How I Wrote My Book in 14 Weeks: Weeks 1–4

The most common question I get asked is: “What does the book writing process actually look like?”

To answer that, I’m breaking down how I wrote and published my book Publish to Impact — and I’m doing it week by week. This article covers the first four weeks of the process so you can see exactly how I went from idea to momentum, even while travelling through Europe.

Let’s dive into Weeks 1–4.

Week 1: Mindset, Mapping and Accountability

Time Spent: 4 hours 15 minutes
Word Count: 0

I started my book on September 12, 2023 — the same day I left for a month-long holiday through Europe. Not ideal, right? But I wanted to prove a point: you don’t need perfect conditions to start writing your book.

Here’s what I focused on in Week 1:

• Clarified my why: I spent five minutes getting laser clear on my purpose — to help ambitious individuals write books that grow their brand and business.

• Set a 14-week deadline: I publicly announced the book to my email list. That kept me accountable and forced me to work within a clear timeframe.

• Planned my routine: Knowing I’d be on planes, trains, and across time zones, I blocked out writing time during travel. Not perfect, but it worked.

• Did a full brain dump: I handwrote every possible idea for my book — good or bad. This mind-mapping phase helped me visualise how everything could fit together.

• Created a working outline: I used my mind map to structure chapters on A4 paper and then moved the layout into Scrivener to begin drafting bullet points under each one.

Week 2: Writing the Introduction + First Chapters

Time Spent: 6.5 hours
Word Count: 6,267

Week 2 kicked off with me sitting in Kuala Lumpur Airport before a flight to London. I had already mapped out my chapters, so I was ready to begin writing.

Here’s what I got done:

• Wrote my introduction (60 mins): I didn’t aim for perfect — I just wanted a working intro to guide the tone and direction of the book. I’ll revisit and refine later.

• Wrote Chapters 1–4 (5 hours): Each chapter was 1,000–2,000 words, written with simplicity and practicality in mind.

Key takeaway: Structure makes writing easier. Having a solid outline meant I could sit down and just follow the plan.

Week 3: Writing Through Exhaustion

Time Spent: 3 hours
Word Count: 3,920
Cumulative Word Count: 10,207

This was a tough week.

I’d just flown 36 hours from Sydney to London, and I was wiped. But I’d made a promise — to myself and my audience — to share the process and finish the book in 14 weeks. So I pushed through.

What I managed:

• Wrote Chapters 5–7: Jet lag actually helped me get up early and write.

• Did extra research: I realised some of my data was outdated, so I sourced updated references to keep the book current and credible.

Writing in short bursts (20–30 mins at a time) was the only way. But small sessions still add up.

Week 4: Momentum Returns in Switzerland

Time Spent: 8 hours
Word Count: 10,120
Cumulative Word Count: 20,327

This week I hit my stride.

While exploring Switzerland, I focused on one thing: writing. With a clear outline, no distractions, and the goal of finishing my draft on time, I managed to pump out over 10,000 words in a week.

What I focused on:

• Added major sections to the manuscript: I didn’t overthink it — I just wrote.

• Maintained momentum with 1hr/day: It added up fast.

Behind the Book: What Publish to Impact Covers

Here’s how the book is structured:

Part One – Write the Book

Mindset, idea validation, and outlining — all designed to help you finish a first draft in 4–6 weeks.

Part Two – Prepare to Publish

Editing, formatting, categories, pricing, and setting your book up for bestseller success.

Part Three – Market and Launch

Post-launch strategy, reviews, book funnels, lead generation, and long-term business growth.

What You Can Learn from This

• You don’t need perfect conditions to write your book.

• You don’t need 8 hours a day — just consistent, focused blocks.

• An outline and accountability can take you further than motivation ever will.

Want to Write and Publish Your Book?

If you're serious about writing a nonfiction book that grows your brand and authority — and you want a clear process to follow — let’s talk.

👉 Book your free Book Strategy Call here and I’ll walk you through what your book could look like and how we can bring it to life in the next few months.