You’re ready to learn how to write a book…

And as a first-time author, you’re nervous about this new journey because you want first-time success (who doesn’t?).

But today’s publishing industry has become noisy. There is endless information out there on writing a book, and with the rise of self-publishing, it can be overwhelming, to say the least.

Related: Traditional Publishing VS Self-Publishing

If you’re ready to take the leap, become an author, and learn how to write a book the right way, start with this resource to get your wheels in motion.

As a first-time bestselling author, I can tell you that writing my first book was one of the most rewarding and challenging experiences of my life.

I experienced a lot of growth and pushed through many hurdles, in my mind and process, and being able to learn how to publish is something I am truly proud of.

And I’m ready to share the steps with you, so that you can go on to write a book of your own, and find success as a first-time author.

Here’s how to write a book step-by-step:

1. Develop a writer’s mindset
2. Create a book writing space
3. Choose a book writing software
4. Determine your book’s topic
5. Create a book outline
6. Finish writing your manuscript
7. Edit your book
8. Choose a compelling book cover
9. Format your book
10. Prepare to launch your book
11. Publish your book
12. Market your book
13. How To Write A Book: FAQ

Ready to start writing your book? Let’s get to it!

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Part 1: Successful Foundations When Learning How to Write a Book

In Part 1 of this article, we’ll start with the basics. While the steps in this phase may seem to be unrelated to actually writing a book, they are very important.

In fact, setting yourself up for success will help you build the foundation needed to start, and finish, your book.

We’ll talk about developing a writer’s mindset to get you in a frame of mind that’s conducive to writing. Then, we’ll discuss how to create a writing space that will boost your writing productivity, and how to choose the best writing tool for your needs.

Tips for success as you write a book:

1. Develop a writer’s mindset. This is all about embracing a mentality that will inspire you to start, and finish writing your book.
2. Create a writing space. This is all about how to set up the ideal writing environment that fits your routine.
3. Use a tool to write your book. This is all about deciding on what you will use to write your book.

Step #1 – Develop a Writer’s Mindset

Writing a book takes time, work, and dedication. It’s easy to romanticize being a well-known bestselling author like J.K. Rowling or Octavia Butler. However, every author has a story on how they started out just like you or me and overcame adversity to get where they are today.

Related: Imposter Syndrome for Writers

For example, Rowling, who had no job and was on welfare at the time, would take her children to a coffee shop and write.

Butler, who was a dishwasher and potato chip inspector at the time, would wake up at two or three in the morning to write and wrote herself mantras to keep her focused on her goals.

The first step in learning how to write a book is learning how to overcome mindset blocks, deal with self-doubt as a writer, and develop a healthy frame of mind that will help you achieve your goals.

Let’s review three things you can do to circumvent roadblocks and crush challenges to keep you focused on your goal — writing your book.

#1 – Hold yourself accountable to writing your book

It’s not good enough to write only when inspiration strikes. There will be days where writing is the last thing you want to be doing.

But you have to treat your writing as if it were a job, or a duty. This means holding yourself accountable, taking action, and showing up every day.

Here’s how to hold yourself accountable to writing:

1. Set a writing goal. If you don’t have a goal, procrastination will get the best of you. Determine a writing goal, including how many days a week you intend to set aside time to write, and set a deadline or due date for when you’d like to have parts of your book.
2. Block off chunks of time to write every week. If you’re looking for a place to start, consider one to two hours per day five days per week. The more often you write, the more you’ll develop a habit for it, and making time for writing won’t be that much of a struggle.
3. Set a daily word count goal. Consider how many words you want to write each week. Use this Word Count Calculator to determine the goal you should aim for, depending on the type of book you are writing. For example, if your goal is 3,000 words per week and you have five chunks of time blocked off to write per week, then you’d need to write 600 words per day to achieve your weekly goal.

I write early in the morning before I do anything else for 1-2 hours. I find that as I go throughout the day and work on other projects my mind isn’t as fresh or sharp by the end of the day. However, sometimes I have ideas throughout the day that I jot down in Evernote to jump-start the next morning with a working outline.

#2 – Give yourself permission to be a writer

This might sound silly, but it’s true: you need to give yourself permission to be a writer. Many aspiring authors get stuck in their mindset, which prevents them from initiating and completing their writing projects.

Even successful authors feel like they aren’t good enough. Acknowledge your feelings, but then shake them off, and move on with your day.

Hear this: You don’t have to be an expert to get started. You don’t have to feel 100% confident to be a good writer. You don’t even have to be all-knowing to teach others about your experiences or knowledge.

Here’s how to give yourself permission to be a writer:

1. Get inspiration from other writers. When you’re just getting started, you might feel alone in your journey. But take comfort in the fact that other successful writers and creative geniuses all started at the bottom, just like you. Many of them overcame seemingly impossible hurdles, but persisted with their writing dreams, anyway. Research some of your favorite authors, and read up on their stories to discover the issues they overcame to find success.
2. Accept where you are. Acknowledge your feelings of self-doubt, and then release them. It’s okay to experience moments of feeling discouraged, but it’s important that you don’t let those feelings hold you back. Accept that you are beginning your journey and that this is a learning process.
3. Use positive affirmations. Your thoughts have a huge influence on your abilities. What you think starts to become your reality, so make your thoughts good. Use positive affirmations about yourself and your writing abilities to pump yourself up. You can even read inspirational writing quotes from famous authors for motivation.
4. Overcome imposter syndrome. Even expert authors and writers feel like imposters every now and again. While it’s okay to experience feeling inferior, you have to eventually get over those thoughts and push on towards your goals. Connect with other aspiring writers, get yourself a mentor, and join writers conferences or writing communities.

#3 – Announce your intention to write a book

The best way to hold yourself accountable for your work is to let others know your goals. Is there someone you trust or a group of people in your network you can appoint to check in on progress?

Perhaps there is someone else you know who is trying to write or someone who is a seasoned writer who can serve as a mentor. If so, try to have regular check-ins with this person.

One way to keep these meetings consistent is to schedule a lunch or coffee date. Talk about your progress and perhaps any challenges you’re facing. They may be able to bring a fresh perspective.

