Even for seasoned authors, finishing a book can seem impossible. Hard work, a strong work ethic, and extreme ambition are necessary. The initial sitting down to write the first page can be the most challenging part of the writing process, even for successful authors of best-sellers. But writing a book is a goal you can achieve if you approach it to step by step. Furthermore, our American Books Writer is always at your disposal to assist you in writing and publishing your book.
What to Think About Before You Write a Book
Whether you’re a bestselling author working on your next book or a first-time writer aiming for self-publishing, there are a few questions you should ask yourself before diving into your book idea.
- Do you have the time and mental energy to devote to creating an entire book?
- Are you willing to learn potentially new skills such as editing and rewriting?
- Do you understand the main characters, plot, or subject matter?
You don’t have to have everything figured out, but it’s helpful to have a good idea of the shape and direction of your book before you start writing.
What Is Required To Write a Book?
Let’s take a step back and look at the big picture. What is required to write a book? It occurs in three stages:
1. Beginning
You must begin writing. This may seem obvious, but it is possibly the most overlooked step in the process. You write a book by deciding what you want to write and how you want to write it.
2. Keeping motivated
Once you start writing, you will face self-doubt, overwhelm, and a slew of other obstacles. Moreover, preparing for those challenges ensures that you will not give up when they appear.
3. Finishing
Nobody cares about the book you almost wrote. We want to read the one you finished, which means that no matter what, the ability to complete a project is what distinguishes you as a writer.
Here are ten simple tips for each of these three major phases.
The First Phase – Getting Started
Everyone has to start somewhere. The first phase of writing a book consists of four parts:
1. Determine the Subject of the Book
A good piece of writing is always about something. Write your book’s argument in a sentence, then expand it to a paragraph, and finally to a one-page outline. After that, create a table of contents to help you as you write, and then divide each chapter into sections. Moreover, consider your book’s beginning, middle, and end. Anything more complex will lead you astray.
2. Establish a Daily Word Count Goal
A daily page is only about 300 words long. You don’t have to write much. You simply must write frequently. Setting a daily goal will provide you with something to strive for. Thus, make it small and attainable so you can meet your goal every day and begin to build momentum.
3. Make a Daily Time to Work on Your Book
Consistency promotes creativity. To finish a book, you need a daily deadline. If you want to take a day off, do so ahead of time. Never miss a deadline; don’t let yourself off the hook so easily. Setting a daily deadline and a regular writing time will eliminate the need to think about when you will write. So, when it’s time to write, it’s time to write.
4. Consistently Use the Same Spot When Writing
It doesn’t matter if it’s a desk, a dining room table, or a kitchen table. Simply put, it must be different from your usual places of recreation. Furthermore, create a special space for writing so that when you enter it, you are prepared to work. It ought to serve as a reminder of your commitment to completing this book. Once more, the objective is to just start writing without stopping to think.
The Second Phase – Carrying Out the Work
It’s now time to get down to business. Here, we’ll focus on the next three tips to help you finish the book:
5. Determine a Total Word Count
You’ll need a total word count for your book once you’ve started writing. Consider 10-thousand-word increments and divide each chapter into roughly equal lengths. Here are some general guidelines:
- A pamphlet or business white paper is equal to 10,000 words. Reading time: 30-60 minutes.
- 20,000 words equal a brief eBook or manifesto. At approximately 18,000 words, the Communist Manifesto is an example of this. Reading time: 1-2 hours.
- 40,000-60,000 words equal a typical nonfiction book or novella. The novel The Great Gatsby is an example of this. Three to four hours of reading time.
- Long nonfiction book / standard-length novel = 60,000-80,000 words. Four to six hours of reading time.
- 80,000-100,000 words = lengthy nonfiction book / novel. This range includes the Four-Hour Work Week.
- 100,000 words or more = epic novel / academic book / biography. Six to eight hours of reading time.
6. Set Weekly Deadlines for Yourself
You must set a weekly goal. To keep things objective, make it a word count. Celebrate your accomplishments while remaining honest about how much work remains. Besides, you must have a goal and a way to measure your progress. With a deadline, this is the only way I ever get any work done.
7. Obtain Early Feedback
Nothing hurts more than finishing a book, only to have to rewrite it because you didn’t let anyone read it. Have a few trusted advisers assist you in determining what is worth writing. These can be friends, editors, or family members.
The Third Phase – Completion
How do you know when you’ve completed your task? The short answer is no. Not at all. So here’s what you do to complete successfully the book-writing process:
8. Make a Shipping Commitment
Finish the book no matter what. Set a deadline for yourself or have one set for you. Then broadcast it to the rest of the world. Send it to a publisher, put it on Amazon, or whatever it takes to get it in front of people. Simply do not put it in your drawer. Besides, the worst thing you could do is give up once this thing is written. That will not motivate you to do your best work, nor will it allow you to share your ideas with the rest of the world.
9. Accept Failure
As you near the end of this project, be aware that it will be difficult and that you will almost certainly make mistakes. Thus, accept failure and give yourself grace. That will keep you going, not your elusive perfection standards.
10. Create a New Book
Their debut novel embarrassed the majority of authors. But if you don’t write the first book, you’ll never learn the lessons you’d otherwise miss. So, put your work out there, fail quickly, and try again. This is the only way to progress. Lastly, you must practice, which means that you must continue to write.
Conclusion
Even though writing a book is a herculean task, it is not impossible You are capable of completing this. Be sure to keep your focus and take things slowly. And who knows, perhaps you’ll be holding a published copy of your book by this time next year.
