Edit with me! Are you actually writing, or just thinking about writing? 🤔

Where I challenge writers to get real about their progress

When I tell people I’m a book editor, one of the most common responses I get is: “Oh! I’ve always wanted to write a book…”

It’s no wonder so many respond this way: A widely cited statistic says that more than 80% of Americans say they want to write a book. But far fewer actually go on to start writing one, and only a fraction will ever actually complete a draft.

When people tell me they want to write a book, what I really want to know is how much of it is on the page — because that’s what counts.

The other day, I caught up with a friend who has allegedly been working on his book for more than five years. Every time we talk, I express my enthusiasm, ask him how it’s going, and offer to be an early reader — but his responses are always dodgy until he admits he hasn’t made any real progress since we last spoke.

I’m not here to shame him (or anyone who’s in the same boat). Life often gets in the way. But I know that this is a huge life goal of his (he’s talked about it for as long as I’ve known him), and I wish I could do more to help.

The tricky thing is that writing requires intrinsic motivation. External pressure and deadlines can push you, but ultimately, the drive has to come from within.

Anyone can say they want to write a book. Very few actually put in the work and see it through.

If you’re reading this, you’ve likely decided that writing your story is something you seriously want to pursue. But ask yourself the tough question: are you actually making progress? If the answer is no, what can you do today to change that? What strategies can you implement to stay on track?

If you’re not sure how to answer that question, I have a few suggestions to help you get started: