Writing Lessons
10/27/25
Who is going to write this book?
YOU WANT TO FINISH? Stick to these rules
1. Set a deadline to start ... this means to stop plotting and planning and start writing. This means starting your story at page 1, and not turning back again.
2. Have targets that are outcomes-based not hours-based. Many writers say they will write for an hour a day. On my mentorships I set targets at 25,000 words a month.
3. Set a realistic deadline to complete your first draft of the book. Then stick to it. A good goal is to have your first draft
Written By
YOU WANT TO FINISH? Stick to these rules
1. Set a deadline to start ... this means to stop plotting and planning and start writing. This means starting your story at page 1, and not turning back again.
2. Have targets that are outcomes-based not hours-based. Many writers say they will write for an hour a day. On my mentorships I set targets at 25,000 words a month.
3. Set a realistic deadline to complete your first draft of the book. Then stick to it. A good goal is to have your first draft down in 5- 6 months. If its 24 months and you are still writing, consider that touch typing course.
4. Dive deep. Don't take a breather until you are finished. I don’t recommend dabbling in a book. It doesn’t matter if it’s a children’s book or a Alex Cross murder mystery, you will lose your focus. Write your book as if you are reading a book you cannot put down. If you pick it up once a week you are doomed. Do your plotting and then write obsessively, write compulsively and let the story take you with it.
Look this book isn't going to happen unless you go YES. I am DOING IT. Nobody is going to write it for you.
But when? One of the most common complaints I always hear from writers is that they can’t 'find the time' to write. They may start their books but then three months into the process, a pressing project at work is taking up all their time. Or the kids are too demanding. Next year is better ....
Or, on the other side of the spectrum, I get writers who tell me they are going to quit their jobs to finally write that book.
Easy on both sides of this extreme! Don't quit your job just yet.
Writing is a hobby. It is an obsession for some of us, a talent for others, or simply a creative outlet. It is not yet a profession. (Not until you have a seven-book deal in the bag.)
So this needs to be a hobby for now .... but an obsessive hobby.
HOW ELSE CAN YOU WRITE WITH ME?
Write your Novel in 100 Days. The course is fantastic and 180 published novelists say it works. I honestly think this is one of the best (but it's intense) More here
The ONLINE Writing Community
The single best place to start. A dedicated online writing group. With awesome people. Writing Sprints and Three Day At Home Binges. At $20 per month. Join here
Or just book a 'book chat' with me - 30 or 60 mins sessions here
What are publishers looking for this year?
Once again, we turn our attention to the publishing market and the trends shaping the upcoming cycle. For authors, understanding what readers are buying is invaluable—particularly in non-fiction, which must tap into the mood of the times. That said, a book can also spark a global trend, unleashing a new concept and capturing imaginations in unexpected ways. The “Let Them Theory,” for example, demonstrates the power of fresh ideas, amplified by podcasters, social media, and celebrity influence.
Should you plan or just write?
Should you plan a book? In my view, there is only one answer: yes. If you want to publish, writing with intent matters.
In non-fiction, planning is especially critical. You will know exactly what belongs in your book, how the chapters build, and what material sits where. That outline becomes your proposal and, later, your compass for the entire manuscript.
Many writers assume novels are different. They aren’t. In fiction, your plan becomes your plot.
