You’ve Written the Book… What Comes Next?
I’d like to think that I know a thing or two about allowing the “unknowns” in life take over and derail my plans…
For example, when I first started writing books of my own, I would get 80-90% of the way through the draft and then just…
Stop.
Why?
Because I didn’t know what would come next. I didn’t know what editing and layout and cover design and publishing and royalties looked like.
Let’s be real:
If you never finish writing your book, you never have to figure out publishing.
If you never finish writing your book, you never have to figure out layout.
If you never finish writing your book, you never have to figure out launching.
If you never finish writing your book, you never have to figure out how to make sure your book is reaching the people you wanted it to reach.
On some level, you can FEEL all those unknowns piling up. Maybe you fall down the Google rabbit hole, looking for answers. Or maybe you just stop. And let your dream quietly die.
I know that this feels like. It happened to me when I was pregnant. I couldn’t imagine what life (and business and writing) with a baby looked like. So a lot of my life just… stopped. I get it that nobody has a crystal ball, but I just couldn’t wrap my head around how life would be the same and how it would change.
I didn’t even know where to begin. So I stayed stuck. Playing small. Being miserable (and broke) and then feeling bad about myself and my lack of “progress.”
This is a classic definition of Unknowns Inducing Overwhelm or UIO.
When that negative, viscous cycle starts up in your head and you can’t sleep. When the “Whatifs” have their party – and start partying about things you didn’t even know you were worried about until you suddenly can’t sleep.
I doubt that the process of writing (or not writing) you book is actually what is keeping you up at night. Frankly, in the whole scheme of UIOs, it’s probably not on your mind.
But all those unknowns ARE on your radar. At some level that unfulfilled desire is nagging you – as much as dirty dishes in the sink, mountains of laundry, not enough money, the missed deadline, the forgotten item in the yard…
It ALL contributes to overwhelm. But unlike things you can see (unfolded laundry or a messy desk) or the things you know have immediate and lasting impact (skinny bank accounts) unfulfilled desires are more insidious in how they add to your UIO list.
Because you KNOW that you have this dream: be a best-selling author.
And you know there are steps (and sub-steps!): marketing, writing, cover designs, publishing, editing, layout, and harnessing your message.
But you know that you’re only looking at half a picture of all the steps AND you’re not certain the order of the steps for the pieces you can see.
Then add in the feeling of failure or guilt as you flip another month on the calendar and realize that you still haven’t finished (or started). It’s wrestling spending a beautiful afternoon outside or at the computer, getting words onto paper. Overwhelm in your life means your message gets pinched – and you don’t write.
So what can you do?
Let’s start with the end in mind. For MOST people, the whole publishing process—especially for people who want to make a big impact with their book—is the biggest hang-up, unknown aspect that induces overwhelm, and the place it feels most comfortable to start getting your answers.
Which is why joining me at “Your Bestseller – LIVE! Market Your Message to Bestseller Status” happening September 19-21, 2018 is what you need to do.
It’s your next step. Take it here.
You’ll leave this event transformed. And knowing what goes in your book (and what doesn’t) so your message can reach EXACTLY who you want it to reach.
Imagine walking in worried about what comes “after” you write the book and walking OUT with knowing about publishing and launching. PLUS, you’ll create a customized marketing plan for YOUR book.
But you’ve got to get your hustle on. Spaces are filling quickly.
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- Running Out of Time to Write? You’ll Have More Time After THIS - April 25, 2023