plan a book, represented by a woman looking at a whiteboard

How much should you plan a health book?

How much should a health book be planned in advance of the writing?

Is it OK to begin writing with just an idea and see where it takes you? Or is it better to carefully map out the sequence of arguments, stats, studies, and case histories to make sure they are properly aligned?

In other words, which approach is best?

    • Freedom to write, unrestrained by a plan
    • A detailed plan, with no freedom to deviate in the writing
    • A mix of writing freedom and plan

All three approaches have their merits and drawbacks. Each can succeed gloriously or fail miserably, depending on you (the author) and your book.

Let’s see how, and why.

Plan a Health Book: No Plan, Writing Freedom

The very first positive-thinking book I wrote began with an idea. In truth, it was less than an idea—more of a notion based on an observation and a story.

My co-author and father, Arnold Fox, M.D., had spent years treating patients suffering from heart disease, diabetes, and other serious ailments. Throughout the 1960s and ’70s and into the early 1980s, he noticed that patients who had positive attitudes seemed to fare better than those who did not.

Dad also had a great story about being called to the hospital to examine a woman who had been in a deep coma for days. The surgeons were planning to perform exploratory brain surgery the next morning, and his job was to examine her and certify that she was physically capable of undergoing surgery. Acting on a hunch, he leaned over, put his mouth to the woman’s ear, and shouted “WAKE UP!” To his astonishment, she sat up in bed, wide awake, wondering why she was in the hospital!

Our notion for the book was simple: people who wake up to positive thinking enjoy better physical health. That was it. We had no outline, no stack of scientific studies, and no list of case histories—just the notion of waking up to better health.

Our approach to creating the book was straightforward: Dad told me his patient stories and I took notes. As we collected his stories, I noticed they fell into certain categories: enthusiasm,  forgiveness, determination, love, spirituality, belief in God, going for broke, giving up, giving back, and other emotions, attitudes, and approaches.

As the number of stories grew, I began organizing them into categories. At one point, we had eighteen different categories.

I kept writing up his stories and working with the categories, determining which had the strongest narratives and the strongest connection to the book’s theme. Sometimes, I rewrote stories and moved them from one category to another when I saw a better way to present them.

I finally selected five categories: enthusiasm, belief, love, forgiveness, and perseverance.

We now had a strong concept: Wake up to healthier living by adopting enthusiasm, belief, love, forgiveness, and perseverance. We also had a strong structure for the book, based on these five elements of positive thinking—each became a chapter.

The book was published, praised by leading figures in the wellness arena, and followed by two more books on similar themes.

No Plan, Writing Freedom: Pros

I had total freedom in the writing phase because I did not have to adhere to an outline.

Instead, I could “follow the material” and see where it wanted to go as we captured more and more stories, split and combined categories, tested ideas, wrote introductions and connecting pieces, and otherwise played with the material.

It was creative and a whole lot of fun!

No Plan, Writing Freedom: Cons

I spent a lot of time capturing, writing, and rewriting stories, as well as introductions and connecting pieces, that did not make the final cut.

And until about three-quarters of the way through the process, I didn’t know if the book would pan out. If we couldn’t turn our notion into a powerful book, all our efforts would be for naught.

No Plan, Writing Freedom: Lessons

The No Plan, Writing Freedom approach works well for authors who are comfortable working in chaos, willing to set aside their own ideas, explore, and walk away from the project if it doesn’t work out. It’s also helpful to have an intuitive sense of structure, to be able to look at the “mess” and see underlying structures.

It does not work well for authors who prefer the certainty of knowing the book will be completed, who start with strong opinions about the book’s content, structure, and tone, and who want to shape the material with a strong hand and without tolerating deviation.

These authors would do better with the Detailed Plan, Focused Writing approach.

plan a book, Wake Up! You're Alive,

Plan a Health Book: No Plan, Writing Freedom

The very first positive-thinking book I wrote began with an idea. In truth, it was less than an idea—more of a notion based on an observation and a story.

My co-author and father, Arnold Fox, M.D., had spent years treating patients suffering from heart disease,plan a book, Wake Up! You're Alive, diabetes, and other serious ailments. Through the 1960s and ’70s, into the early 1980s, he noticed that patients with positive attitudes seemed to fare better physically than those who did not.

Dad also had a great story about being called to the hospital to examine a woman who had been in a deep coma for days. The surgeons were planning to perform exploratory brain surgery the next morning, and his job was to examine her and certify that she was physically capable of undergoing surgery. Acting on a hunch, he leaned over, put his mouth to the woman’s ear, and shouted “WAKE UP!” To his astonishment, she sat up in bed, wide awake, wondering why she was in the hospital!

