How to Write a Book

Anyone with a story to tell can write a book, whether it’s just for their own enjoyment or published for all to read. Getting started is often the hardest, so create a comfortable workspace, set a regular writing schedule, and stay motivated to write something every day. Focus on developing the “big idea” that drives the story, creating at least one memorable character, and implementing actual contradictions. Once you’ve written and edited your manuscript, you can consider publishing options to get your book in the hands of your readers.

Table of Contents

Maintain focus and productivity

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Understand why you want to write the book. Before you start writing, typing, or even thinking about the book, be honest with yourself about your reasons for writing. Do you hope to become rich and famous? Need to write to advance your career? Do you dream of one day seeing your name on the cover of a book? Or do you simply have an interesting story you want to share with everyone? ^{[1] X Research Source}

Writing is both a profession and a hobby – as such, it is both a job and a passion. Think about why you need to write and why you want to write.
Keep your goal in mind and use it as motivation, just don’t stray away from reality. You can hardly be the second JK Rowling with your first book.

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Create a workspace that works for you. The ideal space for everyone’s writing is different. Some people like to sit at a quiet desk in a room separate from the outside, others like to work between the clinking of glasses and the murmur of chatter in the cafe. However, most writers are most productive when there are few distractions around and all the material they need is easily accessible. ^{[2] X Research Source}

Even if you can be productive when commuting from a coffee shop to a park bench or to the library, you still need to create a workspace to write often and just for writing.
Organize your work area so it’s easy to get supplies or references when you need them. That way, you won’t lose focus when you have to find your pen, cartridge, or dictionary.
Choose a sturdy chair – a sore back is easy to distract!

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Create a writing schedule in your daily routine. Granted, writing often comes from inspiration, and you’ll be willing to give up everything to write whenever an idea pops into your head. However, it is also the perfect excuse for not writing anything. Instead, try setting aside some time each day just to write. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

The average author will spend 30 minutes to 2 hours a day, at least 5 days a week, writing – but ideally every day.
Choose a time when you’re usually most alert and productive – for example, every morning between 10:30 a.m. and 11:45 a.m.
Making a schedule in lowercase also means making a schedule for all of your daily activities. As long as you don’t sacrifice time with loved ones or sleep time, this will probably be a worthwhile decision.

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Set a goal of writing words per day and per week. Instead of hoping to write 10 pages every time creative inspiration strikes, try setting a goal of writing one page a day. Based on your writing speed and specific deadlines, try not to adjust after you’ve set a goal. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

For example, if you set a one-year deadline to complete the first draft of a 100,000-word novel, you would have to write 300 words a day.
As another example, if you need to submit a doctoral thesis of about 350 pages within 1 year, you will have to write about 1 page per day.

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Write comfortably and don’t worry about editing. This is another important factor when writing according to a set schedule – focus only on what you are writing, and review and edit for later. To finish a book, you should work on the motto “write fast, edit slow.” ^{[5] X Research Sources}

Usually the time it takes to edit a book is at least as long as it takes to write the first draft, so go ahead. Focus on putting something down on the pen with a pen so you can edit it later. Don’t mind the typos!
If you can’t help correcting your mistakes while you write, take a short time after each paragraph to do so. For example, you could use the last 15 minutes of your 90-minute writing time to refine your work for the day.

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Seek feedback early and often. Don’t wait until you’ve finished writing the entire manuscript to show it to others. After every chapter you write, it’s a good idea to ask someone you trust to reread it and give feedback from a “big picture” perspective – that is, an overall view of the clarity and quality of the passage, rather than thorough editing. on style and spelling. ^{[6] X Research Source}

Depending on the situation, you can work with an editor, ask members of the committee to help read the manuscript, or find a group of like-minded writers willing to share their experiences. You can also get feedback from a friend or loved one who loves to read and whose opinions you appreciate.
You will have to go through a lot of feedback and editing before the book is released. Don’t get discouraged – it’s all about writing the best book you can do!

Create a good story

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Start with a big and compelling idea. Easier said than done, of course, but that’s what it takes to write a good book. Whether you’re writing fiction or non-fiction, you need an idea to keep the fire burning during the long process of writing and editing, and that’s what keeps your readers engaged. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

Start with the “big picture” first, then fill in the small details.
Think about topics, scenarios, or ideas that inspire you. Write it down, think about it, and identify what interests you the most.
For example: “What if a guy travels to the land of the elves and he becomes a giant, and then gets lost in another land of the giants and he becomes a small? ”

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Research on the topic you want to write about to enhance your expertise. If the book you are going to write is in the nonfiction genre, it is obvious that you will need to do extensive research on the subject you are about to write in order to have a quality work. Even works of fiction need to be based to some extent on reality. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

For example, a fantasy adventure in space would be more appealing to the reader if the technologies used in it were a bit drawn from reality.
If you’re writing about a crime, you might want to learn about the police’s investigation of the type of crime you’re describing.

