P30 – Day 5: Mind the Gap
The research is the easiest. The outline is the most fun. ~ Ken Follett
If you did your action task yesterday, right now, you have an amazing tool for creation in your hot little hands by way of your outline. (And you’re probably getting a little excited, too, since you know now where you want to go AND how to get there.)
When we’re a little close to the project we’re creating, though, it’s sometimes easy to overlook things. WE already know them, so we gloss right over basics.
Today, though, look at your outline with different eyes.
Think about it from the perspective of your potential customer.
And you do know who your potential customer is, don’t you? Who you’ll be selling this thing to or giving it away to, or to whom you’ll be putting it in front of? If that answer is anything but an enthusiastic “YES, AND HERE’S TO WHOM…”, then take a few minutes to articulate that first.)
After all, this product — this 30-day project that is about to take up a whole lot of your time — isn’t just for you.
It is, presumably, for your customers or potential customers. It’s meant to give value to someone, help someone do something or learn something, or to entertain and inform someone.
Are you sure you have everything that person would need to get from Point A (not knowing anything) to Point B (being able to do whatever it is that you’re telling them)?
ACTION TASK:
Make a first pass over your outline with the eyes of your potential consumers. Is there anything that comes to mind that you missed?
Once you’ve filled in those holes, it’s time for a little more research.
Zip over to Amazon.com (or to a local bookstore, for that matter), and look at the tables of contents for books with similar topics aimed at your potential customer base.
What are you offering that these resources aren’t? (And can you expand that part?) What are you missing that may be good to add to your own?
Understand, we’re not talking plagiarism here…
You still need to play your own tune and not rip anyone off. But sometimes, looking at what others have done before you can remind you of your own unique take on a topic, which you may have been taking for granted as standard.
Tip: Look for books with “LOOK INSIDE THIS BOOK” above the picture of the cover — you can see the tables of contents for those in most cases, without having to actually buy the book. It can get dangerous, however, since you may find a whole lot of books that you really want to read that way. Your book budget may not ever be the same again.
Today, fill in any holes you find, expand any sections where you’ve gleaned new inspiration, and get that outline up to speed.
TOMORROW:
Hooks aren’t just for fishing…and tomorrow, we’re going to look at our voices, our presentation, and that little something extra that makes a thing completely yours….and plan for it to be there.
Tim and Elli
Foolish Comments