How to Get Your Book Out of Your Head and Become a Reality

However, many people get stuck in the dreaming phase and don’t even start their book. Some haven’t even made a decision on whether to write their book—perhaps because of a fear of negative feedback from strangers and loved ones or a lack of understanding of the writing and publishing process. Here are some tips you can use right away to start writing your first or next book.

1. Make the decision to write your book

This is part of one of my nine essential steps in writing a book, and it sounds cliché. But it’s true. So many people think about writing, but never decide to do it.

I was a book coach, editor and writer long before the pandemic, but the pandemic brought many people to me with regret. Some are women in their 60s who have told me they regret not writing their book. Some of them worked with me to do it. Others give in to their fears and doubts and still hope and think.

So, make a decision. If not, that’s okay! At least you know now. If so, it doesn’t even have to be today or this year (although writing a book doesn’t require you to give up your life). Decide that you will write your book in 2023, 2024, etc. and that you will do what it takes to make it happen. Whether it’s hiring a coach, an editor, or joining a writer’s group.

2. Commit to a writing schedule

The second very important thing is to commit to a writing schedule. And this is the part that a lot of people can’t stand when I mention it.

Committing to a writing schedule doesn’t have to mean sitting in front of a computer three, four, five or even 10 hours a day like Stephen King, John Grisham, or some other great novelist.

I like to recommend the 25-minute stretch, which is also called Pomodoros. So you can write for 25 minutes.

But that’s not enough.

You should put this on your calendar as a non-negotiable appointment with yourself. It can be one day a week, two days a week, three days, five days or seven days. You can do one 25-minute stretch with a five-minute break or more sessions. The important thing is to commit to a schedule and stick to it.

3. Start writing your book any time

The next important thing to do is to start writing your story where you feel comfortable. Many people ask: Well, Stephanie, what should I write first? Do I write the beginning first or the end first? My answer is always, start writing wherever you feel inspired.

As a writer, I write my introduction and conclusion last. So the best thing you can do is sit there and write what feels good to you.

If you’re writing a business book and want to tell a story about a specific client, sit down and write that story. The point is to get that first draft out, and not necessarily sequentially. You can work with a coach or editor to get everything in the right order.

Start writing wherever you feel inspired or passionate.

4. Don’t question yourself when you go out together

This move has a lot of restrictions in it. Don’t question yourself while you’re gone. Don’t edit. Don’t send it to your friends, your business or general life coach, your family members, etc.

Just write your first draft. It may not be great, but it won’t be as bad as you think.

But if you sit there and second-guess everything and send it to a bunch of people—even well-meaning, well-qualified people—you’ll get frustrated and quit.

I’ve met way too many people who are great at writing their own books, which is really amazing because most people can’t write their own books. And they send a chapter or chapter to some friends and family and get negative feedback so they get frustrated and quit.

And then they came to me years later and said, I have to finish this book, what do I do?

So avoid second-guessing yourself and asking for feedback from others who aren’t involved.

When I coach people through writing their books, if they really insist I will see their work during our sessions. But most of the time, I encourage them just to write. And then at the end, we can go through a separate editing process or I can refer them to another editor if they want to see more.

But it’s important to get it done with as few internal or external distractions as possible.

Summing it up

Writing a book is not for everyone. However, it is possible for those who make the decision to do so and are willing to sometimes feel uncomfortable during the process. It’s important to set a schedule, write as much as you can without stopping and not second-guessing yourself. With the right systems and support, you can become a published authorpreneur.