You can do anything in four easy steps!

An outrageous claim, no? But I can prove it. Because you're doing it now.

Imagine your laundry basket. What are you going to wash today? Ah, socks. How will you wash them? Inmachine. Now you dowash and whensocks come out ofdryer, you wonder, "are they done?" Are they really clean and dry? Are they both there? Don't you have to match them and fold them and put them away? Because what you really want is socks that are ready to wear. And soon enough, they'll be back in your laundry basket again.

This iscircle of life: you decide what you want to do and how you want to do it; then you do it and check whether it's really done. The pattern's easy to see withsimple project, but when you're facingcomplex project like writingbook, it's easy to get muddled.

To get where you're going, know where you are.

Many of my clients just start writing, trusting that their urge to say something will produce something someone (maybe even everyone!) will want to read.

This urge is valuable. It proves that deep inside, you havepower to complete your task. But to be effective, power must be directed. Like your car's drive shaft, process concentrates your writing power where it hasmost leverage. And to get toend ofprocess, you need to know where you are inprocess right now! If you're not sure where you are, review these questions:

* Can you describe what your book does for your reader in eight words or less? * Do you knowdemographics of your ideal audience, what they read to find information similar to yours, and how you can contact them? * Can you measurevalue your book gives your reader, as well asrewards you need to receive to makebook worth your while?

If you answered No to any of these, you have more work to do to define what value your book must deliver. Defining what gives youultimate guideline for creatingclear, easy-to-read book, and communicating its worth topublisher.

* Can you pictureenvironment where your ideal reader actually reads, and visualizestyle of content that's easiest to use in that environment? * Do you know your reader's goals and expectations for outcomes, and how to fulfill them? * Do you have access to allinformation you'll need to deliver your book's solutions?

If you answered No to any of these, you have more work to do to define how your book will deliver its value. Knowing your book's structure and style as well as its content builds your confidence and helps you write it rightfirst time. If you answered Yes to all ofabove, congratulations! You've donehardest work and could probably turnbook over to someone else to actually write.

* When you sit down to write, dowords flow easily? * When you look at your work, do you feelsense of accomplishment? * Do you havecomplete draft?

If you answered No to any of these, you still have work to do. Ifwords aren't flowing or you're not sure you're making progress, your time might be better spent clarifying your what and how, or in examining and overcoming any fears or doubts that might be blocking you.

* Is every sentence, paragraph, and topic clear, crisp, and error-free? * Does every word contribute tosolution your book delivers? * Is your book ready for publication?

If your manuscript does not delivervalue you want for you and your reader, you are not done. The plan you created for what you want your book to deliver isexcellent guideline, but expect some "oh, yeah" moments, like "Oh yeah, those socks aren't really done till I put them indrawer."

Takenext step, even if it's backwards

Perhaps you've been writinglittle, outlininglittle, and wondering how to getpublisher. Now that you know where you are inprocess, you can put what you've already accomplished in perspective. Each phase builds onone before, so you're best served by doing them in order.

If you do not have solid answers tofirst three questions--answers from which no one can dissuade you--you're not finished with what. What ishardest,one you're most likely to revisit as your project progresses, andsecret to your success.

If you've already started writing, do not worry-your work is not wasted. Just keep it on file until you get your what and how defined. With those tools in place, you'll finish your book with confidence, get your message out, and be ready to startnext one!

This article was posted on September onefour, twozerozerofive