{"id":1916,"date":"2021-07-13T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-07-13T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/livingwriter.com\/blog\/?p=1916"},"modified":"2021-07-14T19:33:43","modified_gmt":"2021-07-14T19:33:43","slug":"how-to-write-a-book-2021-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/livingwriter.com\/blog\/how-to-write-a-book-2021-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Write a Book (2021 Guide)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

You\u2019ve finally gotten the resolve to write a book. After mulling over it for days and nights, you\u2019ve decided to put your thoughts into paper and become the author that you envision yourself to be. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, this is easier said than done. Writing a book is a monumental task, perhaps to the point that it can force you to change your lifestyle. It\u2019s no wonder that many people ask how to write a book — how did Jane Austen, J.K Rowling, Stephen King, and many other great names in literature who came before you manage to do such a feat?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do you write a book? Anyone who has asked this question might get quite different answers, but all will walk through the same, arduous road. Irrelevant of your genre, the challenges and pitfalls manifest all the same to all writers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this piece, I will walk you through proven and tested tips for writing a book. Although each writing process is unique to each writer, I hope that you can take our bits of advice and apply it to your own style.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prologue to the Journey<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Your Writing Space<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"how
Make Space For Your Writing<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Before you deliberate on how to start writing a book, you need to make sure that you are in your best writing position, literally. Find a space in your home where you feel the most productive.<\/strong> If it has to be that couch in your living room paired with pillows and blankets, then so be it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make sure that this space is comfortable and clean. Even if mess and clutter might be more up your alley, seeing that you\u2019re going to be holed up here for quite a long time, a bit of organization might serve you better. Of course, this is purely personal preference, so freely modify your area as you see fit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your writing space also includes the tools of your trade. This covers your laptop\/personal computer to the physical items that you will need while writing. For your laptop, you will need a word processor, which can range from the reliable Microsoft Word or writing companion software like LivingWriter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You might also want to stock up on papers, pens, and other stationery that would prove to be useful for your writing process. You don\u2019t want to be in the midst of your writing sprint only to be cut off by the lack of paper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Start Writing a Book<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Big Idea<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In learning how to write a book, you have to settle with your big idea. This big idea is crucial, because not only will it define your entire book, but it will also motivate you throughout your writing process. Since you\u2019re going to write about this idea for a long time, it should be something you\u2019re passionate about and something that elicits strong emotions from others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do you know you\u2019ve got the<\/em> big idea? Tell others about it, whether it be your family or friends. Gather their reactions, and if they\u2019re not very enthusiastic about it, your idea might need more refining or rethinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Research<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Of course, you don\u2019t have to rip out your big idea from the depths of your own imagination. Or your idea might need a bit of a polish and you just can\u2019t find the missing piece for it. A great deal of learning how to write a good book revolves around exhaustive research.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For nonfiction, this step is easily a no-brainer, but fiction writers shouldn\u2019t skimp on research. In writing a book, you are trying to establish trust to your readers, and trust is best founded on facts. If your book makes sense, your readers are more likely to get hooked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thankfully, LivingWriter sports the Research Board<\/em>, a great place to keep all your notes in an orderly manner. Article links, images, and relevant documents stay in one place that you can easily get to in a jiffy. You don\u2019t need to scour your browser history or your messy table if you have it all right at your fingertips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Research can also entail market gauging. You can check the current trends in your chosen genre, and see what you can offer that can interest your audience. This can help ensure that your book can stand a chance in the competitive market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, if you\u2019re learning how to write a book about yourself, you might need to research best selling biographies and how they are written. Understand the trends in the market and put in your own twist from your big idea. That way, you can ensure that your book can get noticed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Basic Outlining<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Part of learning how to write a book is knowing how to write an outline. Whether you\u2019re an architect-writer or gardener-writer<\/a>, it\u2019s a necessary skill for writers to outline their ideas. It doesn\u2019t have to be comprehensive or detailed, as long as it tells you the basic structure of your book. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, there\u2019s a fact that you might need to understand about outlines. An outline can be, and is usually, organic and dynamic. It doesn\u2019t have to be an irrevocable document, but a guiding paper that evolves as you write<\/strong>. Allow your outline to be changed, modified, or transformed. Not only can it be liberating, it can also make your book better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your early outline can be as simple as a single page. This part effectively fleshes out your big idea and breaks it into manageable chunks of work. Your outline doesn\u2019t even have to be well-structured as your English teacher would have asked out of you. This outline should serve you, and so write it as you see fit, whether with Arabic numerals or simple sentences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"how
LivingWriter\u2019s Outlines and Chapters<\/em> is a powerful outlining tool.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

