3 Mistakes to Avoid as a First-Time Author

Let’s be honest: writing a book can be an overwhelming endeavor to take on.

There’s a learning curve. There are a ton of ways to get stuck, or have a false start that gets you nowhere. Full disclosure: I’ve been there!

In my experience writing and publishing 3 books— as well as co-authoring, editing and ghostwriting numerous projects—I’ve learned a lot. My hope is that these tips can help you save a ton of time and (most importantly) not give up on your book.

If you’re a first-time author, here are 3 ideas to help keep you on track with your project.

3 Mistakes to Avoid as a First-Time Author of a Non-Fiction Book

#1: You’re writing without a clear plan of where you’re going.

Outlining your book will save you so. much. time.

Let me say that again in a slightly different way: outlining your book and knowing what each chapter is about is going to help you stay focused and avoid writing a bunch of content that’s going to end up getting cut out later on! Before you write, make a plan. Know what your chapter titles are. Ideally, know what your title and subtitle for the book is. Get super clear on your main message before you fill in the content.

If you need help doing this, hit me up. I have a few ideas for you that will save you potentially years of wasted time.

#2: You’re writing without knowing who this book is for.

This is going to sound super obvious, but hear me out. For those of us who love to write, it’s fun to write. ;) We can lose track of time crafting ideas, putting together kick-ass sentences, reflecting, revising, and hanging out in a blissful flow state of creativity and artistry. But… if you want to write a book that really helps people and gives them inspiration to solve a problem, you need to be clear on who those people are. Who exactly do you want to read your book? What are they experiencing? What do they need help with? Know your audience when you write your book. Write for them.

#3: You’re writing without a schedule on your calendar where you’ve blocked off uninterrupted time to sit down and work.

Life is busy. Life gets in the way. One very common reason that writers do not become authors is because they don’t make the time to sit down and finish the damn book. Be honest with yourself. Have you committed to doing the work? Have you looked at your schedule and created a realistic plan for when you’ll get the book done? Are you willing to make sacrifices and re-prioritize accordingly in order to give yourself the time you need? It can be difficult to take this step, but it really does help if you are serious about becoming a first-time author.

Need help with your book, or help getting started? I’d love to connect.