Writing Non-fiction Blog Series - 3

The life of a writer. The glamour - if there is any - is when your work finally gets published for all to see. Leading up to that moment - there is nothing but hard work. Good work...thinking work at that...but hard nonetheless. I'm not saying that to discourage you at all. However, nothing worth writing and then publishing is comes easy - at least not 100% of the time. Take the last two weeks for instance. I had some travel the week before last - so the amount of writing that was accomplished for that week was pretty much nil. When I did get back, I got sick - so that didn't help productivity either. I might have been able to scratch out no more than 250 words all that week. This week - a bit better with another 500+ words today but given the week I had - that was it. I try to write during the week - after work - but the reality is that I'm not there yet. So, most of my writing is on the weekends.

So, I don't feel discourage or behind. I know from experience that in the coming days, weeks and months I'll have 1000 word, 2000 word weeks. It just happens that way. Remember what my first pass on a book project is all about: just getting a first draft completed. I just need to get words and thoughts on paper - no editing or heavy re-writing. There will be time for that later...much later. So here are my guidelines for writing the first draft and getting it done:

First, write to write. Don't worry about word counts - even though you will note your progress from one writing session to another like I do. Focus on getting thoughts on paper following your chapter outline. While I am researching for a book project, I'm thinking about how I need the chapter to layout - what topics? what order? The chapter outline for your book will change but it serves as the central pivot point from which all your future work form.

Second, no distractions. Although I have a private office and most of my kids are now out of the house, there are still too many distractions. So my best and most product times are when I go to the library. A few hours a week at the library just seems to provide the isolation I need to stay focused and crank out copy. I'll let the editor sort it out later!

Third, writing is thinking. When you are not typing out words - you're thinking about what you need to accomplish for a particular chapter or section of the book. That often means going back to some research - re-reading some material or even conducting further research. I keep a notebook for each book I write where I handwrite notes. I use it as I'm developing my initial thoughts about the book. I'll also use it to develop the chapter outline and then making notes about key insights I don't want to lose sight of. I date each set of notes so I can see over time my progression of thought, ideas, challenges. This book stays with me and fills out right up to the point I am ready to publish (and after many drafts with my editor).

Fourth, life is life. Don't worry if you have a week or two or three where your production time is low - or even none existent. Unless you are writing for a publisher who gave you a date they want your manuscript finished to them - you are the boss. Although I do set dates for certain stages of the manuscript - like the first rough draft and then the draft I send to the editor - I can move them within reason. I don't want to be one of those authors who takes 10 years to finish a manuscript. You perhaps will have other books to write - so why let one book project hold the rest of your future works up? Like Nike says - Just do it.