Our notion for the book was simple: people who wake up to positive thinking enjoy better physical health. That was it. We had no outline, no stack of scientific studies, and no list of case histories—just the notion of waking up to better health.

Our approach to creating the book was straightforward: Dad told me his patient stories and I took notes. As we collected his stories, I noticed they fell into certain categories: enthusiasm,  forgiveness, determination, love, spirituality, belief in God, going for broke, giving up, giving back, and other emotions, attitudes, and approaches.

As the number of stories grew, I began organizing them into categories. At one point, we had eighteen different categories.

I kept writing up his stories and working with the categories, determining which had the strongest narratives and the strongest connection to the book’s theme. Sometimes, I rewrote stories and moved them from one category to another when I saw a better way to present them.

I finally selected five categories: enthusiasm, belief, love, forgiveness, and perseverance.

We now had a strong concept: Wake up to healthier living by adopting enthusiasm, belief, love, forgiveness, and perseverance. We also had a strong structure for the book, based on these five elements of positive thinking—each became a chapter.

The book was published, praised by leading figures in the wellness arena, and followed by two more books on similar themes.

No Plan, Writing Freedom: Pros

I had total freedom in the writing phase because I did not have to adhere to an outline.

Instead, I could “follow the material” and see where it wanted to go as we captured more and more stories, split and combined categories, tested ideas, wrote introductions and connecting pieces, and otherwise played with the material.

It was creative and a whole lot of fun!

No Plan, Writing Freedom: Cons

I spent a lot of time capturing, writing, and rewriting stories, as well as introductions and connecting pieces, that did not make the final cut.

And until about three-quarters of the way through the process, I didn’t know if the book would pan out. If we couldn’t turn our notion into a powerful book, all our efforts would be for naught.

No Plan, Writing Freedom: Lessons

The No Plan, Writing Freedom approach works well for authors who are comfortable working in chaos, willing to set aside their own ideas, explore, and walk away from the project if it doesn’t work out. It’s also helpful to have an intuitive sense of structure, to be able to look at the “mess” and see underlying structures.

It does not work well for authors who prefer the certainty of knowing the book will be completed, who start with strong opinions about the book’s content, structure, and tone, and who want to shape the material with a strong hand and without tolerating deviation.

These authors would do better with the Detailed Plan, Focused Writing approach.

Plan a Health Book: Detailed Plan, Focused Writing

Several years ago, my wife and fellow ghostwriter, Nadine Taylor, was engaged to pen Arthritis for Dummies, part of the wildly popular “Dummies” series.

The editor at the Dummies publishing house insisted that before any writing was done, the book had to be outlined—not just outlined, but super outlined.

The book’s theme and structure had to be spelled out and approved in advance, along with the table of contents, each heading and subheading within each chapter, as well as the word count under each heading or subheading. Tables and other graphic elements had to be noted in the outline.

But the outline wasn’t simply written and approved. Instead, Nadine went back and forth with the editor until he was satisfied and gave her permission to begin writing. There was one more requirement: Nadine had to download the approved Dummies formatting template and use it to expand the outline into a manuscript.

No deviation was allowed. If the outline said there were to be 750 words under a particular heading, there had to be 750 words!

Arthritis for Dummies did well and has gone through three editions.

Detailed Plan, Focused Writing: Pros

This approach requires you to:

    • Think through the entire book
    • Consider possible themes and select the strongest
    • Choose your writing voice and tone
    • Settle upon your table of contents
    • Decide what goes in each chapter, in what order and proportions
    • Conduct all your research
    • Gather all your case histories, decide the point illustrated by each, determine how they will be used, and where they will be placed
    • Prepare your graphics and know which goes where

That’s a tremendous amount of thought work! But if you do all this upfront, the writing process is easy. You simply select your assignment for the day, note how many words have been allotted to convey the required information, and write.

Detailed Plan, Focused Writing: Cons

Creating a detailed outline can lock ideas and structures into place. If a new idea arises during writing, it must be set aside. That’s not a problem if your outline has captured the best ideas, but if it hasn’t, you might overlood a good one.

Additionally, new research or studies released while you’re writing might not fit with the ridig structure and have to be discarded.

Detailed Plan, Focused Writing: Lessons

This approach works well for information-based books, where the knowledge, stats, and studies can be divided into discrete packets, arranged in the most efficient and effective manner, then spelled out in the writing. It brings clarity, efficiency, and a strategic focus to the writing.

