Plan Now to Write a Book in 2017
We’ve all planned launches, right? We know that launches don’t just magically happen; they require a heck of a lot of legwork and hustle during the preparation phase, during the launch phase, and even after (along with a service or product that people want). Launching a book is often treated the same as other launches, but WRITING a book often is not. Let me tell you why it can — and should — be likened to the launching process we’re familiar with:
You plan for it, AKA writing calendar and research (pre-launch, writing email sequences, etc.).
You do the work, AKA writing (cart open).
You are exhausted from all that work and take a break, AKA the book is edited/designed (cart close).
If you missed last week’s Facebook Live, I reviewed the process of reviewing your calendar to figure out when a book launch would be possible for you, based on when book planning and writing would be possible. Basically, you need to consider what else you have planned this year to make sure you have the appropriate amount of time to devote to the process. If you don’t, well, have you ever launched when you weren’t quite ready? How did that go? On the flip side, have you ever had a launch go even better than anticipated, all because you did the legwork during the pre-launch phase and were READY when it was “go time”?
“A goal without a plan is just a wish.”
— Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Preparation Is Key
How much time do you really need to write a book? If you enjoy writing and write regularly now, you can likely push out a 50,000-word book in a couple months (assuming your schedule is fairly open for those two writing months). If you don’t enjoy writing as much and/or don’t write regularly, it might take you a bit longer to get into a groove to consistently produce large word counts. The key, in my mind, is to plan before you sit down to write. This is the process my coaching clients successfully use (and is the process I used to write my book last year). This process includes figuring out a research plan as well as seeing what you have already that can be repurposed. (We’ll be talking more about these in the coming week, so stay tuned for that.) If all of your research is out of the way and you have even a rough outline, and all you need to do is write new text, the writing process generally goes smoothly. (That’s not to say you’ll be immune to writer’s block or have less-than-productive days, of course. But with a plan all things are manageable.)
Written ≠ Finished
Unlike a course or new service, which can be released once you’re finished, a book is different. Once the writing is done, there’s still much to be done: revising, editing, formatting, publishing, marketing. This is why planning ahead is so critical.
If you want to publish a book in time for spring wedding season, for example, you can’t plan to finish writing in May. Your book needs to be available then to purchasers, and all you have is a manuscript, not a finished book. Instead, you want to wrap up the writing phase closer to February, to allow time for these other tasks. Building out a time line, based on non-negotiables already on your calendar (other launches, family vacations, and the like), allows you to see how your book will actually get written —and then published.
With a plan in place, writing and publishing a book this year is absolutely possible! And if you’re thinking that there’s no way you could do it, I’ve created a list of content you already have that you can repurpose to kickstart your manuscript (or at least get your wheels turning). Snag it here. Let me know what else you have to repurpose; this list is just a starting point!
Is writing a book to help grow your business a part of your 2017 plan? I’d love to talk with you about your project! Schedule a complimentary Book Brainstorm Call today.