Finding Time to Write a Book: Part 1
Ask a would-be author what’s stopping them from starting, or completing, their manuscript and more often than not their answer will have something to do with TIME—as in, struggling to find the time to write a book, or at least enough of it to make true progress.... read more
Figuring Out Your Best Writing Environment for Successfully Completing Your Book
In recent posts, I’ve been sharing every step of my process for developing and getting clarity around a new book idea. My next group of posts will focus on getting ready to actually write the book. To write the book, you need to come up with a PLAN. In this post I’m... read more
Identifying Your Unique Author Perspective for Your Nonfiction Book
Because there are so many potential obstacles to completing a nonfiction book — doubt, writer’s block, and getting lost along the way being three of the biggest—I do everything in my power to ensure I can push through whatever comes up and reach my goal. That’s the... read more
When, Why, and How to Get Feedback on Your Nonfiction Book Idea Before You Start Writing
In a previous post, I shared my 9 essential tips for researching a nonfiction book idea, one of which was to survey your potential readers as a way of gaining specific insight on your subject matter. In today’s post, I want to expand on this idea of connecting with... read more
Why You Should Explore Competitive Books When You’re Writing Nonfiction (and How to Do It)
When I ask people writing a nonfiction book how their idea stands out from other similarly-themed books on the market, many reply that they haven’t explored competitive books too deeply, the thinking being that reading them might influence or muddle their own writing... read more
9 Essential Tips for Researching Your Nonfiction Book Idea
It’s not absolutely necessary to be a research junkie in order to write a nonfiction book, but it certainly helps. During my initial book dreaming and scheming phase, I typically spend a chunk of time in full-on research mode. If you’re someone who likes to write... read more
Author Kayce Hughlett on Writing and Publishing Her Debut Novel, BLUE
In today’s post I’m featuring an interview with author Kayce Hughlett, the writer behind the soon-to-be-released, beautifully written novel, BLUE (September 10, BQB Publishing). I’ve loved watching Kayce’s book writing journey, from when she... read more
Why You Should Write a Mission Statement Before You Begin Writing a Nonfiction Book
Most of the work I do before I begin the actual writing of a nonfiction book is geared around setting myself up for successfully completing it. As I’ve written about before, taking the time to get uber-clear on exactly what it is you’re looking to do... read more
Why and How to Envision Your Completed Nonfiction Book
When I’m in the early stages of developing a new nonfiction book idea, I always spend time envisioning exactly what I think/hope/believe my completed book will look like. I do this for three simple reasons: 1. It helps me get clearer on exactly what I’m... read more
How to Get Clarity Around Your Nonfiction Book Idea
You’ve got a nonfiction book idea. Maybe it’s simply a word. Maybe it’s a thesis statement. Maybe it’s a hazy vision. So, what now? If you’re what I refer to as a “cliff diver,” someone who likes to plunge right into a project as soon as an idea pops into their head,... read more
8 Ways to Survive the Waiting Game
If you’ve been following my Writer Unplugged series, you know my work-in-progress—a personal memoir for the adult market—is out the door and my agent is busily working to find the right home for it. So, after months and months of writing, pushing through blocks,... read more