Book Writing Process
How my book wrote me
I wrote a book.
“You wrote a book?”
I handed a limited edition, signed, early copy of my first book, a very personal book, a work of art, to a lovely lady in my life. She was over the moon. The look on her face is the reason I came.
I give everyone I like a free copy. They fucking love it.
I find gifting book copies exceptionally fun and rewarding. You get more by giving, they say. Very few times in a modern person’s life are they gifted anything made by the gifter. It’s rare to receive a book from the author, especially a book that’s actually pretty good.
I worked on every part of the book. I learned skills that I didn’t think I’d learn. I met people I didn’t think I’d meet. I made the book, and just as much, the book made me.
The value of writing and sharing is incomprehensible.
So too is the value of creation.
Right now, I’m working on a book with one of my writing coaching clients,
. I wouldn’t have the confidence or competence for it, had I not jumped in the deep end and figured out the process for myself.I’m working as the person I wish I had, and the person I want to be. If I could spawn one more adult in this world, which I can, it’s a person who has some goddamn answers. The way to answers is questions and quests.
In winter 2023 I launched the All Outcomes book project, and in spring 2024 I wrote in my notes:
When I started writing this book, I was convinced this is not the best time to be alive. As I wrap up this project and press publish, I know that it is.
And that brings tears to my eyes.
In my quest to write a book worth reading, I created a life worth living. A self worth being.
A sequel to All Outcomes Are Acceptable is emerging of its own accord, tentatively called, Keep Going. Another collection of entertaining stories and banger insights that accelerate readers to true wealth. A life you actually want to live.
The Process
Publishing a book is easy. Writing a book that people finish reading is hard. I mean, hell, writing a paragraph people want to read is hard. Don’t get me started on a blog post. Writing a book people want to read all of is more or less writing 25-50 amazing essays, finding the thread, weaving it all together, and applying packaging.
I’m glad I didn’t know the amount of work ahead of me when I started out.
In the beginning, I was bad at writing. My spark was far from a fire. And I had no idea what I was doing.
I opened a blank google doc and started writing whatever came up. It was a conversation with a kid hitting a vape pen. We talked about addiction. It was clear I was talking to myself. Then flowed a semi-accurate story about me visiting my grandfather in a nursing home. I didn’t include this chapter in the final version, but it set the tone for the amount of creativity and freedom that followed.
My spark, style, and creativity was, and a still is, inspired by the authors I read. I had just read Mike Ma, whose first book was so real, so absurd, so ridiculous, that I thought, I could do that. I want to do that.
Then I picked up Jed McKenna’s Spiritually Incorrect Enlightenment. I fell in love. I looked forward to climbing into bed to read that book.
These writers sparked my mind to actually try, in a way that didn’t feel like work. It can be hard to get going and keep going by yourself. In the beginning, more than anyone else, I was writing to those two guys. I wanted to do for them and others what thy did for me.
How I wrote my first book, and how my first book wrote me
One sentence at a time. One chapter at a time. One late night, early morning session at a time.
When I started writing, I was experiencing an emotionally tumultuos time. It felt very unlikely that I could write a book. I didn’t even know what it would be about. But I got the feeling I was pregnant with a book, and it wanted to come out, so I went into labor.
All my thoughts, all my shitty experiences in shitty jobs, all my insights, all my lonely moments, all my complaints and emotional instability, all suddenly became useful.
It gave my life meaning. Anything that happened, anything I saw or did, could be content for the book. Wherever I was, I could work on it. I started milking my brain for flows of thoughts. At work, at my house, at a restaurant by myself.
Initially, I was afraid I would quit. I kept myself going by tracking my number of words written across my docs. 45,000 was the magic number. That would mean I’d written around 150 pages. That would be a book.
I did not have an audience. All I had was
, who I met at a random dinner in college. He wrote The Pathless Path, a book that people actually like.“How much should I share as I write?” I asked Paul.
“More than you think,” he said.
I started sporadically posting potential book chapters on my Substack. I settled into a weekly publishing rhythm and recruited a small audience. My initial subscribers were IRL friends and people I met on Zoom calls through my online communities: Pathless Path, Other Life, and Ness Labs. Sharing to a small audience provided a tight feedback loop. I could see what resonated with readers.
The fear of quitting diminished as it became obvious that I was born for this, and people actually like my writing.
Five months in, I got my first paid sub and that gave me energy to keep going. She liked my sci-fi story so much that she subscribed for $50. I thought, Well, I guess I’ll do more of that. This led to a series of stories in the book that take place in the future, embedded among personal stories in the present. Like Slaughterhouse Five, which I read as I wrote the final third of the book. Traveling and reading Vonnegut was perfect fuel to finish the bulk of the writing.
Brilliant writing inspires me to respond with equivalent brilliance. And travel, especially international, gets the creative juicies flowing.
