write a book - Writing a Joint Venture Book With Several Authors

Becoming an author doesn't get much easier than writing a book with multiple authors. After all, you don't have to write much. You simply have to write one chapter, pick some great co-authors, and put everything together in a way that makes sense. Yet at the same time, you want to be sure the book boosts your own expert status and influence.

You've seen multi-author books before. The Chicken Soup series is probably the most widely known examples. But your book need not be 3 inches thick with dozens of co-authors. You can assemble a great book with a handful of collaborators and still participate in your typical busy life.

Before I show you how to write a book with multiple authors, here are some innovative examples of this joint venture book in action.

Sarah is a hypnotherapists specializing in hypnosis for weight loss. She wants to write a book that includes articles (chapters) about various aspects of living a healthy life. So she decides what message she wants to deliver with her book, sets up a table of contents, and asks experts in related disciplines to contribute a chapter.

Here is how her book comes together.

One chapter comes from a massage therapist who writes about stress relief. Another chapter comes from a personal trainer who talks about developing a love for vitality. Other chapters are about biofeedback, acupuncture, mindset and fashion.

having a plan makes things easy. She writes her own chapter and collects material from 10 or 12 other professionals in related fields. She decides to write an introduction for all the chapters.

And at the end of the book, she invites the reader to accept a special gift from each of the authors. All they have to do is visit a particular page on her website.

All the co-authors have a book of which they can be proud. And it is likely to sell well because every author is promoting it in the media and in their business. If the authors already refer people to each other, this will only strengthen their influence.

The possibilities are endless. This can work with both brick-and mortar businesses and service or consultation providers.

Wedding planner + photographer + florist + dress shop owner + interior decorator + relationship expert + insurance agent + others who serve newlyweds.

Life coach + marathon runner + retired athlete + counselor + herbalist + hair stylist + image consultant + others who add to a book about feeling great at any age.

Camera shop owner + photographer + scrapbooking teacher + genealogist + craft store owner + storyteller creating a book about preserving family memories. Your imagination is the only limit.

How to create a compilation book

Step 1: Goal

First, start with the goal of the book. What is the "take-away" for the reader that you want to create? What is the deadline for receiving everyone's article and for completing the book?

Step 2: Outline

Then, create your outline or flow for the book. Put the elements together so you know what you need. Decide a chapter length you want from each participant. Remember to have them include a page with their bio.

Step 3: Experts

Next, decide who else you need. You may already have people in mind. Fill the slots with people who will write a good chapter and who have a business or following so that they help promote the book.

Step 4: Writing

This is obvious. Everyone creates their chapter within the guidelines you set and turns it back to you.

Step 5: Assemble

Gather the chapters. Get a couple meticulous editors or proofreaders to go through everything.

Now you have a multi-author book that establishes you as an expert. You also have several other people promoting the book. Everybody wins!