by Diane Eble
When I mention to people that I am an author and book publishing coach, I often get the response, “I want to write a book someday.”
I then ask, “Why someday? Why not today?”
The reason, of course, is because most people don’t know where to start in writing a book. I’m going to banish that right now, by giving you a simple technique that will take you only 10-15 minutes per day.
Yet, if you do this faithfully, it will turn you into a prolific writer.
“A Million Words” Start Now
One of my writing mentors, a prolific author and savvy business man, once told me, “You have to write a million words before you’re good enough to get published.”
I don’t know if that’s true, but the point that you get good at writing by writing certainly is.
And the way to do that is to start writing, make it a regular habit, and train yourself to write on demand.
This exercise will do all that for you-in only 15 minutes a day.
Note that this exercise is not original with me. AAs mentioned, it comes from a book by Dorothea Brande called Becoming a Writer, which was first published in 1934 and is still in print! Though the language is a bit dated, the essence is wonderful. I highly encourage you to get it. It is one of the books that turned me into a writer. (That’s because I not only read it, but did the exercises. Taking action is the key to success in anything.)
Five Simple Steps to Training Yourself to Write
The exercise is called “Writing on Schedule.” Here’s what Dorothea Brande says to do:
1. First thing in the morning, sit down and look over your day. Decide when you can devote 10-15 minutes to write.
2. Schedule this into your day. Make it a firm appointment with yourself. Nothing must interfere with this. Brande calls it a “debt of honor” to yourself. If you’re on the phone, excuse yourself because you have an appointment. If someone is in your office, tell them you have an appointment now. (Needless to say, try to schedule it for a time when you think you won’t get interrupted or have to be somewhere else.)
3. At the appointed time, sit down to write. Longhand or on your computer-doesn’t matter for this exercise. Set a timer for whatever you have chosen. 15 minutes is ideal, but if you can only manage 10, that’s okay.
4. When you write, get down whatever comes to mind. “Write anything at all, sense or nonsense,” Brande instructs. “If you must, you can write, ‘I am finding this exercise remarkably difficult’ and say what you think are the reasons for the difficulty. Vary the complaint from day to day till it no longer represents the true state of affairs.”
5. Do this exercise every day, but vary when you do it. This is important because the point is to train yourself to write on demand.
I can’t tell you what this simple exercise will do for you! You won’t know its full power until you try it for yourself. It will also banish writer’s block, by the way. I have not experienced writer’s block for nearly 30 years, because of this and a couple of other writing secrets I’ve learned.
But what if you want to become an author, yet hate to write?
I need to mention here that some authors do hire ghost writers, and that is certainly legitimate. However, there are lots of reasons why I believe it’s important to learn how to write yourself.
So even if you plan to have a ghostwriter actually write your book, do this exercise. It will train you to get things down on paper, and I believe it will also make writing much more natural and comfortable for you.
Take Action, or Give Up Now
Brande adds a warning that I will pass on, because it underscores something crucial: If you want to become a successful author, you must take action.
I have given you an action to take, a simple 10-15 minute exercise that will train you to write on demand.
Now I want to quote Brande:
“Right here I should like to sound the solemnest word of warning you that will find in this book: If you fail repeatedly at this exercise, give up writing. Your resistance is actually greater than your desire to write, and you may as well find some other outlet for your energy early as late.” [Emphasis is the author's.]
Remember, it’s not important what you write but that you write at this point.
About the Author
Diane Eble is known as “Your Book Publishing Coach”. She invites you to sign up at http://www.authorsuccessplan.com to learn “The A-B-C’s of Becoming a Successful Author” in a free, 5-part course based on what Diane has learned from her 30 years in publishing as an author (11 books), editor (nonfiction & fiction books, magazines), Virtual Book Tour host and copywriter.
