Why Can't You Finish Writing Your Book?—Tips For New Authors From Acorn Publishing
Having a hard time finishing your book? Hybrid Publisher, Acorn Publishing, gives tips for new authors writing and finishing their manuscript.
At Acorn Publishing we meet a lot of new writers at conferences and when we talk with writers groups. Their enthusiasm for writing is contagious and just about everyone is excited to talk with us about their work in progress. To be honest, these interactions are one of the best parts of the job. After we explain our submission process, we inevitably hear from some that after years of working on a manuscript, they haven't finished writing their book. It's sad because an unfinished book is one we can't publish and one the world doesn't get the chance to read.
New writers often start out with the best of intentions to write a game changing book, one that will land on the top of the best seller list. They've got a good idea but then something happens, the story goes nowhere and another dream is unrealized.
This problem isn't uncommon and it might sound all too familiar to you. Here are some common reasons why you can't finish writing your book and what can you do about it.
You only write when you feel inspired: Writing depends on inspiration but does everything have to align perfectly for you to be at your most creative? Do you have to be in the right mood, well-rested, feeling your best and not rushed? Ideally, we'd all have the privilege to answer 'yes' but life doesn't work that way and neither does writing.
Writing isn't just about creativity, it's also about discipline. If you don’t write consistently and with commitment, you probably won’t finish your story. Figuring out a writing schedule that works for you can help. You don't have to write every day but when you've scheduled time to write, do it. Remember, making progress on a book is only about one thing. Word count. Even if you're only writing a few hundred words each time you sit down, hundreds of words can add up fast and get you to your goal.
You're writing without an outline: When you're driving to a location where you've never been, a road map makes things a lot easier. If you haven't organized your ideas and the sequence of events in your story, you'll probably get lost, make some wrong turns and end up frustrated. You might even end up somewhere you never intended. More likely, you'll just give up. This can happen again and again.
Some writers view themselves as 'pantsers' who figure out the story as they write it. If you think 'pantsing' is your thing but find yourself getting stuck, frustrated and about to give up on your story, you might actually be a 'plotter' who'd be much better off with an outline. Try it, we're betting you'll hang your 'pants' up.
There's one other important advantage of an outline. Organized writers usually write faster which means you'll finish faster. Writing with an outline allows you to measure your progress along the way, set goals for yourself and see how far it is to the finish line. And that doesn’t mean you can’t take detours along the way! Most writers with an outline still make plenty of room for surprises.
You’re writing and editing at the same time: Have you been diligently working on your book for weeks and are still on the first chapter? Maybe your still stuck on the first page? If that's your situation, you're probably editing that chapter or page again and again trying to make it perfect before moving on. It's a rookie mistake and one that's all too common.
The truth is everyone’s first draft is terrible so don't sweat it. It's not supposed to be perfect and believe us when we say there will be all kinds of changes along the way to a final manuscript. Getting a first draft written is a key milestone when writing a great book and there's no way around it, you've got to get there. Nothing slows down progress and sucks the energy out of a writer faster than writing and editing at the same time. So give up on perfection, the time for that comes later.
You suffer from bright shiny object syndrome: Did you start out with what you were certain was a great idea for your book? Maybe you even outlined the plot points and developed your characters. You wrote a few chapters and got off to a decent start. But then you had another idea, one you thought might be better, than another. You spend hours googling each idea, looking for a new angle to pursue or some detail you'd overlooked only to find yourself unsure and looking at a blank computer screen.
The real problem with bright shiny object syndrome is that those new ideas are little more than a distraction that cause you to lose sight of the big picture and not finish writing your book. The best way to climb out of this trap is by trusting yourself and your original ideas. Once you have your first draft complete, you can go back and revise your story with some of those new ideas if you still like them. Just don't be surprised to find they've lost their luster and your original ideas are far better.
A Final Thought for New Writers
At Acorn, we're excited to work with new authors and help them with their writing journey. Toward that end, we want to put to rest some mistruths you may be telling yourself. Just because you're having a hard time finishing your book does not mean you’re not talented enough, not smart enough or not good enough. Writing a book is hard work that can be made much easier with the tips we've offered here. Follow them and you’ll have a finished manuscript in no time. And when you do finish, we hope you'll send it to us because we can't wait to read it.
Good luck, now go finish what you've started!
Aaron C. Anderson's FB Author Page: https://tinyurl.com/mpmxbxah
Dennis k Crosby Website: http://www.denniskcrosby.com
Christina Mai Fong Website: https://www.christinamfong.com
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