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Turning Your Speech Into A Book
by Alyice Edrich
 

Most speakers want to become published authors, but don't know where to start; after all, their speakers, not writers, right? Nothing could be further from the truth. All great speeches start with an idea. That idea then finds its way to paper to be memorized and spoken in front of a crowd. All great books also start with an idea and make their way to paper. But instead of being spoken to large crowds, they are read by crowds of thousands.

When asked what prevents a speaker from writing his or her first book, the answer is often a resounding: "I don't know where to start." That's no different than an author saying to himself, "I have an idea, but I don t know where to begin."

With speakers their main obstacle is getting past the idea that they are no longer speaking to an audience face-to-face. Therefore, how can they take what they know and organize those thoughts into something that is not only readable, but comprehensive?

While it is true that speaking differs from books, it isn't difficult to take a speech and turn it into a book when you know where to start.
 
The first thing you, as a speaker, should do is to take all your speeches, on the same subject, and line them up on your desk (or kitchen table) by chronological order. Once your speeches are in chronological order, it's time to do a quick glance over each speech. The idea is to pretend that the person you are speaking to is new to your subject and will need you to take him/her by the hand. As you read from one speech to the next what do you find missing? Is there a speech you could write to fill the gap between paper A and paper B? If so, write that speech.
 
Once you've written enough speeches to flow from point A to point B it's time to begin the process of turning those speeches into books. It's time to add meat, or content, so that you begin forming a book.

Give each speech a chapter title. In the same chronological order, retype or paste your speeches into Microsoft Word. This now becomes the basis (as it's more than an outline) for your book.

Go back to speech one, which is now Chapter 1. As you glance over your document, say a prayer for God's wisdom over your work. Ask the Lord to help you find clarity in what you write and to turn your words from speech to book format.

Take a deep breath, and trust your instincts. As you read over each one of your speeches, begin filling in the missing pieces. Add content to anything that could make your chapter clearer for the reader who knows nothing about your subject. Add statistics, examples from your business life, humor, and above all, don't hold back the knowledge that is within you.

Once you've done this with each speech (chapter) let your book sit for a day or so while you find experts to quote. Once you get your quotes, go back to your book and insert the quotes in the appropriate spots.

In a matter of 45 days you will have your very first book.

Happy writing!

Copyright © 2004 Alyice Edrich

Alyice Edrich is the author of several work-from-home e-books, including one that allows parents to earn $50 in two hours without joining an MLM or home party business. She is also the editor of The Dabbling Mum.com a national publication for BUSY parents.