Writing Advice: How To Finish Your Book

[@HeartBreathings]

I hope you enjoyed these tips! Thanks so much for watching! I'm committing to getting my book done, too. I'm actually going to sit down tonight and make my plan. Let's do this!

[@jenrothke]

Are you reading my mind? How did you know I needed this? You are the hero of my day. :)

[@jenniferbaumer1654]

Yes! White space + time + routine = results! Thank you for reminding me. My NaNoWriMo book in 2019 was written to a KZbin video of thunderstorm on the ocean I listened to on my phone. It wasn't just that it blocked everything else out, it was that after a few days of it, listening to the storm meant I was writing. Love this video.

[@HeartBreathings]

Yes!! It's such a great tool!

[@karri-z2f]

Straight from publish and thrive live to your KZbin video. Lol I needed this video today bc I was just being hard on myself about how behind I feel.

[@HeartBreathings]

[@albertvita]

Thank you so much for this! Just what I needed as writing a book is #1 on my 2023 goals list! When you said “Perfectionism when writing a book is crippling” it hit me like a ton of bricks as somewhere baked deep in my DNA, I don’t want to put things out there until in my mind it’s “perfect”. And it has caused me to miss deadline after deadline. To a prosperous new year for all of us! ❤

[@dreamtheanswer]

"Give yourself permission to suck!" - Love it and on it!

[@shellystar]

Ever since I watched your video on how to write faster I always write in sprints. What a difference it made in my speed and actually finishing my book. Best advice ever!

[@marciascott1393]

You are so inspiring. I'm struggling with my last 20k and the words aren't coming. I'm that perfectionist you so aptly describe. I need to write more sucky! Thanks for all your awesome videos! xo

[@pastorcharleshumphrey9418]

This was an excellent reality check for my writing process!!! Giving myself grace to suck and also setting some new deadlines. Love the idea of writing sprints too! Thanks 🙏🏽

[@carriebartkowiak]

Look at all those finished tasks on Goal 3!! That bottom of the Kanban is nearly filled! You GO, girl!

[@HeartBreathings]

Thank you!! Just have to get this writing routine back, but I'm proud of what I've gotten done so far!

[@carriebartkowiak]

And I cannot believe you made that challenge w/ George. Holy crap. TEN washi of his choosing? Ack.

[@emmyscreativecorner1575]

Writing sprint sounds like free writing. My English teacher in college had us do this each few minutes before she started English class. This is how I write my first draft. I write whatever comes to mind in my drafts, and don't care if it doesn't make sense, because I can always go back and fix. When I go back, it opens my mind so much more, and this is when I usually find my twists. I read blog once, from a writer who said free writing is what cleans your brain of the mud. Muddy brain is what I think she called it.

[@HeartBreathings]

Yes, you can totally use it to free write! I usually have my scenes already plotted out, so I'm not free writing but you definitely could!

[@AuthorJCCarpenter]

I remember when I first started watching your channel and you mentioned writing sprints I thought that's crazy, I can't get any real amount of words in a sprint but boy was I wrong lol... This last NaNoWriMo I thought why not just try it and I have never looked back, it's such a life changer so thank you for that push that you give us as writers to keep going!

[@natalieanna6083]

Excellent advice!! As a British woman, the word ‘ rubbish’ is music to my ears 👍😊😁

[@perstephanies]

Thanks for this motivation!! I'm determined to finish writing my book by summer!

[@BonnieDragonKat]

Remember that your first draft is you telling yourself the story. And a famous author said: First Drafts are always crappy.

[@MeganIsReading]

This video really spoke to me, especially your tip for creating positive momentum. Lately I’ve been dreading my daily writing time, and now I realize I need to turn my negative self-talk into something positive. Thank you!

