I'm often asked "How would I take an idea and turn it into a WHOLE book!"

Good question.

This is a tool I call the branch system. I use it to create blog articles, to create speaking engagements and even books!

You will use this tool over and over again. Start with a basic thought.

For instance you may want to write about.

"How to choose a dog"

From that thought write 5 short sentences on what you want readers to learn, for instance;

1. Breed of dog - pedigree or rescue dog?
2. How to feed your dog.
3. How to entertain your dog.
4. How to look after your dogs health.
5. How to get your dog to behave.

Then for each sentence, come up with 5 additional sentences, so for instance you may wish to write for Breed of dog;

1. Consider the cost of a pedigree.
2. Consider how pedigree dogs tend to have more health issues and live a shorter life (aaaww that's sad!)
3. How to choose a dog at a rescue centre.
4. What questions to ask a breeder or rescue centre.
5. What will the first actions need to be with your new dog.

Can you see how for each one of these sentences you can write a whole article within a chapter! Look how easy it is to turn 5 sentences into a whole book. You could start with just a paragraph and then when all 5 sentences have been expanded you can then look at expanding on all of those paragraphs - it will also help you appreciate the word count your book will have and the structure that will best suit your book.

The below image shows this in action.

This works equally well turning one thought into a blog article or even a series of articles - good for marketing that book too!

I'm often asked "Mandie I've idea for a book but I don't know if I can come up with enough words to turn it into a book!"

I use the branch system to help coaching clients to overcome this obstacle and it works just as well to create speaking engagements, articles and even a series of articles that all can be used in your marketing of your book (and you!)

Imagine you wanted to write a book about how to choose a dog for your home.

Create 5 sentence about getting a dog. For instance;

1. Breed.
2. Rescue or breeder.
3. How to look after your dog.
4. How to discipline your dog.
5. How to feed your dog.

From those 5 sentences you then write 5 sentences for each category. So for instance category No.1;

1. Pedigree or rescue - pedigree is likely to have more health issues and live a shorter life (aawww, that's sad.)
2. Different breeds have different temperaments and energy levels.
3. What dog will be right for your lifestyle.
4. How to research the right breed for you.
5. How care for your dog can change according to the breed.

From these 5 sentences for each sentence you then create 5 paragraphs. One for each sentence.

Can you see how 19 words become on average 75 words per sentence and then each sentence become a paragraph of around 300 words. That's 7500 words without even trying!

This works really well for speaking engagements too - you are going to want to secure some of those for your book launch so the branch system is a great way to expand on one thought - fast!