In common narratives, the lives of lawyers and writers are opposite. Lawyers are painted as calculating, silver-tongued firebrands with laser focus on reality, while writers are moody introverts who spend their time in quiet corners of coffee shops, typing and tearing up drafts of stories that only exist in their minds. Given these stark portrayals, it can come as a surprise that many authors have backgrounds as lawyers. Think John Grisham, Marjorie M. Liu, and even Franz Kafka.

Once you’ve finished your first draft, you will likely still have a few things missing before your book is complete. While the manuscript moves through the editorial process, you can focus on seeking endorsements (praise for the book from celebrities, other authors, and fellow experts), thanking anyone who helped along the way, and tidying up loose ends.

Some of these extra pieces are very similar; for example, what’s the difference among a foreword, a preface, and an introduction? We’ve assembled a list of the potential elements of your book, in the order they’ll appear in the final publication.

(Download our one-sheet at the bottom of this page, if you are an influencer ready for the next step!)

Social media is a double-edged sword in that it’s easy to access opportunity, but hard to make the most of it. Platforms like YouTube and Instagram tend to be free, which means that they are flooded with people who want to be noticed. In order to rise above the din of social media, and even general blogging, successful influencers work day in and day out to create content that’s unique, high-quality, and consistent. They develop connections with one audience member after another, gaining trust in order to see interactions with their posts (and subsequently their follower accounts) grow to significance. Don't let the punchy Twitter one-liners and the carefree Instagram photos fool you, becoming a successful influencer online takes work.