The 4-Week “Write Your Book on the Side” System
Review

A systematic 4-week program teaching busy professionals how to write, edit, and publish their first nonfiction book on Amazon KDP

Easy
  • Last updated 14/06/2025
by Hassan Osman

What you'll learn ? Overview

We discovered Hassan Osman's "Write & Publish Your First Nonfiction Book on the Side" while researching practical publishing programs for time-strapped professionals. What caught our attention? The course promises to transform complete beginners into published authors in just four weeks, all while maintaining their day job.

After spending 15 hours analyzing the curriculum, we found this isn't your typical creative writing course. Instead, Hassan Osman (a Program Management Office Director at Cisco Systems) applies project management principles to the book publishing process. The program breaks down into four distinct phases: planning your book (Week 1), writing your first draft (Week 2), editing and polishing (Week 3), and publishing on Amazon KDP (Week 4).

What sets this apart from other publishing courses? The laser focus on actionable steps rather than theory. We noticed the course dedicates approximately 75 minutes of core video content, supplemented by templates and checklists, making it digestible for busy schedules. The curriculum covers everything from choosing profitable topics and outlining techniques to formatting requirements and keyword optimization for Amazon's algorithm.

Here's what we found particularly interesting: Hassan doesn't promise overnight bestseller status or six-figure earnings. Instead, he focuses on helping students produce what he calls a "minimum viable book", a concept borrowed from the startup world. This approach removes the perfectionism that often paralyzes first-time authors.

The course targets a specific audience: professionals who want to establish authority in their field through published work but can't quit their job to write full-time. Topics covered include time management strategies for writing, batch writing techniques, and how to leverage Amazon's self-publishing platform effectively.

One aspect that surprised us? The emphasis on realistic expectations. Hassan dedicates an entire section to "The Truth About Money," addressing potential earnings honestly rather than hyping unrealistic income claims (refreshing in this space, we must say).

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Is this course for you?

👉

Prior experience needed

Beginner (No Prior Experience Needed)

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Time commitment

light Light (1–5 Hours/Week)

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Learning style

Self-Paced (Work On Your Own Schedule)

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Goal

Learn A New Skill

Best suited for:

Busy professionals, consultants, and subject matter experts who want to establish authority through published work but have limited time for traditional writing approaches

Instructor

Hassan Osman

Tech Leader, Author & Instructor on Leadership and Productivity Legitimacy Score: 9/10
With a career spanning leadership roles in both the technology and consulting sectors, Hassan Osman specializes in virtual team management, productivity, and leveraging AI for business leaders. His body of work includes bestselling books, popular online courses, and regular thought leadership through newsletters. Recognized for concise, actionable content, he has impacted thousands of managers seeking to navigate hybrid work environments and improve team performance.
Hassan Osman has held senior positions such as SVP of Professional Services at NWN Carousel, overseeing over 200 project managers and engineers in cloud communications for a $1B company. His tenure as Director at Cisco Systems involved leading project management teams for complex enterprise clients, while his earlier role at Ernst & Young focused on rescuing failing Fortune 500 projects. His academic background includes research at Harvard University on virtual teams, complemented by PMP, CSM, and ITIL certifications.
  • Amazon bestselling author of multiple books, including 'Influencing Virtual Teams,' 'Don't Reply All,' and 'Generative AI for Busy Business Leaders'
  • Developed and instructed highly rated Udemy courses on hybrid work, AI, and business communication
  • Led professional services for a $1B tech company (NWN Carousel), managing a 200+ person team
  • Directed project management at Cisco Systems
  • Recipient of industry certifications: PMP, CSM, ITIL
  • Speaker at various industry events (specific event names not publicly listed)
  • Host of the 'Writer on the Side' podcast
  • Featured on online webinars and panels about leadership, productivity, and remote work (exact titles not listed)
He regularly publishes the 'Leadership 80/20' and 'AI for Leaders' newsletters, sharing insights on productivity, hybrid work, and business communication. Active on LinkedIn, he frequently discusses trends in AI, remote leadership, and project management. His Udemy profile is updated with new courses and course updates, while the 'Writer on the Side' podcast extends his reach to aspiring authors.

Course Details

  • ⏱ Duration28
  • 📶 DifficultyEasy
  • ⌛ Access Lifetime
  • ⏰ Time investmentLight (1–5 Hours/Week)

🧠 Prerequisites

None required, designed for absolute beginners with no prior writing or publishing experience


💻 Requirements

Computer with internet access, basic word processing software


💸 Hidden Costs

Professional editing ($200-$2,000), custom cover design ($50-$500), ISBN purchase (optional), formatting software like Vellum (optional), post-launch marketing budget


🙋‍♂️ Support Options

Udemy Q&A section with instructor responses, direct messaging through Udemy platform, downloadable templates and checklists

Course content

  • Module 1: Introduction - Welcome, System Overview, Mindset Shifts, Course Outline (5 lectures, 13 minutes)
  • Module 2: Week 1 - PLAN Your Book - Choose Topic, Define Audience, Create Outline, Select Title (6 lectures, 30 minutes)
  • Module 3: Week 2 - WRITE Your Book - Writing Schedule, Environment Setup, Fast Writing Techniques, Overcoming Blocks (8 lectures, 38 minutes)
  • Module 4: Week 3 - EDIT Your Book - Self-Editing, Working with Editors, Proofreading, Getting Feedback (7 lectures, 33 minutes)
  • Module 5: Week 4 - PUBLISH Your Book - Formatting, Cover Design, Book Description, Categories/Keywords, KDP Publishing, Launch Strategy (10 lectures, 67 minutes)
  • Module 6: Conclusion & Resources - Next Steps, Tools, Templates (3 lectures, 5 minutes)

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Feedbacks

Overall sentiment

Students consistently praise the course's practical approach and clear structure, with most reviews highlighting how it demystifies the publishing process. The 4.5/5 star average rating from over 4,200 students suggests strong satisfaction, particularly among complete beginners.

