True confessions of an unpublished author

Have you been thinking about writing a book? What’s in your way? I have nine books in some sort of draft form, so whatever is in your way, I can relate.

I bet somebody has said to you, “You should write a book about that!” You probably should.

But here’s the thing: time. Oh, and here’s another thing: money.

When are you going to make time? (Can anybody really make time?) You might be able to carve it out, but that’s going to require some structure. You’ll have to block time on your calendar — and stick to it. You probably won’t, but published authors reportedly do. They also figure out how to fund funny little expenses like graphic designers, editors, publishing houses, and publicists. (Oh, you’re going to self-publish? Quadruple the time you think all of this is going to take — you have a lot to learn.)

Want to go the distance on the cheap? Self-publishing options are out there. Have fun hunting, reading, considering, and wondering whether or not you can trust the testimonials and reviews you see. Since you are bent toward writing, I’m going to bet designing your book won’t be fun or easy. Even the best templates require a decent level of design skill.

How hard could it be, right? Let me tell you how long I’ve been blabbing about writing a book (or few): pushing a decade. My first book idea came to me soon after I registered my business 13 years ago. It always helps a business owner’s credibility to have a book. It also can be a sweet income stream (if it’s successful).

My business book (the only one on my list that has anything to do with my business) is not done. I have come a long way in the past few months, but my “committed colleague” gets most of the credit. I “met” him in the spring on a weekly call designed for writers committed to becoming successful, published authors. I was invited to participate on that Sunday call, and was given access to the private Facebook group. He and I decided to have an additional, one-on-one call each week. We’ve stopped hopping on the Sunday group call, and we didn’t connect as much last month. We’ve recommitted to our homework (which lives in a Google doc), so at least there’s some momentum. You can’t call any of this stamina.

Most of my other drafts are dusty. I need to isolate myself for 40 hours for each one (according to most of the book-writing gurus). Who can do that? I pretty much can’t. OK, I choose not to do that right now.

My sister has a pencil sketch of art slated to go in another one of my books destined for greatness. She tucked it in a safe spot and we often joke about where it is.

My ninth book idea (not the business one) decided it wanted to bubble to the surface after I had an amazing session with a woman that calls herself a book doula. My business book is going to be amazing; I promise you’ll get a lot out of it. Its fifth working title is “Your Mission and the Media” (subject to change), but it looks as though it’s going to have to wait.

Someone suggested yesterday that I do a “little booklet” that’s fun, light, and sprinkled with wisdom — and maybe some anecdotes and jokes from my late father. Holy Mother of God, right? When? How? I don’t really know. I’ve been thinking about taking a week off from client work, so I can meditate 12 hours a day. I refuse to add the booklet idea to my list of book ideas — because it doesn’t count as a book.

I’m embarking on a five-week course with the book doula, so all of this either is going to be turned on its head or brought into laser-sharp focus. Stay tuned if you dare.

In the meantime, I’m off to do some client work. Good luck on your book. From what I can tell, you’re going to need it — or 40 days of isolation.