Starting writing a book? What do you need to know?

Every single book started with a glimmer of an idea, a passing comment, a story that someone couldn’t shake.

But what happens next?

How does that dream go from concept to published book? Where on earth do you start?

I have wanted to write a book since I was a little girl, but I never thought I would be in a position to actually take a step towards achieving that dream.

About 5 years ago I decided that I was going to finally write the memoir that had been bouncing around in my head for about a decade.

I took myself off to a quiet place for a week, and I used that time to make a start, so that when I returned to the hustle and bustle of family life with two children, I already had a strong grasp of what I was doing.

I grabbed a new notebook, and as it was a memoir, the first thing I did was to make a note of all the key events that I knew I needed to include. Then I arranged the anecdotes and stories into what I thought was an order that would work well, and I started writing.

That’s the thing about memoir, you are writing your life, what you know better than anyone else in the world. From that moment on, apart from contacting my Dad to check a couple of timelines with his trusty diary, it all just came pouring out.

 

Book Two

No two books are ever the same.

At the start of this year I had an idea for a very different book. A book I never dreamed I would have the confidence to start writing – an historical fiction novel. I have never written fiction. I was terrified and excited.

People often believe that when you write fiction you can just make everything up, so it’s easy. Not true.

Anything that is set in a different time or place, needs research around customs, eating, clothes, language used… with historical fiction the research reaches a whole new level.

Have I started writing it?

I started researching the area and time my book is set at Christmas. As I write this, I still haven’t started writing the actual book.

I have looked at the Snowflake Method and Save the Cat. I have spent more time thinking about how this story should begin than anything I have ever done in my life.

I have files and notebooks full of research, ideas, and timelines. My word count is still currently zero. But that’s ok.

Why?

Well, there are two reasons. The first is legitimate, the second is the fault of my mind monkey.

The primary reason I haven’t started yet is because I haven’t quite got to the point where I have all the information I need. I am visiting the place where my book is set next week, and I just know that going back there, soaking up the atmosphere, doing more research and being totally immersed will spark something. As soon as I get back the words will just flow.

The second reason is less rational. I already love this book so much, that I want to make sure I do it justice and that I get it right.

This is foolhardy because there was never a perfect first draft written. That is just a little bit of fear around writing a new genre, but I have that under control for now, and I will get cracking as soon as I have the last few pieces of the jigsaw that I need.

The gestation period of a book

Books take time. They need to develop and deepen. We must get to know them, intimately, before we can even begin to think they are ready to be released into the world.

I am still determined to have a first draft completed before my 50th Birthday, next summer. In fact, I am determined to start writing it before the end of September, and I will.

I have almost all the information I need now, and although I will keep researching and learning throughout the writing of this book, I feel that I am almost ready to start now.

What other say about how should you start writing a book?

According to The Wordling you should:

Step 1: Determine your why. The most important question you can ask yourself before you begin work on a new book is why you’re doing it.

Step 2: Choose your book idea.

Step 3: Create space in your life for this project.

Step 4: Outline your book.

Step 5: Set writing goals.

Step 6: Start writing your first draft.

 

According to ProWritingAid you should:

1. Decide What Your Book Will Be About

2. Research and Outline Your Book

3. Structure Your Novel

4. Use First- or Third-Person Point of View

5. Create a Memorable Main Character

6. Choose a Cosy Space to Write Your Book

7. Create and Follow a Good Writing Routine

8. Use Editing Software Like ProWritingAid

9. Write the First Chapter of Your Novel

This all sounds like good advice to me, but as you can see, they aren’t the same list, because there isn’t only one way to start writing a book.

Everyone is different, and the right way to start writing a book, is however you want to start. There are as many ways to write a book as there are books.

My promise

I am a strange cross between a planner and a pantser. I like to have the majority of my research done, and to have a rough outline, before I put a single word down. Then I like to have the freedom to follow my instincts, once I start writing. I do think that all the advice above is good though. Knowing who your main character is, who you are writing for, what perspective you are writing in etc before you start, makes the whole process easier in the long run.

The most important thing is to enjoy the process, however you choose to start.

That is my only advice really, start.

As I write this I realise how hypocritical I sound, but I promise that by the end of the month I will have a word count to share with you that is greater than 0, and hopefully as high as a few thousand.

Time will tell.

 

 

If you have written a book, how did you start? I love finding out other people’s methods and tips.