Writing a book is both a vocation and an avocation—that is, both a job and a passion. Figure out why you need to write, and why you want to write. Keep your goal or goals in mind as motivation. Just remember to keep them realistic. You probably won’t become the next J. K. Rowling by your first novel.
While moving from a cafe to a park bench to the library may work for you, consider setting up a single workspace that you always—and only—use for writing. Set up your writing space so you have any supplies or references that you’ll need close at hand. That way, you won’t lose your focus looking for a pen, ink cartridge, or thesaurus. Pick a sturdy, supportive chair—it’s easy to lose focus if your back aches!
The average book writer should probably look to set aside 30 minutes to 2 hours for writing, at least 5 days per week—and ideally every day. Block out a time when you tend to be most alert and prolific—for instance, 10:30-11:45 AM every day. Scheduling in writing time may mean scheduling out other things in your life. It’s up to you to decide if it’s worth it or not.
For instance, if you’ve given yourself a 1-year deadline for writing a complete first draft of a 100,000-word novel, you’ll need to write about 300 words (about 1 typed page) every day. Or, if you are required to turn in a doctoral dissertation draft that’s about 350 pages long in 1 year, you’ll likewise need to write about 1 page per day.
You’re nearly always going to spend at least as much time editing a book as you will initially writing it, so worry about the editing part later. Just focus on getting something down on paper that will need to be edited. Don’t worry about spelling mistakes! If you simply can’t help but edit some as you write, set aside a specific, small amount of time at the end of each writing session for editing. For instance, you might use the last 15 minutes of your daily 90-minute writing time to do some light editing of that day’s work.
Depending on your circumstances, you might be working with an editor, have committee members you can hand over chapter drafts to, or have a group of fellow writers who share their works-in-progress back and forth. Alternatively, show a friend or family member. You’ll go through many rounds of feedback and revisions before your book is published. Don’t get discouraged—it’s all part of the process of writing the best book you can!
Start with the “big picture” first, and worry about filling in the finer details later on. Brainstorm themes, scenarios, or ideas that intrigue you. Write them down, think about them for a while, and figure out which one you’re most passionate about. For instance: “What if a man journeyed to a land where the people were tiny and he was a giant, and then to another land where the people were giants and he was tiny?”
For instance, a sci-fi adventure set in space will be more effective if the technology draws at least a small degree from reality. Or, if you’re writing a crime drama, you might do research into how the police typically investigate crimes of the type you’re depicting.
For instance, instead of waking up thinking “I need to write about the Civil War,” you might tell yourself, “I’m going to write about General Grant’s military strategy today. ” These “manageable pieces” may end up being your book’s chapters, but not necessarily so.
Think about some of your favorite characters from books you love. Write down some of their character traits and use these to help build your own unique characters. If you’re writing nonfiction, dig deep into the complexities and all-too-human qualities of the real figures you’re writing about. Bring them to life for your readers.
The main conflict—for instance, Captain Ahab’s obsession with the white whale in Moby Dick—can be an entry point for a range of other external and internal conflicts. Don’t downplay conflicts and tension in nonfiction works—they help to ground your writing in reality.
Your goal is to never give your readers a reason to lose interest. Keep them engaged and turning those pages! This doesn’t mean you can’t use long sentences, descriptive writing, or even asides that deviate from the main storyline. Just make sure that these components serve the larger narrative.
Seeking publication can feel a bit like losing control over your manuscript, after all the time you’ve spent working and re-working it. Keep reminding yourself that your book deserves to be seen and read! If necessary, impose a deadline on yourself: “I’m going to submit this to publishers by January 15, one way or the other!”
Evaluate potential agents and look for the best fit for you and your manuscript. If you know any published authors, ask them for tips and leads on agents. Typically, you’ll submit excerpts or even your entire manuscript to an agent, and they’ll decide whether to take you on as a client. Make sure you’re clear on their submission guidelines before proceeding.
You can self-publish copies on your own, which may save you money but will take up a lot of time. You’ll be responsible for everything from obtaining a copyright to designing the cover to getting the actual pages printed. You can work through self-publishing companies, but you’ll often end up paying more to get your book published than you’ll ever make back from selling it. Self-publishing an e-book may be a viable option since the publishing costs are low and your book immediately becomes accessible to a wide audience. Evaluate different e-book publishers carefully before choosing the right one for you.
