How to Compile an Information Product for Sale on the ‘Net

When you’re selling information products on the Internet, customers usually expect an instant download of the product unless they’re otherwise notified up front.  Of course some courses in the information product realm consist of a box of DVDs or audio files that are manually shipped to the customer.

If your information product isn’t tangible, then you’ll need to know how to compile it for your customers so that they can instantly access the files and use them at their leisure.

The one thing you have to be careful about when creating and compile information products for online sales is that people are wary of downloading files from others they don’t know.  They trust that you’re not going to send them a virus, so make sure you have software installed to protect your computer so that you don’t infect other people unknowingly. Read more

Let’s Setup An Outline! by Cindy Rushton

Outlining is the key to a smooth flow and thorough manuscript. Your outline will work alongside of your notebook to help you to organize your material and guide the writing process. Want a helpful guide? A balanced manuscript? Well-developed material? Try Outlining now!

* Decide on your topic/theme/book subject.

* Brainstorm all that could be included in your book—try creating a mind-map, making a list of what you want to cover, or jotting down chapters or sections of your book. If other thoughts come to mind, write them down as fast as possible. Keep jotting down ideas as they come. Do not censor your thoughts. That is for later!

* Look back over your ideas. Choose your subtopics (your chapters/sections of your book). These should support your main topic/theme.

* Under each subtopic, go back and fit in any points to be covered (in each chapter/section). The more ideas under each section, the better your details (although that is not necessary) Your details will become your paragraphs and sentences in your chapters.

* You are ready to write!

Writing to See Writers Reach Their Dreams…
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http://www.Writers-Nook.com

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Check out our NEW Audio Seminar and Membership Site!
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Let’s Create a Mind-Map! by Cindy Rushton

A mind-map is a fun and easy way to brainstorm ideas of what you want to cover in your book and to develop your topic so you include everything that is on your heart! It is a great technique for getting what you know or what you should share in your book on paper. It is a great way to get rid of that Writer’s Block and get going! Give it a try…

* Carry a notebook with you just for brainstorming/mindmapping.
* Draw a circle in the middle of a piece of paper. Inside of that circle, write down your topic.
* Without censoring yourself, quickly jot down related ideas and thoughts that come to mind. Enclose each in a circle, and draw a line to the original topic. If those trigger ideas, jot those down attached to the idea that triggers those extra ideas.
* Go back through deciding what you will use in your story/outline. Use ideas to generate your subtopics and details covered in your books.
* Keep your mind-map. You may need extra ideas later!

Stuck in a Rut??? Get a Vision! by Cindy Rushton

“Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may RUN that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it: because it will surely come, it will not tarry.” Habakkuk 2:2

Ever heard of “Writer’s Block?” Ever HAD “Writer’s Block?” Boy, do I relate!

Ever get in a rut? You are NOT alone!

So, what do you do when your brain shuts down and your fingers are stuck? Let me qive you a few quick tips that just might get your fingers going again!

A while back I was finishing up one of my newest books, Homemade Books! YES! You CAN Be a Writer Too! One frustrating thing happened to me during the early stages of that particular book.

Now, get a quick background…I have written over 80 books, Bible studies, and packets. I have authored 1,000’s of articles. You would think that “writer’s block” and “writing ruts” would not be an issue for me any more. Well, actually, it never has been much of a problem. However, as I was in the early stages of writing HMBOOKS, I battled with “writer’s block” as never before. When writing about my passion—writing books—I was drawing a complete blank. Does something seem wrong here? I thought so myself!

I took the whole matter to the Lord. It was a heart-cry before Him. I knew that there was something great going to result from this struggle.

My brain remained completely blank in spite of my huge notebooks full of great outlines and material that I had collected through the years. My brain was totally empty and my fingers frozen although I had taught workshops on how to create books with children for years! UGH! My answer did not seem to come fast enough!

Well, until…

Yes! Isn’t God always SO faithful? Ohhh, YES!

I was sitting before my notes. Completely blank. Paralyzed. Then, the Lord spoke to my heart through His Word. Everything made sense! I could see what was hindering my progress!

Want to know what on earth it was? Experiencing some of that “Writer’s Block” in spite of a million ideas? Well, this is going to be good! Take a look at Habakkuk 2:2…

“Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may RUN that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it: because it will surely come, it will not tarry.”

There it is! The cure for those shut-downs! Vision!

This book was the very first book that I had ever found myself sitting at my desk thumping my pencil…staring out into space…and closing my computer with nothing new added to the file. Imagine that, when all along my answer was right in the pages of my Bible! All other projects just fell into an outline and flowed from my computer. I could see a complete vision of where I was going before I even got started. This particular book was different—and there was a reason!

My block was not because of my lack ideas and planning for the book. I had pages and pages of my outlines and ideas in my notebook. It was not because of a lack of interest and enthusiasm. There is nothing in the world more fun and exciting for me to talk about than books! J My “writer’s block” was not due to inexperience. I had written so many books of my own, plus I had helped my own children and other children to produce books for years. I definitely had experience. I knew the process of writing inside out. So, what was it all about?

For the first time, I struggled. I had so many ideas, so much information. What I needed was to take all of it and get a vision!

Then, it clicked! It was not even a “vision thing” with this book. I knew what I wanted in the book. I knew the set up because I had already found natural divisions for the book in my notebooks and workshops. I was having this dilemma for a very specific reason. I was taking so much of what it really takes to produce books for granted. We have produced so many books that it has become second nature to me. I just “DO” so many little things without thinking much about it. God wanted for me to slow down and remember those little things that make a BIG difference!

