Writing a book is not as easy as people might think it is! It is a very daunting task. And it is especially overwhelming for the new writers.
As a new writer, you need to put in a lot of effort, a lot of ambition, and a lot of discipline. Even for bestselling authors, sitting down to write the first page can be the most difficult part of the writing process. Writing a book is an attainable goal if you take it one step at a time.
What Should You Know before you write a Book:
There are a lot of technicalities that you need to take care of when you sit down to write a book. It doesn’t matter if you are a novice book writer or a bestselling author. There are a few essential things that you must go through. You should ask yourself a few questions before you begin to write a book.
First of all, ask yourself whether you have the mental capacity to commit to writing a new book. You must be willing and able to stick to a daily writing schedule and forego other writing activities. Are you ready to learn new skills, such as self-editing and rewriting? Writing a book will often reveal your strengths and weaknesses, and you’ll spend a lot of time honing those abilities. Do you have a basic understanding of your main characters, plot, or topic? Having a good idea of the shape and direction of your book before you start writing is helpful.
However, we know just asking questions won’t solve the problem of writing a book. Well, you don’t have to worry about that. There is a certain strategy that every best seller author uses. It isn’t very technical or complex . You can follow the following 5 simple steps to write an amazing book. Writing a book can be easy if you follow these 5 steps.
Also read: How to self publish a book
1. Have a strong book idea:
Of course, an idea is the one thing you’ll need to write a book. You’ll never get past the first page of your draft unless you have that.
According to best book editing services experts you may already know what you want to write about. So before you begin writing a book Consider questions such as, “What do you want to write about?” Who is going to read it? Will you be able to put the plan into action? Out of the many themes in literature, which one do you want to use?
Your answers to these questions will assist you in narrowing down your choices to the best ones. You have several book ideas, but only one of them is one that you are truly passionate about. You will feel like you can pull off that idea no matter what. If you have such an idea, then voilà — there’s your premise!
If you’re stuck for ideas, the answer to these questions should point you in the right direction. Consider the types of books you enjoy reading and those that have had a lasting impact on you. You’ll almost certainly want to write a book in the same vein.
2. Research Your Idea:
Now that you have an idea to work with, the next step is to research the genre and story timeline.
If you’re writing a book of a genre that you are passionate about then you’re already ahead of the game. Reading books in your genre is the most effective way to learn how to write in it.
If not, you’ll need to pick a few similar titles and examine them. See How long do they last, and how many chapters are there? What is the structure of the story? What are the main points? By asking yourself these questions you will be able to have an idea about your grasp on the concept.
3. Write your first draft:
Now that the idea is here and the research is done, it’s time to write your first draft. However, before doing that, you must write a great outline. Only a great outline would ensure that your store runs smoothly. Having an outline is especially important when you are a novice writer. The outline helps the writers analyze which path they can take if they get stuck. But now, you would ask, how do I create an outline? Well, it’s certainly not rocket science.
Following is how you can create an outline for your draft:
- Select a format that works best for you.
- Add a beginning, middle, and end to your story. However, Remember that the best books have “earned” endings, so start building toward one from the beginning!
- Think about your points of contention. Any good book needs conflict to draw the reader in, create tension and emotion, and ultimately reflect the themes and/or message you want to convey. You don’t have to know exactly where your conflict will appear in your book, but you should have a good idea of how it will work.
- Become acquainted with your characters. Now that you have created an outline, it’s time to write a draft around it. Many authors believe that style is the key to writing a great book: impressive vocabulary, complex sentences, and figurative language fit for Shakespeare.
We’re here to persuade you otherwise. When writing a book, style is important, but the substance is far more important. As a result, you should concentrate on your plot, characters, conflict(s), and themes first.
4. Set writing goals :
Writing your first book necessitates extensive research, outlining, and idea development. However, there may come a time when planning turns into procrastination. It’s time to start writing your rough draft at some point. For that, you have to establish a consistent routine and writing habits. You can increase your chances of success by following a few simple steps. Even if you are a beginner, you should treat writing as if it were your full-time job. To stay on track:
- Try setting daily word count goals.
- Make a writing schedule and put it on your calendar, so you don’t forget.
- Request accountability from a friend or fellow writer by sending them daily updates on how much you’ve written.
You should set word count goals for each session and the week — or month if you prefer to think about your writing output that way.
5. Set a productive routine:
Now that you have set goals, you must abide by them. You might be wondering how I would keep up with my target?”. Will I be able to complete writing a book?”. It just depends on how you are managing to schedule your day.
Only by sticking to a regular writing schedule will you be able to meet your word count targets. It also promotes a better overall relationship with writing! Taking advantage of your pre-existing schedule and natural patterns is the best way to establish your routine. If you’re busy on Tuesdays and Thursdays, for example, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays might be the best days to write. If you’re more creative late at night, you could schedule late-night sessions over the weekend or before your day off so you can sleep in the next day.
Finally, you want a well-balanced writing routine that allows you to be productive while preventing burnout. If writing for several days in a row becomes too much for you, try spacing out your sessions more or changing your writing environment. It’s fine to scale back your goals if you can’t keep up with them.
Yes, writing frequently is important, but it pales in comparison to your mental health! Remember that writing a book is a marathon, not a sprint, and maintaining a consistent, healthy approach is essential. Here are a few pointers to help you make the most of your writing routine.
6. Edit! EDIT! , Edit! and get feedback
You can write to your heart’s content all day, all night. But what if it isn’t up to the standard? What if it gets rejected by the publishing house? What if it is published and people don’t like it? Well, these all scenarios can be a nightmare for the writer. However, to avoid such circumstances, you must ask for feedback.
Begin by having a few of your friends and fellow writers read a few chapters at a time. However, use their advice not just in those chapters but in other places as well. If a friend says, “[Character A] is acting strangely in this scene,” pay extra attention to that character to ensure you haven’t misrepresented them elsewhere.
You’re ready for more in-depth feedback when you’ve finished your book. Consider hiring a beta reader to read through your entire book and provide feedback. You might also want to hire an editor to provide professional feedback.
Conclusion:
It’s time to publish once you’ve finished your final draught. Self-publishing has never been easier, thanks to online marketplaces and e-readers like the Kindle. You can also submit a book proposal to a publishing house if you want to go the traditional route. After you’ve published your first book, all you have to do now is sit back, relax, and start working on your second.
Writing a book is a lifelong ambition for many people. But what is the formula for unleashing your creativity? What will teach you how to write a book that will fulfill your dreams? Some authors will tell you there is no one-size-fits-all approach to becoming an author because each writer’s journey is different.
But, no matter which path you take, these 5 things are must-haves! Almost every bestselling author has highly effective writing habits and patterns that aid them in achieving their objectives. All you have to do is follow in their footsteps if you want to write your own book.
