Simon Cox Blog: Ready to Write Your Book? Here’s a Five Point Checklist

Wednesday 19 July 2017

Ready to Write Your Book? Here’s a Five Point Checklist

It’s time to start writing.

Writing often begins with wondering. Pen in hand, you find yourself asking…

Will people ever read what I write?
Do I have what it takes to write a book?
Why should I write when mountains of books already exist on this topic?

I call these “God nudges.” They are stirrings that emanate from outside a writer’s life—you might say from above.

After coaching countless people in their publishing careers, I’ve discovered that these questions are common to everyone who has ever felt a nudge to write.

How do you know, in your situation, if it’s time to finally write the story that’s been rattling in your bones?

I’ve developed a five point checklist to determine if you’re really ready to write your book.

Place a check by each of the following to which you answer Yes:

1. Do people keep telling you to share your story? ___

You’ve got a fresh idea or inspiring story and you’ve noticed that friends, neighbors, and strangers keep saying, “You’ve got to write that down” or “That’s a great book idea.” You need to stop making excuses and start writing.

But there’s an exception to this rule: Imagine a person tells a long-winded, rambling story with no end in sight. You’d graciously like to change the topic or excuse yourself from the conversation, but you need a gentle transition. “You should write a book,” you stammer, then slip away to the restroom or appetizer table or out the bathroom window.

“You should write a book” has become a cliché response in many conversations.

Perform an evaluation. Are the people urging you to share your story climbing down the fire escape, or are they sincere and trustworthy ...