Why Aren’t Books About Writing Teaching Us to Write Books?

"Why aren't books about writing teaching us how to write books?" ~ A paraphrase from a client conversation last week.

What she meant was that most books about writing books focus on:

• Shaming you (why aren't you writing?)

• Stating the obvious (if you want to write, you have to write)

• Repeating old saws (butt in chair, hands on keyboard)

• Elements of craft (useful, yes... but not if you don't have a structured way to actually approach the work)

She had tried any number of writing programs, coaching programs, and plenty of books. And she still couldn't get her head around how to write more than a few chapters before getting frustrated, feeling confused, and burning out.

That's because, traditionally, the art of writing a book has been treated like a mystical incantation that you either know how to do... or you don't. You either have the stamina for it... or you don't. You're either cut out for it... or you're not.

And if you're not, well, too bad so sad, more for the rest of us.

But the truth is, writing a book is not a mystical, mysterious, impenetrable mystery. It's actually quite simple... if you know how to structure the work.

• Clarity: Why, who, what

• Direction: Working outline

• Writing plan: An achievable system that enables you to work the way that makes sense for you, your work style, your life

• Guidance: Someone to help you through the briars and brambles, who knows the way, knows what it looks like to be stuck, knows how to get you unstuck, and - knows when you're NOT stuck and can show you how well you're actually doing

My book, Claim Your Voice, helps you build those first three. For the third? A great book coach and editor will do. Happens I am those, too, but I'm not trying to be salesy here.

I just want you to know that if you've tried to write a book and can't. Want to and think you never will. Think you should have but you haven't, so you must be a failure as an author?

Babes, past performance is not an indicator of future results. Just because you haven't yet doesn't mean you won't. If you've got The Call (to write a book), then you've got what it takes. I promise.

You just need a little structure and support.

Damn. I didn't mean to make this a marketing post. I just wanted you to know that it's possible. That you're not a bad writer if you haven't figured out how to do the very nearly impossible with almost no support in the midst of a hellscape of a global situation.

Go easy on you.