Want To Write a Book? There’s One Thing You Must Do
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You’ll never finishing writing a book unless you do this one thing.
And (gulp), a client helped me realize I’m not doing it!
I’ve been at a loss with this client who isn’t turning in their book proposal assignments. I pride myself on getting aspiring authors over any kind of writing obstacle you can imagine, so it threw me when nothing I tried helped. They have all the ingredients to get a book deal, and I deeply believe in their message. I mean, I really, really, really want to see this book in the world.
Alas, every time we talk, they admit they’ve barely even started my latest assignment. There’s just never enough time. Grrrrr!
I’m normally very good at helping people with busy schedules find time, so I felt like I was failing as a coach, and then I finally figured out the problem. It’s not lack of time. If time were the issue, I’m confident that we would find a way to Make It Happen.
Here’s the key to writing a book:
You absolutely have to make your book a Top 3 priority.
No matter how much this client would like to see this book in print, and no matter how much they paid me, when it comes down to it, their growing business, their young family, and their active social life all come first. There’s nothing wrong with those life choices…but this won’t lead to a book.
As I was thinking about how to break that to my client, it hit me – Oh, #%&*!— that’s why I haven’t finished my latest novel and why my blog and videos are inconsistent! It’s not Covid or rounds of classroom closures and freaking virtual school, and getting roped into being the PTA President when the current one moved away. It may have started with those things, but I need to lay the blame squarely on the truth:
I’m not finished because it’s not a priority for me right now.
I’m choosing to prioritize client work and the travel writing project for which I got a grant, the online magazine I co-founded, and spending time with my kids, the oldest of whom is in the last gasp of elementary school.
And that’s just fine with me! In fact, it’s a relief to recognize that squeezing a book out of my current life is impossible.
Until I make my book a top priority, it won’t happen. Neither will my client’s. Neither will yours. Not even if you hire an editor or a coach or a drill sergeant to scream in your face until you produce 1,000 words a day (okay, maybe if you do that), but no one else can want it bad enough for you.
But here’s the exciting part: The day will come when I am ready to focus on my book/s (I have two outlines I’m really excited about!), and I’ll know just what I need to do.
When you’re ready to write your book, here’s what to do:
To finish your book
Decide it’s one of your top 3 priorities
Figure out what else you can automate, delegate, drop, or postpone (even if it’s just for six months or a year)
Claim a specific time to write (whether it’s a regular schedule or something that changes each week)
Stick to those hours no matter what!
Let everything else fall into the leftovers
What not to do: If you try to fit your writing into those leftover moments, you’ll never get there. There is almost no such thing as leftover time, and when there is, you’re probably so burnt out, you spend it binging Better Call Saul. (I can’t argue with that one!)
When your book is a top priority and you schedule writing sessions accordingly, you will pile up the pages. As for the rest of life’s obligations? Sorry, your time is already spoken for.
No to that needy person, no to that good opportunity, no to the PTA 🙋♀️. That is how you’ll get shit done.
