Introduction: Why Writing a Book Is Easier Than You Think
Writing a book might feel like an impossible dream. You might think that to become an author, you need extreme ability, a lot of free time, or a degree in literature. Most authors began as you are. Most authors began their journey with a simple idea and a simple desire to tell their story or share their knowledge.
Writing a book is more about taking steps than striving for perfection. Your first draft doesn’t need to be a masterpiece. It just has to be completed. With realistic expectations, you can plan properly, write a book, and actually complete it.
This guide will help you break the writing process into manageable goals to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Writing a book is a big undertaking, and it will take time to complete. Whether you want to write a novel, a self-help book, or are writing nonfiction, this article will help you prepare your manuscript for publishing.
Clarifying Your Purpose for Writing a Book
Prior to one word being written down, consider multiple outcomes other than a masterpiece on the primordial word processor when the time comes. The aim will be a compass throughout the journey, directing the tone, the plot, and the audience.
The common outcomes one aims for in the completion of a novel include:
- The dissemination of life experiences and lessons learned.
- Teach the audience what something is or what it does.
- The elevation of one’s status to subject-matter authority.
- The crafting and telling of original stories of fiction for the audience’s entertainment or inspiration.
- Writing for profit and/or to create something else.
The following questions need to be reflected on:
- With the completion of the book, what do I want the audience to understand?
- Audience – Who do I want to provide assistance to or amuse?
- Am I drafting this book for pure love of the craft, to make money, or a combination of both?
With a determined outcome, the journey to completion will present a myriad of obstacles, the most daunting of which will be the winding path, the blocks to further creation, and gaps of time. Reminders of the aim will improve the chance of completion.
Choosing the Right Genre and Target Audience
It is important to choose the best genre for your story. Each genre has its own expectations and structure, including how a book is written, how long it is, and how it is sold.
Various Types of Fiction
Romance, Mystery/Thriller, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Historical Fiction, Horror
Various Types of Nonfiction
Self-help and Personal Development, Business and Marketing, Health and Wellness, Memoirs and Biographies, Education and How-tos
Once you select the genre, the next step is determining your target audience. Writing for “everyone” usually means writing for no one. Be specific and think about:
Age group
Gender (if applicable)
Specific interests and frustrations
Reading habits (do they read a lot, do they prefer audiobooks, etc.)
Understanding your audience will help you select the appropriate language, examples, and level of explanation.
Creating a Well-Defined Book Concept
An excellent book concept doesn’t need to be entirely original; following a popular concept is common practice. A good book must be clear, engaging, and of value to the audience.
To develop your idea, you can:
- Write a one-sentence summary of your book.
- Identify the main problem your book solves
- Clarify what makes your book different from others.
- If you’re writing fiction, consider:
- What is the main problem/central conflict of the story?
- What is the main character’s name? Tell us about them and what kind of a journey they will go through.
- If you’re writing nonfiction, consider:
- What will be the overall transformation of the audience/readers?
- What insights or specific actionable steps will you offer them?
If you can explain your book idea in a short paragraph clearly, you’re ready to move forward.
Using Background Information for Your Book
Research shows readers think more highly of an author who backs up their writing with evidence. Context and source citation build credibility for an author. Readers tend to be more invested in the story. Even fiction writers need some research to give the world and the story more realism and accuracy.
For Nonfiction Writers
- Familiarize yourself with the existing literature for your book’s target market.
- Find market gaps and outdated content.
- Reference credible sources, such as books, scholarly research, peer-reviewed journals, and professional interviews.
For Fiction Writers
- Gather information about the geography, customs, culture, and history of the time in which your story takes place.
- Research the occupations, trades, and skills that your characters possess or acquire
- Investigate and analyze the real-life occurrences and events that your story is based on, or that inspired your story.
Organize your research and ideas. Store them in your preferred digital note-taking app, folder system, or writing app. Try not to spend more time than necessary with research and fall into research-related writing procrastination.
Developing Your Book Outline
Your book outline serves as a road map for your book. It is meant to create order. A good outline eliminates confusion for you as the author and saves unnecessary time. An outline prevents authors from falling victim to writer’s block.
Nonfiction Outline Example:
- Introduction
- Overview of the primary problem
- Detailed, stepwise solutions
- Conclusions and a call to action
- Example of Fiction Book Outline
- Beginning or Setup
- Middle or Rising Action
- Climax (turning point of the story)
- Falling action (leading to the end)
- Ending or (Resolution)
Your outlines should not be static. It should evolve and change as your writing progresses. Your outline helps give your writing the order it needs to create flow.
