I can't tell you how to finish your book, but I can tell you how I finished mine. Please apply these simple, difficult steps to your writing process.
1. Appropriate aptitudes and psychopathology
I've always scored highly on the verbal portions of standardized aptitude tests??the SAT, GRE, etc. I've always been able to write. I have an obsessive tendency, which adds get-it-done-ness to my personality, as well as a bit of mania for inspiration. Many years of education have honed my obsessive streak to full-blown workaholism. These are necessary, but not sufficient, ingredients of a writing career.
2. Kundalini Shakti and the worst things that ever happened to me
In 1975, I began meditating using a form of kundalini yoga. Kundalini is conceptualized as energy coiled at the base of the spine, lying dormant until awakened. When awakened, it moves up the spinal column, purifying the individual's energy centers and psyche. My experience of kundalini is like sitting on the business end of a cosmic fire hose. It produced ecstasy, as well as kicking out memories of the worst things that ever happened to me.
3. The right circumstances, and motivation becomes sufficient
During an extended healing after step 2, I went to a meditation retreat, coming home spiritually renewed and sparkling. Two days later, I had a cataclysmic experience: The plot of a book was injected into my brain in a second. After that, I wrote for nine years straight, completing drafts of nine novels. The drafts are mostly drivel, but they'll rewrite nicely. My spiritual awakening unleashed my writing and fueled my creativity, also imparting the drive to complete what I started.
4. The material will finish the book
The book that I've published wasn't one of my novels; it was a freebie, leaping out of me by surprise. I went to a Native American spiritual retreat, had an incredible experience, and started writing about it. Voila! Three years of single-minded work later, I had a book. (That's the second retreat to jump-start my writing. Neither was a writers? retreat. No cogitating for hours about technique or critiquing anyone's writing. Just spiritual regeneration.) I could not stop until I finished Stepping Off the Edge. The material drove me until the book was published, and beyond, into marketing.
5. Paying dues
Would I write better if I an MFA in creative writing or a PhD in literature? Probably, but I'm sixty years old and can't afford the time. Writing is a skill that demands training. In that, I have paid my dues. I've been in writers? groups for more than ten years. I've worked with a number of editors, ranging from great to horrid. I walked away from one publisher and have had my share of scathing critiques. I've written queries, gotten rejected, and had ?experts? try to scam me. I've rewritten, reframed, and thrown out. Had too many migraines and worked myself into a frazzle. I've also made dear friends, met fabulous professionals, and finished a book that I love.
How did I complete my book? It took all of my craziness and sanity, the worst things I that happened to me, applying myself to wellness with all my soul, and doing everything necessary to see it born: a lot of work, commitment and much love. And a touch of the divine.
Writing is not easy. Even so, if your highest and deepest self drives you, it's impossible not to finish.
More and more people are successfully completing their books in less time. Even your rivals are finishing fast. Don't let them leave you on the sidelines this year. Why not join them? First read the seven reasons below many aspiring authors may fail to finish this year. Then correct them to complete your book fast and sell sooner:
1. Failure to gain confidence in your book through knowledge.
Many aspiring authors shake like leaves in a tree trying to figure out if their book will sell. Others give up before they even start. Even so, it's an important question that deserves an answer. No one wants to invest time or money into a house built on sand? Don't be afraid; here's how to know if your book is significant.
First of all, if it presents useful information, solves a problem, answers a pressing reader's question, or impacts people for the good its worth writing. If it's entertaining or makes us laugh it could go further than you dreamed.
It's significant, if it creates a deeper understanding of humanity or even animals. People love their pets and consider them a part of the family. With one to three of these elements your book is worth writing.
More than three, it has potential of making excellent sales and even to top seller status. Now, get started; write your book and make the world a better place. Your readers will love you for it.
2. Failure to pinpoint who will buy your book.
Make it your goal to find out who will buy your book and sell it to them. Like an expert bow man taking aim at his target, give your book a specific audience and it will hit the mark of good sales. Best seller books focus on a single topic per book.
