How to use Be a Hit

A plain guide to getting your first chapter written. Setting up takes about ten minutes.

1. 1Create your book.

   The first time you sign in you will be asked to create your book. Give it a title and a short description. If someone has already invited you, you will join their book instead.

2. 2Decide what a hit means to you.

   Before you write a word, finish this sentence: This book is a hit if ... Write it down and keep it close.

   Examples:

   • "I finish a full draft by March."
   • "My children read it."
   • "I can hand it to a client."
   • "I wrote it with my sister."

   A hit does not have to mean sales.

3. 3Invite the people you are writing with.

   Open the team page for your book and invite people by email. Choose a role for each person:

   • Author – writes chapters and can manage the book.
   • Author – writes chapters.
   • Contributor – adds ideas, research and comments but cannot edit chapter text.
   • Reviewer – reads, comments and approves.

   There is no limit on how many people you can invite.

4. 4Set up your chapters.

   Use New chapter to add a chapter.

   Use the small pencil on a chapter card to add a part and chapter number, a short summary, a due date and, if you like, a target word count.

   Move chapters across the board as they progress: Outline, Researching, Drafting, Editing, Done.

5. 5Collect and decide on ideas.

   Open Ideas in the menu. Add an idea to the Inbox, then move it across the board: Needs research, Researched, Debate, In, Parked or Out.

   Add a chapter, an owner, a note on how well it is checked (verified, contested or unchecked) and links to your sources.

   Authors and Contributors can add ideas, move them and vote In or Out. Only Authors can move an idea into In or Out. Reviewers can read and comment.

6. 6Set a gentle goal.

   The first time, you will be asked if you want a gentle daily writing goal. You can also find the Writing habit settings in your profile.

   Choose words or minutes (500 words or 30 minutes is a good start).

   You can turn streaks, celebrations and catch-up help on or off one by one, pick weekly rest days, or pause for a few days.

7. 7Write in a sprint.

   Open a chapter, start a sprint (30 minutes to begin with) and turn on Just write to hide comments and suggestions until the time is up.

   Only words you type count towards your goal. Large pasted blocks of more than 100 words do not.

8. 8Stuck? Ask for an exercise.

   Press Stuck? Give me an exercise for a short prompt. Answer in the box and save it as a note on the chapter.

   Notes are shared with your book unless you tick the private option.

   You can copy a note into your chapter yourself whenever you are ready. Nothing is added to your draft for you.

9. 9Use the checklist.

   Each chapter has four simple checks: Hook, Evidence, Example and Takeaway. Authors tick them off. It is a nudge, not a rule, and it never changes the chapter's status.

10. 10Add actions and deadlines.

    Add actions to a chapter, give each one an owner and a due date, and tick them off when done. They show up in My tasks and on the Calendar.

11. 11Ask for a review.

    Hand a chapter to a Reviewer. They read it and leave comments, then send it back to you.

12. 12If you fall behind.

    After three quiet days you will see a calm card with choices: lower your goal, start fresh, spread what is left over the days you have, take a break, or move the due date.

    Nothing happens unless you choose it. You can also skip a single day without losing your streak.

13. 13Tips for finishing.

    • Stop when the timer stops, even if it is going well.
    • Write the last paragraph first if you are stuck.
    • Edit later, not while you draft.
    • Tell someone your deadline.
    • Change the goal rather than quitting.