A book is never finished, only abandoned. Just like a self.
Perhaps the biggest thing my first book project did for me was develop my online community. It got me writing and sharing.
This mission of creation helped me gain meaningful relationships.
I wanted people to read my writing and help me get better. So I shared it with people. And through that, I made friends. Like Devin,
, , and my editor, Kim. And so many more.I did stuff for the book. I went to a Wim Hof retreat where I met an ultra-marathoner and froze my nuts off in 37 degree water. I flew to Montana for a Jordan Jonas survival expedition, where I ate a rattlesnake in the Selway-Bitterroot wilderness. And I even lived with an Amish family who brought me in their horse and buggy to buy raw milk.
I created the lore of my life, wrote it into my brain, and shared it with the world.
Reading can soothe a mind, writing can create a mind.
A big thing I learned from writing All Outcomes is this: what focuses the mind is love, survival, and delusions of grandeur.
The book was my delusion of grandeur. I was going to join the ranks of the authors who inspired me. I was going to be discovered. Finally, the world would know my greatness.
I’m laughing right now. Writing is so much fun.
It worked. It fucking worked. Did I get rich from writing? Yes. I won true wealth.
Better health, better work, and better relationships.
I know how much I have to give, and I’m excited to give it.
Right now has always been the best time to be alive.
The Pragmatic ‘How-to’
This the first how-to I’ve ever written. It’s one way to write and publish a book
TLDR:
Write your book in MS Word, Google Docs, or something else. Ideally MS Word because you can format the book there. Just start writing. An outline can inform the writing, and emergent writing will inform the outline.
Share drafts chapters on Substack or elsewhere as you go to see what resonates, get feedback, grow your audience, and hold yourself accountable.
Work with at least one person who is good at writing and editing. This could be a line editor, writing coach, developmental editor, or all three. Pay for quality. I found my person on Upwork after trying five people with free trials.
Put all the best chapters into one document and send your first book draft to Kindle. You can email files to your @kindle email. (You don’t need a Kindle device to read on Kindle.) Read, highlight, and take notes in your e-book. Update your manuscript with changes and repeat.
Shuffle around the chapter order in a table of contents spreadsheet and/or print them out.
In MS Word, or another book formatting tool like Vellum, set the page size and margins to whatever you prefer.
Calculate the paperback dimensions with the KDP cover calculator and use those dimensions to make a placeholder wraparound cover in Canva. Video tutorial here.
Set up a Kindle Direct Publishing account and upload the manuscript and cover to KDP and order a paperback proof copy. It’s $1 plus 2 cents per page.
Read your paperback book with a pen in hand. Update the manuscript/cover/formatting (again) and order another proof copy. Repeat this as needed.
Share the book with beta readers and well-chosen editors to make the book even better. Read the book out loud. Make more updates.
For the print version, buy ISBNs and a barcode from Bowker. (Those bastards have a monopoly on ISBNs)
Collaborate with a freelancer, or two, to format the final version and create the final book cover. (Everything can be updated even after you publish)
Enter your bank details into KDP, upload the manuscript and PDF cover, set the price, and click “publish”. Make changes as necessary.
Share the link, gift copies, ask for reviews. Start the next book.
The final step in the book writing process is read the reviews. I hesitated for months. Even though all fourteen were five stars. Receiving compliments doesn’t come easy for me. It’s amazing, to hear that someone read all of the book and wrote a review. I really appreciate it. It makes me breathe deeper. Some of the people who wrote reviews were people I don’t even know, which is wild. I smile.
Cover Evolution
I will write and share a Part 2 with more pro-tips on book writing, formatting, and distribution.
Thanks for reading, and have a great rest of your day.
Music:
Things I like:
Writing coaching. I’m working 1 on 1 with writers. It’s honeslty been so fun. We write through conversation and I provide input, guidance, and accountability for every step of the process. Very blessed to have met my current clients. I have capacity to take on one more this winter. See details and testimonials, and contact me to apply.
My first book, All Outcomes Are Acceptable, is on Amazon. It’s about true wealth, AI drones, Amish people, and the wilderness. Readers are loving it.
The Pathless Path is my favorite online community.
Open gym for writers on Wednesdays.
My favorite startup is CrowdHealth. They created a large group of the healthiest people in America crowdfunding pregnancy, injury, and illness healthcare bills. They also match members with the best cash-pay healthcare providers. I’ve been a member for three years. Highly recommend. See if you qualify to join.
My publication is free to read. I hope you become a paid subscriber. With your support, I will become one of the greatest writers in the world.
Tip jar: Click here to support my work with a one-time tip that I will use to buy duck eggs from a local family with ducks.
Bonus Photos
May be your best post ever. FYI I just started writing a book this past week
You sure make the process seem fun. I'm about to begin my first attempt at a book after writing a lot of poetry. We'll see how it goes!