A Guide to Book Content Submission: Exploring Formats, Advantages, and Drawbacks
A good book is properly formatted, and the content is aligned. From a proper introductory chapter to the detailed contents, a good book will act as a guide and be engaging. But the question that arises here is, “How do I submit the content for the book?” This might seem very basic, but it is the foundation step you must accomplish with 100% accuracy. So, once you have the detailed outline of your book ready, the next step is to work on the content.
The basic idea behind this is to organize the raw information into meaningful data. When we say raw content, it is a collection of your ideas and listing them out. This does not mean writing the book by oneself. We at ZebraLearn understand the necessity of this and have listed down the top 3 ways of content submission for you. Through these tested methods, we have seen some great books take shape. So, let us start discussing these methods and their importance.
Why Is Content Submission Important?
Before we explore the different formats of content submission, it is important to look into the need for the same. First, understand that content submission is the basic step toward book writing. It is how you will share your thoughts with the readers. The primary reasons that make content submission important are as follows:
Proper submission allows you to gain clarity of thoughts.
It ensures that the content quality is met as per your standard.
This allows you to work in a structured manner.
Submission will help you to maintain tone, clarity, and consistency.
Following the submission guidelines, you can ensure that books make the maximum impact.
This will avoid all roadblocks and will make the publishing process simpler.
Finally, well-drafted content will increase reader engagement.
Now that you know this, let us start exploring the submission formats.
What Are 3 Formats Of Content Submission?
Content submission is a crucial step, and so is understanding the different formats associated with it. Practically, there are 3 formats of content submission as follows:
Self-Written Content: Where the entire book is written by the author on their own.
Detailed Voice Notes: Where the content is dictated and then written in book format.
Video-Based Narrative: Where video and audio combine to gather information, and then the book is curated based on that.
Now that you know all the 3 content submission methods, let us explore each in detail here.
Format 1# Self-Written Content
The first and most common format of content submission is self-written content. Under this format, the entire book will be written by the author himself. This is the slowest of all the methods but always offers you the highest quality. When you are planning to follow this method, ask these questions yourself:
Can you write consistently and regularly?
Are you sure you can invest the amount of time needed?
Do you have the basic skills needed for writing?
Are you ready to tackle the editing-linked challenges?
Can you handle feedback constructively?
Once you have the answers to these, let us explore the pros and cons of a self-written content submission format.
Advantages of Self-Written Content
When you opt for self-written content as an author, you will gain the following advantages:
1] Control on Quality
This method allows you to have end-to-end control over the quality of the content. You can choose what to describe and how to describe it. You can modify the words, sentences, and other things based on your target audience.
2] Suited for All
Regarding topics or titles, this method is suited for almost all kinds of content. Whether you are writing a fiction book or non-fiction, technical or self-help, you can easily use this method.
3] Easy Guideline Compliance
The selection of the writing guidelines is totally up to you. Since you are writing, you will be better positioned to meet the guidelines. This will reduce friction and will also help you avoid loopholes.
4] Authentic Voice
Writing a book on your own will make it authentic. This will ensure that there is no plagiarism in the content. Mostly, such content will be generated after reading multiple linked data, making your book more impactful.
5] Learning Incorporated
A book is mostly written to share your experiences or thoughts. When you write a book on your own, you can incorporate your experiences and life learnings into it, which will be very useful for the readers.
6] Personal Satisfaction
Writing your book by yourself will give you high personal satisfaction. It is not just a task done but an accomplishment that will keep you happy. Seeing your ideas take shape in front of your eyes is a rewarding experience.
7] Flexibility
Lastly, when you write a book independently, you will gain flexibility on what flow you need to manage. You can work on your timeline, add sections you might feel needed, and ultimately shape it in a way you need.
Disadvantages of Self-Written Content
Like a coin, there is another side to self-written content: its cons. They are:
1] Time Consuming
If you do not have a habit of writing, this method will become lengthy. There is a chance that you might take months to complete your book. This can happen to people who write regularly as well.
2] Blocks on the Way
There is a chance that you might get exhausted while writing. Writer's block is real and can happen to anyone. This will add to the delay in the process of writing the book.
