Do you wish there was a simpler way to write your book?

If you’re feeling overwhelmed or frustrated when it comes to writing and marketing your book, know that you’re not alone.

Every published author I’ve ever met has had to deal with fluctuating emotions, doubts, time constraints, decision fatigue, and information overload throughout the various stages of their writing journeys.

Yet it is estimated that 500,000 new self-published books were released last year by U.S. authors alone. Assuming that some authors wrote multiple books in one year, that means at least a quarter of a million people were able to push past all the challenges and overwhelm to successfully write and self-publish their books.

You can, too.

Identify the Root Cause

Have you ever wondered WHY you feel overwhelmed or frustrated by the writing process?

Chances are, you’re listening to a lot of different experienced authors and industry experts. Not only does that lead to a lot of conflicting advice that can generate confusion, but it also leads to comparison.

When we compare our beginnings with the completed successes of others, we’re bound to set ourselves up for disappointment.

Fellow pen pusher, God doesn’t want us to be overwhelmed and frustrated when it comes to writing the book he has placed on our hearts.

• He is not a God of confusion but of a sound mind.
• He warns us against striving and envy and deceptive practices.
• And He invites us to work in a simple manner.

Simple doesn’t mean instantaneous. Nor does it mean there isn’t any effort required.

That’s why I avoided the click-bait-y title of “The SIMPLE way to write your book.” The fact is that we have to put in the work and yes, it takes effort to write, publish, and market a book.

Learn a SIMPLER Way to Write Your Book

Thus, the SIMPLER way to write your Christian book is an acronym that can help you not only write and market effectively, but more importantly, honor God.

S = Scripture

The Bible is the manual that explains how we’re to do EVERYTHING in life. As Christian writers, we should regularly immerse ourselves in Scripture so we can apply it to our lives and infuse it in our writing.

We’re not to separate our faith from our work. Rather, we’re to discover God’s truth first for ourselves and then pass it along to our readers.

Sometimes the act of writing helps to accomplish both at the same time. As Oswald Chambers wrote in his devotional, My Utmost for His Highest,* “If you cannot express yourself on any subject, struggle until you can … Struggle to re-express some truth of God to yourself, and God will use that expression to someone else.”

I = Intentional

Have a plan. For example:

• when will you publish your book?
• Who is your intended audience?
• How will your book help or serve them? Will it offer them hope? Guidance? Knowledge? A new way of thinking about something?
• What are your big picture goals with your book?

Now, go granular.

• What is that one next step that will help you accomplish your first goal?
• How many days a week and/or words a day do you need to write in order to meet your deadline?
• Who will hold you accountable?
• Who will provide writing critiques along the way to ensure you’re writing with purpose?
• How will you invite God into your daily writing activities?

M = Messy

The writing life is full of messes:

• messy drafts,
• messy workspaces,
• messy schedules,
• messy marketing efforts,
• messy personal lives.

 

 

While it’s important to establish processes and systems to become more organized and effective, don’t ever expect perfection.

Embrace the initial mess and then start tidying up.

When it comes to writing your first draft, allow repetitive sentences, dangling modifiers, misspellings – all the things. Don’t hold your thoughts back because when you do, they tend to disappear. Don’t overthink what you’re writing or you’ll stall and never finish.

• Simply write everything that comes to mind, even if it doesn’t make sense.
• Share experiences.
• Paint word pictures.
• Incorporate biblical truths.

Just keep tapping away at the keyboard. Before you know it, you’ll finish that first sentence, then that first paragraph. Before you know it, you’ll have filled a page, and then completed a chapter. One word leads to another. Let them flow freely.

Self-editing should come after you’ve written your manuscript, not as you write it.

P = Prayer

Start each writing session in prayer and dedicate your work to God. Invite the Holy Spirit to guide you and give you the words. It makes a world of difference.

As the members of my Inkwell virtual writing community know, prayer is something we do at the beginning of each of our writing sessions. It’s important for two reasons:

1. It gets our focus off ourselves and onto God.
2. When we invite Him into our writing, our words can transform the minds and hearts of our readers. Without Him, we might be able to write a “good” book, but the words are powerless.

L = Leverage

You’ve probably heard the saying, “work smarter, not harder.” I think that’s a pretty good axiom for authors.

We’ve already begun to work smarter, not harder by starting our day in Scripture and opening our writing time with prayer, which puts us in the right mindset to write.

And now that we’re intentional about our writing and allowing the words to flow freely despite the mess, we can add fuel to the process by leveraging our time, resources, and connections.

The best way to do that is to:

1. establish systems and processes and
2. get plugged in with fellow writers and industry professionals.

This applies to writing the manuscript itself as well as all the other work related to your book, such as platform building, publishing, and marketing.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Create templates for your social posts so you don’t have to reinvent the wheel every time you post.
• Establish an automated welcome series of emails to go out to your new subscribers.
• Repurpose content.
• Develop a writing routine that actually works for you.
• Join a community of fellow Christian writers and build a support group. These groups are often where you can discover a critique partner, collaborate on an anthology, do newsletter swaps, offer book bundle giveaways, and more.
• Interact with industry professionals online and at writing events like conferences. Don’t reach out as a needy writer; rather, build respectful relationships.

Like I said, these are just a few examples. Be creative to discover ways you can work smarter, not harder.

E= Engage

Back in leverage, you were connecting with fellow writers and industry professionals. Now in engage, you’re connecting with your audience – those existing and potential readers.

Interact with your readers regularly, both online and in person, and be yourself;.

You don’t have to be a personality, but show your personality!

You can do this online and in real life. For example,

• Send out newsletters on a consistent basis.
• Post regularly on your preferred social media channel.
• Attend local events and introduce yourself as an author.

Be sure to periodically push yourself outside your comfort zone to go where your readers are and engage with them.

R = Resolve

It takes resolve – what I call “mental tenacity” – to write and self-publish a book.

I don’t think I need to belabor the point here. Simply determine to persevere and finish the book God has called you to write.

In Summary

S = Scripture
I = Intentional
M = Messy
P = Prayer
L = Leverage
E = Engage
R = Resolve

So there you have it – a SIMPLER way to write your book (and market it, too).

Is writing a book “simple” in the American sense of the word?

No.

But what I’ve shared with you today is a simpler way to write your book because you’re not only choosing to write the book that God has called you to write, but also because you’re inviting Him into the process as well.

Rest in the knowledge that He is going to work all things out according to His plan and for His purposes as you write, publish, and market to completion.

 

* This is an affiliate link. Should you choose to purchase the book, I will receive a small affiliate commission that helps to fund the Ink and Impact podcast.