@Rob Cole @Nicoleta Talle Here's what I usually recommend when this comes up when I'm working one-on-one with writers: Catalog and time your tasks. First, list your tasks. Could be things like: Find & Fix Typos Read aloud Revise the middle section of Chapter 2 Move the third bullet point in Chapter 7 to Chapter 4 Etc. The next couple of times you do each of these tasks, log how long it takes you. DON'T set an estimate on how long you think a task should take you. Simply write down your start time, then start on the task. When you've completed the task, write down your end time for that task. Also, be sure to log (precise or ballpark) any time spent doing things other than those tasks, either with your manuscript or distractions. Example: Find & Fix Typos Start: 9:05 am End: 9:37 am OT (other things): 6 min moving 3rd bullet point; 8 min scrolling TikTok (6+8=14 minutes) Do this at least three times for each task, and you'll start to get a general idea of how long each task realistically takes for you. You'll also get a sense of time you might be able to reclaim for the task by eliminating those things (manuscript-related or not) you spend on things that take you off a task. Hope this helps!

@Koli Cutler Sounds like you have a plan for moving forward. Interesting that your cover has influenced the content of your manuscript. Don’t often see that but, hey, there is no one right way to write a book. The only thing that matters is that it gets written!

@Gary Anderson Ah so more sales/marketing/production than writing. If nothing reveals itself as the obvious priority, that’s great! It means you can start anywhere. I suggested starting with the easiest of those to do. Early wins help build momentum.

Great question! Three very different nonfiction books that all spoke to me in one way or another: Stop Time by Frank Conroy - To this day, I still can't put into words why this memoir hit the way it did. And frankly, I'm afraid that if I could put it into words, it would lose its magic for me. A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers - I mean, sarcasm in the title?! I'm in. And then it made me see how limitless a nonfiction book could be in the same but different way (if that makes sense) that Hunter Thompson, Joan Didion, Gay Talese, and Tom Wolfe did. So Good They Can't Ignore You by Cal Newport - Spent the whole time reading it going, "Yes, yes, yes!" and "Where was this book when I was at the starting line of my career?"