Before you can publish a book, you have to write your first draft.

To find the focused time to write, it’s helpful to actually to decide to write your book.

I was amazed at the energy that ramped up when I finally decided that was the year I was going to write the book I was going to publish. Envisioning it finished, anticipating its heaviness in my hands, quickened my pulse. Imagining someone being encouraged by it made me giddy and hopeful.

Suddenly, my priorities shifted. I wished I could bottl...