This one tip is one of those BIGGIES! It makes a world of difference when we are working on a project. We simply must get a vision of what the book or article is to become or we are completely crippled from the onset of the project. So whether you are needing the next step in producing a homemade book or article…or you are stuck with “writer’s block,” let me take your hand and walk you through this important part of the process!

Brainstorm! Brainstorm! Brainstorm!

Want to get out of that rut? Maybe all that is needed is an afternoon to settle down with a cup of tea to brainstorm! Now, you MUST know that I brainstorm as a recreational THING! It is refreshing for me! Just give me a few minutes…a journal and pen…and an idea. It almost consumes me! Relate? BUT…still need to know how to make your writing great by brainstorming? It is easy! Brainstorm everything that could or should be written about that topic in your journal. Brainstorming is what gets your brain going! Brainstorming is essential to pull together and organize all of those ideas that may be floating in your brain. It sorts through ideas and thoughts to pull them together for your outline and text. Get out your Idea Notebook and a piece of paper. Let’s brainstorm!

o First, let’s work on a topic that is driving you crazy. No excuses! Let’s hit that topic! Ready? Write down YOUR topic on a piece of paper in your Idea Notebook.

o Next, let’s brainstorm what you know about this topic. If you are compiling a cookbook, brainstorm the sections in your cookbook—what sections do you want to include? What recipes would you like to add to your cookbook? What details and information would need to be added to your book? What about an article on a special interest? Say, Tips for Making Meals Special. What natural paragraphs/points would you want to include? What information is most important to you? Jot it all down. Let your brain freely list and brainstorm. Don’t worry about whether you have lots to say or even if there is too much to say about any one thought, just write what comes to mind down.

o Now, brainstorm what you think NEEDS to be known about the topic…
Are there steps to cover? Are there dates and events that need more details? Can you list tips? What about brainstorming through the “Five W’s”—who, what, why, where, and when? If you are brainstorming for a story you are writing, think through all that you feel or sense—what do you “see” in your setting? What do you smell? What do you taste? What sounds do you hear? Brainstorm each character and what it is like to be around them. Brainstorm about each setting in your story. Include those details! They will take your reader deeper into your story.

o Let your mind go!
The more you brainstorm, the deeper and better developed your book will be. You may not use every idea, but you may uncover a very important part of your book. Keep this section of your notebook going. You will need this for reference while you write.

o Keep brainstorming!
It is very important to keep in mind that you do not have to stop brainstorming because you move on with the writing process. Keep this section of your notebook going. You will need this for reference while you write. You will need to continue to brainstorm until the book goes into print—and even after that, if you want a second edition of your book! Brainstorming will develop your book and your ideas. It will jog your brain, bringing out ideas thatwill make the book perfect. (More on Brainstorming in another post in the near future! )

Outlining…

I took for granted how much my brain just “thinks” in outlines until a dear friend (fellow writer) told me about her struggles with Outlining. School lessons never made any sense. The outlines that she prepared in school did not mean anything, so they did not train her to “see” a text in the form of an outline or to “think” and “brainstorm” her ideas by using an outline. This is just FUN for me. Please do not get sick yet!

Outlines are the “skeleton” of your articles and your books. They help to organize all of the material into a format that makes the book great. They help us to see how our text will flow. Outlines provide the framework for your project and guide the writing process. The outline is the structure the moves the story or text toward the vision of the book or article.

Once you have decided on your topic, brainstormed what you would like to cover, the outline will make the final (well, nothing is ever completely final!) decisions of what will go in the book and the order that it will be included in the book. Then, the last part…

Filling the Gaps and Putting It All Together…

If you have stuck with me and worked on the earlier steps, this is going to be the really fun part! This is where you will add in the details and information that you want for your reader to learn. This is what really makes your book or article completely unique. So, how?

o Check for any gaps and holes.
Are all of the steps included? Are the little bits of information included? Have you listed all of the supplies? Check for gaps and holes. Fill in details. Develop your message.

o Teach what you know with the details in your text.
Write it! It may be little things. For example, when Matthew was writing his book, Fearless Warriors: A Chronological History of the US Marines, there were certain terms that he was very familiar with from his extensive reading and research about the Marines. I had never come in contact with those terms used in those ways. Not understanding what those terms meant in their context hindered my understanding of his book. As we began editing, I asked him what those words meant. He could explain those terms very well. That was my key to recommend that he include his explanation in his text. Then, the text was perfect! No holes! Check to fill any gaps in the text. Remember, the author is the expert in their field and the reader wants to learn what the author knows!

o Monitor to stay on topic and not chase rabbits. All of this said, this is also an important point! We want to develop our points, but not stray from our points chasing rabbits. All along the process monitor to be sure that the text stays on target.

o Constantly evaluate your outline to be sure that it has a good flow. If there are places that are choppy, either develop the idea or cut it—that is the hard part! Hard, but a key to a strong manuscript.

o Organize the final outline…you are ready to write!

So, is your “Writer’s Block” better yet? Running again? Left that rut far behind! Try these ideas and see if it doesn’t get much, much better! This is the hardest part! Now, you are ready to write! Or…to dig deeper with me….

Writing to See Writers Reach Their Dreams…
Check out my NEW site just for writers!
http://www.Writers-Nook.com

So…You Want to be a Writer???
Check out our NEW Audio Seminar and Membership Site!
Sign up and get STEP-BY-STEP Help through Setting Up Your Own Wordpress Website!
http://www.Writers-Nook.com/onlineseminars.html

Easy Ebooks and CD’s by Cindy Rushton

Intrigued by Ebooks? Want to create your book on CD? We can help you here too! Whether you already have a book that you want to transfer into a digital format or you simply prefer for your book to be published in this format first, you will find Ebooks and books on CD to be EASY to make!

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