7 Things I Learnt As A Non-Fiction Author

This blog article is for aspiring self-published fiction or non-fiction authors.

I love putting pen to paper. I just love the writing process and the use of words to express myself creatively.

I have loved writing from a young age and I am also an avid reader. I purchase kindle books but I also love buying and touching physical books. I like to feel and discover a book’s cover and contents and connect with its author more closely. eBooks are a great invention though, especially if space in your home is limited!

I often meet aspiring authors who started their manuscript ages ago and it still needs to be completed. I know how it feels, I was there myself. I first started writing back in 2009 and I did not publish my first book YES! TO Love until 2016. There was, therefore, a 7 year gap between the initial writing and the actual publication of my first book.

I want to share with you what made it possible, what I did differently and what I learnt so that you can get unstuck and realize your dream of holding your completed book in your hands.

1. Be coachable: the major shift I experienced was when I got a book architect on board in 2015. Before that I was making a lot of research on the self-publishing and publishing industry whilst carrying on writing. I was progressing but very slowly due to a lack of structure. This might resonate with you.

2. Be committed: with a coach holding me accountable, I dedicated three solid months purely to writing and I did not allow any distraction to break my stride. I recognized that my priority was to focus on getting my manuscript completed; I could I always make changes later.

The rule of thumb is: “Do not edit your manuscript when you first write it focus on getting it finished.”

3. Be consistent: if you schedule 1 hour a day to book writing you must keep it up. If you missed a day, it does not matter, work to your schedule the following day and do not let your writing habit slips, remain consistent.

3. Be assertive: by letting go of resistance and fear. You might procrastinate because of the fear of failure or success. I was overwhelmed by the fear of failure and telling myself: “What if they don’t like the book…” “What if they criticize my work…” “Oh my God I actually reveal all in this book!” Then I realized I had to get out of the way: writing my first book was not about me but the many people it would bless and help transform.

If you find yourself procrastinating, revisit your WHY, why you have decided to write a book in the first place.

4. Be accountable: it is your responsibility to get your book finished. Set a deadline for completion and move towards it. With a deadline your responsibility is to meet it no matter what.

5. Be disciplined: yes, it requires commitment and discipline to get your manuscript finished. Schedule your book writing time in your diary in order to ensure that you get it done, daily, weekly, monthly whatever way you have decided to do it. The most important thing is that you remain consistent and persistent and you keep progressing on a regular basis.

6. Be prepared: for more than writing. Writing is just the first stage, then there is the publishing, printing and promoting. However, what you need first is a finished manuscript.

7. Be grateful: for your achievement and the opportunity you have been given to bring joy to others with your creativity. Celebrate each success as you go along: the completion of a chapter, the design of the cover or your first testimonial… etc.

Question: are currently stuck with your book project?

Activity: if so, please look at the 7 tips above I share with you and choose one thing you could apply today, which would make a huge difference in your results and ensure that you got your manuscript completed.

If you are committed to creating change in your life and becoming a published author, you can download here my workbook: “The Top 10 Mistakes People Make to Create Change in Their Life and How You Can Avoid Them and Take Your Life To The Next Level”.