It’s not your fault that the manuscript you started last year is buried somewhere on your computer where you can’t find it.
It happens to all of us.
We start that book we’ve always planned to write, but life gets in the way, work takes over, and we’re so tired, we just can’t face that blank page.
Years ago, that meant putting reams of paper, unfinished chapters, into a desk drawer so you wouldn’t have to look at them and be reminded of your failure.
Today, you merely let those chapters languish on your hard drive, where the words beg to be let out and heard, but you turn a blind eye, focusing on something else. Anything else.
These are some of the traps you’re falling into (and how to avoid them)
LACK OF TIME: Writing a book requires discipline and consistent effort. Without a disciplined approach, it becomes challenging to make progress and complete the book.
One way to be disciplined about your book writing is to set both goals and deadlines. Goals could be 500 words a day. Deadlines could be: chapter one done by this date, chapter two by this date. Keep these on your calendar where you see them every day.
PROCRASTINATION! “Never leave till tomorrow, that which you can do today.” This quote is from Benjamin Franklin, though it’s also attributed to Mark Twain. If this is a trap you’re falling into, if you’re waiting for the “perfect” moment to start or continue working on your book, you may never finish it. This is beyond discipline. It involves pushing the writing off indefinitely, making excuses, or just abandoning it, because you think tomorrow is a better day to work.
Procrastination is more of a ‘disease’ than a problem. We humans fall into its trap for more than just writing a book. If you deal with this on a regular basis, you may want to explore a coach – book or business – to help you overcome this trap and finally finish your book.
OVERWHELM: Writing a book can feel like a monumental task. Actually, it is a monumental task. Ask anyone who is a published author. Writing a book is not like any other writing you will ever do.
It can lead to overwhelm. Some writers become paralyzed by the idea of crafting a masterpiece – thinking it has to be flawless. They end up obsessing over each sentence, never moving forward.
This is where a good book coach can make a big difference. She can help break the project down into manageable parts, all leading to the end goal of that published book.
LACK OF FOCUS AND STRUCTURE: We have found that without a clear plan and structure, a new writer and some established writers also, lose their way. The absence of a roadmap or outline can cause confusion and make it difficult to progress beyond certain points in the story.
Our Writing Road Map is yours for the asking. Just leave a comment requesting it.
SELF-DOUBT AND FEAR: Now we’re getting to the nitty-gritty. Many writers, myself included, have struggled with self-doubt, questioning our abilities and even the worthiness of our work. In our world of “imposter syndrome” we fear criticism, rejection, or failure. Maybe once, years ago, someone said, “You’ll never do that!” Or someone else said, “You’ll never amount to anything.” And we took it to heart.
The best way to overcome self-doubt and fear is to surround yourself with people who believe in you. People who believe in your book. Listen to them when they applaud you and cheer you on.
LIFE GETTING IN THE WAY: I know you have family commitments. I know you have work commitments. I know you’re launching a new, amazing program or online webinar. These are part and parcel of the experience you bring to your work that makes your book so important. The fact that you have these commitments makes you a prime target for becoming a great author – one who can share real insight and advice.
To fit time into your busy day, create a writing schedule. Just half an hour a day can be enough to get you through the first few chapters, which will inspire you to write the rest of the book. At the very least, you can dictate the book in 15 minutes a day, and have the transcripts turned into book chapters.
NO SUPPORT – YOU’RE IN THIS ALL ALONE: Many writers think they have no support, when, in truth, they have plenty of support. They have LinkedIn connections who will rally around them as they write their book. They have friends and family who believe in them. They have new connections on other social platforms who admire them and the work they do – and will admire their book, too. And, of course, their book coach and everyone she knows.
You just have to tell these people you’re writing a book. You have to be brave enough to share. The more you share, the more recognition you receive and the more likely you are to build a solid fan club of interested parties who will be eager to be part of your book’s launch.
THE DREADED WRITER’S BLOCK! For fiction writers, I’ve heard this called,
When your imaginary friends won’t play with you.
Which is funny but true. For nonfiction, it’s often the story that’s getting lost. Writing it all down is a big task and writers get to a certain point and…falter because they’ve started adding too many details or they can’t remember the details of an event or conversation and they don’t want to get either wrong.
For both kinds of writers, the goal is to step back and remember why you’re writing the book. Who is it for? What does the reader need, right now, at this moment you’re stuck? They need you to at least write what you’re remembering or thinking, and not worry about how it sounds or whether it’s ‘right’. Just put the words down on paper. (And make up conversations or events to the best of your ability – if you don’t remember them, others probably don’t either. No one’s memory is absolute.)
Naturally, you could just take a walk, turn your attention to something else, or pause for an hour to go make brownies.
Writing a book is both easy and simple. And hard and complicated. It’s a personal choice. It’s your story.
If you allow these traps to keep you from finishing your manuscript, you are doing yourself a disservice, but you are also doing a great disservice to your readers, who need your insight and advice. Yes, yours.
What other traps can you think of that are holding you back? Mention them in the comments.
Do you have a manuscript you’d like assessed for writing, marketability, throughline, grammar, etc ?
Master Book Builders will read and assess your half-finished manuscript or completed work, in our newly launched Manuscript Assessment Program. You will receive a written report and an hour of our time to go through the assessment with you.
For more details, contact me <yvonne @ yvonnedivita dot com> and put Manuscript Assessment in the subject line.
Don’t forget to visit me on LinkedIn and ring that bell!
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