Listen, if you’re reading this blog, you’re a writer.

Even if you’ve never written an ebook. You’re still a writer. It’s in your blood. You can’t help yourself.

So why – when we have the idea and the know-how to get the proper words on paper – do we often stumble and fumble in the process? Here are 3 reasons…

1) You’re trying to write and sell from non-experience.

When I write an ebook, it’s always because I have personal experience with the topic I’m writing about. Even if I gain said experience right before writing the ebook, it’s a path that I must take.

If not, I struggle. I toy around with the book for months before throwing in the towel.

Some of us just aren’t meant to write about things we haven’t personally experienced.

If that’s you, and you’re still stuck for a topic, then you need a new hobby or two or three. Seriously.

2) You have too much time to write.

A couple of weeks ago I realized that the reason why I’ve been writing so slowly is because I’ve got an entire day to write.

When Layla was at home with me full-time, I was forced to write between the hours of 9pm-2am. The time constraint made me a lot more focused during those hours.

Now that she’s in daycare/school, I don’t have the same time pressure. Now I’ve got the time to be lazy.

The solution… I began breaking up my day with a sewing session. This way I’m doing something constructive – (ahem, something I can write about later on) – and I have specific times when I write.

3) You write until your piece is perfect.

And if you’re writing for perfection, you’re going to have a constant uphill battle.

I’m not saying that you should do shoddy work. On the contrary.

There comes a time when every writer feels a subtle ‘click.’ It’s an internal signal that tells you when you’re done.

When the click comes, no more editing. No more re-writes.

The click is a reminder that you don’t write for perfection. You write to sell.

Start working smarter and grow rich,

Alexis Dawes

I tell my friends that all writers are a little bit crazy.

What about me? Shit, are you kidding! Of course I am. That’s the best part about being a writer.

I have a special chair – called The Throne – that I sit in when I write. No matter where I go in the world, I must buy this specific type of chair to work.

And everyone knows not to park their arse in The Throne. Except my 4-year old. She’s got an intense creative streak like me. So she gets to share The Throne during her painting sessions.

My other crazy quirk… I talk to a little doll baby that sits on my desk. She’s like my little mascot/muse.

Of course she doesn’t answer back (but wouldn’t THAT would make an awesome blog post).

But she listens. And sometimes that’s all I need to solve a mental block.

Perhaps it is an unusual habit. But I’m not the only one in the club.

Rubber Ducking is a activity that programmers (yeah programmers) partake in as well.

You describe a problem in great detail, and in doing so you find the solution to your problem.

I’m currently finishing up my new ebooks, and it was Rubber Ducking that helped me breakthrough some major obstacles.

What types of questions can writers ask their inanimate object friend? Well as a how-to author, here are derivatives of questions I ask:

* What would make customer get on the Internet and look for information on x topic? Describe a scenario.

* How does an ebook compete effectively when there’s lots of competition? Do you write an ebook, or create another type of information product?

* How can I discover the core deficiencies/wants of an audience when I don’t know a lot about them?

Some food for thought.

Alexis Dawes

1) Go full screen mode.

If you’re anything like me, you probably have several browser windows open while you’re writing.

The problem is every time I stop writing, I’m tempted to click on one of those open browsers and start reading something that I really shouldn’t be focusing on.

Dark Room is a simple Windows text app that covers your entire screen. In other words, you won’t be able to see anything else on the screen, except what you’re typing.

Write Room is the free Mac version.

2) Write non-stop in 10 minute blocks. I got this idea from Steve Manning at WriteABookNow.com, and it is absoluely awesome.

I find that when you sit around and contemplate what you’re writing, you tend to get stuck more often.

It’s much easier to quickly write a block of text, and then go back through and edit later on, versus trying to pen perfect prose.

3) Remember that most people in the world are either bad writers or scared writers.

When I read the stuff that I wrote last year, I swear it’s the most horrific thing ever. I’m VERY self-critical after the fact.

But I find that many writers are self-critical while they’re writing.

And if you’re constantly rating your work, you’ll slow yourself down. In some cases, it can halt a project all together. (Especially if you’re a new writer.)

What keeps me going is knowing that most people are so-so writers. The other quarter are timid writers, and never release anything they write.

So even though I’m hard on myself, I realize that I stand in a minority position.

Don’t attempt perfection. It’ll never happen. 

Just get your stuff out there and tweak as you go.

Save time and grow rich,

Alexis Dawes