
So, you want to write a book. You've got an idea or a concept that's been on your mind for a while. Maybe you've started scribbling down some thoughts here and there, or you've tried your hand at writing a first draft. But self-doubt is kicking in and the internet is overwhelming ... So where do you start?
Drawing on my years of experience as an author and an editor, I've put together this blog post for you with 10 things you can do before, while and after you start writing!
So let's dive right into it.
Before you start writing
You want to write your story, but where do you start?
1. Write down your idea(s)
Let's assume you already have an idea. The first thing you need to do is write it down. Don't kid yourself with "I don't need to write this down, I'll remember it!" Spoiler alert: you won't. Whether it's in one of the dozen fancy notebooks you're hoarding or in your phone's Notes app or, if you're one of those people, e-mailing it to yourself, write it down. In fact, make sure you always have something nearby that you can use to take notes and write down everything. Every random thought or idea you have - write it down. You never know when you might need that ridiculous concept you thought of at 3AM when you went to get a drink of water, or that weird conversation you "accidentally" overheard at the mall.
2. Read and research
Before you can write, you need to read. Read that again. Whether you're writing a detailed WW2 historical fiction or a children's book about ponies, you need to do some research. However, if you're a writer, research doesn't just entail reading a few Wikipedia pages about concentration camps or horse dressage. There are two key aspects to it:
Research your writing: You need to read as much as possible in the genre and age group you're writing for. Read recent publications and check out publishers' websites to know what the trends are. Find out what the word count margins are. If you can, take a writing course and read some books about writing. Make sure you know the conventions for the genre you're writing, as well as the requirements for the age group and target market. Don't make the mistake of thinking that writing for a 5-year-old is the same as writing for an 8-year-old. And please, for the love of publishing, please don't describe your book as being "for everyone from 8 to 80!"
Research your topic: This is where Wikipedia comes in but, let's be honest, ol' Wiki isn't exactly the most knowledgeable or reliable source. Seek out the most relevant websites or books on the subject, speak to experts and, if you can, visit some of the locations you're writing about. Get first-hand knowledge or an immersive experience wherever possible. You might not be able to spend a night in an old WW2 concentration camp, but I bet you'll be able to find a riding school with some horses you can ride.
3. Set the mood
For most of us, reading is something we do alone at some kind of desk. We don't always have the luxury of creating an immersive environment for our story world, and sometimes it's hard to place yourself back into your story when you sit down to write, so do whatever you can to place your mindset back into writing mode. Some ideas: make a board on Pinterest, make a mood board to put on your wall, create a playlist for your story, light some candles and fairy lights, lock yourself in a specific room, make a specific drink. Find what works for you and do it.
4. Characters
Some stories are character driven and some are plot driven, so your primary focus might either be on point 4 or on point 5, but the bottom line is still: you can't tell a story without characters. There are hundreds of character questionnaires and tools available on the internet, so go find something you like and stick with it. Know your characters inside and out. Know their dreams and fears, their hobbies, the scents and colours they like, their idiolect, their favourite childhood memories ... if they have any. Know their height and weight, their hair and eye colour, whether they have freckles or scars or tattoos. One of my personal favourite tools for creating characters is using personality typing tools such as the MBTI or Enneagram ... I could write a whole separate blog post just about that!
5. Outline/Structure
Here is where the hard work starts: turning your idea or concept into a plot. Some people, like me, are planners: we enjoy creating detailed outlines for every single thing that will happen in our novel. Other people are pantsers: they write 'by the seat of their pants' with as little planning or direction as possible. Some, called plantsers, are a good mix of both. However, even if you don't like planning and outlining, you need to have a good, working knowledge of how the three act structure works. Your story needs to have a solid beginning, middle and end - however you may choose to make it happen.
6. Get your tools
The last thing you need before you can start writing is your writing tools. Whether you prefer writing by hand, on a typewriter or a computer - make sure you have everything you need. Microsoft Word or Google Docs is of course the go-to for most authors, but there are some amazing writing websites and software out there for authors such as Scrivener, Plottr, Campfire and more. Don't forget about the essentials like dictionaries and thesauruses. And lastly, your writing fuel: snacks and drinks!
