Writing a Book is like Starting a Business

Jan 28, 2013 | Writing A Book

I’ve started several businesses in my life. I’ve also written several books and helped clients write many more. Starting a business and writing a book have a lot in common.

Here’s the basic truth. Whether you’re starting a business or writing a book, there’s no way to know in advance exactly what you’re in for. After several businesses and several books, I’m better at knowing what’s going to happen than most people, but there are still surprises every time.

You don’t know what you don’t know. So expect to have some unanticipated problems and challenges.

A little planning can have a big payoff. Peer into the fog of the future. Think about who will buy and read your book and what it will mean for them. Think about how you will make your book work for you.

Too much planning can strangle your creativity and your project. Don’t plan too much in the beginning. Get into the process. Find out what you don’t know. Improvise, adapt, and overcome.

You will have to figure things out as you go. That’s OK. It’s part of the fun.