✍️ Finish Your Book Faster: The Simple Shift That Changed Everything
And why I am offering free Book Clarity Sessions
The backstory
A year ago, I was sitting on three unfinished manuscripts and a pile of excuses.
I knew I could write, but I did not have clarity. Not on structure, not on timelines, not even on what done looked like.
Everything changed when I stopped treating writing like an art project and started treating it like a process.
I mapped my ideas. I set micro deadlines. I built simple systems that kept me moving.
That shift helped me finish and launch my thriller, rewrite a second book, grow this Substack to more than three hundred readers, and start a podcast.
What I learned
Most aspiring authors do not need more inspiration.
They need clarity. A plan they trust.
Once you can see where you are going, momentum feels natural.
The System That Made It Possible
I stopped chasing motivation and built a simple weekly rhythm. It gave me structure, momentum, and proof that the work was moving.
My Weekly Cadence
Longform: One or two Substack posts each week
Notes: Five to six Notes spread across the week
Book Work: Three to four chapters drafted or edited each week
How I Tracked It
A one page weekly tracker with three rows: Posts, Notes, Chapters
Each day, I marked Done or Skipped and wrote one line about why
Every Sunday, I reflected on three things:
What worked, what felt heavy, and what I will change next week
Monthly and Quarterly Reflections
Monthly:
What did I publish
What did readers engage with
What slowed me down
One process tweak for next month
Quarterly:
Am I on pace for my book milestone
Which topics brought new readers
What can I stop doing
What will I double down on
Guardrails That Helped
Fixed writing blocks on the calendar (early mornings for drafting, evenings for edits)
A small done list each day (one action for the book, one for Substack)
Clear rules: No new tools during a draft, no endless rewrites before feedback
Simple Metrics I Watched
Posts shipped this week
Notes posted this week
Chapters drafted or edited
New subscribers and open rate
Time spent versus time planned
A Sample Weekly Tracker You Can Copy:
Week of: ________
Mon Post □ Notes □ Chapters □
Tue Post □ Notes □ Chapters □
Wed Post □ Notes □ Chapters □
Thu Post □ Notes □ Chapters □
Fri Post □ Notes □ Chapters □
Sat Post □ Notes □ Chapters □
Sun Post □ Notes □ Chapters □
What worked:
What was hard:
What I will change next week:
This simple system kept me honest. It turned vague goals into visible progress.
When I missed a target, I could see it on the tracker and adjust the next week.
Over time, that steady pace helped me finish a book, grow this newsletter, and make the next project easier to start.
But here is something important. Most writers understand the idea of systems. What they struggle with is turning those ideas into something that fits their own writing life.
That is where clarity comes in.
Book Clarity Sessions
Every week, I hear from writers who say:
“I have an idea, but I do not know where to start.”
“I keep rewriting the first three chapters.”
“I know I can do this. I just need a plan.”
That is exactly why I am opening four free one on one Book Clarity Sessions this month.
Each 30 minute call focuses on three things:
Clarify your idea and your reader
Map your next concrete steps
Choose the right tools and publishing path
You will walk away with a personalized action plan to get your book finished and ready for release.
Who this is for
You have started writing but feel stuck
You want to self publish but do not know the process
You have a book idea and need direction to start
Why free
These sessions are part of a small beta for my upcoming Book Clarity Coaching offer.
You get a clear plan. I get real world feedback to improve the method.
A true win win.
How to apply
I am keeping this small. Only four slots in October.
If you have been sitting on an unfinished draft, this is your moment.
Book a free 30 minute Book Clarity Session and leave with a plan that fits your writing life.
“A clear plan is the shortest distance between an idea and a finished book.”
Let us build yours.
— Sriram Tawker
P.S. If the slots are gone, reply with the word Clarity and I will message you when a new spot opens.
Getting organized is one of the challenges I've been facing. I'm well on the road to getting there. What I like about your system is that it is simple and provides clarity on the priorities. I will use some of the tips you've given
Good one!