So You Want To Write A Book

This post is dedicated to all of the people who dream of writing a book. The “some day I’ll do it” people out there, just waiting for the right time.

If you are looking for a sign to finally try to write that book, this is it.

And I’m going to tell how to do it… sort of.

I can’t tell you how to get an agent, or how to get published or how to hit the lists, but I can tell you how to write a book. I’m not talking super technical. I’m talking about how to get you to the writing stage.

1. Read a lot.

In order to write well, you must read a lot. Read widely in your genre. That’s one of the first rules of writing. Read widely in your genre, and make sure they are newer releases so you understand the market. But I’m taking it a step further – read outside your genre too. You can learn a lot from other genres. So if you want to write fantasy, pick up a romance to help with character chemistry. Thrillers / Suspense are excellent for pacing and heart pounding moments! SFF is full of world building. I think you get my point. You can learn something from every genre.

2. Make Writer Friends

This one is really hard, I am going to be 100% honest. For a long time, I didn’t have writer friends. I saw the advice a lot, but I couldn’t figure out HOW to do it. It’s just been in the last year that I’ve made several. The best place I’ve found is on Twitter. (#writingcommunity, #amwritingromance). Here’s the thing – just go for it. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. No one will think you are weird (I mean, a few might but don’t worry about them). Having people to discuss writing and commiserate, share your work, discuss the week’s writerly Twitter drama is really invaluable. (I’m @nikkihodum. If you are looking for friends LMK and I’ll try to help). Some groups have twitter chats (I try to participate in the #momswriterclub chats every other Wednesday). Finding people who are around the same place as you and building that support system is really important.

And if you need a writer friend, I’ll be your writing friend because I get it. I’d be happy to help cheer you on and also help find friends writing in your genre.

3. Write

Just get started. Don’t wait for the perfect time or the perfect inspiration. If you want to write, write. If you wait for the perfect time, it will never come. Just go for it. And you don’t have to write every day or a certain amount each time. Write when you have a little free time. Maybe it’s in the morning before you start your day (#5amwriterclub on twitter FYI), or maybe like me you write after the kids are in bed. Maybe you squeeze in some writing on your lunch break. Maybe you send yourself 700 emails when you are trying to go to sleep (guilty). Whatever. Just find the right time for you and write. Jami Attenberg does a really great #1000wordsofsummer that can help get you started on a routine (She actually does it a few times a year). The goal is write 1000 words a day for 2 weeks. I do it every year and I love it.

4. Learn

There are SO many sources for information out there and they are FREE. (yes there are lots of really awesome craft books, but I’m focusing on free things because we are talking about getting started). I subscribe to Jami Attenberg and Kate McKean’s newsletters. A lot of the agents on twitter have great advice. Tess Sharpe (@sharpegirl) is a wealth of information on writing for traditional and self published. Follow some of your favorite authors! Not all of them talk about their process, but many do. There are also a lot of fantastic podcasts. I used to listed the Manuscript Academy religiously until I had my son. Interviews with authors are great I’m in awe of Jesse Q. Sutanto & she talks about her process on a few podcasts and her Instagram. Emily Henry also talks about her process a good bit.

One book I highly recommend for starting out is Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott. It was the first writing book I read and I think it is such a good way to start. I’d say it is more memoir, but really just focused on her writing. The highs and the lows, the struggles, but also the joy. Also the title is just … trust me, it’s a great read.

5. Understand

Understand that writing a book is marathon, not a sprint. You are going to read the same pages over and over. You might have to scrap chapters and start over. You might have to shelve a whole project because it isn’t working. You’ll have to kill your darlings (things you love). You’ll get frustrated and want to give up. You’ll probably scream, more than likely cry, feel like you can’t go on. It’s all normal. No one’s journey is the same, but also, we all understand. Writing a book is, unfortunately, a million times harder than you realize. But stick with it. Start, keep going, finish a project.

Here’s the other fun thing – the process that works for one author, one book, one act, one section, might not work for another. You will continually have to figure out what works right now. And that’s pretty normal too.

6. Keep Going

Don’t give up. Breaks are ok. They are necessary. It’s important to recharge your battery. Being creative is exhausting! But also, come back. Don’t give up. You are going to hit like a 30k mark (somewhere around there), and maybe lose steam. Feel like you can’t keep going. But you can. You can do it. Just don’t give up.

7. First Drafts are Shitty

This is one of those things I think people don’t realize and then get discouraged about. FIRST DRAFTS ARE SHITTY. They are going to be riddled with plot holes. You might head hop (change POV), or change tense midway through. You will use the same word on a page 75 times and not even realize it. Let it go, accept it will be shitty. You can’t edit a blank page, so get that shitty first draft done.

Things I don’t think you should worry about if you are just starting out – getting an agent, getting a book deal, being the next (insert whatever big name you choose). Just write. Focus on the writing. Focus on learning and growing. Focus on reading.

Now, let’s say you want to write but you don’t know what to write about. Here’s my suggestion: Think about your very favorite books. Write them down. Top 5, top 10, top from this year. Whatever. Then think about WHY they were your favorites. What are the genres? What were they about? What made you love them? You can do the same with authors. Who are your favorites? Who are your automatic buys? Why? And what genre? More than likely, what you like to read the most will be what you like to write the most.

So those are just a few of my how to get started writing tips. Have questions? Let me know!