how to write a book

I feel you. We all have done it. You have this book in you trying to get out. You’ve answered the call and started to write it, then you’re stuck looking at a blank page and, “Ugh,” you don’t write that day and you break your stride. If you only knew how to gain momentum in writing your book.

It’s like trying to ride a roller coaster that keeps breaking down throughout the ride. How much more frustrating could that be? Just get off the damn thing and walk away. And writing your book is a little like that. Sometimes you just have to get out and push your car up the next incline to get it going again.

You gain and sustain momentum more easily the more quickly you react when you feel your writing engine slowing down to regain your momentum.

That’s why this commitment to writing daily is so important. Some days will have you staring at a blank page, but you must push through these moments to keep the momentum going, or else you may not make it to your destination.

And what is your destination? Of course, your destination is to complete your book.

Book Cover Mock-up

I suggest that you make a mockup of your book cover. Maybe even hire someone on Fiverr mock one up for you. This does not have to be the final rendition of your book cover. Just enough to inspire you.

Want to up the ante?

Post the cover on your website with the phrase, “Auth of the upcoming book,” (insert book title). Maybe add a tagline.
Print the cover and put it in a picture frame and hang it on the wall, where others can see it.
Paste it onto another book and leave it laying in the area where you conduct most of your writing.
Let people that you know that you are in the process of writing this book, but make sure they are the kind of people who have your back and will be utterly supportive. If you falter and someone says something disrespectful like, “I knew you couldn’t do it.” Stop communicating with that person and never speak to them again or at least until you’ve completed your book. Maybe even kill them off, as a character in your book.
Get an accountability partner. If you can find someone else to write with who is also trying to create their own book by writing every day. By doing this in tandem, you both can support each other through the process.

Just Write It

On those days that you are feeling less than inspired, just write anyway.

Let It Go

Let go of those things that will hold you back and keep you from accomplishing the task of getting to that completed first draft of your book.

Don’t Take It Too Serious

This is why I coach my clients not to take it so seriously. Yes, this is serious, but the importance of it can be so overwhelming that it makes the desperation of not being able to get the words out even more disabling. You’ve got to let go of that huge shadow of importance that may be looming over you every time you go to write.

Don’t Be a Perfectionist

If you are a perfectionist, I apologize, because that felt like I just kicked you in the shin, hard. Even so, you have to let it go for now. The goal is to get to a primary version of your book done so that you can get to the stage of refining your work later. Without the body intact, you are decreasing your chances of getting there. So, lighten up, and get those words out every day.

Don’t Be a Strategist

If you are, just let this go. I know, I get a lot of flack from writers who insist on writing systematically. They start with an introduction, then go onto Chapter One, successively working through the entire process. If you have written books before and this is how you do it, keep doing that.

If you have not written and published a book before, then don’t do that. My clients have far more success just writing every day about their topic, in no particular order.

Think of it like this

Write a page every day, just to get something done. Then, when you get time, you can sort the pages and arrange them in a 3-ring binder with tabs for chapters. As you go along, you can check the book and you can quickly see what chapters are weakest and focus more on those areas.

It all comes down to this

I am not a traditionally trained author coach, though I excel at getting the best completion rates from my coaching clients who get their books published in record time.

These are the biggest keys to unlocking how to gain momentum in writing your book and keeping it sustainable enough to make it through the process of writing your book as painlessly as possible. They are the very keys that have helped my clients to accomplish this feat. And hopefully, they will help you get your book done as well.

Rarely does a day go by that someone doesn’t ask me about writing their book. There is no doubt – and I firmly believe – that every person whose heart yet beats has a book inside them dying to get out. The key is allowing the book to be born before you die.

I’m not just randomly saying you need to get your book out before you die because it sounds like a catchy phrase. I’m saying that because I am holding in my hands – right now – the unpublished manuscript from a client and friend who has passed away and it disturbs me greatly.

One’s life is comprised of not just a single story, but many stories potentially beneficial to the community at large… or at the very least, preserving your thoughts in your voice, in effect leaving something meaningful behind. And for god’s sake, don’t wait until it’s too late.

People approach me because part of what I do is to help people tell their stories, transitioning to published author. As the author of the out-of-print book, 7-day Author: You Can Write and Publish Your Book in 7 Days, somehow people still get their hands on the book and contact me. 7 Day Author is no longer relevant due to huge changes in book publishing since the book was released. I still assist clients and friends in telling their stories, writing their books and publishing them within a week, although it is done entirely differently now.

Why don’t I revise the book? The fact is, the industry changes rapidly (as many do) and to commit to a book that may lose relevance or go out of print when the shift happens is no longer a compelling motivation for me. So, now I focus on writing books that are more evergreen, having a longer shelf-life and relevancy.

Story of My Life

Back to your story, the story of your life, stories or life’s lessons yearning to be told. When is now a good time to take action?

You never know what life will bring. Every day I thank God for another chance to continue living this life, doing my part –in some (even small) way – to help make the world a better place and to fulfill my life’s purpose of helping others achieve their highest and best.

Hopefully, as you read these words, you are also listening to that voice within beseeching you to, “Please write our story.” The only difference between authors and those who are not authors is that the authors took the action(s) necessary to write and publish their words.

Yes, I do help people write their books for a fee, but it is not my intent to sell you anything, as there are many ways to write and publish your book at little or no cost to you. It’s not about me, it’s about you; your story that must be told. It’s up to you to take the action…

Start writing. Use pen or pencil and paper, type on a typewriter, use a computer or your cell phone. You could even get a digital (or tape) recorder and simply speak your words and either transcribe them yourself, have someone else do it or use your computer as a transcription device using something, like Dragon Speak. However you do it, do something… every day. You will be surprised how a few hundred words a day will accrue into what could become your book, which may include an important message that needs to be told. In fact, it may be the reason you have lived the life that you have lived.

The “how” in how to write a book is of less concern to you in this moment than the actual writing of your book. The most important first step requires taking the daily action of recording your thoughts. This is more important than not doing it.

Formulating your ideas into chapters and having a beginning, a middle and an end may be something you can handle, though it is always good to enlist the aid of someone to assist in the formatting, proofreading and editing, if that is possible. If not, don’t let it stop you. Speaking of stopping:

Don’t Let Anything Stop You

Don’t second-guess yourself, do not allow self-doubt to creep up, don’t let any sense of unworthiness threaten your progress. You don’t need to be famous, have a fancy degree or even adequate writing skills to tell your story. You only need to tell it and let nothing stand between you and the publishing of your book.

Publishing your book

It is quicker and easier to publish your book today – now – more than ever. Once you have your manuscript you can publish it freely in both eBook (Kindle) format and physical printed books (the kind you can hold in your hands and sit on your bookshelf) on demand via Amazon.

No Excuses

There is no reason you cannot get this done. Dear God, please don’t let your opportunity to tell your story – in your words – lapse.

We and the world are waiting…

Even now, we are listening for your voice, desiring to read your words…

Share Your Book

If you have taken the action to get your message out and write your book, please let us know in the comments section below, so that others can be encouraged by your decisiveness in taking the action to see your thoughts documented and come to life.

Tag: how to write a book

How to Gain Momentum in Writing Your Book