A Quiz about Writing

By Yvonne DiVita - Sep 15 , 2007

Do You Have The Right Answers to These Questions?

Before putting pen to paper or fingers to keyboard, ask yourself the following six questions (if you can answer them not only quickly, but effectively, you may get on that coveted “published author” list you’re so dying to be on):

Here we go:

1. What is the real topic of my book?
   Don’t tell me (or your editor or agent) you’re writing a gardening book, or a parenting book, or a book on blogging. Tell me you’re writing a book on suburban gardens in the Southeast, or a parenting book for single-sex households, or a book on blogging for fun and profit. Be specific. Drill down and get to the real niche. If your book is too broad – I’ll be yawning before you get the introduction written.
2. Am I the best person to write this book?
   Your editor and/or agent is asking themselves that question because the publisher will ask it, and the answer had better be—Absolutely! Not only are you the best person to write your book because you’re the smartest person in your area of expertise, but you’re dedicated to getting the word out. And you’re not afraid of working long hours over many months to accomplish that task.
3. Who is going to read my book?
   Another version of this question is: Who cares? If you can’t identify your audience – your specific audience – your editor will send you away with a wave of her hand. Your audience has the power to make you or break you. Without them, the book becomes a paperweight. With them, it becomes a voice of authority. Your voice of authority. So, who, exactly, is going to read your book? (Tip: Your mother doesn’t count)
4. Do I really have the time to write a book?
   A book takes effort. No matter how well you know your subject, nor how eager you are to see your words in print, it takes months, sometimes years, to write a book. While you’re writing the book, you usually have to keep your day job. And, you usually have to continue being a Mom, or a Dad, or a best friend, wife, husband, son, or daughter—in other words, you will continue to have a life beyond your book. You can’t be the proverbial starving author and go hide in a dank, dark attic for a year, churning out content like drops of blood from your fingertips. You have to make the time to write, in-between all those other things you usually do. Can you do it?
5. How time-sensitive is this content?
   This relates to Question #4—because if you’re writing truly time-sensitive material, it needs to get done ASAP! You can’t drop the ball in chapter four, with six more chapters waiting to be done. Your editor/agent will want a time commitment from you – and your publisher, should you be fortunate enough to have one (traditional or Print on Demand), will want to know when you plan on being done, so they can begin their promotional work well in advance. (Tip: What promotional work they plan on usually isn’t very much, unless you’re a celebrity, well-known politician, or established author…see Q#6.)
6. How am I going to get the word out?
   This is vital. Publishers will not take on your book if you cannot contribute, and contribute substantially, to the marketing. Who do you know that can offer a testimonial? Who might be willing to write a foreword? Do you have a platform (a method) to reach your audience? The majority of marketing will be on your shoulders. Think about it before you write, because if you wait until afterwards, it will be too late.

How did you do? You can’t get by with a 70% on this quiz. Even an 80% puts you in the “doubtful of publication” column. Strive for 100%, and then you can consider writing that book.

Be aware that these six questions are just the beginning. Oh yes, there are many, many more questions to come – more quizzing and questioning that will impact your writing success.

So stay tuned . . . .