The best time to write your first book is now.
Coronavirus. A One-word explanation to many of us self isolating. What to do with myself, you ponder. After the days already spent on Netflix, video games, practising that TikTok dance, reading and our one-hour daily allowance of exercise outside. You find you want to do something, something more.
That reoccurring thought pops back into your head. Now I have time to write that book I’ve always wanted to do.
But you don’t know where to start and it feels overwhelming.
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Table of Contents
What Do I Need To Start My First Book?
1 What is your book about?
Now, this can be one of the most difficult things to decide especially if you don’t know you want to write.
Mind mapping. This device will help you lay out all the ideas you have. You may even find overlapping ideas that you decide to combine.
On the other hand, you may have plenty or a single idea you’re compelled by and want to get started with your free time.
This tool will also aid in deciding which idea you like best to what concept has the most ideas along with it.
2 Outline
From the mind map, you are now able to make a plan from what your story is about to what contents it holds.
Making a plan for what occurs at the beginning, main body and end.
This can be made easily with short bullet points. There’s no pressure to have fully fleshed out ideas here, but ideas that you know you can pull inspiration from.
Remember! keep a note (in one place) of any ideas you have along the way whether you’re writing/planning your book to watching a series and inspiration strikes.
Personally, I use OneNote to organise my ideas, available to write either on/offline and from anywhere using your phone.
I also highly recommend using Grammarly to keep an eye on spelling and grammar issues, which gives you a hell of a lot more time to get your ideas flowing. It gives me a stress-free writing experience. I hope you find solutions to enjoying your writing too!
4 Genre
Your genre will come naturally once you look at the elements you have in front of you. Granted, you may have many.
For now, choose the one that most excites you. That way you will find it easier to keep interested in your writing journey.
5 Who is your audience?
It’s important to know who you are writing for as this can largely change your writing style.
For example, are you writing for young kids? You’ll want to keep your sentences short and scrap complicated words.
Are you writing for scientists? Aiming for the general public who would not understand your wording and may need to google the terms they find every 5 minutes isn’t the greatest choice.
Are you writing for young adults and want to write in the first person? Based on content already out there, this is a popular match.
In effect, research through books you’ve already read and what works well for certain audiences.
Set reasonable goals
Goals keep you on track for making progress, without them, you won’t necessarily be tracking your work. Tracking can be an invaluable motivator and it would be a shame to not use this free easy way of boosting yourself.
1 Set a daily word count goal
Let’s start this with a small amount that is very achievable. 300 words a day sounds easy. It defiantly can be when you’re choke-full of ideas, although it is a challenge when you are not. Once you are consistently able to write one amount for a while, you can step it up. Using SMART goals help a lot.
Remember goals are not completely fixed, if it is not working for you, alter it, scrap it.
Know what you are capable of and aim a little higher. Not too high as this can cause you to not work on writing your book or giving up.
Psst… When finishing off a day of writing, it is always easier to write if you know what you’d like to happen next. Often I would like to write more than my daily goal yet I hold back. I should write more if I feel I can write more right?
Not necessarily. By making a few points of what my next ideas is and writing them down. I make the process of writing the next day (not from scratch) 10 times easier. These ideas also lessen the chances of a writer’s block.
2 Set a time to work
Consistency is key. In many aspects of life, we are always told to keep consistent to reach any goal, to improve etc. You won’t find any arguments here.
When you stay consistent you start to form a habit. Once writing becomes a habit you will be able to attain your goals and finally finish the book you’ve always wanted to write.
3 Set a goal for your total word count
It’s crazy to look at your writing and think, 5,000 more words till I reach my goal. This differs greatly, it depends on what kind of book you’d like to write.
Short stories are 1,500 – 30,000 words.
Novellas are 30,000 – 50,000 words.
Novels are 55,000 – 300,000 words.
Create an action plan
Goals are great but they don’t help you attain themselves. Create a plan that breaks the entire book down into realistic portions to complete. Refer back to SMART Goals.
Set deadlines for each portion
Goals need deadline dates to give a sense of urgency. Otherwise, your goals can be accomplished at any time rather than in a set time period.
Treat these deadlines as unbreakable, you must write x amount in a week.
