In 2019, I decided to drive around the U.S.

The plan didn’t start off that way. At first, I was just going to visit my sister in Atlanta. Then my brother in Mississippi, since it was only 4 hours away.

Then, Why not New Orleans?

Houston’s only a couple hours from there.

Well if I’m in Houston, I HAVE to go to Austin.

And so on, all the way to California.

Before I left, there were times that it felt overwhelming.

Where would I sleep in Arizona?

What would I do in Montana?

What if I got tired?

None of my worries came to fruition, though. Friends and family jumped in: “Stay with me in San Francisco!” “We’ll meet you in New Orleans.” “Come visit us in Vancouver.”

Each day took care of itself—because I, and my wonderful community scattered across the country, created the right conditions.

And because I got in the car and drove.

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The idea of writing a book scares some people.

It sounds hard. Or impossible.

It sounds like something that would require gobs of willpower and/or some elusive ingredient that only certain, mystically gifted humans have.

Here’s what I say to that:

You don’t have to push yourself to the edge of your ability to write a book.

You don’t have to become someone else.

It’s not magical. It’s not heavy lifting.

You just have to create the conditions…and then show up.

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When you create the conditions, and show up regularly, you can do a lot of things you don’t think you could do.

What are those conditions, in terms of book writing? Well, that’ll depend on you and your project, but they probably involve:

• ​Making a workspace you enjoy being in
• Visualizing an end result—first big-picture, then smaller chunks—that sings to you
• Creating a plan that doesn’t rely on your willpower (because as we all know, willpower is flaky)

For many people, one of those conditions is this:

Working with someone who knows what they’re doing.

(This is one way to build that community who will help you when you get tired.)

A ghostwriter or book coach worth their salt will co-create those conditions with you, and help you show up repeatedly—until the book is done.

If you want to have a conversation about how you and I might create the conditions for writing your book, click the button below to schedule a call.