When it comes to writing a book, many novice writers find that despite having a good idea, they don't know where to start and how to organize their ideas. While the writing process varies greatly between writers and book types, there are ways to inspire new ideas, organize important aspects of the book, and develop engaging content. Writing can be a rewarding experience in and of itself. However, you should also consider the idea of publishing your writing and earn some money and recognition from it. With a little help, even novice writers can develop and publish a good book.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Prepare to Write
Step 1. Pick a topic that you are passionate about
Writing a book is a project that will require a lot of time and energy, so you should choose a topic that you know and that interests you. This will help you stay energized during this overwhelming process. When choosing a topic for your book, explore everything that interests and fascinates you, and make sure you have something important to say about that topic.
- Choose a genre that you like to read and that you have explored in depth, be it horror, romance, or political intrigue.
- If you are writing a nonfiction book, make sure you have a certain level of experience and credibility on the subject.
Step 2. Read books on similar topics
You should read books on similar topics within your chosen genre before and during the writing process. Read them critically, pay attention to what you like about the author's style, and think about what you would write differently. By doing this, you will maintain a connection with the reader's perspective throughout the writing process. In the same way, you will stay aware of everything that has already been said on the subject, so that you can produce a more original work.
Step 3. Create a draft of the plot or structure of the book
Although you will likely modify the argument as you write, it is good to start writing with a draft that contains, in broad strokes, the events and points of interest that you want to emphasize in your book. Focus on how you could organize the content so that your book can best serve its purpose, whether it's entertaining, informing, or engaging readers. Take note of the secondary points of your argument, of methods to describe scenes or of how to develop the dialogues.
- Don't focus too much on the timeline or dividing the content into chapters during your first draft. You can consider these aspects before you start writing, but you should always start by making a rough draft of your argument.
- For nonfiction books, you should draft the important concepts you want to write about in your book and find examples and arguments to support those concepts.
Step 4. Make a biography of your characters
If you write a novel, your characters are an important part of the plot. Begin by writing their roles in the story, whether these characters are protagonists, antagonists, or secondary characters in the main plot. Then develop more specific characteristics that are related to their role in the story, such as their personalities.
- Develop the backstory of the characters. Even if it will not appear in the content of your book, it will be useful to get an idea of how they would react to certain events or how they would interact with other characters.
- Make your characters as realistic as possible so readers can relate to, even if your story doesn't take place in a realistic setting. If your story takes place in a mythical setting, such as a world with dragons, consider how real people would react in that setting.
Part 2 of 3: Developing Your Content
Step 1. Establish a routine
Writing a book will take time, especially if it is your first book. Don't think that you will finish writing in a few sittings or that you will produce many, many pages each time you write. Set aside an amount of time to work on your book on a daily or weekly basis so that you stay consistent.
- If you feel very inspired and with the desire to write a lot, take the opportunity to write as much as you can.
- Choose a specific place to write so that you are away from distractions or other activities.
- Set a daily or weekly goal. You can start with 300 words per day or one chapter per week.
- Take a notebook with you wherever you go. If you are focused on the writing process, new ideas are likely to come to you at random and when you least expect them. You should write down those ideas.
Step 2. Determine which writing tools work for you
Some people write better on a computer word processor, while others are more comfortable doing it by hand. Experiment with different writing tools and determine which one works best for you before you start writing your book.
You could find useful writing programs like Scrivener, FastPencil. Many of these programs have features that allow you to organize multiple forms of information about your project within a single file
Step 3. Establish a connection with the reader
Imagine that you are talking to your readers and that you can see their reactions. Focus on writing in a coherent and interesting way from the perspective of your readers. Keep this in mind during the writing process.
It is important to write in your own style. Your readers should feel like they know you after reading your book
Step 4. Avoid overwriting
It can be tempting to describe characters, scenes, and events in overly flowery language and with minor details. Ask yourself if everything you've described boosts understanding of the content and what specific information you want to convey.
Be especially careful when using detailed descriptions just to add more pages to your book. If you feel that you are missing content, instead of adding descriptions, review your draft and try to develop the argument further
Step 5. Find a reviewer
Ask someone you trust to review your manuscript as soon as possible. You don't have to wait for the entire book to ask for reviews. However, it is important that you show them an entire chapter or an entire section rather than a couple of pages.
Look for readers who have different perspectives. For example, look for a person who usually reads books in the genre you have written, and look for people who read other genres. This way, you will have an idea of how readers experience your book
Step 6. Check your work
Review is an essential part of the writing process. After you've completed your draft book and asked a proofreader to review it, it's time to polish it up. Read your book carefully and include any helpful comments you have received from your readers. This is also a good time to remove any unnecessary padding or material, and to correct any mistakes that you and your readers have previously overlooked.
- It may help to take a break from the book for a few days or even a couple of weeks so that you can come back to it with a fresh perspective.
- Reverse outline the book so that you can have a better understanding of its structure after you've written most of it. You might discover ways to rearrange the material and improve the flow of the text.
Part 3 of 3: Get Your Book Published
Step 1. Look for options before you start writing
Finding a publisher can take a long time, especially when you're a first-time writer. If you are determined to publish your book, you will need to find out which publishers publish novice authors in your chosen genre.
Submit a proposal letter containing a draft of your idea. You can include a chapter or a few pages as a sample
Step 2. Include a marketing plan
When you ask for your book to be published, you need more than just having a finished book. Publishers are interested in how your book can make money for them and will therefore want to know who would buy it and how it would be marketed.
- The structure of a marketing plan for a publication will vary significantly according to the type of book you have written; however, you should start looking online for marketing proposals.
- For a free marketing resource guide and publishing plan, visit
- Creating a page on a social network and complementing it with a visual resource is a great way to demonstrate your marketing strategy in your editorial proposal and to awaken interest in your book before making your proposal.
Step 3. Consider publishing your book digitally
Some websites like Amazon, Lulu, CreateSpace, and BookSurge offer digital publishing options. Some of those options are free. Digital publishing is ideal for novice authors, as the overhead and marketing expenses are minimal.
- If you are going to publish your book digitally, your manuscript will need to have a special format. The standard format of your manuscript will depend on the platform you use, so be sure to check those requirements.
- Keep in mind that digital publication tends to reach a smaller audience, make you less profitable, and will not give your book the prestige of a physical publication. Also, you will not have a publisher that markets it.