Why People Start Their Book and Get Stuck

What it really means . . . 

“I started a book a while back. But then I stopped, and well—I haven’t gotten back to it.”

I nodded with what I hoped was an understanding smile at the lady who’d just spoken next to me at the Bible study. “You’re not alone,” I told her.

And I wasn’t just trying to comfort her. I was telling the truth.

Background

Several times a year, I give a presentation on how to write and publish a book. I always start with these startling statistics:

• Did you know that if 1000 people want to write a book, only 30 will start? 
• And of those 30, only 6 will finish the manuscript?

And of course, who knows what percentage of those six will go on to actually publish the manuscript. Writing a book is a daunting task, which is why the vast majority of people who consider it never follow through.

Still, the people I work with aren’t among those non-starters. Many are in the second group; they start and then hit a wall.

Why You Hit a Wall After Starting Your Book

Why do people get stuck?

For many, it’s the sheer amount of time and sustained effort it takes. All of us have busy lives. Carving out the time to write can be a challenge. Not having adequate writing or storytelling skills can also hamper would-be authors.

But often, more than either of those reasons, writers get stuck because of a lack of direction.

In fact, just this week, I’ve had conversations with two prospective clients in this exact dilemma.

1. A professor, used to writing academic papers. He’s written a manuscript for a book he believes is vitally important for a more general audience on a controversial topic. But the feedback he’s gotten? “It’s too academic.”
2. A woman whose grandchildren urged her to document her life for them and their children. She’s made a good start, writing memories about her child- and early adulthood. But the narrative doesn’t flow; stories follow each other like bullet points unconnected by any theme or coherence.

Why are these people stuck?

Neither is a bad writer. Both have worthwhile things to say, and they’re capable professionals with successful careers. Their problem isn’t that they haven’t figured out how to set aside time, either—no, they’ve invested time, energy, planning, and emotion into their writing.

But neither of their manuscripts is what they want.

How to Move Forward When You’re Stuck

When I work with authors, whether as ghostwriter, book coach, or developmental editor, the first thing we do is take a big step back from the writing itself. In the old King James version of the Bible, Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” The same is true of books.

What are your goals?

Many authors don’t think about this, or if they do, only in a hazy way. Yet to have a clear direction for your book, you must set a vision. I look at the following goals with my clients:

• What do you want from this book? Are you building a brand? Do you want to preserve your legacy? Do you have an important message to share?
• What should your readers know when they finish your book?
• How should your readers feel when they finish your book?
• Is there anything you want your readers to do with you? For example, follow you on social media, hire you as a coach or consultant, sign up for your newsletter? Or, as is often the case with legacy memoir, simply know and appreciate you better?

Who is your audience?

This is important, because it affects everything from how you structure your book to tone (e.g., academic vs. self-help).

What is your overarching theme or message?

You should be able to express this in 3-5 sentences; 1-2 is ideal. This little blurb will become your North Star, something you come back to for guidance when you lose your way.

The Pros Who Can Save Your Manuscript

Sometimes, though, just going through this exercise on your own isn’t enough. You might end up doing things like:

• Self-editing over and over.
• Spending too much time researching or rewriting without guidance.
• Starting over—sometimes multiple times.
• Wondering whether you should get a coach, an editor, or . . . ?

None of that moves you forward. 

Often, the issue is a gap between vision and execution. That’s where hiring a professional keeps you in that tiny percentage, the less than 1% of people who make it from book idea to book manuscript. 

Here are some services that help. (For each, I’ll describe my process—other pros may take a slightly different approach, but they should be similar)

Ghostwriting

• Start with the vision-setting exercises I discussed.
• Craft a detailed outline.
• Engage in a series of interviews, in which the ghostwriter asks you questions using the outline as a guide.
• They write up the content, usually a chapter at a time; you give feedback, and the ghostwriter revises accordingly.
• Once the manuscript is complete, you each give it a final pass-through to polish it and correct inaccuracies. 

Book Coach

• The process starts the same way.
• After the outline is developed, you write, and the coach gives feedback.
• You meet to get clarification on feedback, discuss the manuscript’s progress, and work through challenges.

Book Consultation

This may go by different names with different professionals, and professionals’ processes may vary. My process:

• The same vision-setting and outline I do for ghostwriting or book coaching.
• You take it from there on your own.

Developmental Editing

A developmental editor works on a partial or completed manuscript. They:

• Clarify your goals, audience, desired tone, and overarching message.
• Go through the manuscript and make comments in the margins for big-picture items: where thoughts, paragraphs, or sections need to be fleshed out, trimmed, or rearranged; where tone needs to be adjusted; and so on.
• Send you 10-15-page letter outlining what’s working well and what needs work.

“Whichever path you choose—ghostwriting, coaching, or developmental editing—getting a pro involved early saves time, money, and frustration.”

Final Word

Are you stuck? Spinning in circles trying to fix a problem you can’t quite label?

Maybe the answer is simply taking a step back to clarify your vision. But for many people, that’s not enough; getting a professional to collaborate with you is the fastest way to move your vision forward.

If that sounds like a step you need to take, book a complimentary Book Blueprint Call with me!

Some writers move forward with ongoing support. Others need time to step away and focus. My October writing retreat provides focused time to clarify your book, get feedback, and make progress on your writing without the distractions of everyday life.