HELP! I HAVE BEEN WRITING A BOOK FOR DONKEY’S YEARS AND I STILL CAN’T FINISH IT (PART 2)

After publishing my first post on why many book projects of aspiring authors stall, I have been getting responses from people who have caught renewed zeal to pick up their manuscripts and finish it up, in light of what they now know. This is encouraging indeed, but there is yet more to be known about this.

What other challenges could account for non-completion of your book writing project and how can you surmount them?

1. YOU LISTEN TO NAYSAYERS.

It is good to be surrounded by well-meaning people, but you must sift what you receive from them. Good intention does not always mean good insight. If you keep listening to people who tell you that “You are not good enough,” you will never make progress in whatever you are doing.

Others may say “People don’t read books” “Books don’t sell” “No one has done it like this before” “I have tried it but it didn’t work for me”

Naysayers might mean no harm, but their words also afford no help. Their words only drain you. Surround yourself with positive-minded people who understand your vision and encourage you through the process of achieving it.

2. YOU WORK ALONE.

Turning away from naysayers does not mean you should avoid people altogether. Not everybody will pull you back; some will definitely push you forward.

John Maxwell remarked “One is too small a number to achieve greatness. No accomplishment of real value has ever been achieved by a human being working alone.”

Have you noticed the acknowledgement section of books? They are filled with appreciation to people who have provided support in form of encouragement, recommendation, coaching, accountability, research, transcription, type-setting, editing and other aspects of the book.

To think that you can do it all alone might be a selfish thought. You need from others; you need people!

3. YOU DO NOT FOCUS ONE BOOK AT A TIME.

“If I can write three at once, why write one only?”

This is the mentality of an aspiring author does not really understand that “if you chase two rabbits, you will not catch either one.”

Someone has rightly pointed out that in this age of distraction, focus is more important than intelligence.

Writing consumes a lot of mental and emotional energy. Sometimes, your fuel comes from knowing that you are making progress in one project. That is why you have to focus on one book at a time.

If you get other book ideas while writing, note them down somewhere and proceed to finish the one you have already started. Writing any other book at that time might just be a distraction and would likely exhaust your energy too quickly.

Consistency is key!

For the sake of brevity, we have to pause here. You can watch this space for more posts on this issue.

Have you got any questions? Please feel free to ask. Any comments? Please share them below.

To book a consultation time with me, please call 07080401080 or 08135373602.

To your greatness,

Bright UK

The Chief Scribe