Turn Your Blog Posts into a Book in 5 Easy Steps!

     After several years of blogging, my interest and ability to maintain a current and regularly updated blog had decreased, and I was ready to move on to other projects and goals. But I was disappointed that all of the work that existed on those pages would disappear as new platforms are developed and readers seek out and read information in different formats. What's a writer to do? 

     Whether you are ready to close the window on your blog or are ready to take it to the next level, a book is the perfect avenue to help you create a portfolio of your best work.

In these five easy steps, I will outline how I turned my past blog posts into an e-book that successfully archives my exclusive content and makes it available to new readers.

1.  Review

Take a scroll back through all of your blog posts, from the very beginning until your most recent. Do you notice a theme that is cohesive through several of your entries? Is there a topic that you routinely address? Have you offered unique or helpful information in regards to a particular activity, lifestyle, or skill? Make note of these consistencies and determine which subject matter could be most easily combined.

2.  Collect & Organize

After deciding which posts share similar content and could be grouped together, begin collecting these into a single electronic file that will enable you to easily make changes. Organize these posts into an order that makes sense to a new reader. Perhaps this is in the same order in which you originally posted this information on your blog. If not, move the the text around until you are comfortable with the flow of material. Likely, each post will represent a chapter in your book.

3.  Assess

Now that you have organized the posts that you want to include in your book, evaluate the content and determine what information or area of the subject is missing and begin filling in the blanks. Is there more knowledge you can share? Can you elaborate on the material to aid the reader in benefiting from your content? Does the first post serve as an introduction? Does the final entry work as a strong conclusion? Add omitted details, instructions or tips to form a cohesive transition between each chapter.

4.  Polish

Your text is now combined into one file. Next, begin to edit your writing and polish the overall appearance of your content. Can you add photographs or personal artwork to accompany your material? Try highlighting important text that reflects your message or add direct quotes to enhance your expertise on the subject.

5. Publish

An e-book is essential to readers in today's digital media world. However, you may choose to have printed copies of your book published as well, depending on the quality of your material. Amazon makes self-publishing straightforward and attainable for everyone, but you may decide another outlet is best for your work. A simple internet search can lead you to the best platform to upload your finished product and with a little effort, your book will be uploaded and ready for download and distribution.

Congratulate yourself on being a published author and don't forget to share your new book with your blog readers who have followed along with you on your journey!

Download my e-book Book Club Savvy: A Resource Guide for Creating an Engaging and Successful Reading Group @ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MYEPB6C.

Follow Book Club Savvy on facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/bookclubsavvy/.

Happy Reading!

Rebecca

5 Reading Habits You Should Break Now

Our habits can make or break us. Reading is an excellent habit and one you should nourish. But how and what we read can impact our experience. Here are five habits that you should start breaking in order to achieve serenity the next time you curl up with a book.

1. Don't fall prey to hype

     Reading a particular book, just because everyone you know is reading it, can be a waste of your time. If a particular genre isn't to your liking, you are not going to enjoy the book regardless of how popular it has become. This often occurs when a movie version of the book is about to be released and chatter increases about the original format. Select books that appeal to you, and relish the joy of reading something that inspires and encourages your passions and goals.

2. Don't finish a bad book

     Yep, you read that correctly. It's OK to stop reading at 2, 10, even 20 chapters into a book. You may be one of those readers that pressures themselves to complete the entire book no matter how slow and uninteresting you find the material. It has to get better by the next chapter. I was once that type of reader also, but after starting numerous books that failed to pique my interest, I changed my habit. And guess what? It didn't make me a bad reader. I now have the confidence to read what I enjoy and pass on the books that I didn't finish to someone who might find them compelling.

3. Don't judge a book by its cover

     We have all heard this age-old adage, right? I have a confession. I am guilty of buying a book because of the beautiful image on the cover...only to discover that the content did not relate to the artwork and the subject matter did not appeal to me in the least. By reading more electronic books in which I never see the book jacket or cover art, I've realized how persuasive an image can be to our book selection process. Read a summary or review but let your imagination create the images that accompany the words.

4. Don't play pretend

     Have you ever been at an event, dinner party or gathering when a certain book takes the stage of discussion and you have never heard of it? So you pretend that you loved it and rave about the excellent writing in order to fit in with crowd. Then, someone asks a direct question about a character or passage and the jig is up with your blank stare and instant panic. Acknowledge the topics, genres and writing that you prefer and let your passion for these subjects rise to the surface. Your honesty and confidence will leave an impression far greater than your mimicry.

5. Don't compete with others

     There are countless reading challenges circling the web and social media outlets that can often create competition with readers on the number of books completed within a week, month, or year. These challenges are unrealistic for most readers in that they require excessive amounts of time. Setting a goal to read regularly is a great idea, but getting sucked into a commitment that doesn't work for your schedule will only create stress. And reading should be fun! Writers create stories to be savored and enjoyed. In order to obtain the most out of the reading, you must go at your own pace. This might be drastically slower than those that you connect with about books. Set time aside for reading that is easily incorporated into your day to sit and absorb the words, creating a full experience.

Rebecca L. Morgan is the author of Book Club Savvy: A Resource Guide for Creating an Engaging and Successful Reading Group.

Not All Book Clubs Are Created Equal

    

     Have you ever finished a book that stirred so many emotions in you that you were compelled to tell everyone you came into contact with that they must read it? A week passes. Then a month. And still no one has approached you about this amazing story, leaving you no choice but to reflect on it in solitude.

     Whether you love to read or you’re simply looking for more social interaction with like-minded individuals, a book club can be an ideal platform. Reading groups provide a unique forum for readers to express their love of books, thoughts, and reactions with others.

 

     However, not all book clubs are created equal. Creating and participating in a reading group requires a time commitment not only for completing the selected book but for organizing and planning a meeting that members are enthusiastic to attend, keeping them coming back each month.

     In Book Club Savvy: A Resource Guide for Creating an Engaging and Successful Reading Group, you will discover the steps needed for forming an effective book club that is both engaging and successful. After years of researching book clubs, I created this e-book to offer strategies to help ensure that your group flourishes and continues to share the joy of reading for years to come!

For Book Club Tips and additional resources, follow Book Club Savvy on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/bookclubsavvy/.

Happy Reading!
Rebecca