By The WBR Team
When it comes to writing a business book, even the most experienced authors can get stuck sometimes. The difference between the authors who get unstuck and those who end up abandoning their project lies in one word: processes.
In the first part of this series, we outlined the three reasons why authors struggle to finish writing their business books:
- The wrong book positioning
- The author’s fear that they’re not good enough
- A lack of a clear, systematic process
So far, we have explored how to overcome the first two (click the links above if you’d like to find out how).
In this blog, we will break down how a clear, systematic process and structure can help you forge ahead even when writing gets difficult, as well as what YOUR writing process should look like.
How a clear writing plan/process can help you get unstuck
A clear writing plan acts as a roadmap for your business book, breaking down the overall project into smaller, more manageable segments. This segmentation can significantly reduce the feeling of overwhelm that often stops budding authors in their tracks, thereby making the project feel more approachable and achievable.
What’s more, with a plan in place, you have a clear direction for your writing. This focus prevents you from veering off-topic and ensures that every section of your book contributes meaningfully to its overall purpose.
This structured approach can make the difference between a project that drags on indefinitely and one that progresses steadily towards completion.
So, what should your writing process look like?
While the writing process differs from author to author, following these five steps will definitely set you on the right track.
Five steps to get unstuck and finish writing your book
1. Manage your expectations
The first thing to note about writing (and finishing) a book is that it can be a time-consuming, laborious task. Good books take time to write, and on some days, you might feel overwhelmed or flat-out exhausted.
Authors who understand (and expect) this are less likely to quit halfway through.
Be prepared for multiple rounds of revisions – writing is only the beginning. This means being open to cutting, rewriting, or expanding sections of your book once you get an experienced editor involved. This step is critical in ensuring that your final product is one you’re proud of and that it resonates with your readers.
2. Construct a detailed outline
Creating a Business Book Brief™ is usually one of the very first steps we take with all our authors at WBR. Here’s why.
The brief serves as a roadmap for your journey. It should detail the vision for your book and ensure that every step you take – every word you pen down – ties into this overall vision. It should also contain a detailed outline or structure of your book.
Having a clear and considered outline helps you organise your thoughts and the wealth of information you want to share into a coherent flow that logically progresses. It also keeps you on track and breaks down the writing process into manageable, bite-sized segments.
3. Set realistic goals
Setting the right goals means creating a timetable that guides your writing process. Here, it’s important to be realistic, as overambitious goals can often lead to frustration and burnout.
Break your writing project into smaller, achievable tasks – whether it’s a word count, pages, or time spent writing each day.
For each writing session, we typically recommend setting a goal of 300 words per hour.
If you’re a professional or a more experienced writer, you’ll definitely be able to exceed this goal, but the idea here is to make the writing process much less intimidating and ensure that you’re consistent.
Setting a small yet realistic target each day will help you remain consistent and, over time, it all adds up!
Remember: perfection is not the goal in these sessions; it’s about accumulation and momentum. You can always refine and edit later.
4. Give yourself a deadline
Every author needs a deadline, particularly for accountability purposes. Deadlines help create a sense of urgency and progress, but it’s worth noting that they should also be flexible enough to accommodate some hiccups along the writing journey.
A general guide to setting the right deadlines for yourself is by asking the following questions:
- How quickly do I want to complete this project?
- How much time can I realistically set aside each day to work on this project?
You can then set your deadline around the answers to these questions. For instance, if you’re able to block out an hour or two each day for writing and you’re looking to complete your first draft in under four months, you can set a deadline of one chapter a week.
By setting clear milestones and deadlines within your plan, you can also better manage your time. Knowing what you need to work on during each writing session eliminates decision paralysis and maximises productivity.
5. Find an accountability partner
We all need an accountability partner, especially when it comes to managing a huge project such as writing a book. This could be a fellow author, a coach, or anyone committed to seeing you succeed.
They can help you stay on track with your goals by setting realistic deadlines and milestones and regularly checking in to ensure you’re making progress. This external pressure will motivate you to stick to your schedule, making procrastination less likely.
Once you’ve found someone, be clear about what you expect from each other. Discuss how often you’ll meet, how you’ll communicate (e.g., email, phone calls, video chats), and the metrics you’ll both be tracking.
Final thoughts
Every author’s journey is unique, but the principles of a clear, systematic approach remain universal. With dedication, discipline, and the right strategies in place, you’ll find that finishing your business book is not only possible but also an incredibly rewarding achievement.
We hope you’ve enjoyed this series as much as we have.
If you’d welcome professional help and support with writing, publishing, or marketing your book, get in touch today to see how our team of experts can help.
P.S. We’ll soon be revealing 2024’s top AI-assisted tools for authoring a non-fiction book. Click here to join our priority list and gain early access.