We found the question so interesting we kept answering it long after the conversation ended! 

The fact is there are several common mistakes coaches and want-to-be authors make–and some practical solutions to overcome these hurdles.

Mistake #1:
Not making the “yes-I-really-am-going-to-do-this” decision.

Solution: Nothing happens until the decision is made.

If you think about it, this is the true about anything you accomplish in life. Make the decision for yourself and then, we believe this is key, put it down in writing. Better yet, mark the date in your planner for when you will be holding your book in your hands.

Mistake #2:
Allowing more important things to distract you.

Solution: You say you don’t have time, yet have you whiled away 30 minutes on Facebook lately? Twitter? Watching TV? Okay, how about this one: email?

String several of those half-hour chunks together, and you could have a solid draft of your book done.

Mistake #3:
Leaning on excuses.
They might start with, “Yeah, but I don’t know what to write about” or “Yeah, but I have to focus on generating revenue.”

Solution: When Donna was growing up, her family had a running joke around the “yeah-buts.” Whenever someone offered up an idea and someone else responded “Yeah, but”‘ the other person would chant back at them: “yeah-but, yeah-but, yeah-but!”

(And then they’d all start to laugh.)

One technique is to replace the “but” with an “and” so it becomes, “yeah, and I don’t know what to write about, however I bet if I gave it some thought I could come up with a good idea.” Or “Yeah, and I have to focus on generating revenue, so I will concentrate
on the many money-making things that will stem from having my book done.”

Mistake #4: Not just “going for it.”

Solution:  Donna once talked to a woman who was going to write a book, yet was holding off until she did some audience research. Donna saw her five months later and asked how her book was coming along. She was still doing her research.

Donna saw her a year later and…no book.

That was three years ago and, as far as we know, she’s still not published.

We doubt she’s even started.

Here’s the thing: Yes, it’s a good idea to do your due diligence and check out your readership and interest. At the same time, we find it easier and more fun and, get this, just as lucrative to go for it.

Pick a market or just write what your gut says to write. The fact that you actually got your book done will carry a prestige with it that ripples well past the boundaries of a niche market.

The bottom line: you don’t have to be perfect, you just have to be published!

Mistake #5:
Getting too hung up on the publishing process.
What about cover design? What about ISBNs? How do I format the interior?

Solution: All good questions, but all in due time! Whether it’s being self-published or traditionally published, with a cover design you have a hand in or hire someone to do, know that the perfect answer is waiting for you. But you first have to have something to design and publish and put an ISBN on.

And the way to do that is to get the writing started.

Let Donna show you how to get your book done in one weekend— visit www.writewithdonna.com to learn more.

Now, with email, blog posts, status updates, tweets and more, we’re all writing more. And most of us find it’s really not that difficult.

A book though, that might be another matter. Even though it’s more common to write a lot, the idea of getting it all together for a book—one that makes sense—can be intimidating.

Start with these fast and easy tips. They are just a sampling of what I share in the upcoming Write a Book in a Weekend.”

1. Your Inner Critic will ruin your writing party and stifle your flow. Invite them to the editing party only!

2. When to let a word or phrase be “good enough” comes with experience. Finish draft before worrying about minor details.

3. Readers want information in a quick & easy format. Short and powerful books are selling better than long-winded ones.

4. Chapters can be quickly written by answering a series of 10-15 questions you know your target audience is asking.

5. Read everything you can. Note what does and doesn’t engage you. The more you read the better you will write.

6. Two words are not always better than one. When you have said what you wanted to say–stop.

7. Use strong verbs instead of weak ones that need to lean on adverbs. Ex: “whispered” is better than “spoke softly.”

8. When it’s time to edit—print and read your manuscript out loud. Errors you missed on the screen will jump out at you.

9. Readers love lists. Whether it’s “11 Fatal Small Business Mistakes” or “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover,” lists are a hit.

10. Case studies are great fodder for books. They lend credibility, add a human face and liven up what might otherwise be dull.

11. Most writers can get by without a content editor but do not forgo your proofreader.

Although I hope you find these tips useful, even I know they probably won’t be the catalyst to help you actually get a book manuscript written and published. There’s more you want to know about overcoming procrastination, deciding on a winning topic, and settling on a final word count and great title for your book.

You can find out more about all those things during our live virtual event “Write a Book in a Weekend.” Get access to this information here www.writewithdonna.com.

About the Author: Donna Kozik is a two-time award winning author and creator of the Write a Book in a Weekend^® system. She has a personal goal of turning 1,000 people into published authors in the next 12 months and is well on her way. Find out more about Donna and her work, plus get access to more book writing tips and strategies here www.writewithdonna.com.