I have five weeks left to finish a 78,000-80,000-word book. I’m sharing this with you because only another writer understands the pressure of a publisher’s deadline—stringing together at least 78,000 words coherently to form a viable book in two and a half months? Is it humanly possible?
There’s the research, the organization, contacting experts for quotes—waiting for the quotes to come in, editing the quotes to fit and the writing and rewriting and more rewriting. Throw into this mix the fact that I lost virtually two weeks when my brother died. And it wasn’t like I was sitting around twiddling my thumbs before this assignment came along. Oh no, I have books to promote, a blog to write, bills to pay, domestic chores to handle, an organization to run and a monthly newsletter to write, for example.
How long does it take to write a book, anyway? The average, according to statistics someone collected, for a nonfiction book is four and a half months (ninety 8-hour days or 725 hours). Some people take years and years to write a book. I once wrote a sixteen-chapter book for a client in three weeks. What is your longest term and shortest term book-writing record?
While I know I can complete this assignment and probably pretty close to schedule, the pressure is on and I am still pushing and doing a little worrying about if it will actually come together in a coherent way within the deadline.
You ought to see my desk full of note—things I want to be sure to add—some that I don’t know quite where to insert… The book keeps changing before my dazed eyes. I have some moments where I want to exuberantly high five my trusty computer and others when I wonder, “What was I thinking when I agreed to do this book?”
Sure this is my book number thirty-six. I’ve been around the block a few times with book projects. But there is nothing quite as intimidating and as exhilarating as the one you are currently working on.
The topic is public speaking for authors. It covers book signings, live presentations, webinars, radio/TV, getting paid gigs and even casual conversation with people about your book. Should be a worthwhile addition to your library of books on book promotion, right?
Well, I’d better get back to work. The deadline is looming.
In the meantime, both of my latest books include information and resources related to public speaking and communicating verbally with your potential readers as a way to promote and sell books, as well as everything else you need to know about publishing your book and promoting it. What a dynamite duo these two books are. Purchase them both at Amazon today.
Publish Your Book, Proven Strategies and Resources for the Enterprising Author (Allworth Press, 2011)
Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author. (Allworth Press, 2012)
Are you an enterprising author? If you visit this blog site often, I’d say you are. And these two books are excellent tools to aid you and guide you in achieving the publishing and bookselling success you desire.