Overcoming Hurdles to Writing Your Business Book

You’ve thought about writing a book for awhile. You know it will increase your exposure in the marketplace and be a boon to your business. You’ve been putting it off, thinking someday soon you’ll get around to doing it, but you realize if you don’t just jump in and start it will never get done. You probably struggle with starting for the same reasons many other coaches and entrepreneurs resist publication; you consider yourself a business owner first and a writer second. The three biggest hurdles to overcome are time, ability, and organization.

You think don’t have time.

This is a biggie. Everyone is busy, and as a small business owner you’re busier than most, interacting with clients and managing employees. You’re probably putting in 50-plus hours a week and have little time left for family or friends. You just don’t know how you can fit writing a book into your schedule. Rather than lamenting your lack of time, consider prioritizing your day to accommodate the important things that will build your business, like writing your book. Maybe that means getting up 30 minutes earlier for a focused, if short, writing stint every morning, or turning off the television after dinner so you can write, or even setting aside several hours on your day off until your book is finished.

The point is, you must make this a priority. Block out the time in your calendar and treat it like it’s a non-negotiable and expected appointment. If you had scheduled a meeting with your most important client, you wouldn’t think of canceling or postponing it; you wouldn’t allow anything to get in the way of keeping the appointment. Give yourself the same consideration. You and your business goals are just as important.

You think can’t write.

Many people claim they cannot write; yet when you look at their blogs or social media pages they’ve written hundreds of posts. When someone says they can’t write, it often really means that they simply don’t like to. In some instances, they might not be as polished as they wish to be, but there are ways around that. Fortunately, you have plenty of options for overcoming this particular hurdle. If you have a blog with articles that address customer issues or give how-to tips for using your products and services, you can repurpose what you’ve already written. Each blog post can become a chapter. You may need to add more information and make a few changes to transition between concepts, but this way you are putting everything your clients need to know into one handy book.

A second option is to start with PLR (Private Label Rights). PLR allows you to legally purchase and distribute the material under you own name or business name. Many reputable PLR websites offer pre-written content for your blog, newsletter, or book. Look for content that matches your business needs and use it as a basis for your writing project.

For example, let’s say you own a daycare business and want to write a book that gives suggestions to working moms on how to effectively juggle the demands of parenting and career. You can take PLR articles written on parenting and use it for the book you want to give to your clients.

Now, there are things you must know about PLR that will be addressed in greater depth in another post; but here a few basics: Don’t just copy and paste. Personalize the material by adding examples from your own experience. Put it into your own voice and writing style. The advantage to using PLR is that much of the research has already been done for you. It’s like someone giving you a recipe with basic ingredients and you doctor it up by adding extras and seasoning it to your liking. In the case of writing, all you need to do is personalize the basic articles in a way that reaches your special audience.

A third option is to hire a ghostwriter. Celebrities and politicians have been known to use a ghostwriter for their published memoirs. It’s an accepted practice. Whether you use PLR or hire someone else to write your book, be sure to check out their credentials. Look for good reviews and get personal recommendations.

And finally, if the problem is that you just don’t like the actual nitty-gritty of sitting down and typing out a manuscript, try speaking it. Maybe you can easily vocalize your thoughts and ideas, but as soon as you sit down to write, your mind draws a blank. Consider using software such as Dragon Naturally Speaking, or simply record your presentation using your favorite MP3 app and then have it transcribed.

You think you can’t organize a long project like a book.

Maybe you’re great with blog posts and you don’t mind writing them, but the thought of writing an entire book is too overwhelming. First, if you can write a series of blog posts, you can write an entire series of books. The process is essentially the same. It’s just putting words into sentences, sentences into paragraphs, and so on. But if you really feel you can’t manage a long project, then begin with an outline. Start with a broad overview of your project, then break it down by sections, and then by chapters. Make notes about what you’ll cover in each, and write as if each chapter were simply an article for your blog. You don’t have to write a tome. The point is to put your knowledge, experience, and expertise into a format that your clients can reference over and over again. Say what needs to be said in the amount of words it takes to say it. It’s not necessary (or desirable) to pad your writing with a lot of fluff.

There are dozens of reasons to write a book, especially if you’re an entrepreneur of some sort. It’s important for establishing your expertise, growing your audience, and codifying your message. It can boost your business in unexpected ways. However, none of that will happen if you don’t actually make a plan and put it into action. It’s time to leap over the hurdles and get your book done. The best time to start is now.

Part 1: 5 Reasons, Business Owners, Coaches, and Entrepreneurs Need a Book

Part 2: When You Should Write a Book and When You Shouldn’t

Part 3: Overcoming Hurdles to Writing Your Business Book

Part 4: 3 Ideas to Start Writing Your Book for Your Business Today

Part 5: Easy Book Marketing Ideas for Small Business Owners