Karen's rules for writing

Karen’s Rules for Writing

When it comes to writing a book, it’s easy to find other things to do instead. Suddenly your desk needs tidying, your accounts seem more enjoyable, or Facebook becomes a very attractive proposition!

As I’m currently writing not one but two books, I thought you’d find it useful to discover my rules for writing. These are the things that help me to get my words out of my head into a format that works, and allows me to get into flow. And hopefully they will inspire you to do the same.

1. Planning

Planning is the first thing that I do before I even start to write. Although I might be itching to get going, it’s important for me to map out my chapters first, to create some semblance of order, even if things might change later.  When I’m working with clients on their book planning, we sit down with coloured pens, post-it notes and a flipchart, and then turn this masterpiece into a plan later.

2. Clear desk

When it comes to writing time, it may be a cliche, but a clear desk = a clear mind.  I can’t write, work or function if my desk isn’t clear apart from what I’m working on.  When you write, all you might need are written notes, your computer or laptop, and perhaps a cup of tea, coffee (or chocolate!) to keep you going.

3. Write in chunks of time

I like to write in defined chunks in time. But to make them happen, I have to put them in my diary – and they also need to be at times when I’m at my best.  What works best for me is to have an afternoon or morning booked out for writing rather than smaller chunks, when something else invariably takes priority.  I also know that when I get into flow, I don’t want to get distracted by other things that are important, but get in the way of my creativity!

4. Know what’s next

As I’ll be teaching in the third module of the Your Book is the Hook training later this month, I need to know what’s coming up next to get focused. This partially comes down to planning, but it’s more than that. When I open up the Word document which constitutes my book, I need to see the path ahead.  I rarely edit as I go, and just want to know what’s next in my plan so that I can get going quickly.

5. Teach a process

Also, as part of this plan, I teach and share a process.  This may be your signature system, your step-by-step process, or a defined way in which you teach your thing.  This makes it easy for the book to be logical and for your writing to be easy. Plus it’s likely to be something that you do everyday, so the material will come more easily to you.

6. Remove distractions

I have to turn off distractions.  My phones go on silent, my email gets turned off and Facebook (and the internet generally unless I’m doing some research) will be closed as well.  Sometimes music in the background helps me to focus and sometimes it just gets in the way of my thought processes!

7. Keep your notes together

There are times when I come up with ideas when I’m not at my desk or in my office, so I have a dedicated notebook that I can use to jot things down.  This means that I’m not always scrabbling for odd pieces of paper and can’t remember where documents are stored.

8. Don’t force it

Sometimes the words come and it takes me a short time to write a few thousand words and sometimes it’s more difficult.  A plan helps because I know what’s next and it helps to avoid writer’s block, but occasionally it ain’t going to happen! To counteract this, one of my clients is approaching her book by seeing it as many 500 word blog posts, as it makes a big task feel more manageable and less overwhelming.

9. Set deadlines

One of the books that I am writing is Your Book is the Hook, which I am writing alongside running the programme of the same name (and similar content, not surprisingly!) This has forced me to get started, to develop my ideas and the joy in this is that I can test my concepts as I go.  Plus with any luck, the first draft will be finished in 6 weeks!

10. Don’t stress

I’ve been working on my third book for a while and I don’t stress that it isn’t finished yet. The first draft is done and it will be ready when it’s ready! And it’s OK if the fourth one is done and dusted first. If your book has been on the backburner for a while, why not dust it off and see what you can do with it?

What’s next?

If you’ve ever thought about writing a book, when you have the right processes in place, it can be easy.  It doesn’t take long to get an expert book out of your head and sharing it with your clients.

When you have your own rules in place, just get started and if you need my help, just let me know and we can arrange to chat. Or join us for the Your Book is the Hook programme this month where you can join a community of entrepreneurs who are ready to write their book!

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