This is Week 47-52 of a Year of Living Productively
These last six weeks I tested whether I could write a nonfiction ebook in 21 days. I wanted to summarize my findings in a Year of Living Productively in ebook form and used the ebook by Steve Scott to do so as described in my last post. While I was working, I shared some amazing guest posts with you that I felt added to my investigations. They are listed at the end of this post.
How Writing an Ebook This Way Saved My Sanity
- Gave me the opportunity to assess the past year. I have learned so much doing these experiments and writing about them. If I hadn’t worked on an ebook, I don’t know that I would have gleaned as much as I did from the process.
- Enabled me to quickly outline a book. Steve Scott’s approach to outlining a nonfiction ebook is a good one. I really enjoyed using note cards to do it — something I haven’t used in writing for years. My outline was finished right on time.
- Enabled me to quickly write a first draft. Steve’s admonition to write quickly got me into a Nanowrimo frame of mind and I was able to produce the first draft in a little more than 8 hours.
How Writing an Ebook This Way Made Me Crazy
- Required too much time. Steve Scott recommends writing for two hours a day to finish the book in 21 days. I thought I would have more than enough time to start the book before I left for vacation the second week of January. Not so much. Then I thought I would have plenty of time to write on vacation. I did have some time, but not nearly the amount I anticipated. I planned to write the book in a two-hour time block each evening when I returned. When that didn’t work, I gave up, rather than using the little-and-often approach that had worked so well for me. I also struggled to find the time for editing the book because…
- I was confused about my purpose. Steve suggests writing to answer people’s questions, but that felt like I was writing this book to tell people how to be productive. That’s the opposite of my purpose in writing this series! Once I figured that out, I was able to finish the first draft. But I was still confused. I wondered if the book would really be valuable to readers. I wondered if it was worth putting on Amazon, instead of just making it a blog freebie. I wondered if it was worth the sacrifice of time. And I wondered if I could really do the book justice in just 21 days. Now I wonder if I had written a weekly update during the process if I would have gotten more clarity.
- I had competing priorities. I foolishly over-committed these past weeks and tried to write the ebook while going on vacation, starting a new weekly series on organization for homeschoolers, and more stuff that would just bore you (you may be thinking “too late!”). I had to reread a post I wrote on the high cost of over-commitment and how to avoid it. I realized that I succeeded writing 50,000 words in a month for Nanowrimo when it was my only extra commitment. Throw in a lot of unexpected and emotional events this month and I’m amazed I finished the first draft. That’s as far as I got.
Can I really write a nonfiction ebook in 21 days?
I don’t know. If I had invested the full 42 hours, I could answer that question, but I didn’t. I really wanted to, but if I had been miserable pushing myself to get the book done, I don’t think it would have been as helpful as honestly telling you that I couldn’t do it. At least not this last month.
The Productivity Approach I’ll Be Using Going Forward
I am going to finish the ebook using Little and Often. I want to finish the book because I think I will get a deeper understanding of how I work best as I refine it. I also want to bring closure to this series for faithful readers. I will still work through the steps that Steve Scott clearly explains, but I am not going to block time and promise it on a deadline. I have succeeded using writing deadlines in the past, but I am experiencing some obligation-based procrastination now. I think it will be interesting to see how long it takes to finish the book using little and often. Of course, I will post to let you know when the book is available!
Following the publication of the book, I will be posting about productivity hacks, books, apps, or ideas that catch my fancy as I’m inspired. Originally, I thought I would do that weekly. But one of the important things I learned from trying to finish this ebook is not to obligate myself to too much. I love the friends I’ve made through this series, but I love my family more. That’s as it should be.
If you’d like to join me going forward, here’s what you do. Write your ebook using a Little-and-Often approach. Keep reading, trying new things, and sharing what you learn about yourself with others. I would love to hear about what’s working for you!
**UPDATE**
I made the very difficult choice NOT to write a productivity ebook, not because I couldn’t, but because I was putting off what I REALLY wanted to do until I wrote the ebook. Instead, I am close to publishing my dream book–a language arts curriculum for elementary students. As an alternative, I’ve created a landing page and updates for all the productivity posts I’ve written. My desire is that this series benefits you the way it has me.
I have written and spoken about what I’ve learned in this series here:
6 Important Habits for Getting More Done
Productivity Posts That Followed the Series
Motivation to Do What’s Most Important Today
A Better Daily / Weekly / Monthly To-Do List
Automatic Scheduling for Busy People
Get More Done with a 1-Thing To-Do List
5 Days of Productivity Favorites
The posts in A Year of Living Productively:
Week 16: David Seah’s7:15AM Ritual
Week 17: Another Simple and Effective Method
Week 18: Daily/Weekly/Monthly To-Do List
Week 19: Ultimate Time Management System
Week 25: Make it Happen in 10 Minutes
Week 33: David Seah’s Ten for Ten
Week 34: David Seah’s Emergent Task Planner
Week 35: Steve Kamb’s Do It Now
Week 41: Problem Solving Approach
Why College Students & CEOs Manage Time the Same Way
How to Get Things Done Regardless of Your App or System
The Real Cure for Time Management Anxiety
Roles & Goals: Lessons in Productivity from the 7 Habits
If was the title of this post that caught my attention because I’ve just started an ebook project. 21 days seems daunting and unrealistic but not so much that I won’t look into this further. Thanks for tuning me in to it and good luck as you continue with your project!