I told my wife, Ariele, and several of my closest teammates from work about my intentions to write my first book. We had regular check-ins to talk about progress. Everyone helped keep me motivated and had different feedback that helped progress the book. Without them, it would have been a lot more difficult to write Inbound Content in the timeframe I did.

Step #2 – Create a Book Writing Space

The second step in how to write a book has to do with your environment. Where you choose to write will have a major impact on your writing productivity.

Find creative spaces where you can produce your best writing.

Sure, some might argue that they can write anywhere as long as they have the tools to write. But where we choose to write play a huge role in our writing motivation and focus.

Questions to think about: Where do you work best? What surroundings inspire you most? Identify them and make it a best practice to work there consistently.

Here are creative writing spaces to write your book:

1. Coffee shops (classic)
2. Library
3. Beautiful park or somewhere in nature
4. A dedicated writing nook at home

My main writing location is the dinette in my Airstream. I do my best work when traveling; I wrote the manuscript for my book in six weeks as I traveled the U.S. and worked full time from the road.

Step #3 – Choose a Book Writing Software

The next step in how to write a book has to do with writing tools.

In 1882, Mark Twain sent to a publisher the first manuscript to be written on a piece of technology that would transform the writing industry: the typewriter.

Nowadays, we have computers with word processing and the internet where you can find an endless assortment of useful book writing software and apps that are meant to help you be an efficient and effective writer. If you’re writing a novel, check out this guide to novel writing software.

You may be tempted to overload on apps because you think it’ll help elevate your writing. But honestly, less is more. The truth is that the right tools and even self-publishing companies make writing and publishing easier and more enjoyable.

Instead of overwhelming you with all the possible apps in existence, below is a list of three tools I recommend adding to your writing toolkit today (and they’re free).

#1 – Google Drive

• You can organize all aspects of your project in folders (research, outline, manuscript drafts, etc.)
• You can host files for your projects like images, photos, etc.
• You can use Google Docs as a word processor.
• You can enable offline access and work on your files even when you don’t have an internet connection, such as when you’re traveling.
• You can collaborate easily with others, avoiding version control issues.
• You can access it from just about any device (laptop, smartphone, tablet, you name it).

Google Drive is one of the most versatile cloud storage services available today. But Google Drive is so much more than cloud storage. Here’s a list of ways you can use Google Drive to help you write your book:

Plus, Google will give you 15GB of free storage just for signing up.

If you’re new to Google Drive, here’s a list of resources that can turn you into a pro. (FYI, if you have a Gmail account, you have a Google Drive account.)

#2 – Grammarly

Grammarly is an editing tool that helps you identify grammatical errors, typos, and incorrect sentence structure in your writing.

Download the web extension and Grammarly will edit most anything you type in a web browser (yes, it will work with Google Docs).

You can check out this Grammarly review if you’re on the fence about this one.

#3 – Evernote

Inspiration can strike at any time. Capture those thoughts and ideas as they happen in Evernote. You can even sync Google Drive and Evernote. I recommend doing this, especially on your mobile device.

#4 – A Notebook & Pen

Don’t underestimate the power of good ole’ fashioned pen and paper when it comes to writing a book, which is arguable the only essential writing tool out there.

Even if you write your entire manuscript on a trusty writing software program, you’ll still want to have a dedicated notebook available for the times when inspiration strikes and you can’t access a computer.

Every writer should have a notebook handy for random ideas and thoughts. You can jot these down in your notebook, then revisit them and digitally store them in your book writing software when you’re back at the computer.

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Section 2: How to Write A Book

Now we’ll move on to how to actually start writing a book. This is the part that seems simple, but can be more difficult than you realize.

However, once you get through the process of actually writing your book, you will gain momentum to finish it, and eventually publish it.

We’ll show you how to write a book in these steps.

Step #4 – Determine Your Book Topic

It all starts with an idea. What’s your book idea?

Maybe you already know exactly what you want to write about. Or maybe you have a million ideas floating on in your head, but you don’t know exactly where to start.

One of the most common pieces of advice for aspiring first-time authors is “write what you know.” A simple phrase that’s meant to be helpful, yet it begs so many questions.

If you’re struggling with a book idea, try jumpstarting your creativity by experimenting with these writing prompts.

Whether you’re writing a non-fiction how-to guide or a fictional post-apocalyptic thriller, you need to form a connection with your audience and you can do that through emotion. The best way to create emotion with your reader is to understand them.

Here’s how to determine what you want to write about and how to write it in a meaningful way.  

#1 – Identify your target reader

The key to producing meaningful content is understanding your reader. You can do this by creating a reader persona — a semi-fictional representation of your ideal audience.

To get started with your reader persona, consider answering the following questions:

1. What’s the reader’s age? Are you writing a self-help book geared towards mature adults, or are you writing a guide for teenagers? The age of your reader will set the tone for your writing and book’s context.
2. What’s the reader’s education level? Are you writing a book for PhD candidates, or for recent high school graduates? Depending on the answer, your writing style, verbiage, and word choice will vary.
3. Does the reader prefer visuals? Think about your book’s potential topic and if visuals like charts, graphs, tables, illustrations, screenshots, or photographs will be expected.
4. What is this reader interested in? When you write a book, it’s less about what you want to say, and more about what your reader needs to know. As you start to brainstorm a topic and write your book, always have a reader-centric approach.

The more you know about your reader, the better experience you can create for them.

When you set out to write a book, you have to think about your reader wants to know more than what you want to say. Make your book about the reader: what do they need to know in order to learn what you have to say?

My main audience is marketers and business owners at small- to medium-sized businesses. They’re strapped for time and don’t need another theoretical resource. They value real-world examples to help visualize what tips and strategies look like in action.

#2 – Write about something that intrigues you

You need to write about something that spikes your curiosity, something that keeps you coming back day after day. Something that lights you up and that you’re invested in.

I can’t stress the importance of this enough. If you choose a topic to write about for the wrong reason, don’t expect to create something that people will love.

You need to be able to stick with it through dry spells and bouts of non-inspiration. Your own desire to hear the story will be what drives you through.

