Lately, I’ve been doing a lot of book design and layout work because a number of people that I’ve been in touch with over the last six months or so have finished writing their books. They have completed the manuscript and are using our book cover design and interior layout services to produce the finished book.
I’m thrilled that these books are seeing the light of day because I believe they’ll help people. When I lay out books, I can’t help skimming them. The authors are passionate about their topics and it shows in the writing.
That got me thinking. Statistically, 80% of people say they "have a book inside them." As the author of 10 books, people constantly ask me how I write so many books. Clearly, a lot of people out there wonder exactly how to write a book.
Is passion for the topic part of what makes those who finish books different from all the other people who have not? What other characteristics set published authors apart? Here are a few commonalities I’ve noticed among the authors I meet.
Published authors:
1. Feel they have a story that must be told or information that must be shared. They care about the subject matter deeply. They often have a personal connection to it.
2. Make the book a priority. Everyone has distractions. Family, work, and other pressures take time away from writing. It’s easy to turn these distractions into an excuse. Those who finish their book projects make time to write instead of making excuses.
3. Are concerned about quality. The authors I am working with have spent money to hire an editor and the finished manuscripts are better for it. After you’ve spent all that time writing, don’t you want your work to be the best it can be?
4. Are not afraid of the writing process. As noted, writing isn’t always easy. Sometimes you don’t want to write. To get the book done, you sometimes have to write when you don’t feel like it.
5. Get things done in all areas of their lives (not just books). They are "movers and shakers." Productivity doesn’t just happen. You make it happen. If it seems like life is just meandering by, maybe you need to start taking charge of the experience.
As you can see, people who finish books are motivated and don’t make excuses. They have made their book project a priority in their lives. If you haven’t written your book yet, stop wondering how to write a book. Figure out exactly what motivates you enough to write, and then just do it.
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