---
title: "Planning the book"
description: "How to plan a 30,000 to 50,000 word book so it is easy to write."
canonical: https://tomsharman.com/bookshelf/key-person-of-influence/planning-the-book/
updated: 2026-11-03
---

# Planning the book

> How to plan a 30,000 to 50,000 word book so it is easy to write.

Kevin Harrington and Daniel Priestley's framework, from Key Person of Influence, pp. 42 to 128.

Framework 5 of 11 from [Key Person of Influence](https://tomsharman.com/bookshelf/key-person-of-influence/index.md) by Kevin Harrington and Daniel Priestley. Category: Offers and pricing.

## The steps

1. **Choose a type.** Pick thought leadership, interviews, tips, pictures or a creative piece.
2. **Find the reader's core question.** Write the one significant question your book answers, which becomes its theme.
3. **Brainstorm connected questions.** Put the key question on a large sheet and map the questions your micro-niche would ask.
4. **Arrange chapters and map each one.** Spend one to two hours mapping every chapter before writing.
5. **Test five titles.** Tell people at networking events about each title and watch who offers introductions.

## Where it comes from

From chapter: 2. The Key Person of Influence Method, pp. 42–128

## The animation

24 seconds, 4:5, no sound.

- MP4: https://tomsharman-downloads-006143767029.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/downloads/bookshelf/key-person-of-influence/planning-the-book.mp4
- MP4, dark: https://tomsharman-downloads-006143767029.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/downloads/bookshelf/key-person-of-influence/planning-the-book-dark.mp4
- Still: https://tomsharman-downloads-006143767029.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/downloads/bookshelf/key-person-of-influence/planning-the-book.png
- Still, dark: https://tomsharman-downloads-006143767029.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/downloads/bookshelf/key-person-of-influence/planning-the-book-dark.png