I’m a practitioner at heart and curious about finding ways to use content marketing to stand out and compete online. It energizes me to explain complex problems in an easy-to-understand way. Inspiration for this project is what kept me coming back to work on it day after day.

#3 – Research potential topics

In our digital age, we can conveniently research topics from the comfort of our own home.

Google makes it easy to research just about any topic. Have multiple ideas for your book? Do a search on Google to learn more.

Here’s a list of ways to research your book concept on Google:

• What content already exists? Are there already books written on this topic? If so, which ones performed well? Why did they perform well? Is there anything interesting about their content that enhanced the reader’s experience? Is the market over-saturated on this topic?
• What influencers exist on the subject? Are there well-known authors on this topic? Who are they? What can you learn from them?
• What do you need to learn? Are there specific things you need to learn to create a rich, meaningful narrative (ex. geography, culture, time period, etc.)?

I performed extensive research before writing the manuscript for Inbound Content. It was important for me to understand what content was already out there, which content was performing well, and most importantly, how could I make my book unique. This is exactly why I included homework after each chapter to help my readers build an action plan that they could implement immediately, something I noticed wasn’t typical in other marketing books.

#4 – Choose a topic you can write about quickly

Writing your first book is invaluable because it’s a serious learning experience. The process of actually writing a book and completing it will make this book a personal success for you, because of how much you will learn about yourself and your craft in the process.

Don’t get hung up on a topic. If you’re struggling with deciding what to write about first, go with the topic that you know best. Choose a topic or experience that you can write about quickly, with limited resources.

Here’s how to find a topic you can write about quickly:

1. Write what you can teach right now. If you had to teach a lesson on something right at this second, what could you confidently teach? This is a topic you know well, that requires limited additional research, and what you can quickly create content for.
2. Write about a powerful experience. Each individual is unique in their experiences. Everyone has gone through something that changed them. Reflect on your life and think about one experience that sticks out about your life.
3. Write about a life lesson. What has life taught you? What unique observations have you made about the world? Think about your own life lessons, and reflect on how what you now know can help others in the world.

Step #5: Write A Book Outline

Once you know what you want to write about, you’re probably eager to start writing.

Keep in mind these words from Mark Twain: “The secret to getting ahead is getting started. The secret to getting started is breaking your complex, overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one.”

Let’s review what you can do to create a clear book outline for your book that you can use as a roadmap.

#1 – Create a mindmap

You have an idea, now it’s time to hone in on just exactly what that idea is. With a mindmap, you can drill your topic down into sub-topics. It will help you get all of your ideas out and onto paper.

Here are the steps to mindmap your book’s topic:

1. Get a blank piece of paper and pen.
2. Set a timer for 10 minutes.
3. Write your topic in the middle of the page.
4. Jot down all of your ideas related to your book’s topic.
5. Do not stop writing until the timer goes off.

Once you have mindmapped your idea, you should have a full page of brainstormed thoughts, ideas, and concepts. You can then review what you’ve written, and begin to organize them. This will come in handy when it comes time to actually start plugging in content for your book outline.

#2 – Write a purpose statement

In one sentence describe the purpose of your book. A strong purpose statement will explain to readers why they should consider reading your book.

This will also help you stay focused as you begin drafting your outline and writing your book. It will prevent you from straying from related topics, and going off on tangents.

When you have trouble solidifying what your book is about, review your purpose statement.

Inbound Content‘s purpose statement: People who read this book will learn a step-by-step process on how to do content marketing the inbound way.

#3 – Create a working title

A working title is a temporary title used during the production of your book. Identifying your book by giving it a name can help set the direction.

Once you finish your work you can revisit the title and update accordingly. Don’t get too hung up on this step; think of the title as a placeholder. It isn’t permanent, but it will be helpful to begin with one in mind.

If you need help thinking of a working title, use our Nonfiction Book Title Generator.

Inbound Content’s working title was Content Marketing Simplified. Once I completed the content, I updated it to something more fitting based on the content I created.

#4 – Write an elevator pitch for your book

An effective elevator pitch should last no longer than a short elevator ride of 30 seconds. For context, 30 seconds equals about 65-70 words.

Having a prepared elevator pitch will come in handy throughout your book-writing process. It will help you nail your book’s purpose and topic, and it will help the concept become crystal clear not only for yourself as the writer, but for your potential readers, too.

As you ask family and friends to hold you accountable to writing, and as you connect with fellow writers, authors, and mentors, you will be asked about your book. Having a prepared elevator pitch will help you nail the answer without hesitation, each and every time.

Pro tip: Take the time to nail your elevator pitch. You want to be ready to have a clear, confident answer when people ask about your book.

#5 – Draft a working outline for your book

It’s time to draft a working book outline! Just like the working title you created, this outline is a work-in-progress. The outline can change throughout your writing process, and that’s okay!

However, it’s super helpful to start with an outline so that you know where to begin, and have a general roadmap for where to go as you start writing.

Use the related concepts and sub-topics you organized in your mindmap, and start plugging in some content into your outline.

If you want to create a solid foundation for your book in just a few hours, consider this BookMap method. It’s a template you can follow to quickly pull together all the subjects you want to write about and organize them into topics that will become chapters of your book.

Your outline will do wonders for you once you start writing. It can help you avoid writer’s block, and increase your writing momentum and productivity. Instead of wondering what to write about in the next chapter of your book, you’ll already have an idea of where to start with your book’s outline.

#6 – Fill in the gaps with more research

After your working outline is completed, it’s important to do further research on your topic so that you can fill in any areas that you missed or forgot to include in your original outline.

Research is important, but writing is more important when it comes to completing your book. So, make sure you balance time for research wisely.

Do not get too caught up in your research that it prevents you from writing your book. Take some time to research, but set a limit. Always go back to writing.

Here’s how to research when writing a book:

1. Use online resources by doing a Google search on your topic.
2. Read other books that have been written about your topic.
3. Listen to expert interviews, podcasts, and audiobooks related to your topic.
4. Read scholarly articles and academic journals within the subject or industry.
5. Search archives, collections, historical journals, data records, and newspaper clippings to get clear on events, dates, and facts about your topic, especially if you’re writing about the past.

