FIRST

PODCAST with

KIRUBA SHAN KA R

BOOK Practical Tips from Best-Selling Authors on Writing your First Book

KIRUBA SHANKAR

FIRST

BOOK

FIRST

BOOK Practical Tips from Best-Selling Authors on Writing your First Book

KIRUBA SHANKAR

Notion Press Old No. 38, New No. 6 McNichols Road, Chetpet Chennai - 600 031 First Published by Notion Press 2017 Copyright © Kiruba Shankar 2017 All Rights Reserved. ISBN  978-1-946204-51-6 This book is sold subject to the condition that it can be shared freely with others. It’s perfectly okay to be lent, hired out and otherwise circulated. There is no need to take the publisher’s or author’s prior consent. All we ask is to be credited when you do use or share the content.

‘First Book’ by Kiruba Shankar is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. This Creative Commons License lets others remix, tweak and build upon this book. All we ask is for you to credit this work when you use. Thank you and enjoy. More information about this book at http://www.Kiruba.com/ firstbook.

DISCLAIMER

T

his book is a compilation of some of the best advice from very talented authors worldwide. It is a noncommercial, educational project. Any proceeds from it will be reinvested in projects that will help new authors. We have researched and gleaned much of the content from the Internet in the spirit of learning and sharing. We have used the fair-use policy and have given credit where it is due.

DEDICATION To Mr. S. Muthiah for opening my eyes to the fact that there is a book inside each one of us.

PODCAST with

KIRUBA SHAN KA R

T

he First Book Podcast is India’s first niche show dedicated to first-time authors. The show involves conversations with global best-selling authors regarding what it is that made them successful. ‘I want to author a book’ is usually in the top 20 on most people’s bucket lists. Yet, very few scratch this item off their list and this is because they don’t have the right guidance. This is where the First Book Podcast comes in, as it offers the solution. This podcast covers effective book writing, publishing and marketing techniques that come straight from the authors and will help you join the ranks of the successfully published. Hosted by Kiruba Shankar, author of six books, including the one you’re reading right now, it presents practical advice you can pick up instantly and apply to your work. The show First Book Podcast is supported by Notion Press, one of the fastest growing publishing platforms in

First Book

India. We share the same vision to help first-time authors realize their dream and publish their first book. Tune in regularly at http://www.NotionPress.com/ podcast to pick up some interesting tips and listen to bestselling authors spill the beans.

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CONTENTS THE REASON BEHIND THIS BOOK

xv

FOREWORDxvii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSxix GETTING STARTED

