So you’ve finally started that book. Congratulations! Sometimes, the hardest part is simply getting started. But how to see through those 300+ pages to the end?
Here are 5 ways to finally finish your book:
1. Get excited
This is your book baby, a dream you’ve had for months… Years? Decades? Think about how wonderful it’ll feel to reach the other side of this mountain of a manuscript, to finally achieve what only 3% of writers ever achieve. Make a vision board, open a Pinterest account, schedule a due date in your calendar. Determine in your mind that you will achieve this goal, and you will!
2. Set miniature goals
The ultimate goal is to complete your manuscript by your due date (as mentioned above). But how do you get there? Same way you eat an elephant, my friend: one small bite at a time. How many chapters or pages must you complete each week to hit your deadline? How many words can you write in an hour? Breaking down your goal into small tangible steps will help you avoid procrastination, as well as overwhelm.
3. Draft a plan
Similar to setting miniature goals, you’re more likely to complete your manuscript if you strategize to get from Point A to Point Z. I know you Pantsers are feeling a little itchy already, but don’t panic! You can plot as much or as little as you like. The goal is to have a general idea of where your story is going in order to avoid wasting time. If that means plotting the details of every single scene or focusing on the main events in the narrative, strategize what you’re writing towards and how soon you plan to get there.
4. Seek accountability
Informing a loved one, critique partner, or writing group of your objective is a great way to remain committed to your goal until the end. Request that a friend ask about your progress every Friday, post word counts on social media, schedule a deadline to swap a chapter or two with your critique partner or writing group each week.
5. Don’t look back
I’ll be the first to admit it isn’t easy, but you’ve gotta take off your editor’s cap. The fact is, a first draft is just that, only the first of many. Expect it to be imperfect, riddled with plot holes and littered with typos. Let go of the need to perfect each sentence and simply keep writing. Then once you reach the end, you get to go back and make it shine!
Conclusion
There’s no reason to stress about getting that book done. With a few good strategies on hand, you can tackle that elephant, one bite at a time! Got 5 minutes to discover the keys to writing a conclusion that really sings? Check out, the Finish Your Book series.