#7 – Frameworks on how to write your book

If your book can follow a framework, this will make it easier to keep your writing organized and relevant.

By choosing a format or structure for your book’s topic, you’ll be able to align your outline in a way that will be helpful when you start to write each chapter.

Most nonfiction books can fall into a specific framework, or a blend of frameworks. It’s better to start with a specific framework, then tweak it as needed as you continue writing.

Here are common nonfiction book frameworks to consider when writing a book:

1. Modular: Use this framework if you have a lot of information or concepts that can be grouped into similar topics, but don’t need to be presented in a specific order.
2. Reference: Use this framework if your book will be used as a reference that makes it easy for readers to quickly find the information they need.
3. Three Act Structure: Use this framework if you plan to use storytelling in your book, where you have three main parts like a Set Up, Rising Action, and Resolution.
4. Sequential: Use this framework if your book reads like a “how to” with a specific set of steps.
5. Compare & Contrast: Use this framework if you need to show your reader how two or more ideas or concepts are similar to or different from one another.
6. Problem & Solution: Use this framework if readers need to be able to clearly identify a problem and understand the solution.
7. Chronological: Use this framework if each main section of your book represents a specific time or order of events.
8. Combination: If your book will fall under two or more of the above frameworks, then you will need to use a combination framework that’s adjusted to your book’s specific topic.

Step #6 – Finish Writing Your Book Draft

For many, the hard part isn’t getting started with how to write a book… it’s in actually finishing it!

Commit to finishing your first draft, and you’re already succeeding!

Here are our top tips to keep the momentum going as you start taking action after learning exactly how to write a book.

#1 – Break your book writing into small chunks

Now that you have your book’s outline and framework, it’s time to get started with writing.

Like a marathon, your manuscript is essentially a puzzle made up of many smaller like-themed pieces. Your finished book may be 262 pages long, but it’s written one word or thought at a time. Pace yourself and stick to your consistent writing schedule.

If you approach your book writing by focusing too much on the larger picture, you can get overwhelmed. Write chapter-by-chapter.

Related: How to Write a Book Chapter in 7 Simple Steps

Start with baby steps by chunking your writing into small pieces. Set milestones, and celebrate the small wins.

Here are some tips for breaking your writing into small pieces:

1. Write one chapter at a time. Focus on one piece at a time, not the entire puzzle!
2. Set deadlines to complete each chunk of writing. Break your goal down into smaller sections, then set individual deadlines for each section.
3. Structure your writing time. Follow a routine for writing that includes time for research (if needed) and review. For example, if you dedicate two hours each day towards your book, set 30 minutes aside to review your outline so you know what you’re writing about, then 30 minutes to research anything that you need to clarify, then one hour to actually writing.
4. Celebrate small goals. As you accomplish milestones towards your end goal, schedule and celebrate your small accomplishments. It can be something as simple as going out to dinner, buying yourself a small gift, or doing a little dance.

Pro tip: Set deadlines to complete the chunks of writing you need to meet your goal. This will help you better prioritize your blocks of writing time and word count goal.  

#2 – Build the momentum to finish writing your book

Writing is difficult. Writing an entire book is even more difficult.

When you’re in the weeds with writing your book, there will be days you want to give it all up.

There will also be times when you have writer’s block, and even though you know what you should be writing about, it all sounds wrong as you re-read what you’ve written in your head.

Here’s how to fight writer’s block and increase your writing momentum:

1. Don’t edit as you write. Writing and editing requires your brain to work in two very different ways, so don’t do it! It’ll slow you down, and keep you at a standstill. Keep writing, and save the editing for later. It’s okay if what you type out doesn’t sound perfect; it’s all about getting your words out first. You can clean them up later.
2. Switch up your scenery. If you usually write at home in your own writing space, maybe it’s time to freshen up your writing environment. Try writing in a public park, or at a coffee shop or library on the days when writing is the last thing you feel like doing.
3. Take a break. It’s okay if you’re too mentally worn-out to write. Take a small break, and then get back to it. When we say small break, we mean take a day or two off from writing (not a month or two!).
4. Get creative inspiration elsewhere. Binge-watch an exciting new show, read a novel, take a walk in nature, go to an art gallery, or be around people you love. While you aren’t writing when you do these things, it can help your brain reset and re-charge so you can return to your book.
5. Write about something else. Sometimes, when we’re so engulfed in our book’s topic, it can be self-limited. If you’re feeling less excited about writing when it comes to your book, maybe it’s time to flex your writing muscles in a different way. Try doing some creative writing exercises, journal, or write a poem.

#3 – Collaborate with others

There’s strength in numbers when it comes to accomplishing a huge task.

And, more importantly, it can help you feel less isolated in what can be a very solitary act. Writing a book can be lonely!

Let’s review three things you can do to collaborate with others when writing your book.  

#1 – Connect with your original accountability partner or group

A great example of finding accountability partners is through a group or self-publishing company much like what Self-Publishing School does with their Mastermind Community on Facebook.

#2 – Attend a writer’s conference

Sharing space and networking with other writers can do wonders for your own writing habits and momentum. By attending writer’s conferences, you’ll be in a room full of people just like you.

Not only will you be able to network with and learn from expert authors who have been where you are, but you’ll also be able to meet fellow aspiring writers going through the same process as you.

#3 – Collaborate with thought-leaders on your subject

Ideal for non-fiction writers, this collaboration could mean asking well-known people in your industry to write a quote that brings value to your content.

Pro tip: When promoting your book launch on social media, consider creating a buzzworthy piece of content like an engaging blog article and have your audience share it.

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Section 3: Bring Your Book to the Finish Line

Now it’s time to put on your marketing pants and spread the word about your book!

Step #7: Include Front & Back Matter

There are elements outside of your book’s content that you’ll need to write, such as a preface, foreword, notes, etc. I suggest waiting until after you’ve written your book. This way, not only can you better connect them to your story, but you won’t waste time editing them in case you make changes to your manuscript.

Let’s review eight final touches you may or may not need to wrap up your book.

#1 – Preface or Introduction

Draw in your readers with a compelling story. This could be a personal anecdote related to your topic. Tell them what the book is about and why it is relevant to them (think of your reader persona from earlier).

