for a Chapter ([Location 1064](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=1064)) - Break Down Your Idea ([Location 1067](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=1067)) - Set Word Counts for Each Section ([Location 1071](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=1071)) - Complete Your Spreadsheet ([Location 1075](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=1075)) - Review Your Ideas ([Location 1080](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=1080)) - Start Writing ([Location 1082](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=1082)) - it’s much easier to show up and write a 300-word section for Chapter Four than it is to sit down with the intention of ‘working on my book’. ([Location 1084](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=1084)) - set yourself a hard deadline if you’re worried about overplanning your book. ([Location 1102](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=1102)) - Most writers, even successful ones, don’t write good first drafts. ([Location 1114](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=1114)) - I repeat my 30 minute writing session two to four times until I hit the day’s word count. ([Location 1139](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=1139)) - Today, you just have to write a lousy first draft... because there are no good first drafts. ([Location 1141](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=1141)) - Why You Shouldn’t Start Writing Your First Draft On Page One ([Location 1144](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=1144)) - how can you write an introduction if you don’t know what comes next? ([Location 1149](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=1149)) - they often start in the middle of their books and write forwards...or backwards. ([Location 1154](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=1154)) - write to the beginning, write to the end or jump around if you have to. ([Location 1160](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=1160)) - …your first draft is only for you. ([Location 1177](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=1177)) - First drafts are as long as they need to be. ([Location 1188](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=1188)) - your goal is to finish writing your first draft so that you have something to rewrite and edit. ([Location 1195](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=1195)) - don’t overburden your first draft with expectations. ([Location 1212](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=1212)) - Now, you have a body of writing that you can mould and shape into something your readers will enjoy. ([Location 1213](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=1213)) - what it takes to fill the blank page: ([Location 1229](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=1229)) - You need not leave your room. ([Location 1230](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=1230)) - when you compare yourself to successful writers, all you see is what you lack and not how far you’ve come. ([Location 1259](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=1259)) - most successful authors keep to a strict schedule. ([Location 1278](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=1278)) - Using a Writing Log ([Location 1284](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=1284)) - several years ago, I committed to publishing one blog post a week ([Location 1302](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=1302)) - You can email versions of your book to trusted ([Location 1311](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=1311)) - friends or colleagues. You can blog. You can hire an editor. You can self-publish. ([Location 1311](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=1311)) - self-edit your book in at least three different ways. ([Location 1354](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=1354)) - Editing ([Location 1355](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=1355)) - Editing in Relation to Other Chapters ([Location 1363](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=1363)) - Line Editing Your Book Chapter ([Location 1379](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=1379)) - You should self-edit your book at least three times: ([Location 1435](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=1435)) - I started missing my deadlines because I was so worried about mistakes and getting negative feedback. ([Location 1484](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=1484)) - would stand up in the light of day. My pendulum of self-belief swung from over-confidence in my work to self-doubt and procrastination. It took me years to find a centre point between the two. ([Location 1486](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=1486)) - I learned the hard way to consider my ideal readers, ([Location 1495](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=1495)) - refine your book, so it speaks to one person rather than the masses. ([Location 1497](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=1497)) - When an editor criticises your work, it’s not personal. ([Location 1504](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=1504)) - For your non-fiction book, find a group of early or beta readers you trust. ([Location 1520](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=1520)) - Part of becoming a professional author means having confidence in your ideas and your work. ([Location 1529](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=1529)) - controlling idea. ([Location 1531](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=1531)) - Advanced Reader Copies (ARCs) of a book before publication. ([Location 1535](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=1535)) - Those receiving an ARC should get something close to the finished product, ([Location 1536](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=1536)) - their well-meaning feedback wasn’t helpful. ([Location 1541](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=1541)) - don’t be precious about your work. ([Location 1543](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=1543)) - know when to push back. ([Location 1548](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=1548)) - don’t take everything they say as gospel. ([Location 1549](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=1549)) - the habit of putting what you learnt from editors, early readers and yourself into practice. ([Location 1551](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=1551)) - Seek out precision and clarity. ([Location 2042](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=2042)) - personal swipe file. ([Location 2062](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=2062)) - I can’t recommend Scrivener enough. I use it to write blog posts and books. ([Location 2071](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B076YY4B3G&location=2071))