Writing

When it comes to creating a perennial seller, the principle to never lose sight of is simple: Create word of mouth.

Henry James and Joseph Conrad were good friends, and in mid-career both agreed that in their future books, none of their characters would reply to a question directly, but only comment obliquely—which would add tension.

We asked for nothing in return, but some of them went out of their way to help us anyway.

If you happen to have the benefit of a pre-existing audience and/or a waiting list of potential readers, I suggest inviting only a subset into the manuscript at the start of each iteration. This will allow your list to last through the whole process instead of burning out on one iteration.

Again, review the research you’ve done so far. Locate two dozen or more ideas that you feel would arrest someone’s attention. Look for material that is • New

If you’re using sticky notes, then we recommend designating different colored stickies for hooks, stories within the chapter, key points, visuals, and reader interaction. If your index cards or sticky notes are all the same color, you can use different colored pens or Sharpies to get the same color-coding effect.

When you read widely, you are in a position to identify with the readers who will be picking up what you write. You know what irritates you, you know what makes you laugh, you

In 1937, a British literary critic named Cyril Connolly sat down to write a book around an unusual question: How does an author create something that lasts for ten years?

Nested within the table of contents is an outline for each chapter. You should be able to describe, within a few paragraphs, what each chapter is about.