#2 – Foreword

A foreword is typically written by another author or thought leader of your particular industry. Getting someone credible to write this can add a lot of value to your readers.

#3 – Testimonials

Just like with the foreword, try and find respected, well-known people in your space and have them write a review about your book. The best way to promote yourself is to have someone else speak on your behalf.  

#4 – Author Bio

How do you want to be portrayed to your audience? Readers love knowing personal details of an author’s life, such as your hobbies, where you live, or what inspired you to write this book.

Pro tip: The author bio on the flap of your book might be one of the first things people read when deciding whether or not to read our book. Keep it short, but make sure it packs a punch (just like your elevator pitch).

#5 – Glossary

A glossary is an alphabetical list of terms or words relating to a specific subject, text, or dialect with corresponding explanations. If you are writing nonfiction, especially a topic that uses a lot of lingo or uncommon words, make sure to include a glossary to create a better experience for your readers.

#6 – Notes

If you are writing nonfiction, keep track of your sources as you research and write. A clear bibliography will only add to your value and credibility.

Being nonfiction that was based on a lot of research and experiments, I made sure to include a notes section in Inbound Content. It included citations, stats, image sources, etc.

#7 – Images

Using images is a nice addition to your content. Images can create a more engaging experience for the reader while improving the communication of hard-to-grasp concepts.

Pro tip: Include a figure number on each image. This way you can easily reference it in your text. You can organize images by leading with the chapter number first, then image number after the bullet point. For example, the above image is image 22 in chapter 11 of Inbound Content.

#8 – Edit Your Book

Once your manuscript is completed, it’s time to edit your book, which involves self-editing first, then having a thorough professional edit done.

The success of your book will depend on its quality, and a thoroughly edited book is a solid way to increase your book’s quality.

Even the best writers require editing, so don’t feel discouraged by this process. In the end, you’ll be glad you followed the editing process, and will have a completed, error-free book that you can be proud of.

#1 – Self-edit your book

Remember when we told you not to edit your book as you wrote? Well, now’s your time to shine in the editing department.

Once you’re book is written, it’s time to go through and read it line-by-line.

We recommend printing your entire manuscript out on paper, then going through each page and making edits. This will make it easy to spot errors, and will help you easily implement these changes into your manuscript.

There’s a specific strategy to self-editing; if you start this process blindly, it can be overwhelming, so make sure you understand how it works before diving in.

You’ll want to read for structure, readability, and grammar and word choice. There are a few different ways to self-edit book, and it will depend on your own preferences.

Here’s some tips to self-edit your book successfully:

1. Read your manuscript aloud as you edit.
2. Start with one chapter at a time.
3. First, go through and edit the chapter for structure revisions.
4. Second, find opportunities for improving the book’s readability.
5. Third, make edits for grammar and word choice.

Once you complete your self-edit, you can make your revisions on your manuscript, then get ready for the next round of edits.

#2 – Hire a professional book editor

Now, it’s time to hand your book off to a professional editor.

As meticulous as you may be, there are bound to be some grammatical or spelling errors that get overlooked. Also, a professional editor should be able to give you feedback on the structure of your writing so you can feel confident in your final published draft.

Related: Explore Line Editing vs Copyediting

#3 – Re-write sections of your book’s draft using your editor’s feedback

Now it’s time to improve your book using your editor’s feedback. Don’t be discouraged when you get your manuscript back full of edits, comments, and identified errors.

Think of these edits as opportunities to improve your book. You want to give your reader a polished, well-written book, and to do this, you need to edit and re-write.

This doesn’t mean you have to re-write your entire book. You simply have to go through your editor’s feedback, and make any revisions you think are necessary.

If there is something you don’t agree with your editor on, that’s okay. In the end, it is your book, and you are in control of what you want to add or take out of the manuscript.

Just be sure your revisions are coming from a place of sound reasoning, and not pride.

#4 – Finalize your book title

If you haven’t done so already, it’s time to revisit the working title you created for your book earlier in the process.

You need to finalize your book’s title before you move on to the next steps!

Related: Book Title Generator

If you need help deciding on a title, cast a vote with your target readers and mentors in your author network. Send an email out, post a social media announcement, or reach out through text with people that are considered your book’s ideal reader.

Get feedback on your title by asking people vote for their favorite. Include the top three choices, then use the crowdsourced results to narrow it down even more.

Once you have a title selected, don’t worry too much if you’re not 100 percent sold on it yet. Even if the title turns out to not be effective, you can always change the title depending on the publishing platform you select.

#9 – Choose a Compelling Book Cover

Don’t judge a book by its cover? Please. People are definitely judging your book by its cover. 

The cover design is generally the first thing that will pique a reader’s interest.

Related: Self-Publishing Services

You can find freelance graphic designers to create a compelling book cover for you on many online marketplace sites like Upwork, Reedsy, and Snappa. You can even check with a local graphic design artist for a more hands-on approach.

Tips for creating an effective book cover:

• Whitespace is your friend. Make it a best practice to choose a design that pops, but doesn’t distract.
• Make it creative (non-fiction) or emotional (fiction). Do your best to connect the art to the story or use it to enhance the title.
• Consider a subtitle. Think if this as a one-sentence descriptor on what this book is about.
• Test two or three designs. Send a few designs to your trusted accountability group to get their honest first impressions and feedback.

Keeping these best practices in mind, I chose a cover for Inbound Content that was simple but made the title pop and let the subtitle provide the promise to the reader.

Step #10 – Format Your Book

Now that you’ve written your manuscript, it’s time to format it so you can visualize the final product — your book!

Formatting your book is an important step because it has to do with how your book will appear for the reader. A successfully formatted book will not cut-off text, incorrect indentations, or typeset errors when printed or displayed on a digital device.

If you’ve already decided to go with self-publishing versus traditional publishing, this is all on you. But if you’re not tech-savvy and don’t have the time to learn how to format your own book, you can hire a professional to do this part for you.

If you know how to format a book correctly and to fit your book distributor’s specification, you can do so in Word or Google Docs. You can also use a program like Vellum Software.

Otherwise, we recommend hiring someone to do this professionally, as it’s one of the most important aspects to get right. Check out Formatted Books if that’s the case for you.

