I do not believe in the category of writers. (I already have a feeling of disbelief.) Listen: When you hire a plumber to come to your house and fix a problem, do you expect him to say, “Sorry, I can't figure out what your problem is. I think I have a plumber block ”? Maybe not, and if he does, you can get him out and call another boy sooner than you can tell Drano. It is not that water pipes can be compared to writing, but if we follow the right steps to get the job done, I find that the author's layers melt, the canals do not close, and words begin to flow like water from a tap. But what are these “steps”? However, a big part of my job as a book marketing expert is to help people do something they can sell: a finished book. Most of us have a lot of ideas but have no clue how it can fall on paper.
Unlike other artists, writers work under a set of different rules. Most of the time we can't stay still and bring out the story, and those who have it have their own way of doing it. We see this amazing story and all the kinds of clues we want to take, we see the cover, we see the characters, we see the power in the market. Then we see Katie Couric or Oprah smiling and holding up our book for the whole world to see. Then we look back down at our monitor and see a bright whiskey case with a blank screen. And we are reminded of how much we fail. We have all these stories and nothing in the paper. We are ideas makers. We have billions of them running through our minds, but they are not on paper. Unless you are making money in the realm of thought, working this way probably does not bring you closer to your goals.
When a project comes close to us, it looks like a big elephant - big, amazing, and ready to strike at any time. There is an old saying: “How do you eat an elephant? It bites just once. “It's the same with writing. You complete the book, one step at a time. But in order to create these steps, you must first divide your book into manageable, biting pieces. This can be done by creating a TOC (table of contents) that can guide you through the book. My guess is this: You wouldn’t consider driving from California to New York without a map, would you? Well, how can you expect to finish your book without one? Your TOC is your guide, guiding you in your book. If your chapters do not have individual topics, write a description of 2-3 sentences of what is covered in the chapter. Do not overdo it. Remember, it does not include your book; it's just a brief description. Once the TOC is defined, you will have an idea of your book from beginning to end.
Here are a few things you can do with this TOC: It will show you any gaps in your story that may need to be filled, and it will give you a sense of completion, of seeing a book or project really done, and this is a good idea. openness to many writers, because we often live in a world of slightly completed projects. Sometimes this step alone can motivate the author enough to make his book, or at least give it a good start.
Once you have upgraded your TOC, you will want to pass it and create a "to-do" list. Whatever the type of book, you will always have a to-do list. Whether you are receiving recommendations, doing research, or receiving authorization quotes or excerpts from your book, this to-do list will be another thing that will help you get your book to the end.
When the to-do list is complete, set it aside. Now you have to have your TOC completed with the entire book frame and a growing list of items that will need to be managed for the book to be done. Now the real fun begins.
Some writing books will tell you to set aside a day or two a week, or nights here and there to complete your book. I do not agree with this idea, which is why: You need to stay connected to your topic. When I was working on a book that was to be delivered, I usually set aside days or weeks at a time, promising to schedule time “as soon as possible.” However, that did not always happen. What I have found is that when I set aside time each day to do something in a book, I find it very quickly.
The more you save your hands on your project, the more it will sit in front of your mind and on your radar screen, and you will invest more energy to complete it. I can't tell you that you set aside time for your day every day - in fact, you don't even have to set aside an hour. Take 15 minutes or 5 minutes - whatever your plan allows. If this sounds like a joke, think about it: You now have your to-do list with your TOC included! If you have a short time someday, pick something up quickly from your to-do list and do it. If you have extra time, pull out one or two chapters. The idea of making a TOC item list not only provides the structure of your project but also removes any excuses for it. Don't you feel like writing today? No problem. There is probably a mountain of research waiting to be revealed. Get a picture?
But let's say you can't even pass the TOC. “My book has so many layers,” he lamented. “There are a lot of background stories, a lot of things that happen. I wouldn’t expect to filter it into a clean little TOC. "Yes, you can, and you should. If your book does not focus on it, your book will not focus on it. It's too simple. And what does that mean? What can this book do without it?
If you follow these steps, your book will be completed sooner than you thought. And the amazing author's block will move from the stumbling block to the building tower.
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