Write an E-book and Sell it on Your Blog

So you've decided to write a book that you can sell on your blog. You have already chosen a suitable subject. Now what?

The catch is that you actually need to sit down and write something. Hopefully you've already come to grips with writing for a living if you plan on selling an e-book which people will pay for.

"Writing is easy. I just sit down at the typewriter, cut open a vein, and bleed." -Red Smith

Or perhaps you are like me - you have not yet come to grips with writing. Writing can be torture if you aren't inspired, and in the proper mood. It doesn't matter if you are writing software or blogging, the problem is the same. A blank screen and a keyboard won't solve things. Sometimes the words just won't come out, especially if you have everyday life getting in the way. Kids that need feeding, houseplants that need watering, a soulmate that needs... well, whatever.

Paul Graham published an excellent essay on procrastination and, for the most part, whenever he talks about "hackers" you can substitute "writers". Whenever he talks about the "hard problems" that you should be concentrating on, you can just think about the next big article you will publish, or the bestselling book that you will write.

What can you learn from Paul's essay? Writing is easy - just don't bother with small things like dressing yourself, cleaning the house, shaving, and taking showers. Then you'll have all the time in the world to write about important stuff.

Sometimes that isn't enough, because my girlfriend still has input on whether I avoid doing life's little chores. So when the words aren't coming as freely as I want them to, I follow this amazing two-step plan:

1. Try to find solitude and concentration, and let the situation run its course; or

2. Cheat.

As you might imagine, step two is my favorite.