Author: Dan Janal
Book Link
Publisher: TCKPublishing

I typically read writing process books as a matter of interest. While I treat writing as a meditative act more than anything, there’s always something to learn from an author who has been in the trenches.

Lately, I’ve strayed away from the genre as it’s flooded with garbage. A few authors with one or two books under their belt who lay claim to a brilliant writing process.

In reality, it’s usually just one re-hashed idea and a lot of fluff.

When I was pitched to do this review, it sparked my interest as this was a book already in publication. Usually a solicitation for reviews happens as a way to generate interest for the release, but a currently published work from an award-winning journalist with several books?

I’m in!

First, the description is entirely accurate for its intended audience:
This is the perfect book to read if you are a thought leader, entrepreneur or business executive who wants to write a business book to build your personal brand, open doors to new opportunities, and leave a legacy of wisdom to future generations.

I would even extend to anyone looking to write a non-fiction book because the process Janal details is so incredibly useful, it takes the guesswork out of writing. And yes, there are some gems for the fiction writer.

This really is a step-by-step, paint-by-numbers guide to putting a book together, writing it and doing it in a way that leads to its own marketing. On top of which, it was also fun to read.

By the end, I was floored with the amount of notes I took for my own personal benefit. Each chapter was detailed with plenty of examples, important tips and exercises for you to complete. For me, the chapters on framing your message and research were brilliant.

The one area I found to be the biggest pearls were his side-tangent comments: use the tool you find easiest to use, not even a ninth draft of a book is perfect (at some point, you need to let it go) and the biggest of all: if you can’t find at least five minutes in your day to write, don’t write a book — hire a ghostwriter.

Needless to say, the next time I decide to write up another non-fiction book, I’ll be better prepared.

Even though the title is an eye-rolling marketing gimmicky one, it delivers.