How I Wrote My Book in 14 Weeks: Weeks 5–8

Last time, I shared the first four weeks of writing my book Publish to Impact. From getting into the right mindset to outlining and hitting my first 20,000 words — all while travelling Europe — I showed you how imperfect conditions still lead to real progress.

Now we’re diving into Weeks 5–8 — the messy middle where the draft starts to take shape, decisions get made, and the finish line starts to come into view.

Week 5: Nearing the Draft Finish Line

• Time Spent: 6.5 hours

• Word Count for Week: 7,875

• Cumulative Word Count: 28,182

Week 5 was meant to be my finish line for the first draft — but I fell just short. Still, I was happy with the progress, averaging an hour a day while wrapping up the final week of my Europe trip.

💡 Tip: For most nonfiction books, 35–40k words is a sweet spot. It gives enough value without overwhelming the reader — especially for business, self-help, and guide-style books.

Even though I didn’t finish the draft this week, I was already thinking ahead: vetting editors, planning a cover design, and mentally preparing to shift gears from writing to publishing.

Week 6: Draft Complete + Team Assembly

• Word Count for Week: 4,391

• Final Draft Word Count: 32,573

I finally completed the rough draft in Week 6. While the word count was slightly underwhelming, hitting done is always more important than hitting perfect. I knew edits and additions would push the manuscript closer to 35k words anyway.

What I focused on:

• Finalising the draft

• Vetting editors and cover designers

• Making sure the team fit the vision and tone of the book

Remember — not every freelancer will match your style or message. Vet people properly. Don’t rush.

Week 7: Self-Editing and Refining the Introduction

• Time Spent: ~6 hours

Week 7 was about stepping back and reading the book like a reader. I did a soft self-edit and worked specifically on strengthening the introduction.

Here’s why:
I always write the intro first — not to get it right, but to guide the rest of the book. By the time the draft’s done, I’ve gained more clarity on the message. So I revisit the intro to make it sharper, more impactful, and more aligned with what the book has become.

Reminder: A strong intro sets the tone and shows readers exactly why your book matters.

Week 8: Resources, Design Prep & Title Lock-In

Week 8 was less about writing and more about preparing for launch:

• Landed the final title (but kept it secret for now to build anticipation)

• Mapped out my book resource list — including outlines, checklists, and video training

• Created graphics and illustrations in Canva

• Prepped the manuscript for submission to my editor

These “background” tasks are often overlooked — but they matter. Including helpful resources inside your book gives readers more value and lets you invite them into your ecosystem (via opt-ins, downloads, and email).

It also makes your book feel like a real tool — not just a read-and-forget piece.

Recap: Weeks 5–8 Progress

• Week 5: Nearly finished the draft. Started planning for editing and design.

• Week 6: Draft completed. Editor and cover designer selected.

• Week 7: Self-edit and intro rewrite for clarity and impact.

• Week 8: Title locked in, resource list created, graphics built, manuscript prepped for editing.

What’s Coming Next

In Weeks 9–12, I submitted the manuscript to my editor, finalised the book cover, and set up my publishing and launch plan. I’ll cover all of that in the next instalment.

Thinking About Writing Your Book?

If you’re serious about becoming a published author and using your book to grow your authority, brand, and business — it starts with a clear strategy.

Let’s build it together.

📊 Take the free Author Readiness Scorecard (2 minutes): https://quiz.impactgrouppublishing.com/