Is Now the Best Time to Write Your Book?
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You’ve been sitting on an idea for a while and feel like now is the time to write your book. It’s said that 80% of people believe they have at least one book inside of them, and you believe it’s true for you. (When searching for a link to support this well-touted statistic, a plethora of articles appeared about why you shouldn’t write a book, and you don’t need that kind of negativity in your life.)
Maybe, the premise feels sharper than ever before, and you have a new burst of motivation. Or you finally believe you have a story worth telling and have declared that this is the year of the book.
But what next?
Before you begin writing, you need to evaluate whether or not now is the right time to dive into a book project. It’s easy to be inspired in the beginning of the process, but it gets harder the longer you’re in it.
So, how do you know if now is the best time to write your book? It starts with expectations.
Do You Have Realistic Expectations?
“I’m going to complete my book in a year! In two years, my book will be published!”
Have you found yourself thinking this? Slow your roll.
Even seasoned writers have found it can take two to three years to write a book. It’s not an overnight process, and add publishing to the mix, it could be another two to three years easy.
Ask yourself these questions:
What does your writing life look like now?
Do you have a set schedule or do you write when you’re “inspired”?
Are you relentless in meeting your own deadlines or do you let yourself off the hook when writing isn’t easy?
How much outside reading and research on craft are you willing to do?
Can you get writing help when you need it?
Are you able to make your book a priority?
Do you feel mentally and emotionally prepared to tackle the contents of your book?
Will it be worth it if you complete a manuscript that has to be rewritten?
If you spend a few hours a week writing, you probably won’t complete a manuscript in a year. Beyond the writing, you have revisions and then just thinking time. Some writers make the mistake that they don’t have to show up consistently or that because they write pretty sentences, the story will magically unfold.
In writing, you get what you give. Only have 30 minutes a day to write? It’s okay, but don’t expect to have a revised and completed manuscript in 6 months.
Another mistake writers make is not mixing in a regular reading habit as they write. The quickest way to improve your own craft is to see how others create. Most often, if you’ve hit a writing block, you need to pick up a book.
Decide What’s Best for You and Move On
Once you’ve evaluated the questions above, make a choice and keep moving. Give yourself some time to weigh your options and what your head and heart are saying, but once you decide, let it be.
You can reevaluate in six months or a year, but if you decide now isn’t the time to write your book — fantastic! Release the stress and anxiety of yet another thing on your to-do list. If it is the right time to write your book, grab your coaching waitlist spot with yours truly because you don’t have to go through the journey alone.
