Writing an Inspirational Book Based on Your Experience

If you want to write an inspirational story or book based on an experience in your life, here is my formula for capturing content.

First, associate yourself to the experience, (you can do this quickly by just thinking about the experience and putting yourself back in it) focus on what happened and visualize it. If possible, relive it.

Second, ask yourself the questions I have listed below. Think about them and start writing. Just write, write, write. Do not stop to edit, forget about punctuation or structure right now. Just write.

Third, after you have finished writing, stand up and shake it off, especially if it was a painful or frightening experience. Read what you wrote. Make any notes about key points that you want to add in. I usually let my writing “simmer” overnight, and edit the next day.

(1) What Happened?

What happened to you? What did you experience? How did it come about? What was your intention or outcome? What happened instead? Describe the event, what occurred? Describe the experience in as much detail as you feel comfortable and conveys the message to the reader about the experience. Stick to What Happened. What was the environment, your purpose for being where you were, your physical and emotional state before, during and after the event. What was your reaction during the event? Who else was involved? How was it resolved? How did you feel when it was over?

(2) How did it affect you?

What was your reaction after the event? How was your life changed? Personally? Professionally? Physically? Mentally and emotionally? What was different in your life, in your routine, in your relationships? How did your world change? What steps did you take? What did you do differently?

(3) What did you learn from this experience?

What lessons did you learn after the event? How much time has gone by? What have you learned since the event? Would you do anything differently? How are you a better person? What tools, strategies, techniques, steps, books, web sites, resources, groups, coaching, etc., did you use to get through your experience? Where are you now?

(4) What do you want to teach others?

What lessons did you learn? What information do you want to share? What could others learn from your experience? What is your message? What could others learn from your experience? What “technology”, steps, system did you develop that you want to share or teach to others? Name the top 3 things that are the gift of this experience. Write about each one.

This will get you started on creating your content.

Talk to you soon!

Ann