In Her Own Ink

I know a fellow author who completed her book in two weeks. I must admit I tried to meet that deadline. However, she wrote her book while in a manic state. She was full of high energy with little need for sleep. Not beast mode but superhuman mode! I am reflecting on common practices to avoid as inexperienced authors. Common Pitfalls      Don’t aim to write your book at light speed - it’s a trap! There is a mindset we must overcome. Writing our books swiftly within a significantly short-time period. You are not superhuman! Let’s do this project right. It’s very important to you. Therefore, don’t cut corners by wrapping up your manuscript prematurely to achieve a separate goal; to write your first or second book swiftly on the first attempt.      “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time!” I rewrote my second book at least three times. I wanted to make sure it was right. Likewise, I want you to feel confident with your finished manuscript. Therefore, if...

“Discipline is based on the practice of following a routine - executing a task and delivering results. It manifests itself by honing the keys to self-motivation. Like a sharpshooter, your consistent approaches to review go on autopilot, enabling you to hit the target every time.” (In Her Own Ink: Strategies for Creating from Author to Author, Ashley Smith)      When I wrote my first book, I worked with a coach. We dived into my book project religiously. Although she was a drill sergeant, she kept me on track and disciplined to keep the course. I encourage you to work with IN HER OWN INK to stay accountable to your dreams and make them become reality, NOW. However, don’t be alarmed, I’m not a drill sergeant! You can fulfill your vision and come out on top of the writing demands. Being Receptive      Before I begin working on my book I carry out a routine. This habit is my warm-up. It prepares me to get into the zone. Initially, I set up the atmosphere to be ...