You want to write your book, but you just can’t seem to get it done. Well, welcome to my series on the seven deadly sins, those behaviors that impact our ability to get our book done.

Sin number two is not setting a firm date to be completed by. Some people get really scared about that. “Well, I don’t want to tell people. I don’t want to commit to a date. It’s going to be a lot of work.”

Set a Date

You may be familiar with student syndrome. It means that we put off, until the very last moment, something that we need to do. If we don’t have a date, guess what? Student syndrome kicks in. We are never going to get that book done. Put a date on the calendar, commit to it, circle it in a bright red circle. Tell people. Tell your accountability partners, your friends, your family, your business partners, “Hey, by May 5th, I’m going to have my book done. That is my goal,” and work towards it.

Not setting a date does not put enough structure around your writing and what you need to get accomplished. Put a date down and work towards that date. Remember, Parkinson’s law: work will expand to fill the time allowed for it. There will always be other things that get prioritized ahead of you writing that book. But if you know what your date is, you drive towards that date, it’s going to keep you motivated and it’s going to keep you on task. What date are you going to get your book done?

I’m Belinda Goodrich with Goodrich Publishing. I’m here to help you get that book done. Let’s get writing.