How to FINALLY write your book this year

How long have you been wanting to write a book? (Are you counting all the years in your head?)

After I published my first book, women I never suspected came to me and told me that they’ve always wanted to write a book. Each of them wanted to write a book for years. 

This broke my heart. These women, amazing accomplished women who have overcome great challenges, haven’t chased after one dream that seemed too daunting. 

To their credit, it is daunting – if you don’t know what you are doing. The first time I wrote a book took me two years to publish. The story I wrote was completed in two days, but publishing? 2 long years. I kept pushing off publishing because it was SOOO overwhelming.

There was so much information I didn’t know which content to follow, which advice would be best for me and my book and lastly, which order to follow these random pieces of information I found. Many times I wanted to give up. Many times I felt incompetent. Many times I thought others could publish my story better than I could. 

The only thing that kept me going was little conversations with myself that said, “Anything we want to do can be learned” and “Everyone starts somewhere”.

 

Step #1:

DO YOUR RESEARCH! 

This first step is very much overlooked and should not be. Researching sets the foundation for the success of your book. The information you gain from properly researching can help you make important decisions at every step of the writing and publishing process. 

In my Self-Publish Program, I provide as part of the lessons, guides that help you answer specific questions that lead you to the right information to use for your book. 

Researching is hard enough without the right kind of guidance. 

Here are a few things to consider when you research your genre:

Go to your local library and find books that are similar to your book idea

Search these book titles online as well

What format are they?

How many pages?

What is the writing style?

How many words?

Who is the target reader?

What is the purpose of this book?

What 3 words would you use to describe this book?

What 3 emotions does the story make your and other readers feel?

How is the cover design?

And so on…

Take as many notes as you can and try to follow this theme when creating your book. I am not saying to COPY (that’s plagiarizing). I am saying to create a similar style. 

You want to create a book that is reflecting what is already working for that genre. Don’t try to stand out TOO much when it comes to book size and style. 

Step #2:

PLAN YOUR PLOT

Now that you have your notes and know what kind of book you want to create, you need to organize your ideas. 

You can organize your book using a basic timeline, a basic plot structure, or an outline depending on the genre you are writing. 

For a basic plot structure, you would follow something similar to; exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.  There is nothing wrong with this plot structure, but I think there is more that should be included. 

I developed the Plot Planner which organizes storytelling into 12 Keys: Hook, Introduction, Problem, Plan, Obstacle, Progress, Midpoint, Obstacle 2, Depths of despair, Realization, Final attempt and Resolution. 

Or you can use The Ultimate Author Book Planner which can help you organize EVERYTHING for your book and your life schedule. It’s pretty useful and you can check it out here.

Once you decide what will be in your book and the order in which it will flow, writing becomes a whole heck of a lot easier. In fact, this is why so many struggle to write. They don’t know what they are actually writing. 

Plan your plot, so you can write quickly and make the process enjoyable. Which brings me to the next step…

Step #3

CREATE A ROUTINE

Now, I know you’re busy. This is exactly why you need to create a routine and system to help achieve your dream of becoming an author. 

When I wrote my first couple of books, I was a working mom with two kids. I pretty much stayed up late EVERY NIGHT to work on these things because no other time in the day allowed for undivided attention. I am the type of person that wants to finish what I’m working on in one sitting. This is very hard to do as a mom. 

So late nights are great if that works for you. Just create a routine that will actually work for you and your family.

Step#4 

WRITE!

You have everything you need to start writing. Research, a plan, a routine and now the exciting stuff! Try to enjoy this part! Be creative! Get into the zone! Do whatever you need to to get the book DONE-even if it is all just word vomit. 

Make a goal and a deadline to finish expecting it to be terrible. If you can do this, you will have accomplished the hardest part!

Go get writing!

If you want to learn how to make all of these steps with more resources and tools, access the class now! 

I can’t wait for you to start writing your book! Becoming an author can happen sooner than you think!

Good luck!

You are the author of your life story. How will you write your next chapter of life?