Are you planning to write a book? Or, maybe that’s been on your to-do list for quite some time but just haven’t known how to get started?  If you are like most first-time authors, or perhaps you are an established author with many priorities on your plate, either way, you may find yourself the victim of never seeming to get your book project in motion…

How do you get yourself motivated or organized to make your dream a reality?

I’ve had literally hundreds of conversations with authors and want-to-be-authors and the common theme of those interactions revolves around “how do I get started?” I have found myself inspiring and motivating the author—rebuilding their dream and providing professional feedback on how they can bring it all together. That’s the emotional side, but what about the practical side, the ever-familiar “I just wish I could find the time—if I could just find a way to lock myself up so I can focus on writing…”?

This is exactly why I’m writing this message, to help authors realize their dream in three simple steps!

1. DO!… Planning vs. Doing

There is a difference between being busy and being effective. If you really want to get your book done, regardless of the motivation, you just need to decide! Simple? Yes! But, the big “but,” it’s all about what you do next, after deciding to get your book done. This is why there are three steps and not just one…

Sometimes I run up against the author who has “analysis paralysis” which puts them in the mode of “plan-plan-plan-plan-plan some more-plan…” What they need to do is “plan-do-plan-do…” This is where mentorship or guidance comes in. Having a professional resource at hand that makes you accountable to what you want to do. This keeps you focused on a simple path of → Plan the work – Work the plan

I like to view this “mentor” as being the project manager—the individual who is charged with the responsibility of getting and keeping the project in motion, keeping it on budget and on schedule.

Now, in contrast, there’s also the author who “proceeds with reckless abandon.” This is the person who just puts their head down and plugs away and just keeps going until they get there. The problem often is “where is there?” I like to refer to this approach as “ignorance on fire!” and yes, it is good to be in action, however, this approach can often waste time or result in a less-favourable result.

So the answer is obviously somewhere in between and getting there is the secret—via a professional resource that makes you accountable, as mentioned previously, to what you are wanting to do. This is at the heart of what I call our Professional Self Publishing™ process, specifically for authors who want to retain 100% of their intellectual property and profit.

2. KNOW!… Your Options

In an earlier article called The Publishing Process, I fully explained the option of self-publishing with guidance and expertise (professional self-publishing). At this point, I will assume that you are fully aware of the difference between the two common methods of publishing:

1. Traditional Publishing
2. Self-Publishing

At Motivated Publishing Studios, we focus on the latter—actually it’s perhaps a third one which we’ve trademarked, Professional Self Publishing™, which is all the benefits of self-publishing but with professional resources executing a predictable plan for the desired results. It’s all about getting a professionally executed book project, ensuring your 100% ownership, with all of the modern product options, format and design to meet your needs, and the option of a top-flight marketing plan—without having to do it yourself!

3. ACT!… What’s Next?

Here’s what you’ve been waiting for, the answer! The time is now! Get a hold of that professional resource that can hold you accountable and act as your project manager. How do you know if you have the right person? There are a couple of ways:

1. Get referrals from people who have used them before.
2. Meet with them and engage them on a level where you know you have a good connection.

By ensuring this resource can get you the results and that they have the expertise in coaching/accountability, can set you on your way to success. This is where someone like Motivated Publishing Studios can be the ace up your sleeve. You can’t do it alone, if you could you’d already have done it…

The time to act is now!

CONCLUSION

There you have it, three simple steps to put you on your way to accomplishing your dream—getting your book published. It’s as easy as 1-2-3:

1. DO
2. KNOW
3. ACT

As one of my mentors taught me years ago, success comes from a simple formula of DREAM → GOAL → PLAN → EFFORT, it’s a formula that works for anything worthy of your attention, but I’ll save that for another time…