Hey ,
When you first come up with the idea for your book, you feel a wave of excitement and energy. Your enthusiasm for the project is fresh, and you can’t wait to share it with the word.
But inevitably, you hit a slump. The middle. Writing the book no longer feels fun, and you have no excitement to go off of anymore.
Writing your book starts to feel like a chore, and you’re just not feeling motivated.
Here are 5 tips for finishing your book when you’re feeling undisciplined and lacking motivation:
1. Set small goals
Starting with a small book is one way to do this, but even if you’re writing a longer book, break down your writing into smaller pieces.
- Set a specific word count
- Set a time limit for each writing session
- Set a goal of one chapter per week
The idea is to make the task seem more manageable and less nebulous and overwhelming.
2. Create a routine
I can’t stress enough how important it is to schedule your writing time. Put your writing time in your calendar.
You will not finish your book if “write book” is just an item on your task list. If you only write when you feel like it, don’t be surprised if you never “feel like it”!
More often than not, you’ll find yourself experiencing motivation after you start writing (not before). Use your calendar to help you get started.
3. Eliminate distractions
One of the best things you can do is put your phone in another room. Distractions are hindering you more than you realize. Whether it’s email, Slack, or social media, find a way to turn off notifications.
Put on a focused music playlist or maybe some white noise. Consider using a device with only one screen (if you normally work at a desk with multiple monitors). Some people find it easier to focus on writing when they use a separate device that’s dedicated to writing (like an iPad or laptop).
4. Find an accountability partner
You don’t have to do this alone. Find someone who will hold you accountable for your writing progress.
This could be a writing buddy you find on Twitter, a writing community in Discord, a coach you hire for accountability, or just a friend who is also working on their own writing project.
Getting around like-minded people will help you stay in a good headspace and normalize what you’re trying to accomplish.
5. Reward yourself
What’s something you enjoy doing? Something you can try is allowing yourself to engage in this activity only after you’ve completed your writing for the day.
Maybe that’s checking social media. Or maybe you have a favorite snack.
Try using those things as rewards you give yourself when you finish writing.
The most important thing is that you’re making at least some progress every day. Even if it’s a little bit of progress, that’s going to add up over time if you’re showing up every day.
Steps to finish your book
Sometimes, you have the energy, and you’re feeling motivated, but you’re just not sure what to work on.
You want someone to give you a list of steps and things to do to take the thinking out of it.
Authority gives you those steps and show you how to finish writing your book and actually launch it.
You don’t need to be an expert, and you don’t need to be famous. You just need a willingness to show up and do the work. With a good topic, and the right marketing tactics, you can make a living from your writing.
Get $10 off your copy of Authority. It’s my way of saying thanks for being a subscriber.
You’ve got this!
—Nathan
P.S.
Even if you’ve written a book before, it can still be hard to finish. It doesn’t exactly get easier to write a second book, but at least you know what to expect!
There’s a chance you may have already seen success with your writing and you simply subscribed to see what I had to say about the topic.
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