Publishing a book has become important for many professionals looking to enhance their careers and businesses. Authorship adds gravitas and a sense of celebrity to anyone’s list of accolades. But how do you juggle your career with your writing ambitions? Read on for tips for busy aspiring authors.

Define Your Book (or Define Your Intentions)

The first step of a successful writing process is to understand the project you’re undertaking. In general, this means answering a few familiar questions.

  • Who? Who is your book for? It’s important to understand your reader’s level of personal or professional experience and where they’re hoping to go—with the help of you and your book. 
  • What? What is the purpose of your book? Is it to share your personal story, promote your work, or grow your brand recognition? Defining your “what” can help you understand any subgenres you’re working within as well as help keep you motivated along the way.
  • Why? Why should someone read it cover to cover? You can think of this as your value proposition for the book—the crux of getting engagement. Another way of thinking about this is to ask yourself what you would find valuable in your book if you were reading it. Would you feel compelled to reach out, sign up for a newsletter, or convert into a client?

Answering these questions may require you to conduct some market research into other successful authors and titles in your niche. Don’t hesitate to look into what’s working for others and take inspiration from them.

Outline Your Thoughts

An organized process is an efficient process, especially when trying to convey complex topics. Outlining your work is the best way to do that. After all, the structure of your information is almost as important as the information itself.

Outlines can be as detailed or as minimal as works for you. However, the more detailed the outline is, the easier it is to jump back into deep work after a break. Consider your bandwidth for task-switching while filling your outline.

Set Realistic Writing Goals

A book isn’t something most people can knock out in a few weeks. Slow and steady wins the race. As tempting as a finished product sounds, giving yourself a reasonable time frame allows you to have better control over the end result. (And that means a better chance at delivering your value proposition.)

Find the milestones that work for you. This could include:

  • Word or page count goals 
  • Daily or weekly progress phases 
  • Chapter-by-chapter or concept-by-concept “chunks” 

Whatever is most motivating for you is your best option.

Don’t Slack, but Don’t Overdo It

Even the best-laid plans never go without a hitch, which means you may need to cultivate some grit to get to the finish line. There will be times when you don’t want to type another word, and on those days, you should realign yourself with why you’re drafting. In some cases, a little self-imposed tough love may be in order.

On the flip side, rushing to the end is hardly going to produce a solid product. Only you can know when your work is suffering because of outside influences or exhaustion. Keep an eye on your limits to keep from burnout or decreased quality. After all, you’re the one who will have to address the gaps in revision.

Make It Easy to Track Your Thoughts

Make taking and keeping notes as accessible as possible for when inspiration strikes. The last thing you want is to lose an important revelation before you get it down. Work to find what works best for you. Some people are more visual while some benefit from journaling or brain-dumping. 

Keep creative tools nearby; carry a notebook in your pocket or bag, invest in a dictaphone (voice recorder), or take video of your important thought processes. There are also several productivity apps available to ensure your thoughts are always with you.

Reevaluate and Keep Writing

Drafting a book is never a perfectly straight line; ideas and processes evolve as we go. As you write, be sure to check in with yourself, your outline, timeline, goals, and notes. Partnering with an editor can help your process, but it’s best to self-revise until you feel satisfied with your initial manuscript.

Adjust your process and milestones where needed. Take rest days when tired. When it’s really tough, reconnect with why it matters to you in the first place.

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Whether you’re trying to find the perfect narrative POV for your book or trying to build your best main character, we’ve got you covered.

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