3] Lengthy Research
Now, when writing a book on your own for the first time, you must research if you are stuck. This will be lengthy if you fail to get the right answer on the first go.
4] Hard To Maintain Guideline
You will sometimes find it hard to maintain the tone and guidelines. If this is not followed, your book will lose its very essence and will not be cohesive. While this is an amazing method, there are a few drawbacks associated with it that you should measure during the selection process.
Some Tips For Self-Written Content
Develop a regular writing schedule.
Read today and write tomorrow to avoid plag.
Draft your guidelines well in advance.
Invest adequate time in research.
Make your choice: pen-paper or computer.
Update tone as per reader’s needs.
Add personal experiences where needed.
A budget-friendly option for writing.
Opens the path for upgrades and changes.
Be open to feedback and criticism.
Format 2# Detailed Voice Notes
Under this method, you will submit your content in voice note format. So, you have the book's structure ready, and now you will be recording each chapter to be shared with the writer to work on. Ensure that each of your chapter recordings is for 2-2.5 minutes to deliver the message in depth. So, when you plan to do this, ask yourself these questions:
Do I have a writer available?
Can I articulate my ideas clearly and concisely through speech?
Am I ready to make the final edits in the book?
Do I have time to address the writer’s concerns?
Am I ready to accept deviations in writing format?
Once these are addressed, you can learn the pros and cons.
Advantages of Detailed Voice Notes
Detailed Voice Notes will offer you the following advantages:
1] Better Organized
Under this process, you will share the audio file with the writer. The idea is that the writer will not transcribe, add, or change any content. The writer will just organize your sentences and make them reader-friendly.
2] Quick Process
When you allocate the writing work to an experienced writer, you can complete your book quickly. The draft can be completed in a few weeks; you only need to edit it to get the final look.
3] Easy to Check
Under this method, it is very easy for you to check the content written. All you need to do is hear your notes and match them with the written content, and in no time, you will be ready to complete the editing process.
4] Quality Management
A book with good quality will attract more readers. Hiring an experienced writer will ensure that your tone, guidelines, and quality are met best. This will ensure your message reaches your readers easily.
5] Time Savvy
When someone with experience writes your book, you can take a lot of time. There is no issue with consistency, deadlines are fixed, and deliveries can be tracked.
6] Proper Research
You will need to do all the research work on your own for this particular writing format. Also, with the data recorded at one end and the content written on the other, you can easily scrap information you might not need.
7] Hours of Valued Data
Lastly, recording each chapter will give you hours of valuable data recorded. Say, if your manuscript is 40000 words, then a minimum of 10-12 hours of recording will be available with you. Why is this beneficial? Well, this recording can help you during your book promotions.
Disadvantages of Detailed Voice Notes
While this is one great method, there are a few flaws as well like:
1] Not Suited for Advanced Topics
Even when you select an experienced writer, this method is not suited for advanced topics. Technical or such topics are hard to explain in just notes, and following this method of book writing might not give the required outcome.
2] Costly
As compared to the first one, this is a costly method. You would have to pay the writer's charges and draft an agreement to safeguard your content.
3] Difficult to Comply
At times, there is a chance that the writer will not be able to match the tone you are looking for. This might impact the true essence of your book and can fail to meet the requirements.
4] High Editing
Now, when you follow this method, you must perform a lot of editing. You can expect that around 20% of the content will be edited.
5] Clarity in Voice
When you record the audio, clarity in voice is very important. If your pronunciation is unclear or you fail to add any important aspect, then the content that will be shared with you will not be as per your needs.
Now, you have all the pros and cons listed for you.
Some Tips For Detailed Voice Notes
Outline chapters before recording.
Speak slowly and clearly.
Use high-quality recording equipment.
Expect to rewrite 20% of the content.
Supplement with visual aids if necessary.
Provide clear language and style guidelines to the writer.
Be prepared for iterative reviews and feedback.
Record in a quiet environment to ensure clarity.
Offer comprehensive explanations in your recordings.
