Amanda Lewis

You’re used to teaching your method in workshops and other facilitated exercises.

The risk is that when you lay it out in a book, the method feels flat. You’re not there to liven up the spaces between the steps, or to directly interact with the participants.

Here are three ways to translate your tried and true process in book form.

1. Step by step (ooh baby*) Break down your process into a series of steps, with actions and exercises for each. The step needs to feel interactive for the reader—they’re doing the work, rather than having you do it for them. Speak directly to the reader—”you”—and insert asides as you would in a workshop. “I know this step feels like a lot of work, but trust me, you will see how necessary it is when we reach step 4. You’ve got this.”
2. Dialogue Walk the reader through the facilitation process by using stories and examples. These stories, including dialogue that shows the participants initially resisting and then understanding the process, will demonstrate the process happening in “real time.” The reader will identify with characters like them who are learning the method, rather than downloading directly from you, the expert.
3. Case studies Pepper your book with case studies to demonstrate how this process has helped individuals, teams, and companies. Give solid data, not just feelings: users increased revenue by X%, and rapidly decreased turnover in a six-month period.

*for all the NKOTB fans in the house.

If you want to work with me to turn your method into a book, reach out…I’d love to hear from you.