Step #11 – Prepare to Launch Your Book

Before you hit “Publish” it’s time to do the groundwork to start prepping for your book’s launch, and your ongoing book launch and book marketing strategy.

There are a few steps involved in this process, which we’ll outline below.

#1 – Build your book’s launch team

This is an ongoing step that you can start doing when you are finished with your rough draft. As you send your book to the editor, designer, and formatter, you can organize a launch team in the meantime.

Your book’s launch team is essentially a group of individuals that are considered your target readers. They will help you promote your book, and will be actively involved in the launch process of your book.

#2 – Develop a marketing mindset

It’s time to start shifting your mindset from writing to book marketing. Think about your strengths and areas of growth when it comes to sales and marketing.

Acknowledge any fears or self-limiting thoughts you have, then push past them by remembering your book’s purpose. Know that the power of sharing your knowledge and experience through your book is stronger than any fear that might hold you back.

It’s important to understand in the marketing phase that your mindset has a huge role in the success of your book. You can write the best book in the world, but if you don’t channel some energy towards marketing, no one will know it exists.

#3 – Create a book launch strategy

There are a lot of moving parts when it comes to your launch strategy, so it’s important to draft up a plan before you publish your book.

Your launch strategy is basically how you plan to create momentum with your book. Think of it like a business launch. There’s always a big celebration to announce the launch of the business. It’s the same for your book.

Step #12 – Publish Your Book

The self-publishing process steps will vary on whether you are publishing your book as an eBook only, or whether you plan to publish it as a print book.

It will also vary depending on which self-publishing companies you plan to work with. There are many self-publishing platforms to choose from, including Amazon’s KDP and IngramSpark.

If you plan to work with a different book publisher, you’ll want to follow their guidelines.

Once you’ve hit publish on your platform, you can start implementing your launch strategies and marketing strategies, which we’ll cover in the next section.

Related: How to Publish an eBook on Amazon

Step #13 – Market Your Book

Now that your book has been published, it’s time to sell it and get your words into the hands of as many readers as possible.

This is where your marketing strategies come into effect, and this is how you can really leverage your book sales and build a book business.

Here are six ways to market your book:

1. Paid advertisements
2. Free advertisement opportunities
3. Local or in-person events
4. Content marketing on Google and Amazon
5. Be a guest on podcasts and websites
6. Speaker opportunities

FAQ: How To Write A Book

If you read through this guide and have specific questions, here are some other Frequently Asked Questions we get often.

How long does it take to write a book?

The time it to write a book depends; on average, it takes self-published authors anywhere from 1-6 months, but that can be shorter or longer depending on your writing habits, work ethic, time available, and much more.

How much do authors make?

There is no set amount that an author can make. It largely depends on so many factors, such as the genre type, book topic, author’s readership and following, and marketing success.

For a full report on this, please read our report on Author Salary

Writing a book is not a get-rich-quick strategy by any means. While a book can help you grow your business through techniques like a book funnel, unless you sell hundreds of thousands of copies of books, you likely will not earn six figures from book sales alone.

How much money does an author make per book?

The money an author makes per book sold is calculated by the royalty rate. The royalty rate varies depending on the publishing medium, and company.

Use this Book Royalties Calculator to get a better idea of your potential earnings.

How much does it cost to write and publish a book?

With Amazon self-publishing and other self-publishing platforms, the cost to publish is actually free. However, it costs money to hire professionals that actually produce a high quality book that you will be proud of.

For full details, read this guide on Self-Publishing Costs.

Can anyone write a book?

Yes, anyone can write a book and thanks to the rise of technology and self-publishing, anyone can publish a book as well.

Traditional publishers used to serve as the gatekeepers to publishing, holding the power to determine which books would be published – preventing many stories from not being shared, and many talented authors from not being recognized.

Thankfully, this antiquated system is no longer the only option. This also means that because anyone can technically publish a book, it is extremely important that you create a quality, professional book that’s of the highest standard.

You Wrote A Book!

And that’s it! Those are the steps to take to learn how to write a book from start to finish.

You can and will write your first book if you put forth the effort. You’re going to crush this!

Trust the process, create a consistent writing schedule, and use this practical guide to help you through the journey.

Are you ready to write your book?

Wondering how to write a novel? 

Writing a novel is a dream for many people. But only a handful of could-be-published-authors succeed in writing, publishing and selling a book.

The compulsion to write is powerful, and for most serious authors, they must get those stories out and into the hands of readers who need them.

This is where you come in. The world needs your novel. 

Writing a book is hard work, and it takes more than a dream to make it happen. You must be willing to work hard every day to turn that dream into a forged reality.

How do I begin writing a novel, you ask? In this post, I’m going to dive into that. Every novel begins with an idea, and this idea eventually becomes a novel enjoyed by thousands of your most trusted fans. 

Here’s how to write a novel: 

1. Understand what a novel is
2. Determine the type of novelist you are
3. Start with a novel idea
4. Read novels in your genre
5. Set up a writing space
6. Research your story’s idea
7. Create a writing schedule
8. Write the novel’s premise
9. Create your characters
10. Plot the key milestones in your novel
11. Write your rough draft
12. Edit your novel
13. Revise, rewrite, and finalize
14. [Checklist] How to write a novel

#1 – What is a novel? 

A novel is a work of fiction told through narrative prose focusing on characters, action (or drama) and a plot with a certain degree of realism.

A novel is structured with a set of master scenes, at least two pivotal complications (also known as inciting incidents), and the ultimate climax that blows everything off its hinges. You will have several master characters and minor characters interacting through dialogue and action to drive the plot forward with relentless speed.

The amount of words in a novel depends on the genre and type of book. Most books on average range from 60,000 to 90,000 words for most genres. 

Some books are considered novellas and contain less than 30,000 words. For example, Ernest Hemingway’s classic novella The Old Man and the Sea is just 27,000 words, whereas Stephen King’s longest novel, The Stand, weighs in at just under 473,000 words (after he trimmed 500 pages!). 

For a break down of how many words in a novel by genre, check out How Many Words in a Novel? Exact Word Counts Per Genre.

