You’ll Never Find the Time to Write Your Book

It is easier now than it’s ever been to become a published author, but when I meet people and tell them, I am a book coach, many times they get a faraway look in their eyes. They tell me they’ve thought about writing a book but haven’t done it. When I ask why I hear things such as:

I’m not calling those things excuses. They do indeed take up time, energy, and other resources. The world won't stop and the stars will never align to give us uninterrupted time to work our book. Instead, we get done what we prioritize. If you aren't actively working on your book right now, it means you haven't made it a priority.

At the time I earned my MBA I was a single parent with a high pressured job. Getting an MBA was something I wanted to add to my resume because my undergraduate degree is in Mathematics. Even though I was already in a management position, I knew the business degree would make me more competitive for executive positions in the future. 

In a traditional MBA program, I would take one or two classes each semester and, over a few years, complete my degree. Unfortunately, that approach wasn’t going to work because my company was known for moving their senior staff around. There was no guarantee I would be able to stay in place for more than two years.

After researching several graduate schools, I found a local MBA program geared for executives that could be completed in twenty-one months. My management agreed to keep me in place for that time. I enrolled in the program and entered a whirlwind the likes of which I'd never encountered. I've always been a good student, but the pace of the program forced me to develop even better learning skills.  As a side note, I still use those skills today in my coaching business as I read, absorb and provide guidance on my client's manuscripts.

Looking back on that time, it seems surreal. My class took the same number of semester credit hours as in a regular MBA program. Our ‘ in classroom’ time was reduced to a three-day residency at the beginning of each semester and all-day sessions on alternating Fridays and Saturdays. I had to juggle enormous amounts of reading and complete class assignments while continuing to manage my software development team, complete projects at work, and be Mom to an eight-year-old. 

Almost all of my classmates had full-time jobs as well. Most of them had corporate jobs like mine but we had two Marine Corps officers. A few class members were small business owners who had to keep their businesses running while taking the program. One classmate would only get her tuition reimbursed by her company if she maintained a 4.0-grade point average throughout the program. Talk about pressure! 

A few people dropped out along the way, but the rest of us graduated. It was a grueling eighteen months but there were fun times and light-hearted moments along the way.  We got through it by supporting and pushing each other and by making the program a top priority. That's what you will need to do if you want to get published. You will have to give up some things in the short term, but you will feel such a sense of accomplishment and pride when you see your book for sale.

Here are some ways to make finishing your book a priority:

Instead of having a goal to finish the first draft by let's say, December 31, make a goal to write for two hours on Monday and Wednesday every week. 

Mark those days off on a calendar to see a physical reminder of your accomplishments. I’ve included monthly word trackers in my Book Smart Planner.  

When you set small goals and achieve them, you set up a winning pattern your brain wants to repeat. Small wins are better than no wins.

Announce the date of your book launch party to friends, family, and co-workers. 

Make it painful. Commit to donating to a political candidate you hate if you don’t finish your book. 

Communicate your goal and how it’s going to benefit the family, so they don’t become resentful or jealous of the time you’re spending on your writing.

Pick someone you admire and use them as your inspiration. I’ll bet they had focus and drive to achieve their goals. Looking at what they accomplished despite the odds stacked against them will help you to keep your problems in perspective. One great example is Pulitzer Prize winner, Frank McCourt. He was a teacher for thirty years. He wrote his autobiography, Angela's Ashes in his sixties.  

If your book is something you have a vague idea about, you will stay on "Someday I’ll." When you’re serious about the book becoming a cornerstone of your business or launching a speaking career, you’ll make the necessary investments in time and money required to complete the project. You’ll acquire tools, build an author platform, hire professionals to help you and educate yourself even more on your topic. You’ll be motivated to finish your book to get a positive return on your investment.

 My view of the world is everyone has wisdom to share, and other people are searching for that wisdom. Your book may be the turning point in someone else’s life. You owe it to them and to yourself to not wait for the right time but make now the ‘write time.’