On this bonus episode, I share two ways you can use your recordings to frame your book. More at www.bemovingforward.com.
Moving Forward is also available on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher Radio, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon Music.
Option 1: Transcription
As we covered last week and with Alissa Carpenter on yesterday’s episode, one way you can write your book is by talking it out and recording it. You can use something as simple as your phone’s memo recorder or a simple recording app and record your first draft.
From there, you can get transcriptions of those recordings. Alissa Carpenter mentioned this technique yesterday and many authors use it to create first drafts of their books from their audio content.
If you decide to go this route, I don’t recommend transcribing them yourself. It’s too tedious and time consuming, especially if you have a bunch of audio files.
Instead, outsource the work. You can find freelancers on Fiverr and Upwork or use a service like Rev.
From there, you will have a ready-made rough draft that you can use for your second draft.
Option 2: Reference for your outline
Option 1 is a common practice for many authors but it’s not the only way you can use audio files. Talking out your first draft can help you get a handle on the story and jog memories on details you may have forgotten.
For each conversation, focus on a narrow topic. Record the conversation if both parties are comfortable with that and label it accordingly as a reference.
Next, organize these according to a natural flow, grouping together some and moving others around to form an outline.
Put the recorded files into a shared cloud or online storage system such as Google Drive so both can access them when needed. From there, formulate an outline.
Once you have an outline, use that as the framework to write out the next draft. Keep the recordings as reference points but you probably don't need to go back to them often since they're likely fresh in your memories.
Homework:
Continue working on your first draft. If you’re using the recording option or a hybrid, consider whether you want to use a transcription or summary of the recordings. Or, if you’re like me, you may simply use talking and recording as a way to flesh out the story. Remember, the goal of the first draft is to get your ideas out so you can start shaping them into what will become your book.
[NOTE: the books mentioned in this episode and in the book writing series are out of print. I am leaving these episodes mostly as is and strictly for informational and instructional purposes only. I have retracted my story from the book discussed in this episode and its sequel with full reservation of my copyright. For more, check out episode 388.]
Scrivener
Scrivener (available for Mac, Win, IOS) is a book writing program that auto formats for self-publishing on Amazon’s KDP and other platforms. It’s a great tool with rich features that allow co-writers to collaborate through Dropbox. Scrivener has a bit of a learning curve but I’ve been a fan since 2017 and have talked to many authors who use it as their go-to. If you’re interested in Scrivener, you can use the coupon code MOVINGFORWARD to get 20% off your purchase (for Mac or Win). It’s a one-time license fee and available for Mac, Win, IOS.
Note: this section contains affiliate links and coupon codes for which the author may receive some compensation.
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