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Workday Playdate · Yesterday · 30 min

375: How to Write and Publish Your First Book

You've had a book idea in your notes app for years. In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin explains how she wrote her Amazon bestseller I See You: A Leader’s Guide to Energizing Your Team through Radical Empathy, shares what she learned going hybrid publishing, and what she's learning now as she pursues a traditional deal for book number two. She breaks down how to write and publish your first book & how self-publishing, hybrid publishing, and traditional publishing compare on cost, timeline and control. Inside the Episode: Learn the game first. Understand the publishing landscape and how to write a book proposal before you write a word. Every route costs money. Self-publishing is cheapest upfront (about 6–8 months). Hybrid is roughly $15–20K and 11–14 months. Traditional offers an advance but takes a year or more, and you still fund most of the marketing. Build your platform now. Agents and publishers look at your audience, newsletter and podcast. Choose your team like a scene partner. Hire a real editor and designer, and pick an agent who believes in your work. A book is a portal, not a product. Its value is the stages, credibility and legacy it opens. The DRAFT framework: Develop your knowledge, Route your path, Assemble your team, Fund the mission, Take it to the world. Links Mentioned in the Episode Gabby Bernstein’s Bestseller Masterclass Greenleaf Publishing Connect with Erin Diehl x improve it! For workshops and keynotes: improve it!’s website Erin’s website Erin’s Instagram Erin’s TikTok Erin’s LinkedIn improve it!’s Instagram Connect with Erin Diehl 🌟 Learn more about Workday Playdate: https://www.learntoimproveit.com/podcast-page 🎤 Book Erin to speak: https://www.learntoimproveit.com/keynote-speaker 📚 Workshops & Team Experiences: https://www.learntoimproveit.com/experiential-training 💌 Learn more about Erin: https://www.itserindiehl.com/meet-erin 📱 For more information on improve it! visit www.learntoimproveit.com. Loved this episode? If this conversation made you think differently about work, leadership, or building joyful teams, please follow Workday Playdate on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who could use more play in their workday.

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You've had a book idea in your notes app for years. In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin explains how she wrote her Amazon bestseller I See You: A Leader’s Guide to Energizing Your Team through Radical Empathy, shares what she learned going hybrid publishing, and what she's learning now as she pursues a traditional deal for book number two.  

She breaks down how to write and publish your first book & how self-publishing, hybrid publishing, and traditional publishing compare on cost, timeline and control. 

Inside the Episode:  

  • Learn the game first. Understand the publishing landscape and how to write a book proposal before you write a word. 
  • Every route costs money. Self-publishing is cheapest upfront (about 6–8 months). Hybrid is roughly $15–20K and 11–14 months. Traditional offers an advance but takes a year or more, and you still fund most of the marketing. 
  • Build your platform now. Agents and publishers look at your audience, newsletter and podcast. 
  • Choose your team like a scene partner. Hire a real editor and designer, and pick an agent who believes in your work. 
  • A book is a portal, not a product. Its value is the stages, credibility and legacy it opens. 
  • The DRAFT framework: Develop your knowledge, Route your path, Assemble your team, Fund the mission, Take it to the world.  

Links Mentioned in the Episode 

Connect with Erin Diehl x improve it! 

Connect with Erin Diehl

🌟 Learn more about Workday Playdate: https://www.learntoimproveit.com/podcast-page
🎤 Book Erin to speak: https://www.learntoimproveit.com/keynote-speaker
📚 Workshops & Team Experiences: https://www.learntoimproveit.com/experiential-training
💌 Learn more about Erin: https://www.itserindiehl.com/meet-erin
📱 For more information on improve it! visit www.learntoimproveit.com.

Loved this episode?

If this conversation made you think differently about work, leadership, or building joyful teams, please follow Workday Playdate on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who could use more play in their workday.

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