20 Ways To Write Your Book (That Don't Look Like Writing)
A friend recently asked me what I learned from my own book launch about marketing.
My answer? The same lesson I took from Alex Hormozi’s record-breaking launch this summer:
👉 Make as many friends as you can, and save as much money as you can, while you can.
When I turned my attention to launching my book, suddenly opportunities to promote my book were everywhere. But most of them came with a hefty price tag – and by then, it was too late to start saving. All I could do was manage the spending.
The truth is, money and relationships take years to build. You can’t whip them up overnight. If I could go back to when my book idea was first born a decade ago, I’d tell my younger self: start saving now – even a little here and there – for the day you’ll need it most.
This is why Alex Hormozi’s launch struck me. He sold over 2.7 million copies in 24 hours, generating more than $81 million in revenue. Impressive, but not surprising. As co-founder of Acquisition.com and host of The Game podcast, Alex is a master of business and marketing strategy.
Here’s what stood out for me: He reportedly spent over $4 million on ads before launch day – testing messaging, visuals, and offers to perfection. Then he leveraged his massive organic audience (built over years of giving out free, valuable content), affiliate partnerships, and a meticulously planned event packed with live streams, bonuses, and incentives.
Alex's launch wasn’t really about book sales. Even Alex would admit the book was an opportunity to get more press, more brand awareness, and more customers for the products and services that do make him money.
And that’s the lesson for the rest of us:
💡 Invest in relationships. Have a long game strategy. And when the time comes – invest boldly in your book marketing if you want your reach and impact to grow.
PS: Alex Hormozi had years of strategy behind his launch. That’s the edge I give my authors too: I help you play the long game – shaping your book, your publishing path, and your marketing strategy so it all works together and pays off when it matters most. Book your discovery call here and let's talk strategy.
20 Ways To Write Your Book (That Don't Look Like Writing)
I wasn't posting much on social media this summer while I was on break, but one thing I had fun doing was charting all the things I do as I begin wrangling my next book, that don't actually look like writing.
Here are 20 ways I write my books, to help you get in flow and make some magic happen for your next book.
1. In the shade, at the pool, while your daughter wraps up her swim class.
2. In your car, pulled into your driveway, as you jot down all the ideas you had on the way over driving to your favourite songs.
3. Blog posts, social media posts, keynotes, slides, dump them into your manuscript to splice and dice and contextual and massage later. It may require a heavier edit but it’s still writing.
4. Creating a Spotify playlist to get you in the mood and in flow.
5. Making a Pinterest board to add fuel to the fantasies and make manifest.
6. On walks, runs, stopping every few minutes to tap ideas on to your phone to expand on your computer later.
7. Talking it out.
8. Talking to yourself.
9. Writing ANYTHING.
10. LIVING
11. Looking UP. (I do this, A LOT.)
12. Plotting it out. (Drafting up beat sheets and beat cards.)
13. Choosing a writing tool with metrics that work for you (minutes/hours or pages/word counts).
14. Noticing those moments like the woman in the red dress in The Matrix that stick out, that are cues, signals and bread crumbs for your book.
15. Writing your query letter and synopsis first and reverse engineering your book from there later. (Currently doing this myself.)
16. Entering a writing contest. (Also just did this, as a stretch.)
17. Lying on the couch, staring at the ceiling, dreaming.
18. Acting it out.
19. Living it out and living into it.
20. LISTENING.
PS: Did you know my book, Again, Only More Like You, is available now through Audible? Click here to get your copy from one of your favourite booksellers, to read this book club favourite about reinvention, resilience, and friendship.