Overcoming Objections: Defeating Your Top Book-Writing Hurdles
You know you need to do it. You’ve had it on your to-do list for years. Your own coach has told you time and again that this is the year you must get your book in print.
And yet…nothing.
It’s not that you don’t recognize the benefits, or that you don’t want to have a published book on your resume. You just struggle with it – probably for the same reasons many other people resist publication.
You don’t have time. Here’s a biggie. Everyone is busy. We all get that. But that’s not a good excuse when it comes to growing your business.
Rather than lamenting your lack of time, you begin by prioritizing your day to accommodate the important things, like writing your book. Maybe that means getting up 30 minutes earlier for a focused (if short) writing stint every morning, or turning off the television after dinner so you can write or even setting aside several hours each Saturday morning or afternoon until your book is done.
The point is, you must make writing a priority. Period. Make yourself a priority and W.R.I.T.E. Simply write. Block out the time in your calendar and treat that time as sacred. Pretend it’s an appointment with your most important client. That means you do not allow anything to get in the way of keeping it.
You can’t write. Many, many people claim they cannot write; yet when you look at their blogs, there are hundreds of posts. What it really means when someone says they can’t write is that they don’t like to.
Luckily, you have plenty of options for overcoming this particular hurdle. Hire a ghostwriter. Start with PLR. Repurpose your blog posts into a book (Darren Rowse of Problogger.net did this with great success).
And if all else fails, speak. Use software such as Dragon Naturally Speaking, or simply record using your favorite MP3 app, or video it, and then have it transcribed.
My dear mentor, Mary Agnes Antonopolous, laid it out like this for me. “You like to speak, so speak,” she said. “Turn your phone sideways and simply shoot a video – a 3 to 5 minute video. Get it transcribed.” I use REV.com – They are $1 per minute, which I can afford. 4-5 minutes of speaking should give me about 500 words per video. Chapters are approximately 2500 words, so shoot 5 videos for 1 chapter.
Plan your main point, your first and last sentence, and scripture, if incorporating, then simply speak – and record that video! You will find the videos are very useful during the book launch, so record away and keep those video files.
You want 10 chapters? Plan the 10 topics for your chapters and shoot 50 videos. Get the videos transcribed. Edit those word documents and organize the flow in the chapters. Tada! You’ve just written a book.
You think you can’t organize a long project like a book. Ok, so you’re great with blog posts, and you don’t mind writing them, but the thought of writing an entire book makes you stare at your blank screen like a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming car. Been there, that’s why I get this!
[Tweet “If you can write a blog post, you can write an entire series of books.”]
The process is all the same, after all. It’s just putting words into sentences, sentences into paragraphs, and so on.
But if you really feel you can’t manage a long project, then an outline is going to be your best friend. Start with a broad overview of your project, and then break it down by sections, then chapters. Make notes about what you’ll cover in each, and then it’s just a matter of filling in the blanks.
There are dozens of reasons to write a book. It’s important for establishing your expertise, for growing your audience, and for solidifying your message. And it seems to become your business card! But none of that will happen if you don’t actually write it. So it’s time to get over your hurdles and get your book done.
So write. Or speak. Just have FUN doing it! Then your readers will have fun reading your book.
[Tweet “Write your book at DanceWithJesus today”] [inlinkz_linkup id=713638 mode=1]
Great info Susan, thanks. ((hug))
This is a great post!! My husband is wanting to write a book and he’s started, but gotten discouraged!! I’ll have to have him read this!
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
#TuneinThursday
Awesome Jodie! Thank you for taking the time to write and DO share with him.
FYI – If God put it on his heart and he got discouraged, that is NOT from God… Just sayin’ and I pray that encourages him to develop and discipline and routine to complete his book.
Hugs, Susan
Susan, Someone suggested The Courage to Write to me. I’ve only read a few chapters but it addresses how naked you feel to release your work. All kinds of insecurities awaken! Thanks for the encouragement. I about ready to send a manuscript to my editor. Blessings!
Naked is an applicable word for sharing your writing! How exciting to be sending your manuscript to your editor. Debbie. Persevere! And the Courage to Write sounds like a great read for new writers. Hugs, Susan
Thank you! The Lord has laid this dream on my heart to write a book, so this is encouraging. I can do this. Just a little at time and laying aside time on the calendar.
