Step 6: How to Actually Write/Type Your Mini Book

Chapter 5 of the Mini Book Straitjacket (Day 6 of the Mini Book Challenge)

(This is a Chapter of my upcoming book Mini Book Straitjacket: How to Finish Your Non-Fiction Draft in 7 Days or Less and a lesson in the Mini Book Straitjacket Course)

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Step 5: Write to Connect the Dots

The next step in the Mini Book Straitjacket is to connect the dots of your outline… some people call this writing.

You'll use the 3 Course Meal Writing Framework (AKA 1-3-1) which is made up of 3 different sections.

• Appetizer (1x Hook/Opening Sentence)

• Main Course (3x Sentence Paragraph)

• Dessert (1x Concluding Sentence)

You will use this cadence for your entire mini book to connect the dots of your outline so you never have to guess what your next sentence should be about.

The structure for each chapter goes like this.

• Chapter Opening (1x Meal)

• Point 1 Opening (1x Meal)

  • Sub-point 1 (2x Meals)

  • Sub-point 2 (2x Meals)

  • Sub-point 3 (2x Meals)

• Point 2 Opening (1x Meal)

  • Sub-point 1 (2x Meals)

  • Sub-point 2 (2x Meals)

  • Sub-point 3 (2x Meals)

• Point 3 Opening (1x Meal)

  • Sub-point 1 (2x Meals)

  • Sub-point 2 (2x Meals)

  • Sub-point 3 (2x Meals)

Now let’s look at how to write each section of the 3 Course Meals.

Appetizer

The first sentence is your hook.

Every good copywriter and marketing knows you must pull the reader down the page. Your opening sentence is how you get someone interested enough to begin reading a section of your text. We must do the same thing.

Once someone reads your heading, we want them to keep reading after the first sentence.

Make Someone Interested

You often get or lose a date with your first words.

People call these pickup lines. Depending on how you approach your reader can either turn them away from your text, or keep them consuming your text looking for gold. Don't worry, each hook doesn't have to be knocked out of the part, but you'll want to make sure you don't lose the reader.

It'll either set you up for success or failure.

I call this first sentence the appetizer.

It's job is to make someone interested, excited, or intrigued. Whether it is a strong, bold statement or a question that demands someone read to get the answer, you must drive their interest. There are different ways that you can do this.

The key with all samples with food or writing is to get someone to take that first bite.

Sample

"Would you like to try these chicken dumplings today?"

At COSCO or Sam's, we've all seen the free samples. Our typical response is, "Heck yeah!" You weren't even thinking about chicken dumplings at the store, but now it's all you can think about.

Your opening appetizer can include a sample of whats to come in the next section.

I opened up the section on Appetizers with "The first sentence is your hook."

You had a really good idea what another bite was going to taste like, but you kept reading. Just chop off some of your best thoughts and use it to open up your 3 Course Meal and you'll have people waiting for the next course. Samples are always popular.

Whether they are in store or in a book.

Compliments Meal

Ever tried juggling flaming torches while riding a unicycle on a tightrope?

Don't do what I just did, click bait. That isn't what I'm talking about. I mean hooks that compliment the meal you are about to deliver.

But flaming torches while riding a unicycle on a tightrope is easier than trying to write a book without a good structure! (See what I did there?)

Your appetizing shouldn't be a hawaiin in flavor if your serving Italian.

Make sure the feeling and contents align with what you are going to serve. Otherwise your good content may not feel right even if it could change your readers life. The entire 3 Course Meal must be cohesive.

It all starts with a good Appetizer or the reader may leave before the main dish arrives.

Main Course

The main course is the heart of your 3-course meal.

Just as a main dish provides the bulk of a dining experience, your main content should deliver the essential information. Think of it as serving the core message with rich, detailed content that truly nourishes the reader's mind. This is where the real substance of your writing lies.

Get ready to dish out the main event with impactful and engaging content.

3 Sentences

The main course has three sentences.

Like most main courses have a meat and two sides, our primary content of a section is made up of three things. This is where you'll deliver the bulk of your content. You'll want to make sure that whatever you teased you'd communicate in your appetizer is delivered in these three sentences.

Serve up solid substance and satisfy your reader's appetite.

Each sentence in your main course must pull its weight.

The first sentence should introduce the core idea, setting the stage for what's to come. The second sentence expands on this idea, providing necessary details and context. The third sentence should tie it all together, reinforcing the point and leading seamlessly into the conclusion. This balanced approach ensures your readers are fully satisfied with the heart of your content.

Alternative Formats

There are exceptions to the format I've laid out above. Not everything has to be 1-3-1 in ever point and every chapter. While this should be your default format you can still maintain a strict framework like this, but offer variety to you and the reader. Adjusting the structure as needed for different content can keep the writing fresh and engaging, preventing it from becoming monotonous.

Flexibility within your framework keeps your writing dynamic and engaging.

You can replace the 3 main course sentences with any number of things.

• Bullet points

• Frameworks

• Steps

• Lists

• Stats

• etc.

This section is an example with an opening sentence, bullets for the main course, and this concluding sentence for dessert.

Dessert

Every good meal ends with a sweet note, and so does your 3 Course Meal.

The concluding sentence of the 1-3-1 is dessert. It should provide a satisfying closure to your content. These finishing lines should wrap up the substance part of the meal without making them feel overfed.

Leave them with a taste that makes them eager for the next course.

Make It Sweet

"I'll be back."

The ultimate walk off movie line. Your concluding sentences should make someone want you to come back but satisfied with the ending of the section. Leave them with a taste that makes them eager for the next course.

End on a high note that resonates and keeps them hooked.

Like dessert there shouldn't be a lot of it.

These sentences should be short. Don't so rich that they can't finish it. Finish strong while making them wish there was more.

Because there will be in the next meal.

You might be sitting here hating the concept of writing a 3 Course Meal for each point of your book.

I'd challenge you to writ eyour first draft this way and if you want to expand the content afterwards, do that in editing. I believe that a tight book like this will keep your reader interested and most importantly help you get your book done. Embrace the process and see how it transforms your writing.

The more you practice, the more natural it will become.

ACtion Step: Write Your First 3 Course Meal

My challenge to you is to write a single 3 Course Meal for the first part of your book.

Use the first outline point and write your first 5 sentences including an,

• Appetizer (1x Sentence

• Main Course (3x Sentences)

• Dessert (1x Sentence)

Then email Chris@Chris-Stanley.com or posting in the Mini Book Master Community that you've started writing your book!

Free Download (Available for Premium Subscribers)

I've got the No Brainer Mini Book Draft Templates that include all the chapters, points, sub-points, and even the 3 Courses Meals already laid out for you.

All you do is download and replace the points with your outline.

Then you'll know exactly what you need to write where and your book will be completely formatted already.

AVAILABLE FOR PREMIUM MEMBERS BELOW THIS LINE.

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