When you target one audience at a time, each tip, each story or how-to will be more effective. Many novice authors just shoot their book out to the world without aim. Furthermore, write your message to someone specific and you gain an extra competitive edge on less informed book writers.
It would be helpful to create an audience profile. Are your potential readers' men, women or young adults? How old are they? Are they interested in your topic? What problems do they face?
Are they business owners, entrepreneurs or professionals? Are they techies or non-techies? Are they willing to spend $15-20 on a book like yours? Do this and you're on your way to selling more books than you imagined.
3. Failure to write your book's thesis.
Perhaps, the word thesis brought back memories of English class. No worries, remember a thesis simply means the main central thought of a subject. Make sure your main central thought includes the greatest benefit to your book reader and you're done.
In other words, it should answer your audiences' question, "How will this book help, encourage or solve my problem for me?" Write the thesis before you write the book and stay on the path of focused, powerful yet easy to read content.
All chapters should support your book's main concept. For the book "Write Your Best Book Now," the thesis is "How to write, complete, and publish your best book fast." Give your book a competitive edge by putting the main thought in the title or sub-title.
4. Failure to make an inspiration cover early to encourage yourself.
Keep it nearby to inspire you. Remember, book covers are the number one selling point of a book. Of course, in the beginning this is only a working cover. Nevertheless it will help crystallize your thoughts and propel you toward the fulfillment of your dream. You have 10 seconds or less to impress your potential readers to buy.
Look around the bookstores and the internet to get a few ideas. Look for the covers most suited for your audience. Choose colors that attract them. For instance, consider red and blue for business books; aqua, yellow, and shades of red work for personal growth books. Even so, avoid too much red; it makes some feel suspicious.
5. Failure to develop the back cover as a sales message before you write chapter one.
This benefit driven outline helps give your book direction and helps you focus on what's really important to your readers. Most books will only allow for 50-75 words. That gives you less than 20 seconds to impress your prospective reader.
Make this message passionate. Focus only what sells: testimonials (reader, expert and famous), a benefit driven headline to hook the reader to open the book and read the table of contents, and bulleted benefits.
6. Failure to compose your book's 60 second "mini billboard" before you begin writing.
Have you noticed a highway billboard lately? You only have a few seconds to get it as you drive by. So, the information is distilled into sound bytes to be effective. Make your 2-3 sentence book blurbs into sound bytes. Like a billboard where you only have a few seconds to get your message across, condense your sound byte into a 60 second tell and sell.
Use your mini billboard at networking meetings, in the elevator, in the grocery line, anywhere you only have a few seconds to tell about your book. Composing your ad should include your title and 3 top benefits.
7. Failure to write your publishing goals down for your book.
Will you self-publish or shop for a traditional publish? There are serious pros and cons for either method. Find out the differences so you can make an educated choice that suits you. If you are self-publishing, consider the POD technology for your book. There are lots of good choices that will publish your book for you at an affordable price.
If you are opting for a traditional publisher, get an agent and a contract before writing the book. Then shop agents and publishers with 2 chapters and a knock-out book proposal. Invest in one of the current market guides and research the best fit for your work. It raises your chances considerably if you know what kind of manuscripts a particular company is looking for.
I admit it; getting started writing a book can be challenging to most. Even so, it doesn't have to stay that way. You can do like the author did; use the tips above and kick start writing your book. Start today; complete and release your significant message to the world. Then jump around, get excited for it won't be long before we see your name in print!
Both Sandy Nathan & Ankita are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Sandy Nathan has sinced written about articles on various topics from Writing. Sandy Nathan is not a blazing new talent. ?I'm a blazing old talent. I'm a mother, a grandmother and someone who's had several professional careers. My first published book was in economics. Read more about Sandy at. Sandy Nathan's top article generates over 480 views. to your Favourites.
Ankita has sinced written about articles on various topics from Adsense, Software and Blogging. About the Author:-For more useful tips & hints, please browse for more information at our website:-