5 Proven Ways to Get Your Book Written and Published
Even creative activities like writing need some structure. The right foundation and routine will keep those pages moving and keep you on track to getting published:
1) Make the Time
The key to being a writer is definitely to write. Carve regular time in your weekly schedule for writing. Decide to set aside a specific number of hours, maybe just two in the beginning, and expand from there. Dedication to writing is the same as for any other job. Look at it as non-negotiable, as if you are meeting the president. Take it seriously, and invest in yourself.
2) Make a Plan
Come up with specific targets and concrete deadlines. How many words do you need to write every week to finish your book? It might be easier to start with your book’s final deadline, and work backwards, figuring out exactly how many words you need to type each week or workday, and research typical word-counts for your genre. Chose milestones that are realistic and make sense for you, and stick to them. If you want to really do something, you need a plan, or a roadmap for where you are going. Over time, you will need to add time for other aspects of your career, such as editing, formatting, promotion, social media postings and email.
3) Find an Accountability Partner
Sometimes you need a co-worker, or partner in crime, to keep your plan alive. Writing is a lonely job, and it’s easy to lose progress if no one holds you accountable. Look for someone who has similar goals, and report to each other, at least once a week. This adds a sense of both co-operation and competition to your schedule because you don’t want to be the one not pulling their weight.
4) Find and Maintain a Writers’ Network
If it takes a village to raise a child, it also takes one to write a book. Find other writers like yourself, and you’ll hear the same stories about the struggle we all go through to do what we do. This is your support group, and it can take you a long way. Why reinvent the wheel every time you run into a problem? Use the expertise and connections of your group to outsource tasks, so you can focus on your core vision and passion, and do what you really do best. Get feedback on your project, while it’s still in progress for book covers, promotional materials, social media pages and the writing itself.
5) Find a Cheerleading Team or Fan-Base
Professional relationships are obviously important. There are those that excel at finding mistakes and solving problems, but you also need a little encouragement to cheer you on in your darkest moments and find people who can help you get over any discouragement or frustration you might experience along the way. No one wants to disappoint their fans. These are the readers that love everything that you do.
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