Business books are powerful tools for self-published business authors who want to stand out as thought leaders. After all, what better way to establish your authority and communicate your ideas than through a well-written, powerful business book?
For all self-published business authors, the key to crafting an impactful book is establishing and maintaining healthy and consistent writing habits, and it starts with setting attainable goals that motivate you to write.
Set realistic writing goals
Throughout your professional career, you’ve likely set goals for yourself and your company. As an aspiring self-published business author, it’s also important to set goals for writing your book to keep the project moving forward at a consistent pace.
It can take a year or more to write and publish a book. Instead of setting a goal based on a desired publication date, authorpreneurs tend to break up their overall book project into smaller chunks. Here are some examples of goals that might be a good fit for you:
- Write 500 words per day.
- Spend six hours per week on your book.
- Complete one chapter every two months.
As you consider which goals to set, keep your overall schedule in mind. You likely have business and personal responsibilities that fill up your time, and not hitting your goals can be discouraging. Be realistic and make sure your goals are reasonable and attainable.
Establish a writing routine
There are many benefits to having a routine. For example, you might be an early bird who gets to the office first or a night owl who’s most productive burning the midnight oil. Routines can help you become more productive and less stressed in all aspects of your life…including writing your business book.
To establish a writing routine, think about your current daily regimen and how you can consistently add time to work on your book. Although there’s no universal formula for creating a routine (after all, you have to determine what suits you best), you can use methods that other self-published business authors have employed.
First, start by scheduling time each day or week to work on your business book, and don’t let meetings or other obligations intrude on those time slots. Then, create a writing environment you’ll look forward to being in: invest in a standing desk or a new chair, and make sure you always have your favorite beverage or snack next to you. When your writing routine includes a block of time and an inviting setting, you’re well on your way to maximizing every minute you spend on your book.
Equip yourself with the right tools
Your entrepreneurship has taught you that you need the right tools to thrive. Similarly, your authorpreneurship is about to teach you that the same goes for writing your business book. Tools that may make your writing process more efficient and consistent include:
- Your favorite word processing program, like Microsoft Word or Google Docs
- A note-taking system, whether it’s digital or a notepad and pen
- Dictation software if you’re going to perform interviews as part of your business book
- Mind-mapping equipment like a whiteboard or corkboard that’ll help you visualize your book’s structure and flow
Additionally, one of the most powerful writing tools that self-published business authors equip themselves with is a team of professional editors who specialize in business writing. These experts will meet your draft where it’s at—whether it’s a basic outline or an entire manuscript—and make sure you have a clear message and a consistent voice throughout.
Give yourself some much-needed breaks
Taking occasional breaks is crucial to your writing process. You and your employees all benefit from having weekends off or taking a vacation, because you return to work recharged and ready to conquer the daily challenges. Writing a business book works the same way: you sometimes need a break to relax and refocus.
Depending on your writing routine and the demands of your personal and professional lives, taking a writing break might just be an hour or two to take a nice walk around the neighborhood or enjoy a cup of coffee. However, if you find yourself stuck or suffering from the dreaded writer’s block, it might help to take a couple of days off of writing.
Put your draft down and take the time you need. When you return to writing, you’ll likely find that the words flow a bit more smoothly and you’re back to consistently writing great business content throughout each chapter—and if you’re having trouble getting back into the writing groove, consider partnering with an expert ghostwriting service to help you along.
Celebrate your progress
Just like taking breaks can reenergize your writing process, so can celebrating the progress you’re making on your book. Self-published business authors have a lot on their plates, and taking a little time to acknowledge and be happy about reaching milestones is a great way to stay motivated and keep up the momentum.
So take the family out to dinner to celebrate each completed chapter, or treat yourself to that luxury item that’s been in your online shopping cart for weeks. You deserve a pat on the back for making progress—and for establishing and maintaining such healthy writing habits.
We help self-published business authors stay consistent!
Strong and healthy writing habits are the foundation of a great book. Unfortunately, traditionally published and self-published business authors alike can struggle to maintain consistent practices—but we’re here to help. Our business book writing and editing services are designed to help you stay on track, clarify your voice, and help you deliver a laser-focused message.
Ready to take the first steps toward professional authorpreneurship? We’re here to help shape your vision into a powerful book. We’ll start by reaching out with a short note to hear more about your goals and vision.
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