I Made It: AJ Jacobs"method of creativity for making bestselling books

Learn about AJ Jacobs' creative process in releasing four New York Times bestsellers, which includes how he thinks up ideas, researches, and writes his real-life quests.

There's an impressive list of actors who are trained to stay at the same level on and off-camera when filming.

While it seems a bit over-dedicated to never clock out but the work is paid off -- in salary as well as authenticity and awards at red-carpet shows.

The efforts that is done by AJ Jacobs , successful author, speaker, and editor of Esquire Magazine, is not the same.

AJ also takes his work -- and his roleextremely seriously.

Actually, for every one of his six novels, AJ assumed the role of the subject and embarked on an actual quest while writing his books.

The character of the book has paid dividends for AJ as well. He's earned the title of New York Times Best Seller for a total of five times since his debut.

We were fortunate to have the privilege of sitting down with AJ when he discussed with us his creative process for writing his notable books.

With no further delay, let's dive in.

How AJ thinks up book concepts

One of the ways AJ starts the process of brainstorming is drawing inspiration and ideas directly from his life experience.

That's how he came up with the idea for his first book The Know-It-All Book: One Man's Profound Quest to be the smartest person on the Planet .

The concept came via his father, who has always was a reader and a seeker of knowledge. His father was reading his through the family's extensive Encyclopedia collection, and he reached the middle of the alphabet B. AJ decided to "finish what he began and remove this stale air from our family's history."

And it was there the first novel idea came to life, a concept AJ is able to attribute to his father.

"I think that was an example of connecting with your family and what's all around you to inspire," the author says. "I could never had the idea myself . . . It was really something my dad did."

Another approach AJ brainstorms novel ideas (pun meant) is to come up with the most ideas possible and utilizing the elimination process.

In the case of his first book, for instance, as he drummed up the concept of his book's sequel, he brainstormed with several ideas, but they were eventually eliminated.

"I thought of a number of ideas for books, and I'm not even able to recall them all, yet none of them worked," he divulges. "Either I turned them down, or my publisher did, or my wife decided to put a stop on it, because it'd be too difficult."

Even after he landed on the notion of his book, The Year of Living Biblically: A Man's Quest to Follow the Bible in the most literal way possible , which was to lead a lifestyle that practically followed the Bible for a year, it was a struggle in committing to it.

Due to the controversy of the subject, AJ had a difficult to decide whether to proceed with the project.

"It's extremely unpopular," he explains. "That was extremely stressful and I was unsure of whether to go ahead to do it or not."

AJ was thinking to himself "Do I really want to commit this crime? I could get flak from both parties. There is no one who will be pleased when you try to combine religion and humor."

While it wasn't an easy option, ultimately the topic AJ chose proved to resonate with his viewers.

He kind of was aware of that, since AJ does something that every artist should do -- and very often do.

He confirms the book's concept before going all-in. In the case of AJ, he does so by speaking to the most people he can about his latest book idea.

"One thing I do is I just tell the most people I can about this idea," he explains. "I take a look at their eyes to see how they react . . . It is my observation that they may ask follow-up questions because often they don't."

If their eyes do not "light up," AJ takes it as an indication to not pursue the book idea.

In order to preserve his unique creativity, AJ changes the subject topic from book to which permits him to follow a same creative process throughout books.

"If you are able to take on tasks that require creativity and are totally other than the topic, that allows you a little more room to enjoy the same process." AJ coaches.

Speaking of his repeatable process, let's dive into the next stage of AJ's work: conducting study.

What is the method by which AJ conducts his book research

AJ conducts his book research by soaking himself completely in the topic. Each book writing session is transformed into a fresh personal journey and adjusts his life to focus entirely on researching and documenting his experiences for his novel.

For instance, while writing "The Year to Live Biblically, AJ adhered to his book's promise and committed to a full year of following the Bible as closely as he could.

In order to record his experiences throughout his quest, AJ keeps two journals, one for his personal life and one for his project research -- a process that he continues today.

"I always keep track of what's happening in my life and also how it's affecting the study," he shares.

