The day that I signed my first book deal with my dream publishing house was hands down one of the most exciting days of my life. I’d been planning and envisioning my first book — Mastering Your Mean Girl — for years, so I was absolutely stoked that all my work (and all my manifesting mojo!) had paid off and my vision was coming to fruition.

Writing and publishing books has been one of my most potent desires for a long time. And I know I’m not alone on that front: ‘writing a book’ is one of the most common goals that I hear from the women who attend my events and take my online programs.

But let’s face it, dreaming about holding your finished book in your hands is the easy part. When it comes to actually sitting your tush down and typing sentence after sentence, page after page, it can be challenging, especially when your inner Mean Girl is running the show. Even when your desire is strong, it’s easy to get overwhelmed at how far you’ve got to go, or to find yourself bogged down in procrastination and self-doubt (all of which are perfectly natural parts of the creative process, by the way, and all of which I experienced at some point along my journey).

So with that in mind, today I wanted to share with you 7 behind-the-scenes tips to help you kick-start your writing process and bring your book vision to life. If you’ve dreamed of seeing your work nestled on the shelf at your favorite boutique bookstore, or of sharing your message with thousands of readers around the world, this is for you…

1. When Writing A Book, Start Small

Before I started writing Mastering Your Mean Girl, I had already written and self-published multiple eBooks on my website. These eBooks were much shorter than Mastering Your Mean Girl. I also wrote weekly articles on my site and others which all allowed me to really find my voice and hone my craft before I began a full-length manuscript.

2. Make A Plan

When it comes to writing, it always helps to have a clear and detailed (flexible) plan in front of you – even if you’re just penning a blog post or a short essay. But having a plan becomes even more important the longer your piece of writing is – and for a full-length book, it’s pretty much essential. I spent a lot of time in prep-mode, nutting out all the details of what I wanted to say – first in my head, then in my journal, and eventually in a document on my computer. Whenever I found myself stuck during the writing process, I simply returned to this roadmap to get myself back on track.

3. Get Support

Having my husband to bounce ideas off, to chat things over with, and to read through certain passages was a lifesaver. I also have members of my team who are like my creative guardian angels, and who are always there to give constructive feedback and inspire me when things get tough.

4. If Possible, Go On Retreat!

If you’re struggling to make headway in your writing, consider escaping and going on a self-made ‘creative bender’. For Mastering Your Mean Girl I left my home and snuck away for 6 weeks to the beautiful hinterland. Making the effort to physically change my location and routine meant that I was able to immerse fully in my writing. I blocked out the time in my schedule in advance, I popped up an email autoresponder warning people that I wasn’t spending much time in my inbox, I got off social media almost entirely… and I simply devoted to my writing. #CreativeBliss

5. Amp Up Your Self-Care

If you want to be ‘switched on’ creatively, it’s important to nourish and nurture yourself as much as possible. For me, spending time in nature is one of the best ways to get new ideas and stoke my inner creative fire. Meditation, yoga, sleep, nourishing food, and clean water are all amazing for cultivating inner space and keeping your inspiration levels high.

6. Release Expectations

It’s important to write for the love of creating, not because you’re seeking validation through a book deal or want to get rich quick. (Trust me, there are far easier ways! If you’re caught up in expectations and are rigidly anticipating a specific outcome, you’re likely to cripple your creativity and end up disappointed. A far more constructive (not to mention enjoyable) way to approach your writing is to simply devote to the process. Seek joy in the beauty of self-expression and find fulfillment in the raw release of creativity.

7. Do The Best Seller Masterclass

If you’re super serious about writing a book check out Gabby Bernstein’s Best Seller Masterclass, it’s awesome! This is a must-do masterclass BEFORE You start writing your book.

So tell me, beautiful – is writing a book one of your goals? I’d love to hear how you’re keeping yourself inspired and on track. Share your best creative tips with us in the comments below.

Remember, your tip could be the one thing that sparks someone to take serious action and achieve their big, beautiful book dream – so open up and share from the heart!

P.S. Grab my books Mastering Your Mean Girl, Open Wide or PurposeFULL and let me know what you think once you’re done. I can’t wait to hear your thoughts.