Thanks so much, Alanna. You, too! It’s definitely a worthwhile undertaking. Revising is the most time consuming, so I am working in 15-minute chunks. You can do it. 🙂
I’ve been trying to get myself started on an ebook, so reading this was very helpful to me.
Thanks for sharing!
Found you via BYB
That’s great! I wish you well with it. I am finding that working on it for 15 minutes at a time is doable. Set your timer and go!
You actually made me feel like I could write an ebook. Not necessarily in 21 days but just write one. I’m intrigued enough to go back and read all your other posts. Of course not today, but I will be back with more time. Thanks.
Julie
I Create Purty Thangs
I have no doubt that you can, Julie! As much as I would love to have you read here, I would rather see you invest the time into working on your ebook. Have a blessed day!
What a great post! I really enjoyed reading about your experiences writing an ebook. I’ve been considering writing one myself, and have several ideas for, but I’m still going back and forth with the idea. Maybe this will be the inspiration I need to get behind into gear; on the other hand, I am scared of over exerting myself, too.
Anyway, I will be back to read your posts about living productively when I am not half asleep!
Yuliya, I have read blogging advice to spend 15 minutes of your blogging time on writing an ebook. You wouldn’t have to commit to 21 days. That’s the approach I am using right now and I’m much more comfortable with it while I have other commitments. Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting.
That’s a good approach. I think once I finally sit down and figure out what I want to write in more detail, I will try it your way. I always feel a bit pressured when I give myself deadlines like that and I fear I’d lose quality just to finish on time.
How I wish I’d found this at the beginning of your productivity year. There are several article that really look interesting. Covey is one of my favorite business/leadership writers. Will be following by email. Blessings to you and yours! Marie via BYB
Marie, the posts will be here when you’re ready! The book will be a good summary for you, too, that will be free for the time being. Thanks so much for following and stopping by.
This sounds interesting. I wonder if I could do this. i have a tendancy to start strong but not really finish. I am going to look in to this book and see what tools I can pick up thanks
Tamara, I recommend you pick up the book, Refuse to Choose, by Barbara Sher. Starting strong and not finishing suggests that you may not really want to finish an ebook, but just have the desire to come up with ideas and learn new things. If you really want to finish, I love the book the 12 Week Year. It’s a goal you could tackle over 12 weeks. Thanks for stopping by!
Wow! I love your site. There’s so much to read that I don’t even know where to start. Psychology, big family life, Christianity, organization–these are all interests of mine! Great job!
Thanks, April. I always love meeting women with similar interests. I am often overwhelmed by lots of material I’d like to read. Just read something that interests you and don’t worry about the rest. I don’t! 🙂
I really enjoyed this post. I would love to come up with a year challenge for myself – that I would stick to. Then write an eBook about it. I haven’t come up with anything yet. Also I tend to overextend myself and I don’t need any more stress right now.
As one woman who tends to over-extend to another, I recommend writing about a topic when the inspiration strikes. I have found productivity websites, for example, where all the posts are collected, but they weren’t written every week like mine. There’s nothing wrong with that! What are you passionate about? Write about it, just like you’d talk with your friends. If you run out of steam, just write up what you’ve learned and you’re done. Thanks for stopping by.
I appreciate those tips, I am working on a paper book and I am sure I can put some of these tips to work
http://ramblingmomma03.blogspot.ca
I keep reading about ways to write ebooks in record time. One even about how to do it in a weekend! Which seems like barely any time. I think if you want to make an ebook it’s good to put the time in when you can, but not to rush it too much. And how long it takes will depend largely on your subject, how much you already know compared to how much research still needs to go into it.
I’m in the process of writing my own ebook. I came up with the idea over a year ago and wrote out a quick outline that I kind of forgot about. Now I’m actually writing it.
Good for you! I agree that it would be pretty unusual to write a quality ebook in a weekend. The great thing about Steve Scott’s book is it lists the steps to take and emphasizes where you need to work quickly.
Thanks for sharing! Writing an eBook is one of my goals. This post inspired me in the right direction. #BYB100
That’s so great, Holly. I know you can do it. Thanks for stopping by.
I am even thinking of writing a book. Just wanted to say if I ever decided to though, I would be on your blog doorsteps asking tons of questions. I just kept thinking as I read, this is one smart woman. I know your post will meet many needs in this area. Blessings my sister.
Betty, you are a treasure. I can see you writing an excellent book! Thanks for stopping by. I am off to see what’s on your heart lately.
Not sure if you’ve mentioned this already–of all the productivity systems you’ve tried, which has been the most effective for you? From what I’ve read it looks like “Little and Often” and “Eat That Frog” have worked well for you. Any other favorites? 🙂
Jon, you guessed correctly. I loved Little and Often. Do it Now is critical and something I have to keep on top of. Do it Tomorrow is another favorite. I am writing up more of my thoughts on what worked and what didn’t and look forward to sharing. Thanks for stopping by!
Ooo! These are the kind of posts I love to read, as I’m still transitioning to handling 4 kids! I love your “little and often approach”. I do that. My problem is that I lose steam after a few weeks and have a whole treasury of half finished projects……oh the shame……speaking of which, I must go finish cleaning up tonight’s supper dishes!! I will be back to read more of this series!
Have you ever read Refuse to Choose by Barbara Sher? Helped me understand why I have plenty of unfinished projects myself. I have no shame now! So glad you could stop by for a little while. 🙂
Enjoyed every bit of your blog post.Really thank you! Awesome.