7 Reasons Why You Need a Plan for Writing a Book
Why You Must Have a Plan Before Writing a Book
“Failing to Plan is Planning to Fail.”
Many people do not believe you need a plan for writing a book. Whether you want to lose weight or run a marathon or write a book, it is important to have some measurable goals and a solid plan before embarking on the same.
Here are 7 reasons why you need a plan before writing a book:
Writing is a marathon, not a sprint
Writing is not a sprint. It is a marathon. Just like any other marathon, writing also requires preparation before attempting it.
I can hear your next question: Why can’t I write a book without a plan? I’m sure you can but it can be more stressful and time-consuming.
Instead, if you have a plan to write 500 words a day for 6 days a week, you know that you can draft and edit the book within six months. This will help you plan your projects better.
If you find this post too long, you can watch the video on it here:
Keep the bigger picture in mind while writing your book
Having a plan before writing a book will help us keep the bigger picture in mind.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
How many books have you written in 10 years?
How much are you earning in five years from your writing career?
When you think of the future and have a bigger picture in mind, you know that you are on the right track every single day. The best way to keep your bigger picture in front of you always will be by creating a plan before writing your book.
Carve out time in your plan for writing a book
You need a plan before writing a book if you want to make sure that you have enough time to write it. Writing is one job that has no deadlines or expectations.
Nobody is bothered whether you complete your book. The world is not going to end because your book has still not been written.
In such a situation where there is neither the urgency nor the necessity to complete your book, the only thing that will keep you going is to make writing a part of your daily routine. If writing is something that is scheduled into your planner every single day, you will do it just like any other job. This is why you need a plan before writing a book.
Carve out space and support
If you want to carve out space and time in your life for writing, you need to have a plan. If you are a writer who picks up the pen once in a while when the fancy takes you, no one is going to take you seriously.
On the other hand, if you are a writer who has a plan and works consistently on your writing goals, friends and family will understand that you are serious about your writing career. In that situation, you can expect their support.
So, having a plan before writing your book will help you carve out space that you require for writing consistently.
Manage distractions
When you have a plan before writing your book, you are prepared to accept and handle the distractions that life will throw your way. There will always be a house to clean, dishes to wipe, children to be picked, dropped, fed, clothed, projects to complete, guests to entertain and holidays that you will need to take.
Apart from this, there will also be days when a child is sick or you are sick or you just don’t want to write. When you have a plan and a writing schedule, you can tackle these stones that life keeps pelting at you.
Learn how you can create a writing schedule by watching this video: Create a Writing Schedule
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Focus on your goals
When you have a writing plan, it will help you to focus on your goal. Just like the blinders on a horse help it to see straight ahead, when you have a plan before writing your book, it will keep you focused on the task at hand.
When you have a plan that you consistently follow, if you are faced with some option or opportunity for a new writing project, you know whether to accept it or not. You know what is your priority at the moment and you know the bigger picture; this will make it easier for you to make decisions regarding any new opportunities.
Does it fit in with your goal or not?
This year, for the first time, I have turned down many new projects that came my way. I was a person who could never say no to any new opportunity that came knocking at my door. It was easy to make the choice this time because I knew what was my plan and what were my goals.
Bite only what you can chew
Having a plan before writing a book will ensure that you bite only that much that you can chew. All of us want to work on multiple writing projects. However, our time, energy, capacity and familial commitments do not permit us to do so.
Not all of us can write 2000 words a day or four hours a day. When we have a plan and know the amount of time and energy that we can give to our writing project, we can set realistic expectations for ourselves.
Conclusion
If you are in this for the long game, then you must understand that setting clear goals for your writing career and having a plan that takes you towards your goals every single day is a must to ensure success.