“I’m Writing a Book” – What To Do Before Declaring Your Intention
Everyone has a story to tell — many are left untold or never make their way out of a Google Doc.
I believe that writing your stories can be tremendously healing. They can also serve to spark inspiration for others to do their healing work.
Many people come to me with their book ideas. Often they’re looking for validation that it's okay to write it. I know what it’s like to tentatively share an idea before it’s ready.
When potential authors come to me with a book idea, I’m careful not to give too much excitement or praise.
Here’s why…
What I see happen (in myself and others) is that they take this praise, and it gives them the satisfaction that writing the book would have given them.
And instead, they don't write the book.
They take that gratification and praise, and they're good enough with knowing it would be a good idea, so they don't do anything.
These are the people who wind up thinking about writing their books more than they actually spend on deciding to do it, creating the plan to make it happen, and getting the words out.
I know this feeling well because I was this person, too.
Here’s a made-up example I see on social media:
“Hey everybody, I'm writing my book. I'm so excited!”
Or they say,
“I’m thinking of writing a book on [topic]. Should I do it?”
What happens next is key.
Do they wait for validation?
Do they really want to write a book?
Will they actually write the book?
Do they read books about writing books and don't actually write the book?
Do they fall down the comparison trap and compare all the other books on their topic and talk themselves out of writing it?
I appreciate these because I followed these same strategies, too.
Before I started writing, I read lots of books on writing. I can't even tell you how many. And then, there was a point where I realized I was not writing.
I was reading books on writing and not actually doing the work.
This definitely isn't the way to get better at anything. Reading about something without actually implementing it or trying it isn’t a way to practice and it certainly wasn’t going to make me write my book any faster.
Procrastinating is the easiest way to stay in the nice, cozy comfort zone.
So often, we get an idea. And before we take action on it, we think we need to research it. As if we can’t write a memoir unless we read a book about how to write a memoir or take a course.
Declaring you’ll write a book is a big deal. And it’s easy to make statements.
But how easy is it to take the next step?
If you have a book idea that wants to come out, I suggest sitting with it before making a public announcement.
Here are some journal prompts to think through before you declare your intention:
How long has this book been calling you to write it?
What ideas nudge you at 3 a.m.?
How will you feel if you don’t write this book?
All good and ready to write your book, but not sure if you’re ready?
It’s impossible to know when you’ll be ready to write your book.
You’re probably ready now — may as well take those first steps now.
To start, show up for yourself, make a plan, and schedule time to write. Set up some accountability checks to keep you going — maybe it’s a writing challenge like National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), a reward at the end, having a writing buddy, and even booking a session with an editor ahead of time to push yourself to get it done.
Success is unique to you.
Define what success means to you. Members of the writing community who finish their writing projects are the ones who show up to many of the co-writing sessions. They’re the ones who do the work that they say is most important to them.
There are also many members who rarely come to the live sessions but write on their own, knowing the community is writing along with them in spirit.
If you’ve never written a book before, your brain might be telling you that you can’t do it. All that’s really happening is that you don’t yet have the neurological container for it.
Until I had proved to my unconscious mind that I could write a book, it felt foreign. Finishing my book was important to me because I had to prove to myself (and no one else) that I could do it.
And now that I did it once, I have the container — my brain believes me now when I say, “We’re writing a book.”
Once you get that book idea, journal on it, and then announce it to the world.
You totally got this.
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