Writing Your Book
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- 81% of Americans want to write a book.
- Very few of them actually do it.
- Which one applies to you?
Writing and publishing a book is easier than ever. And there are so many reasons to make it a priority.
1. Build your business. A book gives you credibility and helps you hone your message. It’s a valuable tool for speakers, entrepreneurs—anyone who wants to share their expertise and help others in the process.
2. Leave a legacy. For your children, your company, your organization, or just for you, a book captures who you are in a way that nothing else does.
3. Improve your life. Write because it’s one of the best ways to explore who you are, what you believe, and why your experiences matter.
4. Fulfill a dream. Put yourself in the small number of people who can say, “I did it. I’m the author of a book.”
- Get started writing.
- Learn about publishing options.
- Contact me for a free consultation.
—Janice Gary, author of Short Leash: A Memoir
The C word: Commitment
Let me tell you a story…
Sometimes at night when I can’t sleep, I realize that Ralph (my inner voice, muse or—in my mind—spirit guide) wants to talk to me. I climb out of bed, go the family room, stretch out in Bob the Builder’s recliner, cover myself up with an afghan that has horses on it, and ask, “Okay, what is it now?”
On one occasion a few months ago, Ralph answered my question with a question: “What’s on your mind?”
I told him the first issue that surfaced: I wasn’t getting published, and it was driving me crazy. I had stories in me! I had wisdom to share! I had bills to pay!
“So what have you written lately?” Ralph asked, as if he didn’t know the answer.
Well, I admitted, not much. I seemed to spend all my time doing everything but writing.
“Ah,” Ralph said, followed by this profound observation:
“Trying to get published without writing,” he said, “is like trying to get pregnant without having sex.”
Thwack! Of course.
I wanted the results, but I hadn’t committed to the process.
“As long as you’re not writing,” Ralph said, “we can’t help you. But as soon as you put something on paper, we’ll do all sorts of creative things to get it published.”
In other words, I had to do the writing.
And so do you.
You may not have any desire to see your work published in the traditional sense. (And you don’t have to, since now you can do print-on-demand books, e-books, memory books, blogs, etc.) But the same principles still apply. If you want the positive growth, the self-satisfaction, the credibility, the income, and the respect that come with writing, you have to do the practice. You have to commit and be consistent. There just isn’t any way around it.”
Your job in writing a book is to be married to it. Know that your stuff will come up, but you’re not going to leave the writing, and it won’t abandon you. Know that it may take time to get comfortable and see real progress. Sometimes you’ll have aha moments, and other times you’ll feel like nothing happened. At times, in fact, you’ll swear you’re going backward.
Why does it matter that you make it a practice? Because that’s how you grow and learn. You wouldn’t have advanced through school if you’d gone just when you felt like it or when you felt inspired or when you had time. You advanced because you did it every day, even when you didn’t feel good, you didn’t like the teacher, it was raining, and your dog died.
Writing is like that. Do it every day, or three times a week, or whatever schedule you set for yourself, and you will grow. You will write a book. It’s that simple. You can’t win if you don’t play. You can’t be a Michael Jordan if you don’t shoot 1,000 baskets a day.
This week, make a commitment.
- Ask yourself, “What’s my why?” Write down the reasons you want to write a book, and be honest. Want to show it off at your next high school reunion? Great. Want to share it with a friend who needs the wisdom you’ve acquired? Equally great. Want to develop a speaking career and sell the book at the back of the room? Great, great, great.
- Ask yourself what you’re willing to put into the writing. How much time? How often? How long?
- Practice time blocking: Go ahead and mark off blocks of time on your schedule that will be devoted to writing. Consider these blocks of time sacred. They don’t have to be 3 hours or even one hour. Start with 15 minutes…make it doable.
- Write down your commitment to yourself and your writing and post it by the computer.
Then keep coming back. I’ll have more tips to keep you going.
