If you’re a busy professional—an LNC, physician, attorney, or speaker—you’ve likely considered writing a book. Maybe you’ve even started one. But for many, the process stalls before the second paragraph. Why? Because writing feels like an enormous time commitment, and your days are already overfilled.
One of the authors interviewed for my podcast, Adam Kipnes, offers a simple yet powerful alternative: speak your ideas for five minutes a day. That’s it. Five minutes of focused thought, captured through your phone’s voice memo feature, can be the framework for writing a book that positions you as a thought leader.
This approach removes common barriers: you don’t need to schedule large blocks of time or force yourself into a new writing routine for writing a book. You already talk about your area of expertise daily. Recording these thoughts turns that habit into a productive step toward authorship.
Think about it: five minutes a day equals 35 minutes a week. That’s over 30 hours a year. And if you’re recording insights, stories, advice, or observations, you’re building a personal archive of content that a skilled ghostwriter can shape into a structured, clear, and engaging book.
This process is particularly helpful for professionals who are better speakers than writers. Many of my clients find their best ideas come while walking, driving, or winding down at the end of the day. Recording removes the pressure of staring at a blank page and gives you permission to talk your way through writing a book.
Here’s how to start writing a book:
- Choose your topic: What do you want your book to accomplish? Who is your audience? What’s the big idea you want to share?
- Create a list of prompts: These could be questions you’re often asked, lessons you’ve learned, or stories that demonstrate key principles in your field.
- Start recording: One prompt at a time, speak freely. Don’t worry about grammar or structure—that’s not your job at this stage.
- Label and save your files: Keep your recordings organized by topic or chapter idea.
- Work with a ghostwriter: Share your recordings with someone, like me, who can help shape them into a coherent narrative and craft your content into a book.
If the thought of editing, organizing, and structuring all those recordings feels overwhelming, that’s exactly where a ghostwriter can step in. You’re still the author, the voice, the expert—but you’re not doing it alone.
A book doesn’t have to be a solo marathon. With the right support, writing a book becomes a collaborative project that fits into your life, instead of demanding you pause it.
Don’t wait until you “have more time.” Start with five minutes today.
Pat Iyer MSN RN LNCC is a consultant, speaker, author, editor and coach. She has written or edited over 68 of her own books and worked with dozens of authors. Pat is an Amazon international #1 bestselling author. Coaches, consultants, and speakers hire Pat to help release the knowledge inside them so that they can attract their ideal clients.
She delights in assisting people to share their expertise by writing. Pat serves international and national experts as an editor, book coach, and a medical and business writer.
