I wrote the first draft of Brave Women Write in just 90 days.
It’s the approach my friend Kath Walters teaches when working with people writing a business book—and it worked for my book too. (If you’re writing a business book this year, you must call Kath!)
Every week-day morning after a swim in the Yarra Birrarung, I would write for three hours. It was non-negotiable. I blocked out the time in my diary to just write automatically. There was no filtering of my thoughts and no reviewing or editing of my words.
The result was around 5,000 words per week and a 60,000 word manuscript. I admit it was an exercise in quantity over quality in the first draft. My goal was to just get the words out of my head (and heart) and onto the page no matter how imperfect they were.
Typing ‘The End’ on the first draft was a euphoric and cathartic feeling. It felt like I’d rid myself of the grief that had caused me to write the book in the first place.
After this, I took a 90-day break from the book. I didn’t re-read the manuscript or hop straight into the second draft. Instead, I immersed myself in Mother Nature choosing to live my words rather than continue to intellectualise them.
Then, I wrote the second draft—again in 90 days with a similar time commitment each day. This was followed by another 90 days to let it percolate before editing and publishing the book in another 90 days.
So in total, the book took me about 15 months from start to finish, perhaps a bit more.
I love the concept of 90-day sprints.
Breaking down your writing project into 90-day sprints ensures that your book (or whatever it is you’re writing) doesn’t become a never-ending, unpublished story.
I’d love to hear what you think about the 90-day sprint theory and if it might work for you.
And of course, if you need help to get your book written, please reach out.
With love
Brave Women Write Book Orders
Australian Orders: $30 for a signed copy including postage.
International Orders: $37.27 for a signed copy including postage.
Brave Women Write Private Mentoring
Do you have a book or writing project to be brought to life in 2023?
If you need clarity and focus to get started and support to make it to the finish-line, I’m here to help.
Applying the practices in the book and through a unique combination of workshopping and mentoring over 90 days, I help turn your fledgling ideas into a tangible book.
I work with women who have a story to share through a memoir, biography, fiction or non-fiction book that will drive personal and planetary change for women and Mother Earth.
If you feel that it’s time to stop dreaming and start writing, make a time for a conversation to see if we are a good fit.
Interested? Connect with me for a conversation: Contact
