Started a book and then got bogged down? Like many of my bookcoaching clients do you say, "I have so many other demands, I just can't get to the book."
This isn't procrastination or fear. Most writers get stuck when they don't know how to move forward, finish, publish and sell their unique, useful book to audiences just waiting for it to come out. Let me share two ways to speed up your process.
One. Take One or More High Level Action Each Day
Another to do, you groan? Not really. If you don't make your book one of the top three priorities in your life, it won't finish it.
Get real. How many hours can you give to your book a week? If not ten, I say you may never get your book out. Clients get so discouraged when they don't do their fieldwork for our coaching calls, so I came up with one solution of doing one High Level Activity or more each day for five days a week. (HLAs) Go ahead; take the weekend off like I do.
Some HLA steps include:
- Write on a chapter that you have passion for first.
- Write 2-3 pages a day on just one chapter.
- Finish one chapter before you move on.
- Write 3-6 questions you need to answer for your audience for each chapter before you write a word.
- Read a book on how to put a chapter together the fast way
- Write in your organizer each day the specific HLAs you will do
- Contact a book coach who has low-cost teleclasses, small group coaching groups, or writes books on the topic you need help on.
- Write a sample chapter introduction with a hook and thesis to direct your reader to the meat.
-Write compelling copy so your reader will turn all the pages and recommend your book to others.
Sample Organizer Page
Write your intention: I finish this book (name the title) by (name date and year)
Affirm: I stay on track every day with my HLA's.
Take Action: My HLAs for Wednesday, date, year
1. Contact a cover person for my how to book
2. Answer three questions for chapter 6. For example,
- Can I write print or eBook at the same time?
- What's the best eBook format for my book's purpose and me?
- How much will it cost to self- publish? (A lot less than you think)
- Add front and back material to sell more copies
Think of the Payoffs.
The trick is to finish these three HLAs or even one before you go to bed that day. If you finish fully, you'll feel confident and your guilt will disappear.
Two. Write Fast-Forward, Well-Organized, Easy-to-Read Chapters
Do you try to use past research for your chapters? This is not necessary. All you need to do is answer your reader's concerns and questions.
Your reader wants your to solve his problem or challenge, whether it be to make more money, save more money, create better relationships, connect with their inner self, or to communicate better.
If you don't answer these in each chapter, your reader will say "ho hum" or "I'm confused, what's the point of this chapter? They will put your book down and not recommend it to others.
One common mistake writers make with their books:
They don't complete one chapter with all its parts including the sizzling hook and introduction, the middle with stories or how tos with engaging headlines, and the ending that inspires the writer to keep going to the next chapter.
When you sidetrack, you get off focus, and that's also a big challenge for book writers. When you focus, you write so much faster, and with a little professional help, get to market so much sooner. Results? More cash flow so you can market and promote properly.
Judy Cullins ?2005 All Rights Reserved.
Judy Cullins, 20-year Book and Internet Marketing Coach works with small business people who want to make a difference in people's lives, build their credibility and clients, and make a consistent life-long income. Judy is author of 10 eBooks including Write your eBook or Other Short Book Fast, Ten Non-Techie Ways to Market Your Book Online, The Fast and Cheap Way to Explode Your Targeted Web Traffic, and Power Writing for Web Sites That Sell. She offers free help through her 2 monthly ezines, "The BookCoach Says...," "Business Tip of the Month," blog Q & A at http://www.bookcoaching.com/opt-in.shtml and over 170 free articles.
===============
Email her at http://www.bookcoaching.com/opt-in.shtml. Phone: 619/466-0622 -- Orders: 866/200-9743
FERRETING OUT WORK You keep hearing that there's work out... Read More
Creating incredible characters can be easy if you know of... Read More
I'm willing to bet that quite a number of you... Read More
Connectors -- conjunctions, punctuation, and transitional phrases -- allow readers... Read More
As a professional copywriter, not only do I do a... Read More
Have you ever wondered why certain writers are able to... Read More
Sometimes a freelance writing career can feel very much like... Read More
Today I took the dog for a walk and realized... Read More
The first and final rule of quality writing is this:... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?Our plotting stage is our testing area.Everything... Read More
As many authors are fond of stating, "Ideas are all... Read More
One Saturday afternoon, I sat in a packed conference room... Read More
Plagiarism has been condemned lately by all types of experts,... Read More
I've just come back to work after nine glorious, sun-drenched... Read More
As a previous article ("Making Better Word Choices ? 4... Read More
What a wonderful resource the Internet is!Students find information to... Read More
Suspense novels are probably the easiest novels to write. Suspense... Read More
"If you're like me, than I'm sure you're pretty familiar... Read More
You've finished your story, and you're pretty happy with it.... Read More
If you have an online home based business you know... Read More
If you are an aspiring writer, or you simply want... Read More
Everybody knows writing a story is not easy. Like the... Read More
When a writer is working on their next literary masterpiece... Read More
A few magazines refer to their written idea sources in... Read More
How many times have you forced yourself to sit in... Read More
house cleaning company Glencoe ..Winning writing contests can provide several advantages to writers. For... Read More
1. No one else will do it for you.2. No... Read More
As a student of Spanish, my goal was to think... Read More
One of the most common weaknesses I see in day-to-day... Read More
So, you want to freelance as an editor, writer, copy... Read More
Every morning I excitedly get out of bed. Just a... Read More
The journey to having my first novel for children published... Read More
Chances are, you'll be busy over the next several weeks.... Read More
Sometimes a freelance writing career can feel very much like... Read More
Why would anyone want to write for trade journals? Aren't... Read More
Or do you?Writers write. You shouldn't wait around for inspiration... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?Our plotting stage is our testing area.Everything... Read More
Many experts recommend reading as a way to get ideas,... Read More
When you sit down to write a steamy romance, a... Read More
Why should you consider creating a memoir of your personal... Read More
Not all writers write good grammar. That's a fact. It's... Read More
Set your journal or diary where you will see it... Read More
So you've got your plot outlined, a title lined up... Read More
I asked several writers how long it took them to... Read More
Whether you are writing a magazine article, composing a press... Read More
Wired Online has recently announced its plans to drop capitalization... Read More
A few days ago, I critiqued a chapter for a... Read More
My husband is no poet, so when I offer my... Read More
Compiling a list of the history's ten best writers is... Read More
Writers are an insecure lot.It's easy to understand why. You... Read More
Writing |