Take these 3 steps if you want to finish your book.
If you are struggling with getting your book done, setting yourself up for success helps. Even if you’ve started you these are three steps writers should take immediately to get mentally organized especially if you want to become an author. That mental organization will help you physically do the work of writing.
Plan Time in Your Schedule to Write
The first of the three steps writers should take is planning out your time. Time is a funny thing. You have it, until you feel like you don’t. But you still do, if you want it.
If you are creative first thing in the morning carve out as much time as you can during the time that muse moves you. If it’s 10pm or 11pm at night (like me) settle the house down and get working. Saturday morning? Whatever time works for you, set it and commit to the book the world needs. And to yourself. You deserve this book to be out there.
This might mean informing others that you’ve blocked out time. This might also mean getting in your planner or calendar and scheduling your writing time in so that it’s just as important as that block of time you’ve got for an important phone call or attending a networking event. Prioritize your writing time just as you would other important areas of your life and work.
2. Plan What You Will Write
The second of the three steps writers should take is plan what you’ll write. Perhaps during your first session or two you can write your outline for the book. You may even choose to write a list of topics you want to cover. I have found this is a great way of organizing nonfiction as you will see the gaps and can add in a topic. As you are writing you’ll think of something new and can add it in. Look at the topics to make sure they make sense.
You don’t necessarily have to write in the order of the topics but you’ll need to order them, eventually. Pantsing (writing by the seat of your pants) for nonfiction and self-help will likely only get you so far before you need to incorporate some planning. You can also do the combination of pantsing (channeling that initial wisdom) and then planning out how to most effectively present it.
Plan Your Physical Space for Writing
The last of the three steps writers should take is planning your physical writing environment. As a stay at home mom, I work from home. I’ve considered getting a space somewhere but people are a distraction for me. Oh and then there’s the dog who I’d either be paying even more for daycare for or looking at my watch constantly to get back to walk her. It seemed like that was more added stress than needed. I have my office with a desk and large monitor to work on.
During the day my husband’s at home several days (post-Covid life) and talks on conference calls or the phone ALOT. Not to mention he can be a pacer, wandering through the house and even casually pacing into the office on the phone at full volume before realizing I’m working. I’ve had to adjust my writing time a bit with this.
My solution is that on the days he’s in the office, I’m doing heavier more thoughtful writing. I may do easier writing when he’s on a heavy conference call day. Or I’ll do marketing and social media those days. I’ll also close the door and his office door to create a sound barrier if I really need to get writing done.
Perhaps you use a closet, the kitchen table, or some other claimed space. If you do, plant your flag and let other people know that when you are in that space you are in the Do Not Disturb zone. Sometimes a visual cue like large headphones to block out the noise also helps – both you and others. If you’ve got young children, sorry, but this isn’t going to help. You’ll need to just go in the bathroom with your laptop and close the door and steal twenty to thirty minutes at a time. I may be speaking from past experience.
Questions for you?
- When do you write your best work?
- Are you a planner, a pantser or somewhere in between? How does it work for you?
- Where do you work and how do you keep your focus requires some thought ahead of time?
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