What Would Meaningful Book Progress Look Like by December 31?

Last week, I took my generic Vyvanse, brewed a tall mug of Dunkin Donuts coffee, and spent the early morning with a spreadsheet that holds nine years of numbers for Crippled Beagle Publishing and Story Mountain Media. I hoped to find a pattern, and I did. I was also reminded of the term my business coach Gavin McHale taught me: “Data over drama.”

I am a storyteller, just like you, and my emotions, amygdala, and ADHD often kick into high gear and scramble the right info. This confusing combo tricks me into thinking things are one way when they are actually another. 

I also love the concept that says something like this: “I am my actions, not my thoughts.”

Here’s what I learned about my business. I was nervous because sales dipped in July and August, so I thought maybe the economy was sinking and taking my business goals with it. DRAMA!

Actually, that’s normal for my business. Whew. DATA to the rescue, right?

October, November, and December are almost always the strongest months of our year, and the reason surprised me. When I looked closely, those strong months grew out of conversations, decisions, and quiet commitments that people made back in the spring and summer, even way back in January, so the fourth quarter was simply the season when all of those conversations early in the year helped people commit in the fourth quarter. My team and I don’t pressure anyone, and we love talking to writers who have big ideas, rough starts, piles of notes in different places, and just need calm guidance for their best next steps. All those talks throughout the year are our efforts to help you. Then, in the fourth quarter, you are ready. 

Books follow that same pattern, which is why I want to hand you one useful question as we begin October.

What would meaningful book progress look like for you by December 31?

I chose the word meaningful on purpose, since finished, perfect, and impressive are words that tend to make writers freeze up in October and quit by Thanksgiving. Meaningful looks different depending on where you stand today. Here are a few examples. Where do you land?

For a writer who has carried a book idea around for years, meaningful progress might be a working title, a one-page outline, and a Publishing Pathway Call on the calendar. That’s it.

For a writer halfway through a draft, meaningful progress might mean five more chapters or a finished rough draft by Christmas. 

For an author with a completed manuscript saved in a folder, meaningful progress might mean handing those pages to an editor so the book can finally move toward publication. 

For a published author, meaningful progress might mean a real launch plan, a speaking event, or a second book that builds on the first.

When friends and I plan a Saturday hike, we count the miles our legs can honestly handle, consider our schedules, and choose the trail or SECTION of the trail that fits reality. Those small, honest plans are the reason my remaining miles in the Smokies keep shrinking, one trail or trail section at a time. Your book deserves the same kind of plan.

So here is my challenge for you this week. Write your answer down in one sentence, and make that sentence specific enough that you will know on December 31 whether you did the thing. 

Tape the sentence to your bathroom mirror, your fridge, or your coffeemaker. Maybe make the sentence the lock screen on your phone, or tell someone you trust and ask him or her to hold you to it and ask you weekly if you are doing the thing. 

Then hit reply and send your sentence to me, because I would love to read your answer and cheer you on. Also, I bet I have something to help you. I’ve written close to 50 articles, and my team has created dozens of guides, checklists, AI prompts, and other tools that I’d love to send you.

Remember what my spreadsheet taught me. The people who celebrate in December are usually the ones who decided to do something (and start actually doing it) much earlier. Today is a perfect time to set a smart year-end goal, then design the steps to get to that goal.

If you are unsure what that goal should be, schedule a friendly Publishing Pathway Call, or just reply to this email. We will talk through where your project stands today, help you name a realistic goal for December 31, and then design the steps with you so you can actually do the thing and celebrate New Years Eve for an extra reason! 

 Schedule your Publishing Pathway Call HERE.

 Books live forever (when they are actually written)

Jody Dyer
Founder and CEO, Crippled Beagle Publishing and Story Mountain Media