Episode Title:

The Smart Publishing Impact Series – Episode 42: Planning a Book (Case Study #1)

Episode Summary:

You’ve heard Renée talk about planning your book before—but what does that actually look like in real time? In this first installment of a brand-new case study series, Renée Lautermilch walks you step-by-step through how to plan a book using a real example. Instead of discussing concepts in theory, she demonstrates the actual thought process behind choosing your book’s purpose, defining your goals, and determining the right structure before you ever write a single chapter.

If you’ve been stuck at the “Where do I even start?” phase, this episode will give you the clarity and framework you need to finally move forward with confidence.

What You’ll Hear:

• Why planning—not writing—is the most important part of creating a book

• How to use “backwards design” to determine your book’s purpose and end goals

• A live case study: turning a personal career journey into a structured book concept

• How your primary goal (speaking, branding, inspiration, revenue, etc.) shapes your structure

• Choosing between story-driven vs. topic-driven organization

• Why your introduction and conclusion matter more than you think

• How to set up your structure for future chapter mapping (coming in the next episode)
  

Quote to Remember:

“The quality of your planning dictates the quality of your book. Don’t rush the part that matters most.”

Mentioned in This Episode:

Renée’s book: The One Hour Author — available on Amazon (Kindle, paperback, hardcover) and Audible

smartpublishingservices.com — blogs, courses, and resources

Connect with Renée on Facebook — she’s the only Renée Lautermilch in the world

Next Week:

Part 2 of the case study series: Renée walks you through mapping out the actual chapters of your book using the structure created in Episode 42.