How to Write a Book: Part Two

Stephanie Partridge
Sep 15, 2021
4 min read

Updated: Sep 16, 2021

Be sure to start HERE to get started with How to Write a Book: Part One.

So, you've come to the conclusion that you want to write a book. You open up your laptop, notebook, or whatever it is you use to express your words and realize that there is a lot of empty space where there should be words from the heart. "This is my story after all, so why don't I know how to start?" Guess what, you are not alone! Let's go back to that elephant I talked about in my last post (part 1). If you sit down thinking you are going to just magically write a book you should prepare for disappointment. Now there may be people out there who can do that. Good for them. I am not one of those people, and I am going to assume that you are not either. Slow and steady wins the race, right? Let's just take our time and do this thing right. I'm going to make some assumptions about you first: you know your genre (non-fiction, mystery, romance, etc.), you don't know anything (I didn't either, that's okay.), you want to do this the "right" way (e.g. you want to put your best foot forward and put out a quality book that looks and feels professional). With these assumptions in mind, I would like to give you a step-by-step list of what to do next. In all fairness, these are my recommendations based on experience through trial and error and success.

#letsdothisthing #selfpublishedauthor #howtowriteabook #writinghelps #amazonbestseller

How to write a book:

1. Get to know your genre and subject matter. If you're writing a book about teaching children to eat healthy then you should read at least a few books about teaching children to eat healthy. Yes, get to know your competition. Learn what is out there and take notes. What did you love about the other books? How could you make your book better? There are millions of books out there. You don't have to bring mind-blowing new information, you just need to do the same thing only better.

2. Make a list. Think about the most important things/plots you want to include in your book. Write it down and then let it simmer. I had notes on my laptop and phone designated for my book, and a notebook by my bed because the best ideas come when you least expect it. Spend a good amount of time brainstorming and adding to that list. These lists will continue to grow even after you've begun writing. No matter how amazing your ideas are, if you don't write them down there is a good chance you will miss something. When I would have a brain cloud (Joe Vs. the Volcano anyone?) I pulled up my notes and just started writing about one of the topics listed. I often didn't know how it would fit in until after I finished, but it would give me the chance to write and feel productive.

3. Create a writing atmosphere conducive to focused imagination. Before I start a writing session I do the dishes, sweep the floor, wipe down the table and counters and then fill a glass with water and set it next to my laptop. I like working at the table, because the chairs are comfortable enough to sit for an hour or so with good posture, but not comfortable enough to doze off in. For me, it is important to clean before writing, or else I get distracted by the mess and inevitably stop what I'm doing to clean up (anyone else a bit OCD?). I also like working with quiet instrumental music playing. My "magic" productive writing sessions are between 9 pm-1 am, after my kids are in bed when the house is quiet and clean. Just do what you need to do to have a good focused place to write. There's more. . . still with me?

#focus #areyouwithme #keepreading #howtowriteabook #youcandothis #justkeepswimming

4. Writing platform: I realize this isn't really a step, but it seemed like a good place to put this. Take some thought about what type of processor you want to actually write your book in. I use Word because it is what I'm used to. I may experiment with other processors/programs in the future to see if they affect the difficulty/ease of formatting for publication. I have heard many writers that use and love Scrivener, which is likely what I will try next. I also know some who write their whole book on a private blog. They claim that it makes it easier to transfer it into the HTML format, but I cannot verify that. When I post about editing and formatting I will be giving advice based on using Word.

5. Start writing! This may seem simple enough, but I understand how intimidating it can be to sit in front of a blank screen or paper and wonder how to harness the vivid storyline you've created in your mind onto print. Here's a tip: don't start at the beginning. Yep, the beginning of the book is always the most intimidating, so skip it! You can worry about how it all begins later. There is nothing wrong with writing several big ideas into story form and then figuring out how they all work together afterward. It may be different for fiction novels, but for non-fiction, it's not too hard to piece it together later.

This may be hard for some, but try and ignore mistakes. You can correct grammar, sentence placement, capitalization, and spelling later but it is much harder to recreate a thought once it's left your brain. When you write you write. When you edit you edit.