LivingWriter\u2019s Outlines and Chapters<\/em> is a powerful outlining tool. It integrates your outline directly to your chapters, so anytime you have access to your early outlines (that\u2019s drag-and-drop-able!) when you write your first draft. It can even get as deep as having subchapters, if you\u2019re a meticulous outliner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Character Cast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Although this is likely more applicable to fiction writers, nonfiction writers can take a piece or two from this section. Basic outlining can entail basic characterization, showing the interactions of your characters. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although you don\u2019t have to fully flesh out each character at this stage, it can be helpful to have simple notes about each character, even adding significant events that might affect their development or the plot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learning how to write a book involves not just careful story plotting, but also meticulous character development. If characters are well-written, readers can empathize with them, increasing their engagement with your book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"how
Story Elements<\/em> is one of LivingWriter\u2019s most compelling features<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Story Elements<\/em> is one of LivingWriter\u2019s most compelling features. If you\u2019re the type who can spend hours on character sheets, Story Elements<\/em> is your perfect outlet of writing about your beloved characters. Not only does Story Elements<\/em> allow you to store notes (and images and nicknames!), it also integrates into your writing, popping at the side if ever you forget some people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Writing Routine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a herculean task to finish a book, and so you will need to match it with a massive shift in your lifestyle. It\u2019s easy to make an excuse of not having enough time to write, almost as easy as finding a way to watch that latest Netflix series episode. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bluntly speaking, you will have to sacrifice something. You have to actively make time for writing<\/strong>, and you have to stay with it for as long as you can. Stick to days and times when you are free, consistently free up those designated times and write. When writing becomes a habit, you\u2019ve almost already guaranteed that you\u2019re going to finish your book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Deadline and Writing Goals<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

How long does it take to write a good book? The answer is, well, it depends on you. However, what\u2019s more important is to establish a deadline honored above all<\/strong>. A deadline can keep you motivated to finish your book. Of course, your deadline should be reasonable and realistic, accounting for possible setbacks and holidays (give yourself a rest, too!). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To help you honor your deadline, you can tell your family and friends about it. Not only can they remind you about it, they can also chastise you for not following through your own deadline. It can be another source of motivation outside of your big idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alongside a final deadline, you can also create writing goals for chapters or word counts. You can determine a tentative word count for each chapter, helping you pace your book, or have a daily writing goal, letting you know when to stop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can calculate either of these from your expected manuscript word count, and just like your deadline, they should also be realistic. You might need to do some quick writing exercises or gauge yourself in the first few days of writing to know your writing pace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"how
Chapter<\/em> and Story Goals<\/em> let you set goals for your manuscript.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

LivingWriter\u2019s Chapter<\/em> and Story Goals<\/em> were designed to fulfill these needs. LivingWriter automatically calculates them for you, even taking into account your off-days. What\u2019s even more special about it is that if you go over or less than your daily writing goal, LivingWriter automatically adjusts your goals so that you don\u2019t miss out on your sacred deadline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Write a Book (Finally)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A Compelling Opener<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A common advice to most new authors in knowing how to write a book is to pay special attention to the first part of your book. If the first chapter, or maybe even the first sentence, doesn\u2019t generate enough interest for the reader to read on, then it might end up back on the bookshelf, never to be opened again. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The stakes are high on your opening sentence, so it makes sense to mull it over and find one that grabs the reader\u2019s attention and simply wants them to flip to the next page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are some opening sentences from famous bestsellers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n