Photo by Luca Bravo on Unsplash
My bucket list only contained a single aspiration: write a book.
For decades, that was my dream.
I didn’t share that dream with anyone for a long time though, because I feared it would never happen. I didn’t even write it down.
Writing it down would make my intent tangible. Would feel like a commitment.
And I wasn’t sure I could do it.
In 2011, as I began formulating my brands-in-adolescence theory, my marketing coach said that could be a book.
Having a subject to write about was exciting! But also scary.
Because now that I had the subject, I didn’t have the lack of subject as an excuse not to write a book.
Approaching the Book-Writing Mountain
In January 2012 I launched my monthly Varsity Marketing newsletter. My early articles were in the 600-800 word range.
That challenge I could handle.
Writing a book scared the isht out of me. As a dream, it was divine. But actually coming up with 60,000 words that cohesively convinced the reader of my idea? TERRIFYING.
I had no idea how to go about it. I had no idea if I had the guts or perseverance to see it through.
How did you even start?
In March 2012, I attended an author panel hosted by The Boston Club. Panelist Pam Lassiter gave amazing advice for aspiring writers: “build your stairsteps.”
She explained that few writers sit down and belt out a book. Instead, they begin with articles, short stories, even social media posts.
The concept of stairsteps is to begin writing smaller pieces and work your way up.
My Initial Climb
Those three words – build your stairsteps – blindsided the fear that kept my dream a secret.
Instead of feeling overwhelmed by the enormity of writing a book, I realized I might already be on my way. My newsletter could serve as my stairsteps.
Looking back, my stairsteps involved more than just writing smaller pieces. They also entailed:
- Writing regularly
- Getting feedback from readers and editors
- Learning to process feedback productively
- Learning to edit
- Meeting deadlines
- Finding my audience
Taking Your First Step
Do you have to go through stairsteps to write a book? No. But having a writing habit, improved writing and editing skills, and practice putting your work into the world helps.
Newsletters aren’t the only way to do this. Aspiring authors can develop their writing muscles with:
- Social media posts
- Blog posts
- Guest posts on other people’s newsletters (including Substack) or blogs
- Op-Ed pieces
- Writing a column for a newspaper or magazine
I am forever grateful to Pam Lassiter for her advice.
I published my book Teenage Wastebrand: How to Stop Struggling and Start Scaling on April 20, 2021.
When my author copy arrived from Amazon, it felt surreal. My tears of joy kept coming.
The three words I was afraid to commit to paper - write a book - were now 60,000 words I held in my hands and was fiercely proud to share with the world.
If you are interested in writing a book, start writing small pieces regularly. And watch yourself ascend.
Recommended Reads
As a voracious reader, I LOVE to talk about books. In each newsletter I will recommend a nonfiction book and a novel, aka a fiction book.
Nonfiction recommendation: Says Who? by Anne Curzan
How much of a word nerd am I?
I read Anne Curzan’s Says Who? A Kinder, Funner, Usage Guide for Everyone Who Cares About Words on vacation.
My vacation read. And I drank it in like a strawberry daiquiri on a sizzling summer day.
So much joy from this book. Not only does Anne Curzan debunk word usage myths, but she gives you the history of words and phrases you probably use often but never knew their provenance.
You may not agree with her take, but if you enjoy words and they matter to you, you’ll be entertained.
Fiction recommendation: The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
If you know me or have followed me for any length of time, you know I am a huge fan of handwritten notes.
I was a pen pal for years as a child, and have begun again in the past year.
No surprise then that this gorgeous epistolary novel would capture my heart.
From the outside, writing looks like putting words on paper or screen. But for writers, that is just the output. The process is where most of the value lies.
We write to figure things out, codify thoughts, and better understand ourselves.
The unfolding of this story as the main character corresponds with her community and comes to better understand herself resonates so strongly that the book has spent 30 weeks on The New York Times Best Seller list (and counting!).
Just for Fun
For writing inspiration, watch and listen to the Five Stairsteps sing “Ooh Child.”
For some funky steps and a few laughs, watch Christina Applegate teach dancing in this SNL skit “Jillian Chizz Helps Students Find Their Fosse.”
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