While it may seem intense to fully assume his duties during the course of his research, AJ does it for the right motive. The term he uses is "steelmanning," a way to show a different perspective -- the one you do not agree with more effectively than anyone else will.

"I am a fan of steelmanning because I think it just makes this world a more beautiful place to live," He thinks. "That's the best way to advance."

and "move ahead" is what he achieves by composing numerous bestsellers. Take a deep dive into AJ's creation process.

AJ's creative process

AJ is a fan of the two primary elements of his creative process most. These are the two parts we've already covered such as brainstorming and study.

"Coming up with the ideas, that's one of my most favorite things to do," he pronounces. "Brainstorming . . . 100 books where 99 of the ideas are likely be a disaster, however one will hopefully be good."

"I am fascinated by the subjects," AJ continues as recounts his experiences researching his latest work Thanks A Thousand: A Gratitude Journey . "Interviewing the creator of a coffee lid and going on a trip to Colombia, South America to visit the farmers. That was awesome."

The last stage of this creative process -- actual writing -is not his favorite due to its isolation and with a sluggish reaction from the audience. "A large portion of it is simply . . . Being alone, and not receiving feedback right away," AJ reflects.

"When I talk in public, I simply enjoy . . . seeing people's eyes or the laughter at the thought that they're interested" the author adds. "And with a book you're writing that's not gonna release for more than a year, I find it to be very disappointing."

To add to that the stress Sometimes, the writing process can be halted due to the subject matter, as it did in his novel, "It's all Relative: A Journey up and Down the Family Tree of the World .

"Partly, that book took so long to write because it was about a campaign to establish a world family tree which would link everyone on Earth in one big family tree." AJ explains. "So, you, me, Barack Obama, Nicolas Cage, everyone."

In terms of creating his story, AJ starts writing with an idea of where he's headed however in the majority of cases his style of writing is unplanned.

"When I'm writing, I make an outline that kind of vaguely says where I'm going to end in," he shares. "But the majority of what I write is made up. As I'm writing, I go on these little roads, but I do try to know the direction I'll end up."

Prior to presenting his final product, there's one major procedure to be covered the editing.

Though it's an overwhelming task to take on, AJ's editing process is straightforward. While editing, he asks his friends for feedback and takes the average of their replies as a signal about where to edit.

"I'll forward it to 10 of my friends. I'll ask: What parts do you find amusing, and which sections do you find the most boring?'" AJ divulges. "I'll take the average of this, and then take out boring areas, as well as make sure that I save those that are interesting."

Seems straightforward enough -- exactly like his view about luck and hard work.

What is the way AJ considers the importance of hard work and the luck of the draw

When it comes to success, AJ says that "hard effort and perseverance are required."

"You won't be successful without those," he warns. "But they are not sufficient."

AJ believes you also need luck and a little luck to complement your hard work This is what AJ (luckily) experienced the moment his most recent novel came out.

"You also need luck, and I do believe that . . . The same week in which my first bestseller hit the shelves, there were probably 50 other books that came out that were as excellent, and perhaps even more so than mine," the author acknowledges.

"But I did get breaks" AJ gives credit. "I met the person who was who was in charge of publicity at the publisher. I had a connection with the man who writes the program Good Morning America and I joined that. You need both, I believe."

But that's not the only tips AJ has for our readers today. He has some more tips to pass on.

Aj's tips for fellow creators

AJ offers us pearls of wisdom, which contain a theme that is encapsulated in the two words "be open to experimentation.

Why? There are a few motives. First, it helps you from being stuck in a mind.

"The more creative you can be, the better," AJ advises. "I think we are prone to doing similar things, so we cut these . . . neural tracks, neuronal pathways which make us think similar ways."

This will provide you with an array of choices in life, and eventually lead to more happiness.

"The more that you are able to experiment -even if it's only an insignificant thing that you do within your daily routine, like making a change to your toothpaste or working in a different way -- the more beneficial it will be to be creative and also for joy," AJ urges.

If AJ didn't have heeded his own advice, he might not have written such amazing imaginative works and quests -- in the form of a book.

That, and I believe we can all agree, would've been a shame.