I’ve said it many times over the years – “I’ll never write a book.” Please understand, this wasn’t said in a whiny, discouraged voice – “I’ll NEVER write a book.” It was said very matter-of-factly, with little emotion. It wasn’t that I didn’t think I could write a book, that I didn’t have the writing skills necessary. It was just that I didn’t think I could enjoy writing a book – of any kind.

Why Not Write a Book?

Why not, you ask? After all, I am a writer. The thing is, I like to write short things. Haikus are great – only 3 lines. My poetry is short. My blogs are short. I love the six-word story contests. It’s almost sounds as if this writer doesn’t like to write, doesn’t it?

And that’s not true. I love to write. But I do easily become bored with projects. I love new ideas! I could probably start lots of books; it’s just finishing them that seems daunting. And NaNoWriMo? Fifty thousand words on one subject? (Shudder.) Not for me. Besides, I write for a living. By the time I’m done with my “work” each day, my brain is mush and even reading can be a challenge.

But guess what I’ve decided to do. WRITE A BOOK!

Writing the Book I’d Never Write

I’d like to tell you I became inspired and “just had to get this book out of me.” I’m afraid not. It just happens that I figured out how to do something that I haven’t seen many people do, so I figured I should share that knowledge (uh, let’s get honest here) SELL that knowledge.

Yep. I’m going to make lots of money by selling a book. Well…maybe not, but… who knows? Miracles do happen.

Anyway, I signed up for a self-publishing course (it’s been very helpful). But I’m really good at taking courses and then never doing anything significant with the knowledge I’ve learned. It’s that NEW IDEA, now I’m bored with it, cycle.

This course is a little different. I actually have an accountability partner who I’m getting to know via Skype and the little tips and ideas from other course members have really helped. I have an outline of the chapters done (I hate outlines); the rough draft of my introduction is 99% complete; and I’m at least halfway through writing chapter one.

Author in the Making

So, what’s the book I’m writing that I said I’d never write? What is the thing I figured out how to do on my own?

I cloned myself.

Well, not exactly, but that’s what I’m calling it. I created a “clone yourself” business model, hiring other writers to write for me. So, I’m writing a book that will tell other freelancers (writers, virtual assistants, web developers) how I did it (along with all the mistakes and challenges that they should try to avoid).

Yes, I’m writing a book. NOT 50,000 words. More like 20,000. I just finished editing a non-fiction book about that size for another newbie author. I think that was part of what motivated me. I finished her project, so maybe I could finish my own.

Maybe I’m telling you this to add a little more accountability to carry it through to completion. I talked to a small book publisher this weekend who was interested in publishing it (that was kind of exciting), but I think I’m going to stick with the self-publishing track. (Want to keep all that money to myself.)

Well that’s it.

Wish me luck. (BTW I’m hoping to have it done before the end of the summer, so stay tuned.)

Are you ever going to write a book? Or are you already working on one? Tell me if you are or why YOU will never write a book.

 

PS:  And that self-publishing course I’m taking is called Self Publishing School (ingenious title, don’t you think?). Click on the **link and sign up for the free video course (then get out your credit card and join me inside, okay?)

**Affiliate link to earn me some money to pay for an editor.