Writing a book involves a sequence of steps, each critical to the production of a polished product. While many start this adventure, only 3% finish writing their manuscript, less than 1% end up publishing their book, and even fewer see their work withstanding the test of time. But since we published a book, and want to see you succeed too, here are 10 things we learned from becoming a published author!
the full story
Writing a book involves a sequence of steps, each critical to the production of a polished product. While many start this adventure, only 3% finish writing their manuscript, less than 1% end up publishing their book, and even fewer see their work withstanding the test of time. But since we published a book, and want to see you succeed too, here are 10 things we learned for becoming a published author!
step 1: develop a concept
First, develop a concept. It can be an idea for a story, a collection of essays, or a central argument of non-fiction. Inspired by Jason Zweig’s “The Devil’s Financial Dictionary,” we created an educational encyclopedia from the perspective of a clever child who questions traditional schooling and recommends alternatives.
step 2: plan an outline
Plan an outline that structures your main points or story arc. This acts as a roadmap and keeps your content organized as you write. Our book has two parts: Part one covers everything you should know about learning and the unintended consequences of formal education. Part two is a comprehensive guide to sixteen alternative schools.
step 3: write a draft
Write the first draft of your manuscript. This step is often the most time-consuming as it involves fleshing out all details, doing plenty of editing, and contemplating in even more self doubt. We thought it would take us about six months, as we already had hundreds of popular video scripts—it took us nearly two years.
step 4: revise the manuscript
Revise your manuscript. This includes reworking the text for clarity, structure, voice, and style. We revised our text considering George Orwell’s six writing rules and followed the advice of Elmore Leonard who said that “when it sounds like writing, rewrite it.”
step 5: Get feedback
Have others read your manuscript to get feedback. These can be peers, beta readers, or professional editors. Our book was fact-checked by two from our team and reviewed by a freelancer for grammar.
step 6: find a publisher
Now find a publisher. Mango, our publisher, has a data team that actively looks for creators who already have an audience and writers who could fill a gap in the market. But there are plenty of publishers that work with independent writers. Research to find the right one for your book and then give them your manuscript to look at. Alternatively you can self-publish —including directly on Amazon, which ships over 300 million books annually and is responsible for over 80% of all e-books sold in the UK.
step 7: refine the manuscript
Once you think you are finally done, you should get a professional editor to refine your manuscript. Editors can help with big picture changes, grammar or style, and do a final proofreading. We were lucky that our publisher gave us editorial guidelines and told us to use the Chicago Manual of Style which defines how to format text since 1906. They also made a legal review to ensure it’s safe to be published.
step 8: design the look
Once the text is set, you have to design the look and the interior of your book. This involves choosing fonts, colors, typesetting, adding chapter headings, page numbers. We also added illustrations, QR codes, and created graphs. Although the most difficult part was putting it all together.
step 9: share a goproof
Before printing, share a goproof with all people who are involved in the publication process. This document ensures that publishers, editors, authors, and designers agree with the final layout, text, and images. The goal of the goproof is to catch any remaining errors before the book is sent for production —we used a piece of software for this. If you publish yourself, this is where you want to get help, because you really don’t want your text to come out all wrong.
step 10: focus on marketing
Once the book is out, focus on marketing so people get to see your work. In other words, you have to go hussle. We tell everyone we know to get their copy of our Unschoolers Educational Dictionary right now! It’s insightful, it’s dark—just check the links below!
wait for the result
If we did everything right and we’re lucky, our book sales spike immediately after the publishing date, drop drastically afterward, and then rise steadily over the coming years—that’s the pattern of a long seller. And while our book will never come close to selling like a true classic we might beat Be Bold With Bananas.
Sources
- Koblin, J. (2024). The Unschooler’s Educational Dictionary: A Lighthearted Introduction to the World of Education and Curriculum-Free Alternatives (Alternative Education). Mango.
- The Unschooler’s Educational Dictionary – Mangopublishinggroup.com
- Rizzo, N. (2023, November 20). Self-published Books & Authors Sales Statistics [2023].
- Orwell, G. (1946) Politics and the English Language.
Dig deeper!
- George Orwell’s six elementary rules: 1: Never use a metaphor, simile or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print (see metaphors). 2: Never use a long word where a short one will do (see short words). 3: If it is possible to cut out a word, always cut it out (see unnecessary words). 4: Never use the passive where you can use the active (see grammar and syntax). 5: Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent (see jargon). 6: Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous (see iconoclasm).
- Learn more about the Chicago Manual of Style
- Buy the Economist Style Guide
Classroom activity
Objective: Students will brainstorm and develop a unique concept for a book, fostering creativity and critical thinking.
Step 1: Engaging Opening (5 minutes)
Begin the lesson with a discussion question: “What is your favorite book and why?” Encourage students to share their thoughts, focusing on what made the book’s concept appealing to them. This will help them understand the importance of a strong concept.
Step 2: Introduction to Concept Development (5 minutes)
Explain that every great book starts with a powerful idea. Share that today’s lesson will focus on developing a unique concept for a book, the crucial first step in the writing process.
Step 3: Video Assignment (10 minutes)
Introduce the class to the video “The 10 Steps to Writing and Publishing a Book.” Ask students to watch the video, paying close attention to the first step: developing a concept. This will set the stage for the activity.
Step 4: Brainstorming Session (10 minutes)
After watching the video, have students brainstorm individually or in pairs. They should come up with three different ideas for a book, considering genres like fiction, non-fiction, or educational. Encourage them to think about what they are passionate about or curious to explore.
Step 5: Concept Selection (5 minutes)
Ask students to choose one of their ideas to develop further. They should write a short paragraph describing their chosen concept, including the main theme, target audience, and what makes it unique.
Step 6: Peer Feedback (10 minutes)
In small groups, have students share their book concepts and provide constructive feedback to each other. This helps them refine their ideas and see different perspectives.
Step 7: Reflection and Next Steps (5 minutes)
Conclude the lesson by asking students to reflect on what they learned about concept development. Encourage them to continue refining their concept as they move forward in the writing process.
Collaborators
- Script: Jonas Koblin and Ludovico Saint Amour di Chanaz
- Artist: Pascal Gaggelli
- Voice: Matt Abbott
- Coloring: Nalin
- Editing: Peera Lertsukittipongsa
- Production: Selina Bador
- Sound Design: Miguel Ojeda