You must complete x portion in this amount of time.
It feels harsh but to get each part of your book completed you must be able to stop yourself. That you cannot keep rewriting over and over, taking up precious time you could be spending adding scenes to your story.
This is still your first draft. Once you have met your deadlines and the more you have wrote, you’ll get the feeling for what is and is not working for your story. Then, with your more experienced critical eyes, you’ll be able to proofread more effectively.
The urge to write till perfection is large but as a first-time writer, like any writer, you will need to tame that side of yourself to get your story onto written words.
I’ll be discussing the tools to keep you on track with your writing in one of the next few blogs. Let me know if this post was helpful and what you want more of! Until then.
Here is a checklist covering these and more to help you along the way!
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I have thought about writing a book before, but never really got around to doing more than thinking about it. My husband did start a couple of years ago to write one as well. Great info for those wanting to write
Yes it is hard to start the process. I wish you luck to both your writing journeys and hope this blog can aid you 🙂
This is really helpful. I’ve got ideas in my head but never seem to find the time to do anything with them. I really need to utilise the time I have right now to do something with them.
Ideas are the start, perhaps try writing them down and see how it goes. When writing with no expectations it becomes much easier. Hope that helps!
I’m currently trying to start writing my first book and your article was so full of useful advice! I can’t wait to get started
I’m glad you’ve found this helpful. Good luck on your writing journey!
Feel free to keep us up to date with your writing progress 🙂
I do admire people who can put a book together. I can imagine it can’t be easy but i’m sure your tips will help them 🙂
Would you also like to write a book? I can answer questions you might have as a blog if you’d like 🙂
This is great advice. I have always wanted to write a book. This self isolation time is the perfect time to start. I am currently working from home though.
Maybe when I get to eventually take my Easter holiday at the end of the month.
It’s great to hear you’d like to write and have a potential time to fit it in 🙂
Here’s a blog that can help with finding time when you feel like there is none. Wishing you luck in your writing journey! https://discoveringawritersvoice.com/no-time-3-ways-to-regularly-schedule-writing-your-book/
I have a few novel ideas but never seem to find the time to actually write them down. I particularly like the idea of leaving an idea to write about the next day as otherwise I guess you could dry up
I’m happy to hear you’ve enjoyed this post! I have a previous blog about finding the time when you feel there is none. Hope it helps and good luck in your writing journey 🙂
https://discoveringawritersvoice.com/no-time-3-ways-to-regularly-schedule-writing-your-book/
It is amazing the things people could do while in lockdown – we might have some amazing reads, shows and all sorts come out in the months and years that come after this.
It will be great to see what content comes from this period.
I would love to write my own children’s book, but the only problem is I have all my best ideas at night and don’t write them down LOL
I’ve experienced the same thing! Needing to convince myself to write it down the moment I have them or it is lost to the world. Having a book or app handy makes me more likely to record the idea. Hope that helps 🙂
This strange time is certainly a good chance to make a start on writing a book if it’s something you’ve wanted to do. x
Ooo what a great idea. There are so many good writers and this will be there chance to shine. I think after it’s all over we are going to see so many more skills being out to use
I’d like to think so too 🙂
I’m sure there will be some fantastic book available after the lockdown ends. We’ve still got a fair amount of time before we can go out normally. This is really useful for anyone that is a would be writer and has the time to try and write a book.
I have heard that there is a book in each one of us and I personally have always wanted to write a book but don’t know where to start, thank you for sharing these great tips
I’m happy to hear this has helped! Wishing you luck in your writing journey 🙂
I’ve written my own stories before and have often wondered about making them into a book. Thanks for the tips here
You’re welcome! Come back for more 😉
My partner would love to write a book, I shall have to pass these useful tips along 🙂 thanks for sharing. x
That’s great news! Good luck on their writing journey
This was so helpful!!! As I was reading this, the first sentence of the book came to me! Now, I’m like…. what next??! I have NEVER written a book!!
I’m happy to hear you’ve gained inspiration! Following this advice will help you build more of an idea to what your story will contain. Currently working on a blog discussing how to build a story from an idea. Come back for info! Good luck on your writing journey.