I’m now late on finishing the first draft of the book, and I’m appalled at how far I have left to go. I based my estimations of how fast I could write on various client writing and things I’d done recently. The book is totally trashing those numbers.
One of the biggest problems seems to be that when I have a conceptual framework, I can write about it, apply it, and generate lots and lots of interesting content. In this book, though, I have lots and lots of random tactical tips. They aren’t linked by any framework or underlying concept, so each chapter, though short, feels like writing a whole separate book. My brain is not happy about this.
For example, if I’m writing an article on how to give feedback, there’s a mental framework I use about saying something positive, giving clear measurables, etc. I can write a chapter about it by giving examples, telling stories, and going deeper into each point. I can then write follow-on chapters by going even deeper into subtle variations on the basic situation, times when feedback is tricky because there are political or romantic implications, etc.
But when I’m writing two pages on giving feedback, followed by two pages on how to write an email subject line… I go to all the work of creating framework and examples for feedback, skim the surface, and then have to purge my brain and start all over with the email chapter.
I tried conversationally creating chapters by just talking about individual tips, but even in that context, I find myself needing to pull together a framework while I talk. My dialog comes out incoherent.
This very blog post is a great example. it’s taken me all of five minutes to write, and it has one underlying concept: writing this book is hard because it’s a mismatch for my cognitive style. I could keep going, most likely, with more examples, exceptions, and possible suggestions I’d give a coaching client who had this same problem. If I could sustain this rate, I could have the book done in three days.
With no underlying concept, though, this would be two sentences long.
Gotta run. The book chapter I’m working on … is currently just two sentences long.
6 responses so far ↓
1 Naomi // Sep 4, 2008 at 10:54 am
I’m not sure if this is what you mean by “conversationally creating,” but sometimes I can get started by trying to explain what it is I can’t write about to my father, a smart man who knows NOTHING about my field. (I don’t subject him to this in fact unless I’m really desparate, just prop him up in my imagination and let fly.) Eventually the framework does show up, it’s just obliterated in the first draft, much like a toilet-papered tree has structure that’s obscured. But once I get something down, however shoddy, I can work with it.
2 Rob Kendrick // Sep 4, 2008 at 11:06 am
Organizing data physically (where it can only properly be in one place at a time) is much harder than being able to tag digital data, isn’t it?
Stever, try this: Instead of doing a huge repository of random tips, try narrowing down the tips by anything more specific: for instance, base this book primarily on helping your standard busy-busy businessperson. Maybe your next book could focus on entrepreneurial tips, etc.
A good technique I remember from a class I took was this: Take the entire chapter and summarize it into a paragraph, then give that paragraph a title. It’s hard, but it can help you to organize a bit.
Just don’t try to organize every little thing into a logical thought process. Our brains fire off in random directions (oo, bird!), so it’s a vicious, never-ending cycle.
3 Kathryn Hall // Sep 4, 2008 at 11:19 am
GOOD writing is hard, Stever. But you can do it. You just have to put that frustrated voice on a shelf for awhile and work through it. It’s only ONE part of you that is unhappy. There’s another voice in you that knows you can do it, wants to do it and is happy you have a book deal. Listen to him.:) Hugs. Kathryn
4 Shannon Paul // Sep 4, 2008 at 4:47 pm
Maybe it would help to stop thinking about this project as a “Book” and just write a series of articles. When you’ve made all the pieces you want to make, just weave them together like a patchwork quilt and perhaps the framework will reveal itself…
Just a thought. I’m sure you’ll work it out.
5 Michael Purpura // Sep 5, 2008 at 2:00 am
Why not MindMap it backward from all the separate pieces you have to a central idea, and then rearrange the structure of it until it constitutes a doable framework?
Or even MindMap it forwards leaving the central idea as a variable until you have the rest mapped and reorganized?
Who knows, it may even give you new ideas for the title of the book.
6 Marcel // Sep 26, 2008 at 1:27 pm
I know what you’re talking about …
So here are several ideas:
- As mentioned above, write each idea as an article that give value independently. Seth Godin did this in “Small Is The New Big”, but I’ve seen this done many times before. Collate in to ‘chapters’ later; or not.
- Write, write, write. Keep going because you’ll learn how to write. “Perfect is the enemy of good” & what you’re trying to do is get content out. If you evaluate yourself after each article, you’ll become despondent & stop. I’ve always wanted to learn how to play electric guitar, but I got bored of playing the first 2 lines of “Nothing Else Matters” & “Smoke On The Water”. The point is, you have to keep playing for days before you can play anything in public. So just write, even if you think you suck.
- Why not just ‘get it done’? Write out a framework, keep a notebook of all your favourite advice – then hire a professional writer & make him/her a co-author. Who cares if you don’t get all the credit? You want a book, right?! And honestly, this is the easiest way; it costs more but the chances of actually getting it published at all are much, much higher.
Also check out gihanperera.com – he’s got some fantastic ways to leverage content & ideas that you’ve already got into different product lines, including books.
Best wishes,
- Marcel
(Co)-author of “The Serious Business Owner’s Guide to Creating Customers For Life”
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