While I was on vacation a few weeks ago, an interesting report dropped examining the economics of business books. Among its findings, authors who worked with hybrid publishers such as Racket reported greater satisfaction than those who worked with traditional ones. (No shocker to serial authors and grizzled industry vets like myself.) Count flexbile timing among the many advantages of hiring experts.

An Unasked Question

As I poured over the data and charts, I couldn’t help but think of an unasked question: Why do well-intentioned writers ultimately fail to complete their books?

I wouldn’t find the answers to my query in the study. By asking only authors who’ve crossed the finished line, the survey suffers from survivorship bias in this regard. (Believe me: I’m not carping here. It’s still a valuable study and, in fact, the first of its kind.)

Why Authors Fail to Complete Their Books: An Incomplete List

In the absence of data, I’ll speculate based on my experience and interactions with dozens of writers over the last 15 years. Here goes.

For starters, I suspect that nearly all authors who work with legacy publishers complete their books for a simple reason: they were contractually obligated to do so. When the publisher cancels projects, though, that statement no longer holds true. If this arrangement sounds like a power asymmetry, trust your instincts.

Did life get in the way?

I’ll move on to a second group: authors who either intend to self-publish or engage hybrid publishers. These folks can effectively put the kibosh on their books sans legal issues. So what ultimately stops them?

Underestimating the Amount of Work Involved

Intellectually, many would-be authors understand the amount of effort involved when they start writing. I’d wager that, at the onset, a good chunk of these folks don’t fully realize what they’re getting themselves into. Writing a professional text requires a great deal of time and money. I’d love to see a survey of first-time authors asked, six months into their projects, the following questions:

• Is the finish line even visible?
• Did life get in the way?
• Did you think that AI could do most of your work for you?
• What are the odds that your book will see the light of day?

A Lack of Planning Yields a Disappointing Manuscript

Assume that the rookie author keeps plugging away, though. Is the manuscript’s organization and cohesion up to snuff? Does proceeding to the next step really make sense?

I’ve seen this movie a bunch of times. Writers go all Nike. That is, they just do it. Specifically, they immediately begin writing without a plan or coach. Ultimately, they end up with a morass of disjointed prose in no discernable order. Redundancies and chasms are everywhere. The case studies are nonexistent. Brass tacks: the final product is confusing, commercially unviable, and unpublishable. The frustrated writer taps out.

The World Shifts

Next, think about the book’s original idea. It may have been unique a year ago, but what about now? In other words, did the blue ocean turn red? If so, then the author’s zeal may have waned.

The Ghostwriter Variable

Finally, it’s silly to assume that authors who work with ghostwriters always reach the end zone. Experienced ghostwriters fulfill a number of key roles. The list includes translators, chefs, idea generators, project managers, sounding boards, devil’s advocates, adept researchers, and publishing experts. They are not, however, mindreaders. Ghostwriters cannot write the author’s book in a vacuum and without significant input. Starting small with ghosts helps, but some authors don’t realize the requisite time that their dedicated scribe needs.

Is It Wise to Revise?

What You Need to Know

At some point, maybe I’ll conduct a formal survey on this subject. In the interim, if you decide to write a book, enlist the help of a seasoned expert or at least take a course. Wing it if you like, but don’t be shocked when you don’t accomplish your goals.