Melinda Copp

Routines are good—they give us a rhythm to follow through key parts of the day. They also make writing big projects, like books, easier to finish. That's the hardest part, you know, actually finishing the book. Routines get you in the habit and before long, you've done your writing for the day without any struggle or difficulty at all. Writing becomes one of those tasks you do every day, like making the bed or washing a load of laundry. But

With a project as big and important as writing a book, working from a plan—or blueprint—will make everything easier and more fun. Following a blueprint allows aspiring authors to make their ideas work, just like construction crews use blueprints to build solid and strong buildings. It tells you what needs to go where and helps you compile all the essential pieces of a successful book in a practical and easy-to-follow way that readers will love.

Every aspiring author thinks about publishing his or her book. And with so many options available in this day and age (self-publishing, electronic publishing, traditional publishing, print-on-demand, etc.), if you're writing a book, then you have a lot to think about!

Authors write books because they're passionate about the topic and the message they have to share with the world. But it's also nice to make a little money doing it. Your book can create a substantial stream of income for you, particularly when you use these four strategies for making your book successful.

Writing a book often takes longer than anticipated because many writers don't have a process or ritual that helps them work efficiently. All experienced writers develop a rhythm to their work with practice and experience. They do things to become more efficient and productive. They understand how they work, when they work best, and the different phases of the writing process—and they accomplish more as a result.

You've probably heard all this before: writing a book is one of the most powerful marketing tools available to coaches, consultants, speakers, and professionals. But not all books work as well as they could.

Whether you're working on a book or your next blog post, writing is a practice. It's not about being good or bad—it's about constantly seeking ways to improve, no matter where you are with your skills. Every time you write, it gets a little easier. But at the same time, diligent writers collect skills and tricks they can use to make their writing stronger and more compelling.

Sometimes, for any number of reasons, even the most well-intentioned writers need to put book projects aside before they're complete. Maybe they need to get clear about what they really want to say. Maybe they have another big project they need to focus on. Or maybe they just don't know what to do next and they move onto something else. I know I've been in all those situations before. So what's the best thing you can do? Get back into it!

One of the most common book writing challenges is getting started--taking action on your book idea and actually sitting down at the computer to write. This holds more aspiring authors back than anything else, and I spend a great deal of my time telling people where to start. But for every aspiring author who never starts writing their book, there's probably one that's been started and never finished.

What's the point of writing a book? Publishing it. In the end, that's what we're all after because writing is about sharing our ideas and knowledge. However, although publication is the ultimate goal, focusing too heavily on that--particularly when your book idea isn't fully formed, let alone written--can prevent you from ever getting it done.