Now that you know what a novel is, it’s time to determine the type of novelist you might be.

#2 – Know what type of novelist you are

Knowing if you are a plotter or a pantser will influence your entire writing style, so we want to nail this from the start.

The Plotter

A plotter is someone who spends a great deal of time before writing the book, creating a detailed book outline for their novel complete with master scenes, pivot points, and character bio profiles.

A plotter writes out every detail down to the smallest scene with a clear direction of how the book will begin…and how it must end. A detailed plotter generally won’t start writing until all of these details are worked out.

J.K. Rowling, worldwide bestselling author of the Harry Potter books, is a known plotter. Other known plotters are John Grisham (The Firm, The Pelican Brief) and James Patterson.

So, what is a pantser? A pantser is…the opposite of a plotter.

The Pantser

In short, the term pantser means “writing by the seat of your pants.”

You start with a seed of an idea and a few notes. You have a loose outline and some scenes but other than that, you begin writing your story.

Well-known pantsers are Stephen King, Margaret Atwood, and David Morrell (First Blood).

So, depending on the type of writer you are, this would influence how much time and energy you spend on drafting out an outline, storyboarding or scene creation, and character development.

Plotter and Pantser in Combination

You might not be a detailed plotter or a seat-of-the-pants pantser, but maybe you fall somewhere in between. Most writers do. 

My style is to come up with the overall story, the main characters, several master scenes, and the beginning or opening scene. I have a brief outline and a tentative title. I start writing to get momentum moving forward. The story could take a number of directions, and the only way I can find out is by writing the story.

Momentum is key when it comes to writing. If you can see just beyond the outline, your imagination will fire up when you put fingers to keyboard (or pen to paper).

#3 – Start with a novel idea 

Of course, every novel starts with an idea, or many ideas. Maybe you have a thousand different story ideas in your head or written down somewhere, but to move forward and write a novel, you need to commit to one idea. 

So, what’s the big picture of your novel? Try to write your novel idea in one sentence. 

It can be something broad, like: Tragic teen love affair that ends in suicide. 

Or, it can be something a bit more specific, like: Two teens, from rival families, fall in love and in a shocking twist of events, choose to die together rather than live apart. 

Whatever your novel idea is, write it down, and keep it at the forefront of your mind, even if all the details or concepts aren’t known yet. 

When it comes to story ideas, there are just a few rules to follow.

1. It must interest you. You’re writing 60k+ words of this novel so if you lose interest, you’re stuck and then you’ll stop writing. 
2. You have knowledge of this kind of book. If you write sci-fi, you must have read sci-fi a lot. Romance? You’re reading love stories every waking moment. Your passion for the book idea comes out of your passion for learning about telling this kind of story.
3. Test your idea. Talk about it and tell people 
4. Conflict: Can you identify the main conflict?

#4 – Read books in your genre

Stephen King said: “If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot. There’s no way around these two things that I’m aware of, no shortcut.” 

Agree with Stephen King or not, writers must read as much as they write. 

For one, it helps improve your book structure. By reading and paying attention to the structure of the books you like, when it comes time to write your own, this will come very naturally. This is true regardless if you are writing nonfiction, fiction or a memoir. Reading good writing helps you to become a better writer.

You need to read the authors writing in your genre to show you how it is done. If horror is a genre you want to master, you’d better start with Clive Barker or Edgar Allen Poe. Thinking of writing sci-fi? Pick up the books by Arthur C. Clarke (2010) or Frank Herbert (Dune).

Stephen King also says, “You can learn from bad writing as well: “Every book you pick up has its own lesson or lessons, and quite often the bad books have more to teach than the good ones.”

If you want to practice writing technique, a practice strategy is to copy passages out of your favorite books. Just read and type. This gets you into the habit of writing (even if it isn’t your material) and is training for the writing to come in your own book.

This technique works when you’re stuck in writing, too. Or you have a fear of writing (what we refer to as writer’s block) so whenever you are struggling to move forward, grab a book from your shelf, open to your favorite scene, and start typing it out. Just don’t publish it!

#5 – Set up a novel writing space

Before you start to write, ask yourself if your environment is the best place for writing.

Is it clean or cluttered? Can you focus or is your room filled with distractions? Are you alone or do you have friends, roommates and family members surrounding you? Is your space creative or chaotic?

In my experience, if you live in chaos (ex: noise, distractions, beeps, a loud TV) you’re setting yourself up for failure. You won’t get far with writing before you’re doing something else.

Over the years, I have learned to recognize what works and what doesn’t when it comes to preparing myself for pounding out words.

Here are a few ideas to boost author productivity and make your writer’s space something you can actually get writing done in.

Here are some ideas to set up a novel writing space: 

1. Display your favorite author photos. Find at least twenty photos of authors you want to emulate. Print these out if you can and place them around your room.  An alternative idea is to use the photos as screensavers or a desktop screen. You can change the photo every day if you like. There is nothing like writing and having your favorite author looking back at you as if to say, “Come on, you’ve got this!”
2. Hang up a yearly calendar. Your book will get written faster if you have goals for each day and week. The best way to manage this is by scheduling your time on a calendar. Schedule every hour that you commit to your author’s business. What gets scheduled, gets done.
3. Writing surface and chair. There are two types of desks and you should consider setting up your writing area with access to both. The first is the standing desk, which helps you avoid the unhealthy practice of sitting down for long periods. For sitting, you want a chair that is comfortable but not too comfortable. You can balance your online time between sitting and standing. For example, when I have a three-hour writing session, I do 50/50.
4. Create a clutter-free environment. If there is any factor that will slow you down or kill your motivation, it is a room full of clutter. If your room looks like this, it can have a serious impact on your emotional state. I believe that what you see around you occupies a space in your mind. Unfinished business is unconsciously recorded in your mind and this leads to clutter both physical and mental. Go for a simple workplace that makes you feel relaxed. A great book I recommend for this is the 10-Minute Declutter: The Stress-Free Habit for Simplifying Your Home by S.J. Scott and Barrie Davenport. 

#6 – Research your novel idea

You started with a novel idea, and now it’s time to drill into it a bit more with research. 

