My Game Plan to FINISH My Book in 2025 (Steal It!)

Summary

In this video, a book editor who has spent 10 years helping authors shares a step-by-step plan for finishing your book this year. Key advice includes creating achievable writing milestones, making writing a habit, and embracing the messy first draft. The video emphasizes the importance of accountability through setting rewards, tracking progress visually, and maintaining a consistent writing routine. By breaking the process into manageable tasks, the speaker encourages writers to stay motivated and overcome perfectionism, helping them finish their book and achieve their writing goals.

Takeaways

• 😀 Set achievable milestones for writing your book to break the task into smaller, actionable goals.
• 😀 Don't overwhelm yourself with a huge goal like 70,000 words; focus on manageable steps that fit into your schedule.
• 😀 Make writing a habit by integrating it into your routine through methods like habit stacking.
• 😀 Embrace the messy first draft approach and avoid letting perfectionism hold you back.
• 😀 Use writing sprints (timed writing sessions) to improve focus and overcome perfectionism.
• 😀 Utilize placeholders (e.g., 'TK') to bypass research delays and keep writing without getting stuck.
• 😀 For narrative works, try scene sketching to move forward when a scene isn’t fully clear yet.
• 😀 You don't have to write your book chronologically, work on scenes in any order that suits you.
• 😀 Consider whether you revise as you write or save revisions for later – both methods are valid.
• 😀 Hold yourself accountable by sharing your goals with an accountability partner and celebrating milestones.

Q & A

Why do most people fail to finish writing their book?

More than 80% of people say they want to write a book, but fewer than 10% actually do. This often happens because the goal of writing a book feels overwhelming, leading to procrastination and eventually giving up.

What is the first step to finishing your book this year?

The first step is to break the large goal of writing a book into smaller, actionable milestones. These milestones should be specific, measurable, and fit into your calendar to make the process more manageable.

How can setting chapter-based milestones help with writing a book?

Setting chapter-based milestones helps break down the book-writing process into smaller tasks, making it less daunting. By creating deadlines for each chapter, writers can track progress and stay on schedule, ensuring consistent movement toward completing the manuscript.

What should you do if your book isn't structured by chapters?

If your book isn’t structured by chapters, you can set other types of goals, like word count goals or time-based writing goals. For example, writing a specific number of words or dedicating a set amount of time to writing each week can work just as effectively.

How important is consistency when writing a book?

Consistency is key to finishing your book. By making writing a habit, whether it's a few productive sessions per week or writing for specific time periods, you ensure consistent progress rather than relying on sporadic inspiration.

What is habit stacking, and how does it help with writing?

Habit stacking involves pairing a new habit (like writing) with an existing habit (like making coffee). This makes it easier to integrate writing into your daily routine and helps create a pattern that triggers creative flow.

Why should you embrace the concept of a 'crappy first draft'?

Embracing a 'crappy first draft' helps you overcome perfectionism. First drafts are meant to be messy, and focusing on getting words on the page rather than perfecting them allows you to move forward without getting stuck in unnecessary revisions.

How can writing sprints help overcome perfectionism?

Writing sprints, where you set a timer and write as much as possible in a short burst (5-15 minutes), help you focus on output rather than perfection. The time crunch encourages you to prioritize writing over self-editing, enabling you to make progress without overthinking.

What are placeholders, and why are they useful?

Placeholders (like 'TK') allow you to skip over sections that you’re unsure about and continue writing. This technique helps maintain momentum and prevents you from getting stuck on details that can be filled in later.

What is the role of accountability in writing a book?

Accountability is crucial for maintaining motivation and ensuring progress. Sharing your writing goals with others, planning rewards for milestones, and visualizing your success (like tracking progress on a calendar) can help you stay on track and committed to finishing your book.