[@vmcmillon5703]

I needed this so much. Thank you 🖤

[@rosannebowman2592]

Loved this video! I've really struggled with my current story. Part of that was just so much going on in my personal life recently. I decided to give myself last week to just chill and process some things. Then I sat down to work this week, and I realized two things. First, the conscious decision to give myself time really helped, AND my book didn't suck nearly as much as I thought it did.

[@mikellemorgan8884]

Thanks Sarra! I really needed this!

[@HexVexed]

I've been binging your videos. You have such a good balance of concrete tips while including more emotional aspects too. I really appreciate you being so candid and open with your experiences and your advice.

[@XXauraiXX]

Thank you! This is the video I need today as I try to finish my draft.

[@payneplans2370]

I have just enrolled in the HB90 Boot camp!!! I am so excited!!!! And my husband is so supportive about this!!! Ahhh just so excited to get started!

[@paulapoetry]

Awesome video and tips - thank you. 😃💝

[@jeanetteclintonridgegarden]

I love the idea of telling myself I can be sucky!! These are great ideas, and once again you have given me more inspiration to continue to write!!

[@christinenazareth4684]

Thank you SO much for this video. I've been struggling with the last 10K & was stuck on a couple scenes. I just did my first 20 minute sprint and HOLY MOLY! It was so productive (though I'm sure there's a bit that sucks), but I did it! The added sense of accomplishment is a nice boost as well. Seriously life changing. Thank you!!

[@ashleychewning]

I’m interested in the writing sprints. 🦋

[@Okie_Stitches]

You are so inspirational and have such contagious excitement! I’m here for it. 🙌🏻

[@caboose8402]

I tweeted this to you but saw you haven't tweeted in over a year so I'll leave it here: I am trying some of the tips from your most recent video about How to Finish Your Novel and is making an enormous difference specifically deadline, sprinting, and accepting sucking in the short term. Thank you!!!

[@Ate_Lissa]

Hi Sarra, your video, this video is like a message from the heavens. I need to finish my book! And I'm just two chapters away that I'm procrastinating for the past two weeks. Thank you! Great video as always :)

[@reneebarrette4514]

I love using the Pomodoro method. It really works! I'm going to incorporate white space into my writing sessions now! Thanks for the video!

[@caboose8402]

Oh my God! You speak to my writer soul with this video. We said " nugget" at the exact same time. I'm struggling with my writing right now so this video could not be better timed. Thank you for the tips and the encouragement!

[@ashleychewning]

Needed this today!

[@grayseeker7084]

I love the tip about listing the things you love about your story! I am totally going to start doing that. Thanks! :-)

[@AndrewJamesYo]

I'm going to try sprint writing tonight! Thanks for the tips!

[@j_maynard]

I would definitely be up for a Sprint challenge thing. Sounds exciting.

[@JodeeJeanDanielsJustWrite]

Thanks Sarra!!!

[@nildam.bonilla5849]

Love these kinds of videos so inspiring! And let me just say keep it going! I see a lot of the task have made their way to the bottom of your board so I know you can still leave it bare at the top for the end of Q1 Hugs

[@MonaLisa-yb9bq]

Good video; thanks! I've just moved today, into another suite in the same building. I'm bushed.

[@samuelewrites7249]

Love this Sarra

[@missree1995]

Great video. (Your office is so NEAT!)

[@Zoe-uj2vu]

These ideas were amazing ! I would love to see a writing sprint challenge !!!!

[@rachelrobertson7353]

These are great tips, Sara! In college, I lived in a small town where I could go for a nice, quiet walk with my music everyday. Missing those times. City life and the go go go is definitely not for me.

[@kartikey90]

These are real good ones. Trying to finish my first piece. Trying to derive conception of universe, identity of God and the hidden pursuit of human life consuming know-how from natural environment, socio-political institutional setup, science and quantum. Caught up and been worried from sometime chasing researching experiences for perfection. Thanks!!!

[@zoeashwood9096]

Oh wow, that washi tape burning challenge made me laugh so hard. :D Great idea! I don't think my husband would follow through, though!