While you're writing
You've got everything in place and you're ready to put either the proverbial or literal pen to paper, so what's next?
7. Draft unhindered
Start writing and don't stop! Whenever you hit a roadblock, find out what's causing it and how to move on. Here are some of the most common things that can hinder us when we start working on a new manuscript:
Your inner editor: If you keep going back to edit, you'll never finish your manuscript. Here's what you can do instead: remember that notebook I told you to always keep on hand? Whenever you have an urge to go back and edit something, make a note for yourself that you can refer to during the editing phase.
The comparison game: Look, I get it. As writers we usually read a lot, and that often leads to despair when you compare yourself to your favourite author and think 'I'll never write like her/him!' And here's the truth: no, you won't ... but you're not supposed to. You're supposed to write like you. The only person you should compare yourself to is your past self, so you can see how far you've come. And always remember: never compare your first draft to someone else's published book.
Distractions: Have you ever sat down to start writing, but 15 minutes later find yourself deep down the TikTok or Instagram rabbit hole? The best bit of advice I can give a writer: get rid of your phone. Lock it up, give it to a friend or your partner, and make sure they don't give it back until you've reached your goal for the day. Whatever is distracting you from writing, get rid of it. (Note for legal reasons: this does not apply to human beings or animals. Please don't get rid of your spouse, kids or pets because they're a distraction.)
Writer's block: Ah, every author's nemesis. But I'm here to tell you: it's not as bad as you think. Firstly, don't panic. Secondly, look at what's causing the block. If it's something mentioned in my blog post, try the corresponding advice. If you're stuck on a particular scene or chapter, skip it and move on to another part of the story that you're more excited about. Or perhaps the problem is that you don't know your protagonist or antagonist as well as you should - so get to know them better. This might be a controversial opinion, but everything causing writer's block is fixable.
8. Keep motivated
Some people work better with internal motivation, some better with external. Find out which you are, and put things in place that will help you to keep going. Set yourself goals: daily, weekly or longer. If, like me, you're externally motivated, find a group of writing friends and keep each other accountable. Or join a challenge like NaNoWriMo every November.
After you've written your first draft
Congratulations, you made it! You've got a manuscript ... sort of. So now what?
9. Take a break
When you've spent so long writing your story, if can be hard to see things clearly anymore. Taking a break (for a few days or, preferably, a few weeks) will help you see things more clearly when you come back. Use this time to work on a new idea or do more research or just catch up on your TBR. Very importantly, though, don't lose your motivation! Take a break, but don't quit.
10. Reread, revise, rewrite ...
"Writing is rewriting." That's something my Creative Writing professor at university said often. Once you've cleared your head, reread what you've written, go back to your notes, and start rewriting. Some people edit the document in front of them, and others swear by rewriting every single word. Find what works for you, and do it. Once you've done your own edits, it's important to get feedback from someone else. This is where beta readers and developmental editors come in. (And this is where I jump in and remind you I'm a developmental editor and I would love to help you improve your manuscript!) Get someone whose expertise and opinion you value, and ask them to give you feedback on how to improve.
11. ... and recycle
Here's a bonus tip: don't delete, recycle! Did you do a lot of research about a particular character's profession, but that character ended up being cut? Recycle that character and the research and use it in a different story! Wrote a beautiful scene description that ended up slowing the pace too much? Adapt it for something else! I have a folder for every manuscript called "Deleted Scenes" that I'm saving until I have a story that character or scene or storyline fits into.
And there you have it! 10 (plus a bonus!) tips on how to write your first novel. Just one more thing to note: everyone is different, and there is no one size fits all advice. What I've done is simply to include advice that has helped me personally, or other authors I know. If you found something else that works for you, tell me in a comment below! And if this helped you, please share it on social media.

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