It’s also helpful for books written to support a brand; or in conjunction with something else, such as an online course; or as part of a series of books. Working from a detailed outline ensures that you stay on brand or in sync.

As for authors, it works well for writers who know exactly where they want their book to go and how to get there, and are comfortable “writing in the lane.”

On the other hand, this approach is a bit of a challenge for books based on ideas, feelings, or speculation. These can be plotted out and placed in an outline, but when you begin writing them you often find that your thoughts are not as fixed as you through they were. Instead, the process of writing them helps you nail them down.

As for authors, it can feel constraining for writers who like the flexibility to be creative as they create the book’s content, to wander down a little path now and then and see where it takes them.

Plan a Health Book: Detailed Plan, Focused Writing

Several years ago, my wife and fellow ghostwriter, Nadine Taylor, was engaged to pen Arthritis for Dummies, part of the wildly popular “Dummies” series.

The editor at the Dummies publishing house insisted that before any writing was done, the book had to be outlined—not just outlined, but super outlined.

The book’s theme and structure had to be spelled out and approved in advance, along with the table of contents, each heading and subheading within each chapter, as well as the word count under each heading or subheading. Tables and other graphic elements had to be noted in the outline.

But the outline wasn’t simply written and approved. Instead, Nadine went back and forth with the editor until he was satisfied and gave her permission to begin writing. There was one more requirement: Nadine had to download the approved Dummies formatting template and use it to expand the outline into a manuscript.

No deviation was allowed. If the outline said there were to be 750 words under a particular heading, there had to be 750 words!

Arthritis for Dummies did well and has gone through three editions.

Detailed Plan, Focused Writing: Pros

This approach requires you to:

    • Think through the entire book
    • Consider possible themes and select the strongest
    • Choose your writing voice and tone
    • Settle upon your table of contents
    • Decide what goes in each chapter, in what order and proportions
    • Conduct all your research
    • Gather all your case histories, decide the point illustrated by each, determine how they will be used, and where they will be placed
    • Prepare your graphics and know which goes where

That’s a tremendous amount of thought work! But if you do all this upfront, the writing process is easy. You simply select your assignment for the day, note how many words have been allotted to convey the required information, and write.

Detailed Plan, Focused Writing: Cons

Creating a detailed outline can lock ideas and structures into place. If a new idea arises during writing, it must be set aside. That’s not a problem if your outline has captured the best ideas, but if it hasn’t, you might overlood a good one.

Additionally, new research or studies released while you’re writing might not fit with the ridig structure and have to be discarded.

Detailed Plan, Focused Writing: Lessons

This approach works well for information-based books, where the knowledge, stats, and studies can be divided into discrete packets, arranged in the most efficient and effective manner, then spelled out in the writing. It brings clarity, efficiency, and a strategic focus to the writing.

It’s also helpful for books written to support a brand; or in conjunction with something else, such as an online course; or as part of a series of books. Working from a detailed outline ensures that you stay on brand or in sync.

As for authors, it works well for writers who know exactly where they want their book to go and how to get there, and are comfortable “writing in the lane.”

On the other hand, this approach is a bit of a challenge for books based on ideas, feelings, or speculation. These can be plotted out and placed in an outline, but when you begin writing them you often find that your thoughts are not as fixed as you through they were. Instead, the process of writing them helps you nail them down.

As for authors, it can feel constraining for writers who like the flexibility to be creative as they create the book’s content, to wander down a little path now and then and see where it takes them.

Plan a Health Book: Modest Plan, Middling Freedom Writing

I co-authored What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Migraines, part of Warner Books’ What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About series.

Before writing, I met with my co-author, Alexander Mauskop, M.D., to learn about his new approach to treating migraines. We discussed the latest research, his clinical observations, and more, and agreed upon the book’s general structure and tone.

Then I wrote a book proposal, which is mandatory when working with a traditional publisher such as Warner Books. The book proposal serves as both a preview of the book and a marketing document, examining the book’s marketplace, competition, and potential sales, among other factors.

I sent the book proposal to my agent. He submitted it to various editors at publishing houses, and the book idea was sold to Warner Books. I was then expected to write the book according to what was outlined in the proposal.

The book proposal is not a detailed outline of the book-to-be, but it does contain a synopsis, the book’s table of contents, a few paragraphs expanding on each chapter’s content, and other relevant material.

Although the proposal does not provide a detailed outline, writing it requires you to think through the book’s concept. You must decide where it will begin and end, as well as what will go in between. You need to determine the book’s content, structure, and tone of voice. Additionally, you must consider how many studies and case histories to include.