[@sandyharrison3930]

Do you use an editor? Planning on self publishing and wondering your thoughts.

[@SAWhite33]

I have two books, struggling to finish them, for about eight years now 😖 But you do inspire me to get it done 💪

[@MarthaAnne108]

I loved this video so much! Great tips and inspiration 🙏 thank you

[@caramullaney2043]

This video was so well timed for me right now. I'm writing the final chapters of my latest WIP and i have lost all motivation and I am coming up with every excuse in the book to not sit down and get it done. 😔

[@debrahorst8154]

Thank you for the inspiration!

[@SaraLea]

I work better under pressure too lol- I always did all of my papers the day before!

[@em_bea]

I've done NaNo since 2011 and haven't gotten past perfection, lol. I love 4thewords for sprinting. It's an online game where you beat monsters using words, and getting rewards/further on in the story really pushes me to write.

[@LisaZoe86]

I would love to see videos on so many things from you. How do you create/design your worksheets/planners/etc on your computer? How do you make the beautiful coverpages for them? What software do you use, maybe also websites or services or guidebooks or manuals? Also how did you teach yourself about marketing? About anything that's involved in your work and carreer? Anything really is of interest to me. Oh my :D

[@abhirutmeherishi5738]

I struggle with researching new possibilities in fantasy genre whenever a new idea comes. How do you read up on stuff that makes fantasy believable?

[@LisaZoe86]

So the bootcamp is for people who are already selfpublishing, right? It's not targeted towards people who haven't written a book yet but want to finally manage it? Could someone like that (like me^^) still benefit from your Q2 Planner on Etsy? Or rather the Goal Setting Planner? Or both? Apart from that I love the video as always. You explain everything so in detail and so well. And you are incredibly inspiring. 👍🏻

[@shellystar]

The bootcamp is for anyone , although its geared towards writers. And it doesn't matter where you are on your writing journey, the quarterly planner is for anyone who wants to be more organized and get more things done. Its totally customizable. I took the bootcamp class but I think the goal setting planner comes with the quarterly planner if you download it from Etsy.

[@teodorab4815]

do you ever do giveaways?🙂 you have such cool stuff

[@acotnoir]

What if I need to edit the book? How does pomadora sprints work for that?

[@kempfreehold9450]

Same way. 25 min of straight editing. 5 min break. 25 min straight editing. 5 min break. Repeat one more time, then a longer break.

[@kempfreehold9450]

Pomodoro sprints work for any work you have. The point is to focus intensely for a short amount of time.

[@kimberlydavis5034]

Thank you so much for your writing tips. I really appreciate everything you share in these KZbin Videos. What are your suggestions when you have absolutely no inspiration regarding to a certain topic you want to write about or even writers block? I'm trying to keep an open mind about the topic but I'm not feeling any inspiration within me regarding the topic.

[@jenalang6065]

Super inspiring! I needed to hear this today. I promise to give myself permission to suck.

[@johnniepegues305]

hi I'm a writer I have some pieces published I'm writing a memoir right now I'm almost done writing my issue is I do not type I'm writing longhand I live in Evansville Indiana I never have writer's block I had writers stop in 2001 when my mother died that's it other than that words always flow and I'm really right from energy of emotion

[@EricaLucasLoves]

New sub!

[@delyseonduty]

PREACH GIRL 🙏😭♥️

[@werelemur1138]

I feel personally attacked! I think the hurdle I'm dealing with is perfectionism, more than the plot problem. Which does exist, but "write a possible solution, throw out a couple thousand words if they don't work, repeat necessary" will do a lot more for finding a solution than just spending another few months just stewing over it.

[@KaterynaM_UA]

wow, burning the washi tape SAVAGE! xD

[@DreamingTruth.author]

Yes! Thank you ❤

[@Superdesertangel8]

So needed this today! Thank you so much! ❤