Building Compelling Characters
The most important part of a fictional story is the characters. Readers relate to characters more than they relate to plots. Turns out, the internal world is more important than the external world.
Some ways to create believable characters are:
- Explain their goals, worries, and reasons for acting
- Create a combination of strengths and flaws
- Influence writing with a character’s past story
A main character should undergo some kind of change by the end of the story. This change, whether emotional, mental, or physical, helps keep readers engaged.
Planning Chapters and Story Structure
For many writers, breaking their story down into chapters helps keep the story organized and writing manageable.
Ways to make your chapters strong:
- Keep the story moving
- Focus on one major idea or event
- Have a captivating end
For nonfiction writing, chapters should build on each other. For fiction writing, chapters should keep a good pace and hold tension.
Setting Realistic Writing Goals
One of the main reasons writers are discouraged when writing their book is that there are too many goals and expectations. Writing a book is more of a marathon than many writers see it as a sprint.
Try some of these goals:
- Commit to writing 300-1,000 words, or 30-60
- Finish one chapter each week
More important than meeting goals is consistency, and logging a little bit each day is much more important than a little bit and then a long hiatus.
Establishing a Weekly or Daily Writing Schedule
When you have a writing schedule, you will see writing as a habit instead of a chore.
Here are some suggestions for developing a schedule:
- Each day, you should write at the same hour
- Work somewhere you will not get distracted
- Close social media and notifications
- If the day becomes very busy, write a couple sentences to keep the momentum going.
Selecting the Best Writing Tools and Software
Your writing process can be simplified with the right tools.
Here are some good writing tools:
- Google Docs (can be accessed and backed up easily)
- Microsoft Word (old, but dependable)
- Scribner (great for lengthy projects)
- Grammarly (helps with writing with good grammar and being clear)
Use writing tools that are comfortable for you and that are not distracting.
Writer’s Block and Self-Doubt
Fear of some sort is usually the reason behind writer’s block. It could be fear of failure, judgment, or imperfection.
Here are some suggestions to get rid of writer’s block.
- Write without any editing
- Set your expectations lower for your first draft
- Change your location
- Go for a quick walk
Remember that you can’t edit a page if it’s blank.
Writing Your First Draft Without Making It Perfect
Your first draft is supposed to be bad. It is just supposed to be written.
Allow yourself to:
- Make sentences messy
- Skip parts and go back to them later
- Write the same ideas over again
Don’t focus on the editing. Just finish the draft. Contentment Throughout Your Writing Journey
It is expected that your motivation will come and go on your writing journey, but discipline is what will keep you on track.
Here are some tips to keep your motivation up:
- Track your word count
- Make milestones and celebrate when you reach them
- Picture yourself with your published book
- Engage with other authors
- Remember that most people will never even finish a book, and you will.
Polishing your Manuscript
Editing is the step that turns a rough draft into a glorious manuscript.
There are 3 steps to editing in writing. First is the structural edit, where the big issues are tackled. Second is the line edit, which focuses on flow and clarity. The final step is proofreading, which looks for grammar and spelling errors. It is a good idea to take a break after each editing step in order to evaluate your work with fresh eyes.
Receiving Critique from Your Beta Readers
A beta reader is a reader from your target audience who will provide valuable feedback and critique your book.
When selecting your beta readers, make sure they are:
- Honest and Constructive
- Love your book genre
- Represent your target audience
Use the comments to refine your book, but don’t lose your vision; trust yourself.
Big No’s for Aspiring Authors
These are a few of the common mistakes aspiring authors make:
- Stopping writing too soon
- Editing while writing your first draft
- Losing sight of your target audience
- Comparing your work to other authors
Mistakes can be a good thing; you can learn from them along the way.
Preparing Your Book for Publishing
Before publishing, check if:
- A professional editor has checked your manuscript.
- Your formatting complies with publishing standards.
- Your title and description are engaging.
- All of these things increase the chances of your book’s success.
What To Know About Traditional Versus Self-Publishing
- Traditional Publishing
- Requires literary agents
- Longer timelines
- Wider distribution
- Self-Publishing
- Complete creative control
- Expedited release
- Higher royalties
- Choose the avenue that best accomplishes your aims.
Final Thoughts: Realizing Your Book Idea
It takes guts to start writing a book, and it’s incredibly rewarding to accomplish. This journey may take patience, self-control, and a whole lot of perseverance, but trust me, it is possible. Every single word takes you one step closer to your dream of being a finished author.
Wait to start writing until you are ready. Your ideas aren’t supposed to come out polished. Keep writing. Your voice really does matter.
