We modeled DIYBook on the do-it-yourself model championed by HomeDepot: you can write your book, and we can help. Our writing program includes the tools you need to get your story on paper. And the price is affordable, starting at just $89 since you’re not paying for a full-time ghostwriter.
But at DIYBook, we recognize that sometimes you need a little personalized help. Much like when you’re DIY-ing a home improvement project, you may be able to handle some elements, but when the going gets technical, it’s time to bring in an expert. That’s why you can hire DIYBook’s professional ghostwriters and graphic designers for an additional fee in five-hour increments instead of hiring them to write your entire book from start to finish.
Starting this week, we are sharing tips on how to Do It Yourself, a central component of the DIYBook writing model. Selecting the appropriate writing space can make all the difference between a successful writing session and one where you procrastinate. Here are a few more ideas on how to find your ideal writing nook to spark your creativity and imagination.
Do It Yourself Tip 1: Find A Quiet Space With Limited Distractions
Good writing is time-intensive and requires a quiet space where you can focus. It is often a solitary activity as opposed to a collaborative activity (unless you’re interviewing someone to preserve their story). While you may see people writing in a coffee shop, consider whether you would benefit from a more quiet space with fewer distractions. If your home isn’t quiet enough, consider going to your local library to find a quiet corner to yourself. No matter where you end up, turn off your cell phone and focus on writing. See if you can maintain that focused commitment to writing for some time. Maybe the first time, you can go 30 minutes without losing focus. Next time, aim for 35 minutes until you work up to a solid hour before taking a break.
Do It Yourself Tip 2: Use Your Dead Time To Write
Writing can fill wasted time, even if it’s just jotting down ideas. If you take a bus or a train to your job, consider using that time to write instead of playing another round of Candy Rush. And think of how many ideas you could write down while waiting in the lobby for your child’s after-school activity to end! If you can’t access your Author Account (no Wi-Fi, no access to laptop, etc.), you can still work on your book: plan ahead by copying and pasting the weekly prompt into your notes app on your phone, or carry a pocket-sized journal and pencil with you so that you can write whenever inspiration strikes.
Do It Yourself Tip 3: Feather Your Writing Nest
Surround your writing area with items that bring you joy. Photographs of loved ones, a letter from a friend, or small mementos that remind you of happy times can all share space in your writing environment.
When You Can’t Go It Alone Anymore: Enlist Professional Help
There’s a lot involved in the writing process, much of which you can do yourself. Sometimes it’s easier to get through complex topics with the help of a professional ghostwriter who can help you write these sections without experiencing too much anxiety. A professional can help coax your story onto the page and support you through the writing process.
Barbara Basbanes Richter founded DIYBook, an affordable and easy-to-use book writing program. She also founded In Ink Ghostwriting, a full-service ghostwriting firm helping politicians, pundits, scientists, CEOs, professional athletes, and others get their stories into print.
Under her own byline, Barbara’s writing has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Daily News, The Vineyard Gazette, Humanities, The Sewanee Review, Fine Books & Collections, Literary Features Syndicate, High Country News, Ravishly.com, Westchester Magazine, and other outlets.
Barbara is a fluent French speaker, and her translation from French to English of Mademoiselle de Malepeire was called a “clever, inspiring gem.”
