The Blueprint is the Solution for Time-Strapped Writers
A guest post from Sara Gentry, one of our Blueprint Summer Sprint book coach hosts. Details on joining us for the Blueprint are below.
You’re too busy to write a book. How do I know? Because I have yet to work with a writer who says, “I thought writing a book would be a great way to fill all this free time I have.”
Maybe you work a demanding job, manage a chronic illness, raise young children at home, chauffeur tweens and teens to every activity under the sun, care for someone who needs assistance, volunteer for a local community group, and so on and so on. There’s no way you have time to work on a book right now, no matter how much you wish you could. You tell yourself, “Someday things will calm down, and I’ll have time to write a book then.” The only problem is things won’t calm down and you won’t have time, so you won’t write a book.
If you really want to write a book, then you cannot wait for someday. You must start now. If you really want to make the most of your limited time (of course you do, because who doesn’t?), use the Author Accelerator Blueprint framework.
The Blueprint lays out a specific plan consisting of strategic, actionable steps so time-strapped writers can make meaningful progress on their books in small chunks of time. Don’t believe me? Commit to spending one hour per week this summer working on your Blueprint. By the end of this 10-week #AmWriting challenge, you will have a completed Blueprint, and you’ll be well on your way to writing (and finishing!) a book.
You might be skeptical. Sure, this sounds good in theory, but what does it look like in real life when you barely have a moment to spare? It’s journaling about why you want to write this book while you drink your morning coffee. It’s brainstorming book titles while you wait for soccer camp to let out. It’s getting to know your character while you run errands. It’s coming up with your next scene while you grill for a family cookout. And sometimes, it’s spending an hour with your butt in the chair, writing along with other writers who are doing the same thing you are.
Make the most of the time you have now, because you won’t have more time someday. Yes, I know you’re too busy to write a book. Do it anyway.
Sara Gentry is a math Ph.D. turned Author Accelerator certified book coach. As a lifelong problem solver, she knows the power of finding the right solution. Now she uses her analytical brain to provide writers with strategic next steps and straightforward feedback so they can finish writing books they love. Sara works with fiction, nonfiction, and memoir writers in one-to-one coaching and novel writers in her yearlong group coaching program, Novel Resolution. She gives back to the writing community by hosting the free annual events KidLit Summer Camp and Novel Kickoff. You can connect with her through her website solutionsforwriters.com or on Instagram, Threads, and Twitter(X) with the handle writewithsara
Are you a “sticker”?
Regular listeners know that whenever we meet our writing goals around here, we text each other one word: STICKER. (and then we add a cute sticker to our calendar, because we’re fun like that).
We call supporters of the #AmWriting podcast “stickers” too—and while our regular podcasts and shownotes go out to all of our listeners, we have created a few things just for stickers, like the Summer Blueprint for a Book Sprint—10 weeks dedicated to working with coaches and a community to figure out how to turn your next idea—or your struggling draft—into the book you want to write. You can join it anytime (the how-to is below).
I’m a sticker! And I’m ready for my Blueprint close-up.
Join the Blueprint for a Book Summer Sprint
The Blueprint for a Book Summer Sprint starts July 2. To play along, you must be a paid subscriber. Then, opt-in and set up your podcast feed. Don’t worry, it’s simple! Click here to go to your #AmWriting account, and when you see this screen, do two things:
Toggle “Blueprint for a Book” from “off” (grey) to “on” (green).
Click “set up podcast” next to Blueprint for a Book and follow the easy instructions.
Once you set those things up, you’ll get all the future Blueprint emails and podcasts (and if you’re joining the party a bit late, just head to our website and click on Blueprint for a Book in the top menu).