Plan Now to Write a Book in 2019

Plan Now to Write a Book in 2019 | Jodi Brandon Editorial

Writing a book isn’t a small goal. It’s likely not something you decide to do on a whim (let alone do it that way!). If writing a book to serve your business this year is on your radar, here are your first steps:

  • Prepare well.

  • Identify your non-negotiables.

  • Understand that writing is not the end of the process.

Prepare Well

How much time do you really need to write a book? If you enjoy writing and write regularly in your business already, you can likely write a 50,000-word book in two or three months (assuming your schedule is fairly open for those months). If you don’t particularly enjoy writing, it might take longer to reach the point where you’re consistently producing larger word counts. The key to book writing is to have a plan before you start writing. That goes for the book overall as well as for each writing session. This is the process my book coaching clients successfully use (and is the process I used to write each of my three books). This process includes figuring out a research plan as well as seeing what content you have already that can be repurposed. With your research out of the way and an outline (even a rough one, or an organized brain dump) in hand — meaning all you need to do is write new text — the writing process generally goes smoothly. (A caveat: Writer’s block and less-than-productive days can still happen. But with a plan all things are manageable.)

"The key to book writing is to have a plan before you start writing." - @jodibrandon

Writing a book isn’t a small goal. It’s likely not something you decide to do on a whim (let alone do it that way!). If writing a book to serve your business this year is on your radar, here are your first steps. | Jodi Brandon Editorial

Identify Your Non-Negotiables

If you want to publish a book about productivity and goal-setting, for example, you shouldn’t plan to finish writing in September. Why not? Entrepreneurs start thinking about planning for the following year in November! Your book needs to be available for purchase then, not just written. You’ll want to finish the writing phase early in the summer. That allows time for the post-writing but pre-publication production tasks like editing and design. Building out a project schedule based on non-negotiables already on your calendar allows you to see how your book will actually get written —and then published.

What do I mean by non-negotiables? I mean those things that are already on your calendar, such as another launch in your business, whether a course or a new service offering. Or your family vacation, which is already booked and paid for. Or a conference where you’re speaking. Or a volunteer commitment. Prioritize those activities and events; they’re non-negotiable. Build your writing and marketing schedule around your non-negotiables, not the other way around.

"Build your writing and marketing schedule around your non-negotiables, not the other way around." - @jodibrandon

Understand that Writing Is Not the End of the Process

In fact, it’s only the start of the next phase! Unlike a course or other new service/product offering, which can be released once you’re finished, a book is different. Once the writing is done, your work isn’t close to being finished. There are several stages left before your book can be released (revising, beta testing, editing, formatting), and then there’s the actual publishing and marketing of the book.

With a plan in place, writing and publishing a book this year is absolutely possible! If writing a book to help grow your business is part of your 2019 plan, I’d love to talk with you about your project! Schedule your complimentary Book Brainstorm Session today.

"With a plan in place, writing and publishing a book this year is absolutely possible!" - @jodibrandon

WritingJodi Brandonbook writing, Writing Process, Publication PlanComment