The first draft is done. What’s next?

I’ve finished posting excerpts from the first draft of my book, The Sales Funnel Bible. (Click here to start reading The Sales Funnel Bible at chapter 1).

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading them as much as I have enjoyed writing them! The discipline of trying to write regularly (every day or just about) was really the key in helping me push through to achieve critical mass. I highly recommend writing your book like this. (Confession: There were a few times when I “cheated” a bit and published a couple chapters on one day. Hey, the in-laws were here so I couldn’t sneak out to the office).

So what’s next? Here’s what’s on the docket to finish up this book:

  • Rearrange the chapters. For the most part, I was quite happy with the order of the chapters but there are a couple of places where I’m thinking that I want to re-order the chapters.
  • Finish the chapters. Each chapter posted on this blog is just an excerpt — in most cases only about one-third to one-half of the actual chapter. I need to finish writing them. I know what I plan to say for almost each chapter, I just have to hammer out the words.
  • Fill in the gaps. I feel like there are gaps between what I say and what I need to say. A couple of times, big sections of concepts are missing, as if I finished one chapter, made a giant leap over an idea, and then started another chapter. I need to review the book to make sure that each chapter follows logically and “passes the baton” from one chapter cleanly into the next.
  • Add the other stuff. I’ve got notes for an introduction and for an appendix. I need to finish those.
  • And editing. Of course.
  • Fix the title. I’ve only recently noticed a problem with the title. I sometimes call the book “The Sales Funnel Bible” and I sometimes call the book “Sales Funnel Bible”. I need to get that unified, although that’s not a huge deal right now.
  • Work on a cover. A book needs a cover.

As someone who has written several books before (but those other books were all for clients), I can tell you that these are pretty easy and fast to do overall but there are times when it gets really arduous. Especially the gap-filling and the editing. But I’m so close to being done so I’m anxious to press on!

Published by Aaron Hoos

Aaron Hoos is a writer, strategist, and investor who builds and optimizes profitable sales funnels. He is the author of The Sales Funnel Bible and other books.

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