I am currently documenting the process of writing my next book. It's a behind-the-scenes look at the beautiful, messy adventure of transforming my short-form writing (emails, social media posts, random notes) into a cohesive, compelling manuscript. If you've ever wondered if you could turn your own short pieces into a full-length book, join my newsletter so you can watch and learn.
The Thrill of Writing
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Reader,
Yeah, about that ... In the poll, I asked y'all to help me choose one of three options:
Turn Your Content into a Book - a guide for writers who want to collect their short-form writing (blogs, emails, social media posts) and turn them into a book
How to Identify Your Comps - a guide for writers who know they need a list of comps (aka comparative titles) but aren't sure how to come up with a robust list
How to Outline Your Nonfiction Book - a guide for writers who desperately want a roadmap so they can finally write their nonfiction book
It was close race. "Turn Your Content into a Book" and "How to Outline Your Nonfiction Book" were neck-and-neck for most of the polling period. In the end, the first option squeaked ahead. I've been slowly working away on it over the last two months. My seasonal delay has turned out to be an unexpected gift. While I took notes and reviewed past projects, I realized this guide would benefit from more showing and less telling. It's one thing to offer a checklist and say, "Have fun!" It's whole 'nother deal to share the blood, sweat, toil, and tears it takes to put that checklist into practice. I've been writing this newsletter since November 2022. It's had a few different names and chased various themes. But somewhere along the way, I found a groove. I discovered that I like writing about writing. Especially when I can draw from unexpected influences. And especially when I can turn a prescriptive topic into a reflective essay that prompts more questions than it answers. During this time, my material has come from a myriad of inspirations: Working with clients as an editor/collaborative writer/coach. Opportunities to lead writing classes and workshops. My own creative writing. The point is this: I've been writing in public for long enough to amass a respectable pile of pages. So, I'm taking this "Turn Your Content into a Book" project as an opportunity to do two things:
Today is July 27, 2026. My goal is to deliver a polished draft—something worthy of beta reader feedback—by November 30. That's about four months, a timeline that feels both attainable and daunting. I have a lot of content already drafted for this book. But as I know from lots of personal experience, such content is rarely ready to go as is. There are a host of questions I need to dive into:
Going forward, I'll be answering these and other questions in real time. Week by week, you'll get a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to produce a book. If all goes well, you can have that book in your hands by Spring 2027. I'm nervously excited about this. As much as I believe in Austin Kleon's Show Your Work mantra, I feel the risk in this project. A lot of people talk about writing books. A much smaller amount put pen to paper and start writing. And an even smaller number actually cross the finish line. Just because I've helped others doesn't mean I'm guaranteed to finish my own. But you know what? That element of risk is part of the thrill of writing. I honestly wouldn't want it any other way. Thanks for helping me find my way to this project. I hope you stick around for the ride. I'm looking forward to your feedback and questions along the way. And hey, if you know someone else who might want to learn how to turn their short-form writing into a book, tell them to grab some popcorn and join the viewing party. As always, keep your stick on the ice. Frank Ewert |
The Thrill of Writing
I am currently documenting the process of writing my next book. It's a behind-the-scenes look at the beautiful, messy adventure of transforming my short-form writing (emails, social media posts, random notes) into a cohesive, compelling manuscript. If you've ever wondered if you could turn your own short pieces into a full-length book, join my newsletter so you can watch and learn.
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