What's Your Motivation Inspiration?

 

Let’s talk about that manuscript you can’t seem to finish.

 

Starting your manuscript is easy. You just sit down at the computer and let your fingers dance a two-step on the keyboard.

 

But eventually, those happy-go-lucky digits lose their enthusiasm and suddenly, finishing your manuscript becomes a grueling slog.

 

The plight of every writer.

 

Doubts and fears easily take hold at this stage, expressing themselves as procrastination and lack of motivation.

 

I’ve been there.

 

Finishing a manuscript is hard. Every. Single. Manuscript.

 

So how did I finish them? Let me share with you what I’ve learned.

 

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The Devil Was In the Details

 

Back in 2015, I couldn’t believe my good fortune.

 

In less than a week, I would be flying to Washington D.C. for a meeting in a presidential candidate’s condominium to discuss the most significant ghostwriting project of my life.

 

It was the biggest opportunity of my career. The newly-arrived contract was sitting on my desk. I just needed to read the fine print, sign it, and overnight it to the publisher.

 

In no uncertain terms, I discovered that I was responsible for writing 70,000 words in seven weeks. That’s 10,000 copyedit-ready words per week.

 

My previous record was 55,000 words in three months. You can do the math. That’s around 4,500 words a week. In other words, I needed to double my output in half the time.

 

Over the last 25 years, I’ve discovered two elements that virtually guarantee I’ll finish my manuscript.

 

Deadlines. I’ve tried to write books that were dependent on feeling creative, minimal distractions, the sun shining, and the planets aligning. Didn’t work. I just couldn’t finish the manuscript.

 

That’s why I plot out weekly, and sometimes daily, deadlines that help me progress toward the finish line.

 

I’m happy to share the spreadsheet I used on that book with anyone who signs up for a free consultation . Click here to schedule a free no-obligation appointment.

 

But you need more than deadlines.

 

It Hurts So Good

 

Then I read the magic words in the contract: if I didn’t hit the deadline, I would be fined $400 per day.

 

I gulped. They aren’t messing around, I told myself.

 

How much motivation do you think I needed in order to make it happen? Virtually none.

 

Seven years ago, when I wrote that 70,000 word manuscript in seven weeks, the deadlines helped guide me forward, but they weren’t my main motivator.

 

It was the $400 per day late penalty that propelled me forward. In fact, I finished two or three days early.

 

It hurts so good!

 

I’ve never finished a manuscript without an outside stimulus keeping me focused.

 

Over the last few months, I've discovered the most effective way for authors to finish their manuscript. I didn’t discover this on my own—they told me. Over and over again.

 

Put some skin in the game.

 

Writers groups, critique groups, book coaches and writers conferences are important. We all need them. But I know plenty of people who hit all these bases and still never finish their manuscript.

 

Putting some skin in the game motivates us to cross the finish line.

 

To put “skin in the game” means you incur risk (oftentimes financial) in achieving the goal. For me, a $400 a day penalty kept me focused and motivated.

 

In the business world, the compensation packages for executives often includes shares in the company. That way, if the executive does a poor job, their own money is at stake.

 

So how do you put some skin in the game?

 

Make an investment into your book before you finish your manuscript.

 

I know, I know, you want to finish your manuscript before thinking about contracts. But trust me, I can name tens, perhaps hundreds, of well-meaning people who are still trying to finish their manuscript years later.

 

This will help you git ‘er done.

 

This last week, I met with a traditionally-published author who signed a contract with us even though she’s months away from being finished.

 

“I needed some motivation to finish my manuscript,” she told me.

 

She’s one of many authors to tell me the same thing.

 

You need to put some skin in the game to finish that manuscript so you can experience the exhilaration of holding the finished product in your hands.

 

This isn’t sales schtick—it’s a fact.

 

The sooner you invest in your book, the greater the likelihood and the faster you’ll finish your manuscript.

 

Read that again.

 

Click here to schedule an appointment. Together, we can create a strategy to bring your book to the masses.

 

Let’s bring your book to life!