Book Structure Template An easy template to outline your transformational wellness book In a health and wellness book, most people are looking for one of these 2 things: 1. Remove pain: alleviate some kind of suffering or pain, which can include emotional and psychological pain as well as physical. 2. Gain benefits: have more energy, feel happier, look better in a bathing suit, accomplish more, sleep through the night 3. Your book must have an outcome. This book will help you lose up to 10 pounds without needing will-power or starving yourself. 4. Remember what you are really selling: Michelin sells safety, not tires Beer companies sell parties and fun, not beer Nike isn t about footwear as much as motivation What are YOU really selling in your book? Use the so.that. method I m selling freedom from back pain so that you can run, jump and dance to your heart s content. I m selling balanced hormones so that.you can have all-day energy for your family and your work. Book Structure Template WellnessInk.com 1
Sections of the book Introduction Roughly 3-10 pages Part 1: Your WHY for the reader -WIIFM Why should they read this book? Remember that many people buy books and only read the introduction. Your introduction has to SELL people on reading the rest of your book. This means you have to focus on the BENEFITS of reading your whole book. WIIFM -Everyone is tuned to the radio station, What s in it for ME? Keep your readers in mind at all times, and keep asking yourself, What benefits am I offering that will make them keep reading? Here is some guidance on how to do that: 1. State the problem. 2. State how your book will help people solve that problem. 3. Describe what s in the book. Address these questions briefly; just an overview. Don t go into the details yet. You will go into this in more depth later. (Answer the questions that best relate to the problem you address): 1. Why is this condition a problem? 2. How prevalent is this problem? 3. What impact does this problem have on individuals, families, society? (eg: people can t work, lose jobs) 4. How serious is this problem if not treated? Book Structure Template WellnessInk.com 2
5. Who is likely to be suffering most? 6. What is the current approach? 7. Why is that not working? 8. Why are the solutions in this book different? 9. How will they help the reader? 4. Describe briefly anything extra you will include, such as case studies, illustrations, etc. *It s fine to use bullet points when needed. Part 2: Why I wrote this book This could be your hero s story about 2-5 pages. You, or a family member, suffered from this health crisis (the problem you are writing about). You tried everything, from mainstream medicine to alternatives. Nothing worked. -describe in detail what you tried, and your results. Then you discovered this one method/solution that changed everything. Your solution not only relieved the symptoms, but brought you renewed health, energy, and vitality. Tips: Use lots of emotional language. Paint a picture of how you felt before. Don t just say you were tired. Describe how you couldn t pick up your child or grandchild, or got winded walking up a few stairs. Use imagery. >>You now have so much more energy that you get out of bed an hour earlier, and even forget to drink the coffee you once needed to get going. >>Your joints no longer ache when you button your shirt or bend over to pick up your shoes. Yes, but will this work for me? is the most frequent question you will hear. Book Structure Template WellnessInk.com 3
Paint a picture of how this solution will work for your reader. You have to sell your solution (not your product) by assuring your readers it will work for them. If you don t have a hero s story You can still explain why you wrote the book based on your clinical experience, how you help your patients or clients, etc Part 3: Briefly describe the best way to use the book, whether it s reading it through completely, or jumping to the steps you need, or writing down their progress each day Part 1: Education Chapters 1-3 (or more): Discuss the problem This is the educational portion of your book. You are educating people about the problem they have, and why it s important that they read about your solutions. Step 1: List your main topics List the main topics related to this problem. Each topic will be a chapter. You might have 3 or more chapters focused on the problem. *Don t worry about the number of chapters for now. If you find you have too much content in one chapter, you can divide it into 2 chapters. If you don t have enough, you can collapse 2 or more chapters into one. For example, in discussing the problems of back pain you might include a chapter on each of these topics: 1. What causes back pain? 2. Who gets back pain? 3. What are the different kinds of back pain, or symptoms of back pain? 4. What are the current treatments 5. Why are the current treatments not working? Step 2: Write questions for each topic Book Structure Template WellnessInk.com 4
Take one chapter at a time. Write down all the questions your reader would ask you about that topic. Tips: 1. Start with WH questions: Who, what, when, where, why, how 2. If you re having trouble coming up with the questions because you know the topic too well, ask a friend or relative what questions they have. 3. Have a conversation with a patient, or someone suffering from that problem. They will have plenty of questions for you! Otherwise, choose someone who is not an expert in that topic, but may have an interest in learning more. 4. Use this awesome resource to find questions about your topic. (You will have more than enough questions for any book!) http://answerthepublic.com/#about-us 5. Quora: Go to www.quora.com. Type in a question, and look on the right side for related questions. You ll get lots of great ideas. Step 3: Answer the questions Write the answer to each question in detailed notes to guide you in your writing or recording. Step 4: Write or record Use this outline for your writing, or do your recording of this section now, while it s fresh in your mind. Part 2: The Solution As many chapters as you need: Your solution! *This could be your 7 steps to.30 days to.3 step method to 8 ways to 4 weeks to week by week step by step The easiest way to frame this in your mind is a step-by-step process. After all, your readers are looking for solutions to a health problem, and you can solve more problems by going step-by-step than by tackling the whole thing at once. Book Structure Template WellnessInk.com 5
Tip: You don t have to call your book 7 steps to (your topic), or 30 days to although it does help sell books. But you can still think of it in this format to make it easier for you. Step 1: Decide on your steps Decide on the 5, 7 or 10 steps, stages, days, weeks, etc they need to take to achieve the goal, or timeline. In 8 Weeks to Vibrant Health, Dr. Hyla Cass has these 8 steps, one per week: Week 1: Begin your journey Week 2: Self-evaluation Week 3: Diagnostic health tests Week 4: Make your plans Week 5: Balance your diet Week 6: Detoxify your body Week 7: Exercise & self-care Week 8: Evaluate where you are and where you re going In Prime, by Dr. Kulreet Chaudhary, she divides her process into 4 stages: Stage 1: Activate a biochemical shift Stage 2: Crush cravings (no willpower required) Stage 3: Ignite energy and fat Stage 4: Biohack your lifestyle habits Use any method that feels right. Step 2: Explain the steps Go chapter by chapter, and explain the steps. List everything your readers need to know about this topic in detail, so they can complete that milestone. Make the notes as detailed as you need, so you can write or talk about them easily. Tip: On Amazon.com, use the look inside feature to check out the ToC of books on your topic. Look at their chapter headings, and use them as inspiration. Step 3: Write or record Book Structure Template WellnessInk.com 6
Write each section, or record the sections and send them to the transcription company. That s it for the main portion of your book! Conclusion Tools Resources Menus Recipes Sources (of studies) Index Optional sections at the end: Book Structure Template WellnessInk.com 7