So, 2012 rolled over into the new year, and that book you swore would be done by Christmas wasn’t quite there yet. Your Valentine’s Day deadline came and went, too, and perhaps so did your Easter drop-dead date.
Sometimes it’s not giant tasks and lofty goals that knock us off course but little hang-ups that stop us in our tracks while one deadline after another passes us by. Consider these five simple tips to help you keep your goals so you can have your book headed to print before the summer hits.
- Set mini-goals. Rather than setting big, vague goals like “May 31: Finish writing book, review work and send to publisher,” set a series of smaller goals. “May 1: Assess what needs to be done to finish book. May 2-10: Write 5 pages per day. May 11-19: Review/polish rough draft. May 20: Hire copy editor for manuscript feedback.” Your mini-goals will vary greatly depending on where you are in your writing process, but if you’re close now, you could be well on your way to publication by the end of May.
- Polish in stages. Many writers ultimately fail to meet their publishing goals because they’re too busy focusing on the end goal instead of the short-term goals that will lead them there. Your immediate goals should focus on creation. After that, you can go back and work on improving the quality bit by bit.
- Set a time. Resolving to write or edit a certain number of pages each day, or to tackle the next step in the publication process is wise, but it’s meaningless if you haven’t made the time – a specific time. Schedule a time of day everyday when you are your most productive, and set an alarm. Soon, working toward your book-publishing goals will be a matter of habit.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Sometimes, the demands of home life and work prevent any significant progress from taking place with your writing goals. Many of the biggest names in literature have employed ghostwriters to help them make the leap from idea to completed work they may not otherwise make. (Outskirts Press regularly connects authors with talented ghostwriters, who tackle everything from polishing a rough draft manuscript to complete, front-to-back book writing.)
- Start now. Maybe this newsletter is exactly what you needed to get your creative juices flowing again. Click here to choose your publishing package today and you can begin the publication process before the ink is even dry.
When in doubt, contact Outskirts Press to find out how to best make use of valuable resources designed to help you get that long-lingering project done for good.
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| AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT & SUCCESS STORY |
“Jennifer’s management of my publishing can be evidenced by the finished product: Excellent. The book is PERFECT from front cover to back. My questions were always answered in a very timely and professional manner. I’m already working on my next submission and fully intend to utilize Outskirts Press again. I would recommend them to anyone interested in self-publishing, be it their first or fifth project. You will not be disappointed!”
As part of a team-building exercise at work, Ellen Cumbess took a personality profile assessment that classified attendees as either lions, monkeys, turtles, or camels. Ellen was a lion. As this light bulb of realization begins to flicker, the author summons to mind the events that led to the creation of this lion personality. This was the beginning of Ellen’s exploration into her own history which took her down the road she had always wanted to travel; the road she had been on her entire life, without a steering wheel.
Tales of a Lion is the memoir of a native New Yorker struggling to overcome anger and resentment stemming from the events of her early childhood. It is the story of a lion’s self examination of a life spent roaring in search of inner peace; and in the end provides an answer to the question: Does a lion always have to roar?
– Ellen Cumbess, author of Tales of a Lion
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