This week’s post comes from the wonderful Katie King, our community manager. In this piece, she shares her insights into why you should write a book in community. 

No one thinks about it in the beginning. They go from one day deciding, “I am going to write a book,” to finding themselves somewhere deep in the thick of it. And far too often, authors get stuck, alone in the grueling process of writing, with some even dropping the project altogether when they hit a seemingly impassable roadblock.

I am here to tell you that if you are writing a book by yourself, with no support, you are putting yourself in the hardest position possible to get it done and, may I say, enjoy the process. 

It doesn’t have to be this way. 

There are book coaches, like Stacy, for example, who can make a world of difference by guiding you on your author journey from idea to draft (this is actually the name of one of her programs). Stacy works both one-on-one and in small groups, where she offers expert guidance on the writing, editing, and publishing process. Her clients rave about how much she has helped them get through the book-writing process, coming out the other side clear and ready for what lies ahead (hello, book launch!). 

You could also join a supportive community, like the one I manage as part of Stacy’s team, called the Author Influence Circle. This exclusive community of nonfiction authors is specifically for people like you who are in the process of writing, or even publishing and marketing their books. They know they need a supportive group of understanding people around them during this tough, often trying, experience to keep them accountable. In our community, we host guest speakers every month with a range of expertise relevant for authors—from cover design guidance to branding experts to marketing specialists—as well as an open coaching session with Stacy. We also meet regularly to connect and support each other, including a weekly coworking session.

“If you want to go slowly (and maybe get stuck), go alone. If you want to get your book done, and feel emboldened in the process, go together.”

This month, we have a community challenge called the LinkedIn LeanIn, where we work together to up-level our LinkedIn profiles and post every day for a week, while lifting up one another in the process. I will offer an edit to the well-known saying, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” For authors, going alone won’t make you go faster. It puts you at high risk for quitting altogether.

When it comes to writing a book, I think the following applies: “If you want to go slowly (and maybe get stuck), go alone. If you want to get your book done, and feel emboldened in the process, go together.” With the right support system around you on your author journey, you are set up to meet your goals with the know-how and network to get you as far as you can go.

In journeying together,

— Katie King