Lindsey, yes you can do this! Create the structure and discipline to write and it is done. Karol Ladd, bestselling author of over 35 books committed 2 days per week to her writing – and she has been a prolific writer! The Positive Mom, The Positive Woman, etc…
Yes, you can! Hugs, Susan
Susan, Thank you for this encouragement! I have a book idea inside my head, but it feels so overwhelming! Thank you for these practical tips.
Do it! Create disciple and structure to write as that structure you create is what creates the outcome you intend. And have fun writing it! Hugs, Susan
Love this encouragement!! Definitely needed this today 🙂
Nicole,
Thank God the encouragement you needed was right there for you. Community is so important in our lives, isn’t it?! Hugs, Susan
Thank you for this post and your wisdom and tips!
Thank you for your encouragement to “just do it”!
Elizabeth, you are most welcome! Just do it. Today! Hugs, Susan
Wonderful tips, Susan! I love the encouragement on the ability to write an entire book if you can write a blog series. Can’t speak for others, but the idea of a book seems overwhelming! When you put it into bite-sized pieces (like blog posts), it’s not an intimidating monster!
Blessings,
Esther
Esther, that is so true! IF you can write one, you can write several. Break it down into chapters – like 3-5 blog posts worth and simply write the blogs that make the chapters. Then compile those into the chapter. Get a new topic, repeat 8-12 times = a written book, by YOU! Go girl! Hugs, Susan
Great, practical tips to get the struggling writer….writing!
Yes Becky, WRITE! create the structure and discipline to write and then just write. It WORKS – believe it or not! Hugs, Susan
“Don’t have time” – that’s one of the biggest hurdles for so many things. Sigh. But you’re right; it’s a matter of prioritizing. What do we really want to accomplish? We usually find time for what we want the most. Thanks for sharing this encouragement, Susan.
Lisa, it is SO easy to get too busy to do lots of stuff. So prioritizing and staying committed is critical. Read somewhere if the devil doesn’t make you bad he will make you busy. OUCH! Now that is just too true at my house… Hugs, Susan
The struggle is real! I am in awe of people who manage to keep a blog afloat and still crank out books!
Create a pace you can and will maintain is the best advice I received when I started blogging. So very true. And then adding in writing…create a structure and disciple for success. And employ it! Hugs, Susan
I’m a big believer that we will never find time or even make time, we have to prioritize time if we really want to get something done. Great post – thanks for the link up.
TRUE! If we fail to prioritize things in life they will fall to the wayside for sure. Thanks for your comment Heather! Hugs, Susan
Oh, Susan. I had an idea for a book a few months ago, and I let the idea fade for ALL the reasons you mentioned above. Thank you for the encouragement today 🙂
Melissa, if it is meant to be, rekindle it! And then create the structure and discipline to do the work of writing. It will be SO WORTH IT!
Hugs, Susan
I hope your first week of May has been a good one!
I’ve self-published 10 books – so YES, YOU CAN! Thanks for the linkup, Susan.
Susan, Yes indeed you can – when you plan and execute the plan, huh?! Thank you for your comment. Hugs, Susan
Wow, you have me ready to start writing. It has always been a dream of mine to write a book. I LOVE books. I always thought that I would write a fiction book, but I deal much better in facts. My blog is still a baby-baby, but I do plan to write a book one day. Thank you so much for the nudge! 🙂
And for the link-up!
Blessings,
amy
Amy, If God is nudging you with an idea, simply create the structure and discipline to write as He will honor that for you. Hugs! Nudge, nudge! Susan
Good advice…. I have my manuscript finally printed off and ready for another edit in hard copy…. and it is being read by 2 people for feedback! We are working on designing the cover… and it seems like it will really happen!!! There are SO many things to do yet, but we are in the process!!! Exciting… and scary! 🙂
Wow! How exciting!
AWESOME- printed manuscript being edited! Remember to read it OUT LOUD – you will hear it slip if there is an edit that needs to be made with the word flow (or spelling – which sure can slip through easily if a correctly spelled word is mistakenly substituted!)
Hugs, Susan