Have you ever thought about writing a book?

Becoming a published author was a dream come true and when I first held my traditionally published novel, “Shades of Teale,” in my hands, I was thrilled beyond belief. There it was, my book, with my name on it, and the thrill of achievement set my heart alight.

It took me 13 years to write that book, primarily because it was a guilty pleasure that took time away from my work as a professional writer, my dedication to a growing family, and, ultimately, the tragedy of nursing my husband through a brutal cancer experience that resulted in his early death.

There were many reasons not to keep going. Who did I think I was to want to write a book? Who was ever going to want to read this thing? I persevered and eventually I landed a publishing contract with Manor House Publishing. It was a euphoric moment and it represented the beginning of a publishing adventure that will see the release of my third book this fall.

My life did indeed change with the publication of my first book. I now edit book manuscripts and provide insight into how my clients can navigate the challenging and changing waters of today’s book publishing landscape. It’s exciting work!

And I’ve come to realize that people need more than just an editor. The process of writing a book itself is challenging and it breaks my heart when I hear of someone who started to write their book and then let life convince them to set it aside.

As a result, I’ve decided to develop new products and services to help people who need a boost get traction on their book-writing projects so they, too, can feel the joy of becoming a published author. And I’m looking for insight into what people feel they need.

If you or anyone you know has started writing a book but is having trouble completing it (for whatever reason), I would be most grateful if you would ask them to complete my survey at:  http://susancrossman.polldaddy.com/s/author-ease. I’m going to collate all responses and begin developing the antidote to “Author Freeze”—we might even call it “Author Ease.”

Specifically, I’m wondering if people need organizational assistance, research assistance, book writing coaching or basic writing coaching? Do you need accountability programs or eCourses on how to write a book? Is this a mindset issue? Do you need one-on-one coaching or group coaching programs? I know how tough it was for me to climb Author Mountain and with three published books and a 30-year writing career behind me, I’m excited about the prospect of making it easier for others.

If the idea of completing a survey sounds like too much work, maybe you could leave a few comments here instead with your thoughts. All insight is gratefully accepted!