xxi

1. THE INSPIRATION TO BE AN AUTHOR

1

2. RESEARCH WELL BEFORE WRITING

4

3. JOT DOWN IDEAS

6

4. PLAN YOUR BOOK

10

5. PRE-WRITING STRATEGIES

14

6. ENOUGH WANTING TO BE A WRITER. NOW, WRITE. 

16

7. JUST START

19

8. FREESTYLE WRITING

24

9. PARK YOUR A** AND WRITE

26

10. LOWER YOUR EXPECTATIONS

29

11. START SMALL

31

12. 500 WORDS BEFORE 8AM

34

13. WRITE EVERY DAY

40

14. WRITING A BOOK IS LIKE EATING A PIZZA

47

15. IT’S OK TO WRITE BADLY

51

16. WRITE FIRST. EDIT LATER. 

59

Contents

17. REVISING TIPS

65

18. MAKE THE TIME TO WRITE

68

19. SET DEADLINES

70

20. NO DISTRACTIONS

74

21. THE PLEASURE OF WRITING

78

22. ENJOY YOUR WRITING

80

23. CELEBRATE SMALL SUCCESSES

83

24. WRITE DIRECTLY TO YOUR READER

86

25. YOU KNOW YOUR STORY BEST

90

26. WRITE A BOOK YOU WANT TO READ

93

27. USE SIMPLE ENGLISH

97

28. GET ENOUGH SLEEP

102

29. LISTEN AND OBSERVE CAREFULLY

105

30. GET HELP FROM PROFESSIONALS

108

31. DON’T QUIT YOUR JOB YET

111

32. READ A LOT

115

33. BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF

119

34. JOIN A WRITERS’ GROUP

123

35. SURROUND YOURSELF WITH SUPPORTIVE PEOPLE

126

36. HOW TO OVERCOME WRITER’S BLOCK

128

37. WHEN YOU GET STUCK

132

38. TURN OFF YOUR SELF-DOUBT

137

39. BE A LIFE-TIME AUTHOR

140

40. HAVE MULTIPLE BOOK IDEAS IN YOUR BAG

143

41. HAVE LOTS OF PATIENCE

146

42. THE IMPORTANCE OF FEEDBACK

149

43. HOW TO HANDLE CRITICISM

154

44. OVERCOMING FEAR

157

xii

Contents

45. GIVE AWAY YOUR IDEAS

160

46. ONCE FINISHED, LET GO OF YOUR BOOK

162

47. HOW TO HANDLE REJECTION

165

48. GREAT BOOKS ON WRITING

168

GOOD LUCK

173

AUTHORS175 REFERENCES189 SHARE THIS BOOK

204

PUBLISHED BOOKS BY KIRUBA SHANKAR

205

KIRUBA’S UPCOMING BOOKS

206

BOOK AUTHORING WORKSHOP

207

WRITING RETREATS

209

INVITE KIRUBA AS A SPEAKER

210

NOTES211 HOW TO REACH KIRUBA

212

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THE REASON BEHIND THIS BOOK

A

s a youngster, one of my goals was to be a published author. I always looked up to people who have written books. Every time I entered book stores, I fantasized my own book on the book shelves. However, I had no idea how to start. I did not have a game plan. I often confused myself by mulling over different topics. I yearned for a mentor who would guide me. I was too insecure to approach any authors. After all, why would they help a newbie? I walked into two dozen publishing houses only to be shown the door. It took me over nine years of failed starts, frustrating delays, numerous drafts, and disappointments before I got my first book out. It was an emotional moment as the publisher delivered the bundle of my books. I opened the bundle and took out one book. As I sniffed the book, I had tears rolling down my cheeks. All those struggles flashed across my mind and a huge feeling of triumph and relief took over me. This book is meant for first time authors. This is a book I wish I had when I started off. This is not a step-by-step

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ecoming an author is a prestigious accomplishment. It has many advantages. It demonstrates your vast knowledge in a domain and establishes you as a thought leader.

The New York Times quotes a research, which states that over 81% of people polled wanted to author a book. However, the reality is different. The majority of us never realize this dream. This book offers perfect solutions, tips and techniques to help you get your book out. It contains a comprehensive compendium of advice from authors who have won prestigious literary awards such as the Nobel Prize for Literature, Man Booker Prize and the Pulitzer Prize and have cumulatively sold multiple millions of copies. The goal of this book is to help you realize your long-term dream to write and publish a book. 

Kiruba Shankar is the CEO of Business Blogging

and Founder-Director of F5ive Technologies. He has twenty-one years of experience crafting online digital and social media strategies for large firms such as the British Council, Dominos Pizza, IBM, the Murugappa Group, the Mahindra Group, Sterling Holidays, Larsen & Toubro and The Hindu Newspaper Group.

He has authored five books and written technology columns for newspapers such as The Hindu BusinessLine, Business Standard, Financial Express and The New Indian Express. Kiruba is a podcaster and hosts the ‘First Book Podcast’ in association with Notion Press where he interviews global best-selling authors. He also writes a podcast column in The Hindu BusinessLine titled ‘Movers & Shakers’ where he interviews global business leaders. Kiruba is a Professor of Digital Marketing and has been teaching for over sixteen years. He has taught at several leading B-Schools and is also a professional speaker, having delivered over 500 talks at conferences and corporate events. Over the weekend, Kiruba heads to his village where he pursues his passion for organic farming on his thirteen-acre farm. He regularly blogs at  www.Kiruba.com  and at  www.Facebook.com/kiruba. He can be reached at [email protected] or +91 9841597744. Price 299