I wrote 4 books this year. Here's what I learned

I myself was a little surprised to get to the end of the year and realize I had accomplished something that, at the start of the year, I probably would have thought impossible. I wrote four books. Four!

Not all four were mine. Three I wrote for ghost writing clients, and one for myself. Despite the two different impetuses, the lessons I learned from all four books were similar.

Whether you’re writing a book, thinking about writing a book, or have written a book and are trying to get over that hump for your second book, here are a few things I learned this year that might support you on your journey:

1. Every book is different. Every book requires a different voice, a different storytelling style, even a different process. Don’t compare this book to how other books have gone. Give each one the benefit of its own uniqueness, and focus instead on learning what this book needs from you to be as successful as possible.

2. Don’t take it personally. In general, it was easier to work on my ghost writing projects than my own. I was writing for someone else. It was easier to put their words on paper than mine, because I didn’t have to contend with the self-judgmental thoughts about my own work (What will people think? Am I even good at this?). Think of your book instead as an external entity with which you’re communing. Make your work less personal, and be in service to that external vision. Even if you write a memoir, you can refer to “the narrator” instead of “me.”

3. Treat your book like a job. Let’s face it: sometimes personal projects get pushed to the back burner because there isn’t an immediate payout. If we treat our books like a job, then we can prioritize them like anything else on our list, instead of pushing them off till tomorrow and tomorrow. Treat your book like a job that needs attention today, and if you need to, find an accountability partner to help.

4. Get feedback. It’s impossible to see your own writing clearly. Not only those spelling mistakes you can’t seem to find, but also the larger perspective of how your book is coming together. Is it clear? Does it make sense? Is the order of information appropriate? Whether you’re writing for someone else or yourself, getting feedback from trusted sources is a great way to expand your perspective on your own writing.

5. Consistency pays off. It’s easy to get hung up on the daily grind; to think of this day as a bad day and the next as a good day. Don’t focus on the days. Just keep writing, consistently. Find a schedule that works for you, and stick to it, whether it’s a good day or bad day. In the end, consistency matters most.

6. You can’t edit what isn’t there. If you don’t put words on the page, you can’t move your book forward. You can’t edit what isn’t there. Even while writing this article, I had to tell myself, “Just get words down first, and go from there.” Even if it’s crap, get something down and worry about fixing it later.

7. Find ways to celebrate small victories along the way. Writing a book is a long process. From writing that first word to holding the published book in your hand, it can feel like a lonely, thankless journey. Find ways to thank yourself along the way. Create pauses and celebrate small victories, like getting through a draft, or sharing the first few chapters with early readers. Make sure you enjoy the process even more than the destination, because that’s where you’ll be spending most of your time.

8. The best way to get better at writing is to write. There’s no way around it. You can’t think yourself into being a better writer, can’t wish yourself into it. You must write. Each book I wrote this year was better than the previous, a trend I can only imagine will continue.

9. Be gentle. We’re our own worst critic. There are plenty of personal jabs you could take at yourself while writing your book. Do your best to refrain. Be gentle. Be kind. Cheer yourself on when it’s hard.

10. Comparison gets you nowhere — write for you! Over the year, I feel into the trap of comparison so many times it’s embarrassing. Why aren’t I as good as this person? I’ll never be able to think of something like that! Now that I’ve collected all of that data, I can officially say this was a waste of time. It didn’t advance my work as a writer, but served as a demoralizing distraction. It’s one thing to study someone else’s work and learn from their skill. It’s another thing to wallow in self-pity and hope someone will take notice and reassure you that you are better than so-and-so. Let’s do our best to drop that latter habit and focus on the former. Nothing kills creativity quite like comparison.

11. Strong timelines, loosely held. It’s helpful to have timelines and goals, but hold them loosely. Every book has its own journey, and sometimes they take a more meandering path that we expect (or want). When working with clients, it’s obviously important to have a project timeline, but even that can remain flexible. If the ultimate goal is to have a product you’re proud of, be in service of that vision first and foremost, and honor the timeline second.

12. Don’t be afraid to cut what isn’t working. Nothing feels worse than highlighting a big section of your book and hitting delete. Or — heaven forbid — scrapping an entire draft. No one wants to do extra work. No one wants to pour out their heart, then cast it away. But it’s important to identify what’s working in your book… and what isn’t. If something isn’t working, cutting or rewriting can actually take a huge weight off and solve some mysterious problems. Remember: nothing you write is ever wasted. Each word helped you get that much closer to your final product. Every part of this process is valuable.

Wherever this next year finds you on your writing journey, I hope you don’t give up. Your story is important. Your story matters. And by writing your story — whatever it is — you will be transformed for the better.

You’ve got this. Let 2020 be the year you finally write your book!