You Still Have Time To Publish Your Book, Let Me Tell You How
Why September is the unofficial second new year and now is the perfect time to write and publish your book.
January gets all the attention for resolutions, but let’s be honest, by February most people have already forgotten about them.
September, on the other hand, sneaks up as a powerful fresh start. Kids return to school, routines snap back into place, and the chaos of summer starts to settle down.
September feels like a reset button. The air cools, schedules normalize, and there’s this quiet nudge that says, “You’ve still got time to make this year count.”
If you’ve been dreaming about publishing your book, this is your moment. You don’t need to wait for January 1st. September gives you four full months to finish strong. That’s more than enough time to draft, edit, and hit publish—if you start now.
The Myth of “Someday”
Here’s the problem with waiting: someday never comes.
“I’ll start when I have more time.”
“I’ll write when work slows down.”
“I’ll get serious once the kids are older.”
Life will always hand you a reason to push your dreams back another year. But books don’t get written in the mythical land of “someday.” They get written in the here and now, in the middle of busy lives, messy schedules, and imperfect conditions.
And here’s the good news: you don’t need to write a 400-page masterpiece to make an impact. Short, powerful books are not only easier to finish—they often sell better. Readers love concise, actionable books that respect their time.
Why Now Is the Perfect Time
If you start in September, you’re aligning your writing journey with natural momentum:
Fresh Routines – School season resets everyone’s schedule. Even if you don’t have kids, you feel the cultural shift. It’s the perfect chance to build new writing habits.
End-of-Year Motivation – Nothing feels better than closing out the year with a major win. Imagine hitting publish before December 31st and starting the next year as a published author.
Holiday Season Sales – Books thrive during the holidays. If you publish in November or December, you’ll ride the wave of holiday buying.
Waiting until January means you lose this momentum—and probably another year of “I’ll get to it later.”
Step One: Define Your Why
Before you even open a blank page, ask yourself: Why do I want to publish this book?
Do you want to share your story with your kids and grandkids?
Do you want to establish authority in your niche?
Do you want to create a new income stream?
Do you want to prove to yourself that you can finish what you started?
Your why will keep you moving when writing feels like pulling teeth. Clarity fuels consistency.
Step Two: Choose a Small, Doable Goal
Don’t commit to writing “a big book.” That’s vague and overwhelming. Instead, set a specific target that feels achievable.
Here’s my recommendation: write a mini book between 10,000 and 20,000 words.
Why? Because:
At 500 words a day, you’ll finish a draft in 20–40 days.
That’s less than the length of many blog posts combined.
Readers love short books they can finish in a sitting or two.
A mini book lets you focus, build momentum, and actually finish. Once you publish one, you’ll have the confidence to write another.
Step Three: Create a Simple Outline
An outline doesn’t have to be complicated. Think of it as a roadmap so you don’t get lost.
Here’s a quick framework you can use:
Introduction – Share your story, why this book matters, and what readers will learn.
3–7 Core Chapters – Each one should cover a single point, lesson, or step.
Conclusion – Wrap up with encouragement, next steps, or a call to action.
That’s it. No fancy structure, no need to reinvent the wheel. Just guide your reader from point A to point B.
Step Four: Write in Sprints
Forget about finding hours of uninterrupted time. You’ll never get it. Instead, write in short bursts of 20–30 minutes.
Wake up a little earlier.
Use your lunch break.
Write after the kids go to bed.
One focused sprint a day is all it takes. At 500 words per session, you’ll have your draft in just a few weeks.
Step Five: Edit Without Overthinking
Editing is where most writers stall. They get lost in endless rewrites and never move forward. Don’t fall into that trap.
Here’s a better approach:
Write your rough draft without editing.
Do a quick pass to clean up grammar and clarity.
Consider using tools like Grammarly or ProWritingAid.
Share it with a trusted friend or beta reader for feedback.
Fix the big issues, then stop.
Your goal isn’t perfection—it’s progress. Remember, your book can evolve with each edition. Publish now, improve later.
Step Six: Publish on Amazon
The easiest way to publish today is through Amazon KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing). It’s free, beginner-friendly, and instantly gives you global reach.
Here’s the quick process:
Format your manuscript into a simple Word doc or use a template.
Design a cover (tools like Canva work great).
Upload your book to KDP.
Set your price and description.
Hit publish.
Within 72 hours, your book can be live on Amazon, available worldwide.
Step Seven: Share It Proudly
Publishing is only the beginning. Once your book is live, tell people about it!
Post it on social media.
Email your friends and family.
Share behind-the-scenes stories of your writing journey.
You don’t need to be pushy—just let people know you’ve accomplished something worth celebrating.
Imagine December 31st
Picture yourself sitting by the Christmas tree or watching the ball drop on New Year’s Eve. Instead of saying, “Maybe next year,” you’re holding your book in your hands.
You’ve joined the small percentage of people who don’t just dream about writing a book—they actually do it.
That reality is within your reach. September is your launchpad. You still have time.
Final Encouragement
If you’ve ever thought it was too late, too hard, or too overwhelming, let me tell you: it isn’t. You still have time to publish your book.
Don’t wait for the perfect season of life—it doesn’t exist. Don’t wait for January—it’s already too crowded with broken promises.
Start today.
Write your first 500 words.
Outline your chapters.
Take one small step forward.
By the time this year ends, you could be a published author. And once that happens, everything changes.
Ready to finally publish your book?
Grab a copy of The Minimalist Author Way and get the simple, step-by-step system to go from idea to published author—without the overwhelm.
I love this ideology however, I am having a bit of a struggle figuring out how to convert it to the fiction model. Do you have any suggestions?