In short, you must engage in much of the thought work that goes into creating a detailed outline—without locking yourself into an inflexible plan.

Writing a book proposal offers a middle path between having no plan at all and following a strict, detailed outline. It strikes a balance between writing freedom and structured planning.

You do a fair amount of thinking and planning before writing, but you don’t confine yourself to a rigid structure. Think of the book proposal as an “outline lite”—you know where you’re going and how you’ll get there, but you still have the freedom to explore during the writing process.

Modest Plan, Middling Freedom Writing: Lessons

For writers new to the book-writing process, drafting a book proposal can be an excellent way to begin. It forces you to clarify your personal goals for writing the book and consider what you want your readers to gain from reading it. You must also consider the different types of health books, how you want to structure yours, your writing tone, and many other key elements.

As I mentioned earlier, a book proposal is required if you intend to pursue a traditional publisher. However, it is not mandatory if you plan to self-publish. That said, even for self-published authors, writing a book proposal can be a highly valuable exercise. It can serve as your “Plan Lite”—providing structure while allowing for creative flexibility.

It keeps you aligned with your core message while keeping your voice fresh

To learn more about book proposals, see our article “How to Write a Non-Fiction Book Proposal.”

What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Migraines, ghostwriting process

Plan a Health Book: Modest Plan, Middling Freedom Writing

I co-authored What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Migraines, part of Warner Books’ What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About series.

Before writing, I met with my co-author, Alexander Mauskop, M.D., to learn about his new approach to treating migraines. We discussed the latest research, his clinicalWhat Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Migraines, ghostwriting process observations, and more, and agreed upon the book’s general structure and tone.

Then I wrote a book proposal, which is mandatory when working with a traditional publisher such as Warner Books. The book proposal serves as both a preview of the book and a marketing document, examining the book’s marketplace, competition, and potential sales, among other factors.

I sent the book proposal to my agent. He submitted it to various editors at publishing houses, and the book idea was sold to Warner Books. I was then expected to write the book according to what was outlined in the proposal.

The book proposal is not a detailed outline of the book-to-be, but it does contain a synopsis, the book’s table of contents, a few paragraphs expanding on each chapter’s content, and other relevant material.

Although the proposal does not provide a detailed outline, writing it requires you to think through the book’s concept. You must decide where it will begin and end, as well as what will go in between. You need to determine the book’s content, structure, and tone of voice. Additionally, you must consider how many studies and case histories to include.

In short, you must engage in much of the thought work that goes into creating a detailed outline—without locking yourself into an inflexible plan.

Writing a book proposal offers a middle path between having no plan at all and following a strict, detailed outline. It strikes a balance between writing freedom and structured planning.

You do a fair amount of thinking and planning before writing, but you don’t confine yourself to a rigid structure. Think of the book proposal as an “outline lite”—you know where you’re going and how you’ll get there, but you still have the freedom to explore during the writing process.

Modest Plan, Middling Freedom Writing: Lessons

For writers new to the book-writing process, drafting a book proposal can be an excellent way to begin. It forces you to clarify your personal goals for writing the book and consider what you want your readers to gain from reading it. You must also consider the different types of health books, how you want to structure yours, your writing tone, and many other key elements.

As I mentioned earlier, a book proposal is required if you intend to pursue a traditional publisher. However, it is not mandatory if you plan to self-publish. That said, even for self-published authors, writing a book proposal can be a highly valuable exercise. It can serve as your “Plan Lite”—providing structure while allowing for creative flexibility.

It keeps you aligned with your core message while keeping your voice fresh

To learn more about book proposals, see our article “How to Write a Non-Fiction Book Proposal.”

Which approach to planning a health book is best?

That depends on both you (the author) and the book you’re writing.

Personally, I prefer as much writing freedom as possible. Nadine, on the other hand, likes to plan ahead.

But even though I like writing freedom, when working with tricky concepts I prepare an outline. And even though Nadine likes to outline, she recently finished a book that required her to plan on the fly, for she and her client were creating the concept and unearthing the content as they were writing.

Ultimately, there’s no right or wrong, just what works best for you and your project.

If You’d Like Help Writing Your Health Book…

Barry Fox explains how to begin a business memoir or autobiography

Contact us!

We’re Barry Fox and Nadine Taylor, professional ghostwriters and authors with a long list of satisfied clients and editors at major publishing houses.

You can learn about our health book ghostwriting work and credentials on our Health Book Ghostwriter Page.

For more information, call us at 818-917-5362 or use our contact form to send us a message. We’d love to talk to you about your exciting idea for writing a health book!

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