Write a Book in 100 Days: Tips from a Successful Author Solutions Writer

Are you an aspiring writer? Taking the first steps in the process is often the hardest. If you’re struggling for some motivation, Pete Honsberger, Archway Publishing author of ‘Don’t Burn Your Toast’ recently shared some stellar advice with Author Solutions. Let’s take a look at some tips based on how he wrote a book in 100 days.

Tip #1: Never Lose Sight of Your Goals

 

Goal setting is an important part of your journey. However, it shouldn’t end there. Often enough, aspiring writers find that it’s hard to meet the targets that they set for themselves. There could be all manner of reasons for this. For example, you may have a busy home life or find it hard to balance your day job with your love of writing.

 

“If you ever feel like your day-to-day life gets in the way of bigger goals, whether they are personal, professional, or both, I can empathize,” explains Honsberger. While it’s normal for your routine to impact your writing work, you have to keep your eyes on the prize if you want to succeed.

 

Instead of sitting down to write an entire novel, take a short and sweet approach to this project. “Perhaps the biggest lesson I learned in the 100 days it took me to write the first draft of my book is that such laser-focus and bite-sized activity on a consistent basis can apply to just about any project or dream,” says Honsberger.

Tip #2: Start Sooner Not Later

 

When you’ve got an idea for your book, the next step is the hardest. Diving in to get started often takes writers a long time. For instance, you may worry about which part to tackle first, whether you have fully developed your idea, and whether you have the time to start writing. All of the above can hold you back and stop you from reaching your goals.

 

If you’re dragging your feet when it comes to writing your book, Honsberger says to draw upon the old Chinese proverb: “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now.” The truth of the matter is that there will never be a ‘perfect time to get started. Life simply does not work that way. You have to take the figurative bull by the horns and put pen to paper sooner rather than later. What are you waiting for?

Tips #3: Break Down Your Goals

 

So, you want to write a book? Okay, what does that involve? While your overarching goal may be to complete your first manuscript, there’s a whole load of smaller, sub-goals that entails. When you’re looking at this project as a whole, it can be entirely overwhelming. Take a step back and start breaking down your tasks.

 

Your to-do list may include setting a word count, finding the right resources to inform your work, fleshing out the narrative or structure, and starting to write. When you have listed all of the steps you need to take, it may help to attach set deadlines to each of them. That way, you can keep yourself on track from start to finish.

 

Getting this right takes a level of self-motivation. Luckily, there are small ways that you can ensure you stick to your deadlines. “I set a 100-day goal for myself to finish a rough draft of a full book, and committed to using a journal resource to keep me accountable,” explains Honsberger. Should the journal route not work for you, you could use tracking apps or even simply the reminder set on your phone to keep you going.

Tip 4: Don’t Give Up Ever

 

Chances are, when you first start writing your book, things will get hard. Taking on a project of this size is no small feat. The best advice you will get is to simply keep going. When things get tough, push on through and remember that your work will pay off in the end. “I promise you it will be worthwhile, and your capability will surprise you,” says Honsberger. Keep going, no matter what happens.

About Author Solutions

 

With more than 22 years of collective experience and 300,000 published books, Author Solutions is a leading self-publishing company. Serving six continents around the globe, the parent company helps writers realize their dreams of becoming authors, while the team of experts offers world-class care from start to finish.

 

The brand’s numerous imprints provide opportunities for new authors to be discovered by both traditional publishing companies and representatives within the entertainment industry. With a wealth of industry relations and endless support, Author Solutions has helped writers jump from self-publishing to film optioning or traditional publishing.

 

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