This presentation was delivered as a webinar designed to help researchers identify what elements of their research would make a compelling manuscript and how to go about turning it into a viable book.

1. Turning Your
Research into
a Book

2. Our Vision
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3. Our Mission
Our Mission:
GMI leverages research and technology to create,
cultivate, and communicate mission information leading
to insight that inspires Kingdom service.
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Information
Provision
Decision
Support
Kingdom-Centered
Outcomes-based
Evaluation
The Knowledge Stewardship Cycle

4. • We all want our work to be valued and utilized.
• Most of us see book publishing as a validation of our efforts.
• But is it true that all research should find a home in a book?
Not All Research Should be a Book

5. • James Nelson: reaching a broader audience
• JD Payne: part of Kingdom stewardship requires telling others what
you find
• Darrell Jackson: research in a book creates space for longevity,
analysis and reflection
• David Bulger: a book form would give weight and significance to the
valuable info
• David Garrison: the books were a seamless part of answering his own
questions and those he felt were being asked by the broader
audience
Motivations for Publishing

6. • Books no longer stand on their own – they are part of a larger
conversation
• People are reading fewer books and scanning many of the ones they
do read
• Publishers are loosing revenue and focusing on topics with the
broadest appeal
• Niche publishers are popping up to address holes in the general
market
• Individuals and organizations are acting as their own publishers when
they have direct-to-consumer distribution
Realities of Book Publishing

7. An Example: Good to Great
• Collins used a large team of researchers who studied "6,000 articles,
generated more than 2,000 pages of interview transcripts and created 384
megabytes of computer data in a five-year project"
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_to_Great
• Why did Good to Great Work?
• Broad topic
• Depth and quality of content
• Compelling takeaways
• Hedgehog Concept
• The Flywheel
• Level 5 Leadership
• Clear examples
• 11 Examples such as Abbot Labs, Kroger, Wall Greens, Pitney Bowes, etc.

8. • James Nelson: Converting research into narrative
• JD Payne: Time and budget to complete the project
• Darrell Jackson: Books are immediately out of date once published
• David Bulger: Working with the publisher (even though they added a
lot to the process)
• David Garrison: Verifying facts and checking stories as the book is put
together
What are the Challenges?

9. • James Nelson: opportunities for the author to engage with audiences
• JD Payne: speaking and writing opportunities
• Darrell Jackson: helps establish a track record, competence and
expertise
• David Bulger: generating interest in the topic and results
• David Garrison: creating hope and encouragement in the Body of
Christ to press on with the unfinished task
What Opportunities are Opened Up?

10. • Does your research have broad application in the Christian
community or is it designed for a very small group of believers?
• Do you have stories to work with?
• Have you thought through the broad lessons your research can
provide to your audience?
• What is the felt need from the reader?
• What is your bandwidth in time and money to commit to the project?
Key Observations

11. Thank You
VISIT:
• http://www.gmi.org/connections/webinars/
to sign up for future webinars
www.gmi.org/gmibooks to see our catalogue
of book products
• www.missiographics.com for mission
infographics
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