How to write a book

Many people tell me they have always wanted to write a book, but just don't know how to "get started".

Therein lies the key to success. Just get started!

Sean Connery provides a very powerful insight into writing a book in the beautiful movie Finding Forrester. The young apprentice marooned on a wordless island the moment he sits at the typewriter, his brain so eager and prepared just a few seconds earlier, now completely devoid of words.

We all know that feeling, sometimes when we are asked to a provide words for an important greeting card, invited to participate in a business brainstorm session or when we are asked to stand up and speak.

A key strategy to help in all of these dilemmic moments, and to assist in many aspects of your life, is to just "get started".

Writing a book requires momentum in order to to turn the flywheels of inspiration inside your head.

Something magical happens when you get started. The movement of your fingers on the keyboard, or pen; the sudden appearance of words in front of your eyes, the realisation that you are actually writing, opens previously locked doors in your brain, dark pages become lit, memories are re discovered, and ideas begin to appear.

Avoid the danger of sitting motionless at your keyboard, like a possum caught in the head lights, pick up a book or magazine and begin keying in text from the pages, or just start entering seemingly meaningless sentences as they appear in your head.

Before long you will sense momentum kicking in, give yourself an internal "pat on the back", allow a smile to creep across your lips, drink some of the hot coffee on your desk, flex your fingers and keep writing.

Begin to introduce your own ideas to the keyboard, observe your thoughts appearing on the screen, relax and encourage more inspiration to bubble up through your filters of fear and unworthiness.

Do not slow down at this point and do not reward yourself by taking a break too early in the process.

Keep pressing on, begin the important process of learning discipline and use this success to build a pattern for future keyboard encounters.

Like all good DIY projects, the fun only starts when you begin to actually swing the hammer!