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Break down your big idea into more manageable chunks. If your daily goal is to write about the American Civil War or stories that take place in the “middle” region, you may be overwhelmed by this daunting task. Instead, break up your broad topic into smaller, easier-to-handle sections. ^{[9] X Research Source}

For example, instead of waking up every morning thinking, “I need to write about the Civil War,” you might say to yourself, “Today I’m going to write about General Grant’s military strategy.”
These subsections may eventually become a chapter of the book, but not necessarily.

Lucy V. Hay

Author, Writer and Script Editor

Lucy V. Hay is an author, script editor and blogger who helps other authors through seminars, writing courses and her blog Bang2Write. Lucy is a producer on two horror movies and her debut crime novel, The Other Twin, is being adapted for the screen by Sky’s Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Agatha Raisin (Free@Last TV).

Lucy V. Hay
Author, Writer and Script Editor

Notice the plot segments of the movie to understand the structure of a successful story. There are many very useful resources, such as Script Lab or TV Tropes, that can help you learn plot segments of popular movies. Read the synopsis and watch the movie, then think about how to write the plot similar to the movies you really love.

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Build at least one memorable character. This is also one of the “easier said than done” parts of writing a good book. Try to build at least one complex and comprehensive character, not just a monotonous “hero” or “villain” color. Readers need to recognize the characters and care about what happens to them. ^{[10] X Research Source}

Think of some characters from your favorite books. Write down a few traits of those characters and use them to build your unique characters.
If it’s non-fiction, dig into the complex aspects and very human qualities of the real-life character you’re writing. Let readers see the vivid and true image of the character.

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Emphasis on contradictions and tension in the plot. Set challenges and obstacles at the beginning of the book and lead your characters through struggles, triumphs, and defeats. Conflict and tension can come from external (such as a cunning enemy) and internal (the protagonist’s soul demon arising from past tragedy). Make sure your readers can’t put the book down once they pick it up! ^{[11] X Research Source}

The main conflict of the story – such as Captain Ahab’s obsession with the white whale in Moby Dick’s novel – can be the starting point for a series of other conflicts coming from the outside and inside.
Don’t take the conflicts and tensions of nonfiction lightly – they help keep your writing realistic.

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Make sure every detail in the book contributes to the development of the story. This is something to keep in mind as you write your first draft and is essential when editing a book. Remember that every chapter, every page, even every word you write should serve the purpose of moving the story forward. If not, you need to find a way to edit or rearrange it properly. ^{[12] X Research Source}

Your goal is not to let your readers lose interest. Get them hooked and turn the pages!
This doesn’t mean you can’t use long sentences, descriptive paragraphs, or even inner monologues that deviate from the main story line. Just make sure these components serve the common plot.

Publish books

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Continue editing the book, but don’t make excuses for delaying manuscript submission. In other words, you need to be determined to release the book and not always make the excuse of “not yet ready”. Reviewing, sharpening, and editing are all necessary steps to perfecting a good book, but at some point, you have to have the courage to publish the book. ^{[13] X Research Source}

When looking to publish a book, you may feel a little bit out of control of your manuscript after a long period of writing and editing. Remind yourself that your book deserves to be known and read by everyone!
If necessary, set a deadline for yourself: “I will submit the manuscript to the publisher by October 15 no matter what!”

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Hire a literary agent if you intend to publish in the traditional way. You can submit your manuscript to the publisher yourself, but your chances of success are higher if you work with an agent. They have the experience and industry contacts to help increase your chances of finding the right publisher. Unless you live near a book publisher, it’s best to find a literary agent online. ^{[14] X Research Source}

Evaluate literary agents and find the best fit for you and your manuscript. If you know of any authors whose books have been published, ask for advice and ask them to recommend a representative.
Typically, you will submit some excerpts, or even the entire manuscript, to your agent, and they will decide whether or not to represent you. You need to understand their instructions for submitting a manuscript before proceeding.

Q&A with experts

How did you start writing a book?

There are many different ways to write a book, and each person has their own way. Someone comes up with the idea while in the shower or on the way to work. Others are more conscious and actively seek ideas for news stories or suggestions. Once you have an idea, you have to decide whether to write it down. Is that the story you can’t help but write? Then you write.

How do you write and publish books?

Reaching out to the community of writers is really helpful. They will encourage you and hold you accountable, and can give you feedback or help later. They can refer you to editors or agents to help you get your work published. Writing is, as William Faulkne famously said, “Writing is ninety-nine percent perspiration, and one percent inspiration.”

How can I write my first novel?

Identify your ideas and start writing each day with determination. Setting a goal and deadline will keep you motivated to get things done. Once you get to the publishing stage, you’ll have to edit and get feedback from others and your editor – a long way. Of course you can self-publish a book, and this is usually the easiest way.

Advice

Always keep a notebook and pen by your bed and keep a dream diary. Maybe a dream will give you inspiration or a story to write!
If you want to include a real event in your story, do your research in advance.
Ask some other authors for advice and take notes.
There are times when you feel like your book seems silly and just want to give up. DON’T DO THAT. Take a few days (or weeks) off and try again.
Sometimes you just have to start writing, and eventually the story will pop into your head.
Find a time of day when you are most productive and schedule a time to write.

Warning

Avoid plagiarism (copying the work of other authors). Even if you do it very cleverly, eventually someone will find out and string together all the copied parts.

Steps