As the year progresses, I think about all the potential authors out there who want to write a book. Having been a ghostwriter for two decades, I know how many people long to see their stories published. How many times have you dreamed of walking into your local Barnes and Nobel to see your books on sale right by the door? It’s an ultimate objective for many.
So how are you coming along with your goal?
Unfortunately, I see many people procrastinate when it comes to writing a book. I receive many emails from authors who need help. Many decide to shelve their projects for a month or two, which extends to a year or two. I understand. There are many excellent-sounding reasons why their book projects get shoved to the back of the closet.
What’s the result?
The books never get written.
If you have a strong idea for a book, it’s important to write your book NOW. Don’t wait. I can’t emphasize this enough.
Why do I feel this way?
Well, here are a few reasons.
In a year you’ll still be thinking about writing a book.
Think about it.
Looking into my virtual crystal ball I can see that you have been pondering this book for several years. It’s been on your mind a lot. Maybe it is what you think about just before you drift off to sleep. It’s your dream. When you don’t pursue your goals to the best of your ability that failure can haunt you.
If you wait and do nothing, several more years will pass. Decades even.
I receive emails routinely from authors who are passionate about writing a book. Beyond any other goal, they want to write. However, they often tell me: “I’m not quite ready to start.”
Now, I will try to stay in touch with these folks throughout the year, contacting them regularly. My purpose is to help them complete their project. Their reply is often the same.
“Yes, I want to write a book, but I’m too busy. Now’s just not a good time.”
The problem is that this business of life will never change. You will always be busy. And whenever “now” is will rarely be a perfect moment to start. Life tends to get in the way, doesn’t it?
So what’s the solution?
Find a way to write your book despite all the difficulties. I know that you might have a family with children who need your attention (rightly so). And your business probably needs a few extra hours a week. Plus, you probably have a few projects going on the side all screaming for your time. Yes, this is all normal.
You must find the time anyway. If it’s important to you, you’ll figure it out.
You can do it.
You got this!
Someone else will write a book very similar to yours.
People sometimes are very afraid that someone will steal their book idea. That doesn’t happen often and isn’t something to fear. However, that doesn’t mean that other people won’t independently come up with a similar idea on their own. That’s not only possible but very likely given the number of authors in the world.
That exciting plot twist that you’ve never seen before will appear in the mind of another author. Or a memoir similar to the one you’ve wanted to share, which you know will become a bestseller, will grace Amazon’s top 10. A different writer will have beaten you to the punch.
Don’t allow that to happen to you!
You will continue to think about your unfulfilled goal.
If you are anything like me, failure doesn’t sit well. This hits home when you know you haven’t tried to do your best to make your dream happen.
You will continue to spend time thinking and considering your book project, wondering what your book would have looked like on the shelves of your local bookstore. You may even come up with brilliant marketing strategies to sell it. It’s all wasted time and energy if you don’t actually take action and write your book.
You may want to write a book, but that isn’t enough. You must take the steps required to complete the project.
That nagging feeling won’t go away. Trust me, you won’t be satisfied until you have completed your manuscript.
You will develop a very bad habit of not writing.
Habits come in many forms. Some involve doing an action you know you shouldn’t do and some involve not doing anything when you know you need to accomplish a goal.
Once you develop the habit of not writing, it can become increasingly difficult to write. If you stop and start a lot, that pattern also becomes familiar. It becomes comfortable for you not to write and becomes something you learn to expect and accept.
Don’t start down that path.
You know you need to write!
In order to actually complete your book, you must overcome the additional hurdle of the bad habit that you’ve formed. Authors require discipline to write a full-length book. There are no exceptions. It requires hundreds of hours. You can’t write a book in a week.
Honestly, some people hire me because I’m a relentless bulldog when it comes to completing projects! Just ask my clients. They hire me because they know by the end of the ghostwriting process, they will have a book in their hands.
If you want to write a book this year, the trick is to steadily write. If you can’t afford a ghostwriter, you will need to set aside time each and every day to work on your project. Don’t allow yourself the luxury of excuses as to why you don’t have time, energy, or enough pencils. The dog ate your manuscript shouldn’t fly either.
Develop good writing habits and you will complete your book. If you wish to hire me as your consultant, please email me. I’ll keep you accountable and together we will complete your book!
Excuses will enter in and plague you.
Oh, you’ll come up with all sorts of legitimate-sounding reasons for why you can’t write one day or the next. “I’m tired.” “There’s a good show on TV.” They sound good and reasonable, but you can’t let that deter you.
Here’s a tip from your friendly ghostwriter: Treat yourself as if you were your own client.
Give yourself targets and deadlines and then meet them!
And finally, writing should be a joy. If it isn’t, something is wrong. If you’ve hit writer’s block, reach out and schedule a one-hour consultation today. I’ll get you writing again!
If writing is a chore, don’t continue a painful process; the manuscript won’t come out well. Your readers will feel your resentment pouring from the pages. Think of the advice more experience chefs give their protégés: You need to cook with love. Your diners will tell the difference. As an author, you need to write from a place of joy. Your readers will thank you for it.
So, what are you waiting for? Stop reading this article and start writing!
Additional articles you might find helpful:
Your Guide to Hiring a Ghostwriter
How Much Does It Cost To Hire A Ghostwriter?
Help! I need help writing a book!
