So many people never write the book that they have in mind.
As a ghostwriter, editor and longtime news journalist, I frequently am contacted by people who say they want to write a book but “have not gotten around to it.”
The reasons are usually the same: they can’t find the time to sit down and write it, they don’t have enough confidence in their writing skills to actually start writing it, or they just lack the know-how on what it takes to write this kind of long-term project.
When I say “long-term,” I’m talking about writing it, having it edited by someone with experience in this field, doing the research on how to get published, and then once you get it published, doing the social media and promotion that is required to have people buy your book. It’s something that most people underestimate.
How to Get Over That Hurdle
I always encourage people who are committed to writing a book, to work with a writer who has done this before. It’s so much easier to get the book or memoir written when you have a writing partner with experience who can guide you through the process. And in the end, you come out with a much better story because it’s well-written and captures your target audience’s attention.
I recently finished working with an author who had been writing chapters for his book for over thirty years but wasn’t able to pull it together as a memoir. Once we started working on it, the work flowed almost effortlessly because he had structure now and had someone to motivate him to finish it. We got the final version done in less than six months and his book is now available on Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com.
Having his personal journey written as a memoir has inspired him to get out and do speaking engagements where he is now selling his book. In addition, his family are embracing his journey because they now know the details of his life and how he overcame a variety of hardships.
What Can Your Book Be About?
Books can be personal – as with your memoir – but they can also be about your expertise in a certain area. Some of the authors I have co-written with include: a former Army Major, a commercial real estate broker, a patent attorney, a tax professional, and a lobbyist to Congress.
But you don’t have to be a working professional to write a book. Your personal journey can be about overcoming hardship or challenging experiences in life, so that in the process, your book serves to inspire your readers.
I believe everyone has a story or stories to tell that are worth writing about. So, when are you going to write that book?