How To Write An Interview Book That Makes You Look Like A Genius

One of the simplest methods for how to write a book is to interview experts and assemble the book. And as easy as this is to do right, it's eveneasier to "mess up." Discover how to create an interview book in a way that it brings people back to YOU and your business.

The idea of an interview book is slap your forehead simple. Simply record interviews with experts or industry leaders and turn those interviews into chapters of your book.

I've seen successful interview books that are worth reading. Others are boring, useless, and plain old unmemorable. So before you dash off to chat up experts, take a breath and find out how to avoid the most common big mistakes authors of interview books tend to make.

Big mistake #1: No goal other than to slap a book together

Don't just decide that you ought to write a book and a series of conversations sounds easy. You need to create something of value that people want to read or there's no point writing the book. So determine a specific outcome for the reader. What's in it for them?

Big Mistake #2: having no idea how the book will be of value both to you and your reader

If you fail to plan, you can plan to fail. You want to create a book worth reading. You want to be sure your book says something different.

Big Mistake #3: Poor choice of experts

You can't just interview someone simply because they "do the right thing" or have the right kind of business. If you do, you're likely to have a hard time putting together a book people want to read.

Big Mistake #4: Failing to create a list of interviews

You can't just turn on a voice recorder and have your interviewee start talking. You either need a set of questions you ask every expert or a specific set designed to bring out the brilliance of the specific person you're interviewing.

Big Mistake #5: No message or reader outcome for the book

You'll very likely have a book nobody wants to read if you leave too much to chance. Don't just start recording conversations. Guide the content so the message of your book shines through.

Big Mistake #6: Leaving everything to the interviewees.

I don't know why, but people who write this type of book tend to just turn transcripts into chapters and add nothing at all to them. If you do this, you're not positioning yourself as the expert and not adding to your own reputation. Now that I've thoroughly rained on your parade, let me show you how to create an interview book that truly establishes YOU as an industry leader worth heeding.

How to Write the Interview Book

Step 1: Formulate the flow (or outline or table of contents) of the book. Decide what you want each chapter to say based on your intended outcome. Your book is not at the whim of your interviewees. It's up to you to shape it.

Step 2: Select the experts that correspond to your chapters. Once you know what needs to be in your book, contact the best industry leaders who fit this profile. It's important to choose your experts well. Select them because they have a unique spin, a specialty, a strong story or some other element that adds to the benefit of your book.

Step 3: Create your list of questions that you'll ask everybody. This will give you an overall structure for each interview that will create a book that makes good sense to the reader. Leave room for 2 or 3 that are specific to each interviewee so you cam showcase their brilliance.

Step 4: Once you have your list of interviewees, set up your schedule and get busy. Add. 2-3 specialized questions you will ask your experts based on what you know about them in particular. Be sure to make 2 recordings so you have a backup.

Step 5: Assemble your book Make transcripts of the interviews, but for goodness sake, I hope you'll do more than clean up the transcripts and publish. Why not add some of your own personality and expertise to each chapter? You could simply add an introduction and a conclusion with some of your own thoughts.

ONce you work through each step, you have a stand-out interview book that brings out your brilliance, not just your experts'. You can be proud of this book, because it will boost your reputation AND your business.