10 Bonus Tips for Writing a Book

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Then you'll be all set for more bonuses on writing! Here are your 10 bonus tips for writing a book.

Only write one chapter at a time. Write and publish a novel, one chapter at a time, using Amazon Kindle Singles, Wattpad, or sharing with your email list subscribers.
Write a shorter book. The idea of writing a 500-page masterpiece can be paralyzing. Instead, write a short book of poems or stories. Long projects are daunting. Start small.
Start a blog to get feedback early. Getting feedback early and often helps break up the overwhelm. Start a website on WordPress or Tumblr and use it to write your book a chapter or scene at a time. Then eventually publish all the posts in a hardcopy book.

Keep an inspiration list. You need it in order to keep fresh ideas flowing. Read constantly, and use a system to capture, organize and find the content you've curated. I use Evernote, but use a system that works for you.
Keep a journal. Then, rewrite the entries in a much more polished book format, but use some photocopies or scans of the journal pages as illustrations in the book. You could even sell “deluxe” editions that come with photocopied versions of the journal.
Deliver consistently. Some days, it’s easy to write. Some days, it’s incredibly hard. The truth is: inspiration is merely a byproduct of your hard work. You can’t wait for inspiration. The Muse is really an out-of-work bum who won’t move until you do. Show her who’s boss and that you mean business.

Take frequent breaks. Niel Fiore, the author of The Now Habit, says, “There is one main reason why we procrastinate: It rewards us with temporary relief from stress.” If you’re constantly stressed about your unfinished book, you’ll end up breaking your schedule. Instead, plan for breaks ahead of time so you stay fresh: minute breaks, hour breaks, or even multiple day breaks.
Remove distractions. Try tools like Ommwriter.com or Bywordapp or Scrivener to let you write in a totally distraction free environment. That way, email, Facebook, and Twitter won’t interrupt your flow.
Write where others are writing (or working). If you’re having trouble writing consistently by yourself, write where other people are also working. A coffee shop or library where people are actually working and not just socializing can help. If you’re in a place where other people are getting things done, then you’ll have no choice but to join them.
Don’t tweak as you go. Instead, write without judgment first, then go back and edit later. You'll keep a better flow and won't be interrupted by constant criticism of your own work. And you'll have a lot more writing to edit when it's time to do so.

If you found this helpful, shoot me an email and let me know. I’d love to hear from you!