Format 3# Video-Based Narrative
This is the last format of content sharing. It is similar to the audio one, but you will also be recording a video. Under this process, you will be required to record the video of the details with the help of some presentation or such content. Now, for this, you would need to ensure that your voice and your presentation are clear so that the intended message is shared. Some questions you need to answer for this are:
Do I have the resources to record the video?
Can I effectively communicate my ideas visually as well as verbally?
Do I understand how to use presentation software to support my narrative?
Am I comfortable being on camera and conveying my message?
How will I ensure the video quality is sufficient for the writer to work with?
Now that you have the answers consider the pros and cons.
Advantages of Video-Based Narrative
The pros of using this method are as follows:
1] Better Information Sharing
This method allows you to share the information in a better manner. You will be creating a presentation and sharing the audio with it. This will share both the visual display of content and the briefing that will simplify writing.
2] Detail Oriented
This format of content submission is quite detailed. The writer will get all the information very descriptively to ensure the output is right. Being detailed and supplemented by printed information, the chances of errors are reduced.
3] Quicker Compliance
When you share the guidelines and tonality needs in a documented format, compliance becomes simpler. This will help you get the quality content that you are looking for.
4] Easy Process
The process of getting content submitted using video is quite simple. You only need a laptop and good software to record video, lighting, and a presentation. Just record the information and share it with the writer to start the writing.
5] Professional Approach
This process is one with a professional touch. You will get all your content written by professional writers who will make it free from grammar issues. Also, the content will be written in the way you need with no changes that will ensure the quality you need.
6] Saves Time
Using a professional writer will save you time. Since the writer possesses years of experience, you can be assured of the quality.
7] Ample Content
When you record and create a presentation, you will get ample raw data for your work. This data can be reused for marketing purposes, creating a sequel book, or any other such content.
Disadvantages of Video-Based Narrative
While this is a great method, there are a few flaws that you should know like:
1] Selective Use
This method of content submission is selective. While it can be used for generic books, some chances of using it for advanced topics can hamper the quality you need.
2] High Editing
When you are using a writer to create an okay for you, the need for editing increases. You can expect to do around 20% of the editing once the content is shared, and this might take some time.
3] Expensive
Getting your book written by anyone else apart from yourself is a costly affair. You would need to pay the charges that could have been eliminated when you write it on your own.
4] Quality Check
To ensure that you meet the quality needs, you need to keep a constant check on the content. In case the quality guidelines are not met, you would need to redo the parts.
Now that you know the pros and cons, let's explore some crucial tips.
Some Tips For Video-Based Narrative
Prioritize content clarity over production value.
Leverage screen sharing for explanations.
Incorporate visual aids in presentations.
Expect to rewrite 20% of the content.
Use a digital pencil for on-screen explanations.
Record in a quiet environment for clear audio.
Utilize OBS Studio or Zoom for recording.
Prepare a detailed structure and index beforehand.
Ensure videos are audible and visible.
Provide ample content for editing flexibility.
Conclusion
To sum it up, when you're deciding on how to create content for your book, you have three main methods. Writing it by yourself offers the best quality and complete control over your words, but it's the slowest. Using audio recordings is quicker but might not be the best for complex subjects. Remember, you might need to revise about 20% of what you record. Video content is a good choice, too, especially if you use PowerPoint slides to help explain your points.
Don't worry about making it look perfect; just focus on sharing your knowledge. Try to create around 10 to 12 hours of content to make sure your book has enough information and depth. Pick the method that fits what you're writing about and how you like to work.
Key Takeaways
Pick the submission method that best suits your book and personal preference.
Writing by yourself offers the most control but takes the most time.
Audio submissions speed up the process but expect to rewrite about 20%.
Video submissions provide clarity through detailed explanations and visuals.
No matter the method, anticipate needing to edit or revise about 20% of the content.
Set clear guidelines for content to ensure quality and consistency.
Aim for 10 to 12 hours of content for ample depth and information.
Use presentation tools like PowerPoint for effective video submissions.
Ensure recordings, whether audio or video, are clear and audible.
Be ready for feedback and revisions to enhance the final manuscript.
