The Non-Fiction Book PLAN (Book OUTLINE)
Book Writing is a time consuming Project. Without a definite plan, most books will never see the book shelf.
"Make sure your book gets started and completed.
To ensure completion and quality we prepare a Project Proposal which includes a definite plan in a Book Plan for all our Projects. In the years we have been in this industry, a definite plan helps ensure Project completion.
A BOOK PLAN helps both writer and author to conceptualize the Project, view the process, map their schedule, and understand the cost implications before launching the Project.
Advantages of a Book Plan
Having all the Project details upfront:
📌 Enables the author to see the work at a glance.
📌 Helps the author crystalize the specific areas they want to focus on.
📌 Enables author to plan their time making the process efficient and precise.
📌 Helps the author to plan the financial aspects of the Project in advance.
For biographies, a plan enables the author map out a schedule that ensures the book is completed on schedule.
In the event that the author decides to have the book written later, they will have a reference document and will not need to plan afresh.
If they choose to subcontract another writer, the Book Outline will guide the new writer, making the Project process smoother and faster.
The Book Plan has the following parts:
I. Overview of Project
Details all the aspects of Project.
II. Book Outline
This is the most important part of the Book Plan. It is a researched segment which details:
- For courses, what is the recommended content in each day.
- What extras will improve the content delivery.
- How long should the course run.
- In some instances, we recommend course pricing.
- What will be contained in each chapter of the book.
- The extent (number of words) and book formats
- Includes reference documents including articles, books and white papers.
"For a biography, the Outline details the ideas that could be fitted in each chapter (these can be adjusted as the book develops)
III. Project schedule
The writing process has three major stages:
1. Content Development.
a) The non-fiction book.
The content development stage produces the first draft of the book. The Book Plan shows the time required for this stage. In actual writing, we develop our work on Google Docs which means the author can monitor the work in real time.
b) The Biography
For a biography, the content development stage is approximately 70% the author’s work and 30% the ghostwriter’s work, because it is the author’s story and the writer cannot make up any details.
The author may develop their story in any format that suits them, their schedules, and abilities. They may choose to record the content or write rough drafts. In some cases, we opt to interview the author and transcribe the story they tell.
The ghostwriter pieces the story together into chapters and ensures the book is captivating and well written.
Once the first draft of the whole book is written, the document goes into substantive editing.
b) The Course
The recommended content in each segment of the course.
2. Substantive Editing
Main purpose of this stage is to harmonize the book as one unit. Since a book is not written in one sitting, the content could be jerky in some places. An editor, however, reads in a much shorter period of time and picks out the jerks so that the end product is a smooth read. On completion of the editing stage, the document goes into proofreading.
3. Proofreading and Finishing
Proofreading harmonizes technical details such as date formats, pagination, chronology, punctuation, and the tiny details that make a book delightful.
Finishing completes technical pages such as the blurb, about author, etc.
Cover design, final formats, registrations such as ISBN and other technical details fit in this stage.
4. Project costs
This will detail how much the project will cost and when such payments will be due. It will also give where to pay and what the author should expect at each stage.
IMPORTANT:
⭕ Each stage of the book above MUST get author approval before we move to the next stage.
⭕ We highly recommend that all Projects launch on a Plan. In some cases, the author may have a Book Outline already developed elsewhere. We will work with that plan.
Speak with Nyambura
⭕ Contact us on the form below to launch a conversation on your Book Idea. One of our representatives will get back to you.
