How to Write a Book: A Humorous Look – Are You a TARL or a Perfectionist, and Do You Simile?

re You a TARL or a Perfectionist, and Do You Simile?

Perhaps you’ve heard it said that the amount of work expands to fill the time allowed. When I taught college, at the beginning of the semester I gave students a syllabus. In that document, I stated exactly what was due when. Students had to complete a paper and present it to the group near the end of the course.

Considering how to write a book and get it to the publisher is much the same thing. Step into my classroom with me for a moment, if you would. About a week before the drop-dead deadline for the paper, I would announce, “You have a week before your paper is due, so you can get started now.”

Nervous laughter fills the room. And I know that at least half my students have not yet begun to organize their thoughts, let alone write. Thank you for joining my class for those brief moments. You may return to the blog post now.

Like students, authors elevate the whole “working up to a deadline” thing to a fine art. I often talk about how to write a book, and I know you’ll enjoy this.

This morning, I had no intention of writing to you about work habits and deadlines, however, a blog post I found out about because of Twitter tickled my funny bone so much that I simply HAD to drop everything and include it in a blog post immediately. It’s about an author facing a deadline for her novel.

Agonyzer RT @jimsissy: OMG, This is funny. http://is.gd/1zhkE How to write a book. Wednesday, 15 July 2009, 12:12 am – Reply – View Tweet – Retweet – Direct Message

Imagine you’re supposed to turn a book into your publisher soon. The deadline pants at you like a dog wanting to devour your dinner right off your plate (simile).

This is how blogger-author Maureen Johnson describes it:

Because I am coming very close to a deadline for Girl At Sea, I wanted to give you a glimpse into the process of writing a book. After all, that’s what most people want to know. How do you write a book?

“But don’t writers just turn in the book when they are done?” you ask. “Surely, it must be so!”

No, dear readers! No! See, here’s the thing: most writers are never done. Many of us would spend all of eternity tinkering with our books, if physics would allow us the opportunity. This is why publishers make us sign contracts that say, “You will give us a book on such-and-such a date or we will send the zombies after you.”

Please do yourself a favor and read her entire post, whether you’re an author or not. You’ll relate to it – truly.

Earlier, I asked if you’re a TARL or a perfectionist.

What’s a TARL? It stands for Take Action, Revise Later.

This means getting something started and out – and revising later, rather than waiting until something has attained that mythical state called “perfection.” People like Mike Litman, Bob “Bob the Teacher” Jenkins, Perry “Ask Mr. Video” Lawrence, Kevin Nations, Scott Sharp Armstrong, and myself are all TARLS. We say it is best to get something out and revise it later than to take no action until perfection is attained, and we may see perfectionists as irritating, because we know that taking imperfect action is best.

Kevin Nations says, “Winners take Imperfect Action while others are perfecting their plans.”

Perfectionists are a different breed. TARLS drive them NUTS! They get so irritated if a letter isn’t capitalized or if something isn’t absolutely perfect in their eyes. From their view, anything that is not perfect is “unprofessional” and TARLS should be more careful and professional – more like them. Really good editors are perfectionists, and what a great profession for them! Dr. Patricia Ross and Elizabeth George are perfectionists.

Neither approach is The One Truth. Whichever side you tend toward – take action revise later or perfectionism – is what you will see as the best way to be.

Resource

TARL or perfectionist, you will want to move yourself to your next breakthrough so you can take your foot off the brake pedal and zoom toward the future of YOUR design. The “Brakes to Breakthrough Package” teaches 23 time-tested traits of successful business owners.

Discover how to write a book that explodes your business with the Instant Credibility System Look inside the Instant Credibility System for how to write a book.

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Ronda Del Boccio is a transformational speaker, mentor and author known globally as The Story Lady because she teaches authors, entrepreneurs and business owners to easily connect with your ideal customers and contacts through the power of your story.

She is the author of numerous stories, poems, and articles, as well as her books I’ll Push You Steer, and other upcoming books.

Discover how to explode profits, prospects and prime media opoprtuntiies with her latest book is the Instant Credibility system, which teaches any business owner, entrepreneur, coach, speaker or writer to craft a lead-generating book that grows your business.

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