From time to time, a lot of us have thought about writing a book. Whether the motivation stems from having an idea to share with others or simply wanting the glamour that comes from being a published author, writing a book is an item that appears on many bucket lists. But writing a book is no easy undertaking, and so our best advice is not to start until you have a compelling reason.

The Right Time to Write a Book

Here are five signs that it’s time to write that bestseller:

1. You’re not happy with the content that’s already out there. How many times have you found yourself thinking, “I can’t believe no one’s written about this”? Or, “Is this really the best material available on this topic?” If you can say and write it better, then do it.
2. You have a compelling story. Have you or your company suffered through a major mistake? An incredible success? If so, then tell other people about it. Business is often like life in the army: long periods of mind-dumbing boredom punctuated by brief moments of adrenaline overload. Share your exciting moments with everyone else in the trenches. You never know how much of a difference you can make on the lives of others.
3. You need to get something off your chest. Writing can be cathartic. There’s nothing wrong with coming to terms with what’s going on inside your head by writing a book. If you’ve encountered glass ceilings, sexism, racism, bad management or even good management and need to put it all into context, start writing.
4. You find yourself with years of good material and nothing to do with it. If blogging, giving presentations, training employees, or communicating in some way, shape or form is part of your job, it won’t be long before you’ve gathered a gold mine of material. It may be the right time to edit everything into a cohesive package and let all that hard work and research pay double dividends.
5. Because it’s time to be proactive. People often let their circumstances define them. Four years of college and an MBA later, and they’re the marketing director at a small business. “How did this happen?” they wonder. The answer: they let it happen. Sometimes, you need to make things happen. You’ll never be a French horn player until you pick up the horn. (Contrary to popular belief, French horn players aren’t born, they’re made.) It’s the same with writing. If you find yourself asking “How?” and “Why?” then ask “Why not?” Fire up Microsoft Office and become a writer.

Trade Press Services specializes in turning aspiring authors into published ones. To get started, let’s schedule a time to talk. 805 496-8850 or [email protected].