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Writing a Book and Feeling Stuck? How to Break Through Three Common Challenges

Guest post by: Melinda Copp

Article Overview: It may come before you even write a word, or it may come well into your draft, but when it does, your progress completely stalls. Many aspiring authors have felt stuck at one point or another. And this feeling can prevent even the most motivated writer from completing their work-in-progress. The good news is there are ways around this terrible stuck feeling.

Writing a Book and Feeling Stuck? How to Break Through Three Common Challenges

It may come before you even write a word, or it may come well

into your draft, but when it does, your progress completely

stalls. Many aspiring authors have felt stuck at one point or

another. And this feeling can prevent even the most motivated

writer from completing their work-in-progress. The good news is

there are ways around this terrible feeling. If you've been writing happily and productively on your book,

and suddenly found yourself unable to move forward, consider

the following three reasons aspiring business and self-help

authors often find themselves stuck.

1. Not Clear on the Audience

This is one of the most common mistakes I see my clients make-

they think they're book audience is "everyone." In reality, no

book is for everyone, including yours. And trying to write for

everyone only dilutes your message. The better approach is to

have an ideal reader-someone with a particular issue that you

can help them solve.

For example, let's say you're a busy, working mom struggling

with your weight and you're looking for a book to help you fit

back into your skinny jeans. As you browse the aisles of the

bookstore, you narrow your search to two different books: How

Anyone Can Lose Twenty Pounds and The Busy Mom's Guide to

Losing Twenty Pounds. Which one are you going to choose?

Probably the second one. Having a clear, defined audience of

readers with a common need or problem will make your book

more appealing to those who do fit your ideal reader profile.

So if you're stuck on some aspect of writing your book, revisit

the question: Who is your audience? If you're not crystal clear

on this, then writing your book in a compelling way will be more

difficult.

2. Not Clear on Your Book's Purpose

Another issue many aspiring authors face is lack of clarity on the

book's purpose. They've got plenty of material and ideas, but

they aren't sure what it all means. This problem may make the

book feel unfocused, it may raise questions about whether or

not to include a particular piece of information, and it may make

you confused about what to write next. A good test for this

problem is the ability to state what your book is about in one

sentence.

For example, "My book is about how twenty-somethings can

start investing now, without sacrificing the lifestyle they enjoy."

Or, "My book is about how recently unemployed middle-aged

women can find hope and a career path they love."

If you can't seem to nail your book down to one sentence, the

purpose is probably not clear. So think about your audience and

the biggest issue they face. What problem can you help them

solve? What is the greatest benefit they'll gain from reading

your book? Answering these questions will help you get clear on

your book's purpose, and help you get unstuck when it comes

to writing.

3. Over-Thinking the Problem

I've realized over the past week or so that I'm definitely an

over-thinker. And although humans seem to be wired to want to

figure everything out, that's not always the best way.

Sometimes, to find the answers we seek, we need to stop

thinking about the problem, let go of the need to figure

everything out, and allow the answers to appear.

If you're stuck on some problem relating to your book, whether

big or small, try setting it aside altogether and taking a walk,

meditating, soaking in the bathtub, or some other activity that

allows you to completely let go. Use this time to clear your mind

and you'll be surprised at how easily things fall into place.

Getting Unstuck

Although many aspiring self-help and business authors find

themselves unable to move forward for one reason or another,

oftentimes, the problem lies in one of these three common

issues: they aren't clear on the audience, they aren't clear on

the purpose, or they are over-thinking the problem.

Getting clear on the specific audience makes it easier to write in

a compelling way for the people most likely to need the

information you provide. Getting clear on the purpose of your

book makes decisions about what to include, how to structure

the book, and how to tie everything together obvious. And

when all else fails, sometimes it's best to let the problem go and

allow the answers to appear. When you do, everything will

come together and you'll be able to write freely and without

hesitation.

Related Articles
  See the Trees in the Forest; Where to Start Writing Your Book
  Five Keys to Book Writing Success
  Stuck In A Rut? - The Best Way To Escape Your Problem Is To Solve It!
  Do You Need to Hire a Ghostwriter to Write Your Book?
  Book Review Publishize ~ How to Quickly & Affordably Self-Publish a Book That Promotes your Expertise By Susan Daffron

Article Tags: book coach, book writing help, how to write a book, write a self help book, write nonfiction book



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