Writing your first book is often exhilarating and daunting at the same time. If you are an aspiring author who also balances a busy professional life, taking the first step of your publishing journey is often the most fraught, but it doesn’t have to be.
Understand the Challenges
The first obstacle you face writing a book is psychological. You’ve carried your book idea in your head for years, but the thought of getting it on paper (or a screen) has been more than a little overwhelming.
Thinking of the tasks before you — organizing thoughts, structuring chapters, and committing to a consistent writing routine and finding the time — can be paralyzing. The good news is that there’s a way forward.
Break It Down
The key to overcoming paralysis is to break down the writing process into manageable steps. Before you write a single word, you need to understand your ideal reader; their gender, ethnicity, income level, where they live, their values and beliefs, if they like to travel and where, how they spend their free time, if they have children, and so much more.
Next, writer’s block is a myth. The first step in writing your book is not writing your book. Instead, you need to write a sentence, then a paragraph, then a page. Taking an incremental approach helps the process more doable and makes the goal of a finished manuscript seem more achievable.
Find Your ‘Why’
Every great book starts with a purpose. As an author, you need to understand why you feel compelled to write this book.
Perhaps you want to share your zone of genius to grow your personal brand and be seen as a credible source for paid solutions, Maybe you want to explain your professional expertise to sell more offers. Getting clear on your “why” provides motivation and guides your writing process.
Start with the End in Mind
What transformation do you promise your readers? Writing your book should spur your readers to take action, change the way they feel, or ask them to think differently.
When they pick up your book, your readers hope you can help them. By the time they turn the last page, they’ve already taken action.
Create a Roadmap
Once your purpose is clear, the next step is to create a roadmap — your outline — for your book. Don’t freak out. If you’ve ever put together an agenda for a meeting, you’ve written an outline.
List the main ideas for your book and organize them in a way that takes your reader on a journey that brings the transformation you promised. As a nonfiction writer who wants to grow your business, your outline should include key points, case studies, and real-life examples that support your arguments or narratives.
Set a Routine
Writing a book requires setting aside the time, finding the space, and having the right instruments.
You don’t need to write every day, but you need to find a sustainable practice that works for you. If you set a goal of 1,000 words per week, for example, where and when you write is less important than reaching your goal.
Embracing the Process
You need to remember to trust the process, especially when you have days of frustration and can’t get the words out of your head and through your fingers. Go for a walk, do some jumping jacks, take some action on another task; whatever takes your mind off the passage you’re trying to write.
Creating some distance between you and your work-in-progress can jumpstart the flow of words. Each word you write moves you closer to your goal.
Every author you admire started exactly where you are now.
Seek Guidance and Support
Last, writing a book can be lonely, but it doesn’t have to be. A writing coach and a community of writers can provide the support and encouragement you need to keep going.
My eight-week writing program is designed so you start AND finish your book. You’ll have a step-by-step framework, resources, and coaching to write your book as well as access to help publishing and marketing your the book. Most importantly, you’ll be part of a community so you don’t write alone.
I’d love to talk with you about your book! Schedule a call today.