Sure you WANT to write a book, but I’m sure there are plenty of other things you WANT that you aren’t necessarily committed to.

Think about all the times you decided you were committed to an exercise program or cleaning up your diet or not talking to your ex or whatever it was and ended up doing it anyway. There is a big difference between thinking you will or won’t do something and actually committing to it.

Commitment involves willpower and determination. When you commit to writing your book, it means you’re willing to say “no” to mindless scrolling on social media and maybe even a couple evenings a week of relaxing, depending on the schedule you set for yourself.

If a book is your goal, then you have to decide how to fit it into your schedule and stick with that. You have to decide that it’s that important to you that you are willing to walk through the entire process and not quit on yourself!

Thankfully, there are things you can put in place to help you keep that promise to yourself. If you’re struggling to commit to the process, think about some of these things.

1. Block off time that was already wasted. If you spend a lot of time in traffic or sitting outside while your kids are playing or whatever else feels like time you would like to fill, then try recording yourself as you talk about each chapter. I have plenty of friends who usually listen to audio books in traffic or journal while their kids play, so transitioning that activity to writing your book isn’t so bad. If you feel highly resistant to this or really NEED that time to relax and let your brain sleep, then don’t force it. Simply look at other times you could fill with writing. One writer I worked with said she used to talk the dog out early and then go back to bed sometimes even though she felt refreshed and ready to face her day—that bed is pretty tempting! If you are getting enough sleep, take the extra time to work on your book like she did.
2. Set goals. Decide that you will write a chapter per week or 500 words per session or whatever works for you. Hang a calendar near your writing space and write what you did so you have a visual of your accomplishments. If you meet or exceed your goals each week, put a gold star on there. (Just like potty training your kid!) If you get five gold stars or reach your goal that month, then pick a bigger prize for yourself and enjoy that reward! Have a pizza night, get take out from your favorite restaurant, get your nails done, get a massage, take a whole Saturday to watch movies . . . whatever it is that will feel like a reward for hard work. Yes, writing a book is hard work, but the results are huge!
3. Keep an eye on your why. This one is golden for ANYTHING you do in business. Every time you sit down to write, pull out your notes about who you want to help and the challenge you address. Then, think about hundreds or thousands or millions of people making that positive change, overcoming an obstacle, or following your road map to success because you shared it in your book. That isn’t going to happen if you don’t get through that book! Each time you read those notes, it will instantly help you get into the right mindset for writing and push you ahead. Commitment is that much easier when you have a solid goal that excites you.

And remember that this isn’t YEARS of commitment. It’s just a few months if you work toward that finished manuscript and get it out there. A plan for writing, publishing, and using your book as a key part of your business help you get through it quickly and easily. Need help with that? Click here to talk to me about your book and apply for your free Clarity Call.