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Have you seen the movie The King's Speech? My wife, Sarah, and I recently did, and we loved it! How exhilarating it was to watch King George VI conquer his speech impediment and give such a stirring address to the citizens of the British Commonwealth.
 | King George VI (played by Colin Firth) and Queen Elizabeth (played by Helena Bonhan Carter)
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I really identified with the protagonist in this movie. Don't we all have weaknesses we need to overcome to reach our goals?
As a ghostwriter, I also identified with King George's speech coach, Lionel Logue.
Just as Logue had the privilege of serving the king, I have the privilege of helping my clients overcome the fears, self-doubts, and the other obstacles that stand between them and the book they want to write. I know something about the joy and satisfaction Logue must have experienced when he witnessed his client's success.  | | Lionel Logue (played by Geoffrey Rush) |
Relatively few people stutter when they speak, but lots of people "stutter" when they write. They're unsure of their grammar and lack confidence in their style. When it comes to writing a book, they don't know exactly how to go about it. If they are able to get started, they sometimes have a hard time finishing. If that describes you, I have good news! You can accomplish your goal they same way King George accomplished his. You simply need the same two important ingredients. First, you need motivation. The king had lots of it. The speech had to be given, and he was the only one who could deliver it. His back was against the wall. More than likely, your need isn't so urgent. Even if you very much want to write a book, you still have room to procrastinate. So, you must proactively fan your desire into flames. How? One way is to think about why you want to write your book. What benefits will you derive? Will it help your business? Will it open doors to speaking opportunities? Will it further your career? Will it promote a cause you believe in? Try putting a dollar figure on some of these benefits? Next, think about the downside. What will you lose if you don't write your book? Besides missing out on some of the above advantages, will you be plagued by a sense of disappointment or failure? After thinking about these things, assess your motivation. If it's strong, proceed to step two. You have what it takes to persevere. If your motivation is only so-so, you may be wise to drop the whole book idea. Second, you need humility. Humility wasn't easy for the king (it's not easy for any of us!), but he gained it out of necessity. After much fussing and fuming, he admitted he needed help. Only then did he become teachable. Even if you are an accomplished writer, I strongly recommend hiring a ghostwriter, editor, or writing coach. Writing a book is a difficult task to undertake alone. It's best to have a professional in your corner to help you conceptualize your ideas, express your thoughts, provide the accountability you need to keep your project moving forward, and provide the knowledge you need to avoid costly mistakes. Quite a number of people come to me after they've tried unsuccessfully to tackle a book project on their own. Others initially hire me as a book coach or editor, but later convert to a ghostwriting arrangement when they realize how much time and trouble they can save. How about you? Do you stutter when you write? Just about everyone does. But like King George, you can overcome that challenge with the right amount of motivation and humility. Isn't it marvelous how God created us with different gifts? I get to help you and you get to help me. And we all gain the satisfaction that comes from serving each other!
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