If you want to write a book, you must set some deadlines.

By Zarinah El-Amin Naeem

As an new writer, especially if you desire to become an authopreneur, having a deadline for completion is key to helping you achieve your goal of writing and publishing a quality book.

However, just having a deadline is not enough. I remember talking to a client and the language she used surrounding her deadline contained no urgency, no true desire.  She just said, “It would be nice to have it be then.”  What?  Do you want it or not?

When you create a deadline you want to implant it in your mind STRONGLY and work towards that deadline as if you are going to receive the biggest check ever upon completion.

Imagine running towards a finish line in a race and your entire family, community and friends are there at the end waiting for you.  Shoot, imagine YOU are at the end of that finish line smiling and waiting to give you a high five for completion.

But what to do once you set a deadline?  How do you keep it up front?

Once you set a deadline, you need to work backwards from there.  How many days, weeks, months is that from now?  With that in mind, break down the project into smaller goals.  (Download our Book Power Checklist for a quick overview of the entire process)

In our book publishing process we also teach how to “stay on the step.” Meaning that by working through the process step by step, you continuously achieve small wins which excite and motivate you to continue.

Each day, week and month you are moving closer to your goal rather than just saying I’m going to write my book.  The process would then become to large and looming, contributing to high stress levels, unnecessary high stress levels!

Now in all honestly, I haven’t always been a deadline guru, I had to learn this the hard way, but now setting mini deadlines and breaking large tasks down into bite sized chunks is a core part of my “finishing a project” system.

So implement this strategy into your life and see how those big tasks that you’ve put off for years, suddenly become manageable!

Have you tried it? Let us know how it works for you in the comments.