Why I love helping people to write and self-publish their business book

They say you should design a business around things that you love, and that's easy for me: books, reading, learning, and coaching in all its forms.

When I decided to set up Emmer Publishing, I knew that I wanted to work with entrepreneurs, business owners, and coaches who had a message they wanted to get out to their customers. Having been self-employed for more than 20 years and involved in the online business world for most of that time, I was aware of the power of a well-crafted book to generate significant ROI for people's businesses.

But I had also witnessed several of my business friends getting tied up in knots writing their book. Stopping and starting, losing confidence, unsure of what to write, and then finally, being overwhelmed by the self-publishing process. Often, it would take them a couple of years to get their book out into the world, and I was sure there would be a better way to do this.

Then, about two years ago, a business friend asked me if I would help her to self-publish her children's book, and I loved the process. Despite being a well-respected Marketing Specialist with her own agency, Lisa knew nothing about how to get her book into print and was floundering. Seeing her joy at holding a copy of the book she had lovingly written made my day and we recently brought her second book to life too.

"When I decided to publish my book, I had absolutely no idea where to start! I had a Word document with my initial manuscript, but no knowledge of the publishing industry or how to turn it into an actual book. That's where Danielle came in. Danielle was brilliant at keeping everything moving, gently chasing me when I needed it (which was often!) and being a real advocate throughout. She made what initially felt like a completely overwhelming process seem genuinely achievable."

I knew that I wanted my business colleagues to feel this too. Gathering together my knowledge and experience of the book and Learning and Development world, I designed a 3-step system to accommodate each stage of the self-publishing journey

The Spark – for when someone has a vague idea, needs a structure, and wants to go away with a plan for writing

• Identifying what the book should be about, drawing out key messages and being clear on the problem it will solve for your reader
• Creating the plan for the book, what subjects to cover, what order
• Giving a brief overview of next steps

The Sprint – for someone who wants to get the book written and needs accountability and support to get it done

• A more detailed look at the purpose of the book for you and your clients' goals
• Creation of the timeline for writing, publication, and accountability check-ins
• In depth plan for the book so that you know what to write, how many words for each section, and additional things to put it in to capture your readers
• 1:1 book coaching support to keep you on track
• A well written, first draft manuscript produced in 12 weeks.

The Book Launch – for someone with a good first draft who is now ready for the polish and publication of their book

• Bringing in the specialists to edit, proofread, design, and format your print and e-book
• Dedicated Project Manager to work alongside you and keep everything on track
• 1:1 support to show you how to properly list and upload your title to KDP so that you can manage this and any future books yourself
• Providing print and e-book files so that you can control and self-publish your book wherever you want to.

In case it's not obvious, I believe that self-publishing is, in most cases, the best route for business owners and their books. That's why I spend quite a lot of time talking to you about what you hope to achieve with your book, how you will utilise it, your timescales, and where to use your money most effectively to put a physical copy into your hands. If my services are not right for you, I will tell you.

You can learn more about the different ways to publish your book here.

Want to know more? Drop me a message and I'd love to hear your ideas. Or sign up for the Emmer Edit and begin the road to getting your book written and published.