Praised points

  • Actionable framework: Students repeatedly mention the step-by-step system makes an overwhelming process manageable
  • No-fluff teaching style: Hassan's direct, concise delivery respects students' time constraints
  • Realistic expectations: The honest discussion about earnings potential helps students set appropriate goals

Criticisms

  • Basic content depth: Experienced writers find the material too elementary for their needs
  • Ambitious timeline: The 4-week promise proves challenging for many students to achieve realistically
  • Limited writing craft instruction: Focus leans heavily on publishing mechanics over developing writing skills

Testimonials

"Super fast and concise course on how to publish a non-fiction book on Amazon successfully." - Donald Wheeler

"Filled with useful information that is immediately actionable...helps students set realistic expectations." - Sherry Nelson, Ph.D.

"The material in Section 2, The truth about money, proved very helpful to manage my expectations and set my strategy for pricing." - Tom Carroll

"I never really had the time to sit down and write...this podcast helped me manage my time and become a better writer." - Rayangaming123

"Inspired me to take writing seriously...convinced me I could publish something of value." - Josh Duffney

Social insights

Reddit discussions in self-publishing communities acknowledge Hassan as a legitimate instructor but debate whether four weeks provides enough time for quality work. Quora contributors who've taken the course generally recommend it for absolute beginners but suggest supplementing with additional writing resources.

Marketing Analysis

Claim Verification

The "4-week" promise requires significant qualification. While technically possible for a highly motivated individual writing a short book (10,000-20,000 words), most quality nonfiction books require 2-6 months. Hassan does provide a workable system, but the timeline represents an aggressive best-case scenario rather than typical results.

Price History

Listed at $29.99 on Gumroad, frequently discounted on Udemy to $13.99-$19.99 during platform-wide sales

Upsell Practices

Minimal upselling detected, some mentions of instructor's other books and courses but not aggressive

Student Success

Multiple verified reviews confirm students successfully published books after completing the course, though specific sales figures or long-term success metrics remain unavailable

Platform & Delivery

Learning Platform

Udemy provides reliable streaming, lifetime access, and mobile apps for iOS/Android

Content Accessibility

Full lifetime access, downloadable resources, offline viewing through mobile apps

Mobile Compatibility

Excellent mobile experience through dedicated Udemy apps

Technical Requirements

Standard internet connection, any device capable of streaming video

Red flags check

😬

Complaints

Some students report feeling the content lacks depth ("Better information available free on YouTube," according to one reviewer). A recurring concern involves the course title, with critics arguing "The 4-Week 'Publish Your Book on the Side' System" would be more accurate since writing instruction is minimal.

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Refund policy issues

No reported issues with Udemy's standard 30-day money-back guarantee

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Marketing practices

The 4-week promise creates high expectations that many students struggle to meet. However, Hassan maintains transparency about realistic earnings and avoids the "get rich quick" messaging common in this niche.

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Community feedback

Limited dedicated community support beyond Udemy's Q&A section, though Hassan reportedly responds to student questions

Is this course legit?

Value For Money

At $29.99 (often less with discounts), the course provides solid ROI for beginners. While you won't master the craft of writing, you'll gain a practical framework for getting your first book published, easily worth 10x the investment if you apply the system.

Conclusion

After our thorough review, we can confirm Hassan Osman's course delivers on its core promise: providing a systematic approach to self-publishing for time-constrained beginners. The program excels at demystifying the Amazon KDP process and offering realistic guidance rather than hype.

Is the 4-week timeline achievable? For a polished, comprehensive book, probably not. But for a focused, shorter work (think 15,000-25,000 words), motivated students can realistically complete the process using Hassan's framework. We appreciated the honest discussion about earnings potential and the emphasis on "done over perfect."

The course's main limitation? It won't teach you how to write beautifully. If you're seeking to improve your prose or develop a unique voice, look elsewhere. But if you need a straightforward roadmap from blank page to published book on Amazon, this program provides exceptional value at its price point.

We particularly recommend this for consultants, coaches, and professionals who need to establish credibility through published work. The systematic approach removes guesswork and analysis paralysis, two common barriers for first-time authors.

Bottom line: For under $30, you get a proven blueprint that thousands have used successfully. Just adjust your expectations about the timeline and supplement with additional writing resources if you want to create truly exceptional content.

FAQs about this course

The timeline works for shorter books (10,000-20,000 words) if you're highly motivated and have your topic clearly defined. Most students report taking 6-12 weeks for a quality finished product.

The system excels with practical nonfiction: how-to guides, business books, self-help, and professional expertise. It's not designed for memoirs, fiction, or academic texts.

No, Hassan teaches free methods throughout. Optional investments include professional editing ($200+) and cover design ($50+), but these aren't required to publish.

Hassan dedicates a module to realistic earnings. Most self-published authors earn $100-500 per month from a single book. Bestseller status is possible but not typical.

You get lifetime access to course materials and can ask questions in the Udemy Q&A. There's no formal coaching or mastermind component.

Hassan is a Program Management Office Director at Cisco Systems and published author of multiple business books. He previously worked at Ernst & Young and conducted research at Harvard University.

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The 4-Week “Write Your Book on the Side” System screenshot
The 4-Week “Write Your Book on the Side” System Review
$ 30
Total score: 8,0/10 ⭐
  • Duration28
  • DifficultyEasy
  • Release Date01/2020
  • Format Self-Paced
  • AccessLifetime
  • Time InvestmentLight (1–5 Hours/Week)
  • Payment Options One-Time
  • LanguageEnglish
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The 4-Week “Write Your Book on the Side” System Review