3 Steps to Make This the Year You Write Your Dream Culinary Book

Photo by Beechmore Books on Unsplash

Whether you’re at the beginning of the year or halfway through realizing you’re “behind” on your writing goals, you’re right where you should be. Everything you’ve worked on, let go and shoved in a drawer somewhere, has led you here. So, welcome. 

Now that we have that out of the way, let’s get serious: There’s a culinary book inside of you, and this is the year it’s created. 

You’ve talked about it, dreamt what it would feel like and now, you’re going to know what it looks like. But first, you need a roadmap. If I know anything from working with book coaching clients, it's that there are so many things to think about, and you’ll end up writing in circles if you don’t have some guardrails.

So if you’re up for it, here are 3 steps to make this the year you write your dream culinary book.

1. Look at the Year Ahead 

As lovely as it is to believe you’ll be hit by the muse this year, life will inevitably get in the way. So, it’s best to be realistic about what’s happening in your life before you hit a creative wall. 

Are there family vacations, weddings or volunteer commitments already on your calendar? Was this the year you also wanted to expand your family or go on a sabbatical? Have you recently been promoted at work and know it’ll require more mental energy from you?

Be honest about what you were hoping this year would look like. Most of the time, we pack so much into a single year, we don’t allow the opportunity for things to not work out.

Every single coaching client of mine will say they want to write their book in a year. It can be done, but is it realistic for the season they’re in? That’s something only they can answer.

So, when you’re looking at your calendar and what you want out of this year (or the next however many months you have), look for the places where you might get tripped up. Those two weeks in August when you’ll be at your family’s house in Michigan might make it difficult to write, but the month of April is typically a slow season for you. Maybe that’s when you put your head down, cancel your social life and get your pages done. Decide now, so you don’t change your mind when it matters.

2. Take One Thing Off Your List

Now that you’ve looked at the year ahead and are anticipating the year ahead, take one thing off of your list. It could be as small as not cooking dinner one day a week, so you have more time to write in the evening. Or getting your groceries delivered instead of trekking across town in-between meetings and work. You could even hire a virtual assistant, so you’re not spending 20 hours a week on random paperwork every week. 

Maybe, it’s deciding to not go away for that bachelorette weekend in May because you didn’t really want to go in the first place, and you could use the time to work on the book. Or this might be the perfect time to step back from a volunteer commitment for a season.

Whatever it is, make it something where you’re gaining time and energy to work on your book. 

And don’t compare your schedule to anyone else’s. Some people love to have full calendars and commitments, but that doesn’t have to be you. 

It’s better to have a few things you’re intentionally working on or looking forward to, rather than a long list of things you’re too burned out to enjoy.

3. Have a Book Writing Plan

The hardest part of writing will always be getting started and to keep going. With so many ideas swimming around in your head, where do you even begin?

That’s a question every single one of my coaching clients asks me.

Every writer is different, but there are some key elements to keep in mind.

First of all, you need to know why this is the book you’re supposed to be writing now.

Then, you need to know what your story is at its core. Not the 20 page version, but the root of what your vision is.

After that, it’s just about being open and knowing things will change.

Oh, and another thing: You don’t have to know the next step, but you should find someone who can guide those steps.

Sometimes, you need a little guidance to get you where you want to be. 

Let’s make this the year of the book.

Add your name to my coaching waitlist now.

You’ve got this.