For instance, I’m writing a story where the main characters become involved in an international scandal that takes them from the U.S. to Europe, from London to Paris to Athens. They are pursued by a hit-squad of assassins with a lot of sophisticated weapons. At the end of the book, the protagonists escape via a submarine from Russia, only to be pursued by another submarine that ends in a big battle 3,000 meters underneath the ocean.

But wait a minute…

I’ve never been to Europe. And I’ve never handled “sophisticated weapons” that shoot real bullets. Submarines? I’ve read about them in Tom Clancy’s The Hunt for Red October. How do I write a book that requires so much know-how?

Research is a necessary part of your book when you learn how to write a novel. It must be believable. This is true regardless if it is a reverse harem story, sci-fi or an underwater action-adventure.

The details must be right.

You might need to talk to people with first-hand experiences taking place in your book. There could be technical details involving planes, subs, trains, guns, missiles, or robots. Geographical details might include street names, shops on those streets, or knowing what a particular street corner looks like even if you’ve never been there.

Fortunately, we have the Internet. Most of these things mentioned can be found within minutes. The challenge is in not getting bogged down in endless information and too many details. 

An interesting fact: When Tom Clancy’s first novel, The Hunt for Red October, was published, one former Soviet-watching intelligence officer made an accusation that “Clancy must have had inside information from U.S. intelligence personnel who intercept Soviet communications.”

How else could someone know so much? 

“That’s a lot of crap,” Clancy replied. In fact, his basic sources were hundreds of books like The World’s Missile Systems, Guide to the Soviet Navy and Combat Fleets of the World. Clancy also learned a lot from a war game called “Harpoon,” which the Navy used as an instruction manual for ROTC cadets.

Bottom line: You can learn so much from the books in your local library (Yes, people still go there to read), the worldwide Web, and interviews can be one of the best resources of all. 

Here are some ways to research your novel: 

• Visit your local library
• Conduct interviews with real people
• Gather data and info from “reliable resources” on the Internet
• YouTube videos
• Reading books in your genre (mentioned previously)
• Refer to Atlases and World Almanacs to confirm geography and cultural facts

Keep it simple and to the point. Give readers what they need to know and no more. The best books to read use research to drive the story.

#7 – Establish a writing schedule

Before I set myself up with a schedule and writing goals for each day and every week, I would usually write when I felt inspired…and that wasn’t very often.

As prolific author William Faulkner has said: “I only write when inspiration strikes. Fortunately, it strikes at nine every morning.”

So there you have it. There isn’t any magic or secret formula. You learn how to write a novel by writing every day no matter the weather condition or your shoulder aches.

The single biggest reason people don’t get a book written is lack of commitment to the writing process, and not the book itself.

How do you establish a writing routine? Well, some writers would say:

1. Show up at your desk like any other job. 
2. Take five minutes to review your story notes.
3. Be clear on what you’re writing.
4. Type the first word
5. Type the second word.
6. Continue typing for 30-45 minutes.

When I get asked the best way to write, whether you’re learning how to write a novel or a nonfiction book, these are the steps I teach writers.

Different authors have different writing routines:

• Haruki Murakami wakes up at four a.m. and works for five to six hours
• W.H. Auden would rise at six a.m. and would work hard from seven to eleven-thirty when his mind was sharpest.
• Stephen King sits down to write every morning from eight to eight-thirty.
• Henry Miller once created a writing schedule that included the steps to his daily routine. The first step is: Work on one thing at a time until finished.

Whatever routine you decide to follow, remember that the focus is on preparing to write. The routine you implement will be your method for building a successful career as an author.

Create a writing routine that works for you. What time will you write each day? How many words will you target each writing session?

#8 – Write the premise of your novel

Setting up everything to write is great. You made it this far! But we need a story to write, and at the heart of every story is an overall premise.

A premise is your novel’s “big idea” or “big picture view.” So the question is, “What is your story’s premise?”

Write out the idea for your book in 40-50 words. I gave you a couple of samples here. This is your pitch and it has to be good. This nugget has to fire you up so you show up to write every day. 

Here are a few examples of story premises: 

1. A group of Navy Seals are sent on a black-ops mission to investigate the discovery of a United States submarine that vanished over 30 years ago. After discovery, the SEAL team is infected one-by-one with a deadly virus that has found its way into the abandoned ship 2000 meters beneath the surface…
2. A couple of paleontologists and mathematician are among a select group chosen to tour an island theme park populated by dinosaurs created from prehistoric DNA. While the park’s mastermind assures everyone that the facility is safe, they find out otherwise when the predators break free and go on the hunt.
3. A young farm girl and her dog are whisked away to a magical land by a tornado, only to come face to face with a wicked witch that has vowed revenge for the death of her sister. The girl meets several friends along the way and together they journey to the land of Oz to find the wizard that can send her back home…

Did you recognize any of those story premises? 

#9 – Create your characters

Your characters help tell your story, and play a huge role in guiding readers through your storyline. 

It’s time to create your characters, and since each story has main characters and minor characters, we’ll walk you through this process. 

Knowing how to build life-like characters is a huge step in knowing how to write a novel successfully.

No matter which type of character you are creating for your novel, it’s important to make them believable. Think of the type of person your character is, and make them as realistic as possible. 

Initial questions to consider when you create a character are:

• What motivates them?
• What is their character name?
• What are their flaws?
• What is their purpose?
• What do they look like?
• What’s their personality type?

#1 – Create a Protagonist/Main Character

Every story needs a hero or heroine. But your main character doesn’t always start out as a hero. He or she may be an ordinary citizen one day and suddenly forced into a situation where they must take action or suffer the consequences.

Your protagonist must be…

• Challenged throughout the novel. There will be a series of scenes described as incidents or pivot scenes when everything is changed when the hero will be challenged to act in a way that pushes them out of their comfort zone.
• Realistic and believable. They have a weakness that makes them vulnerable.
• In pursuit of a goal. By the end of the novel, this goal must be achieved.
• Changed for the better. By the end, your main character will become a better person after winning against impossible odds.

Create a character portfolio for your main character. This includes personality type, physical features, recognizable habits, profession, and background. You don’t have to go into an extensive background check for the sketch. Save this for the actual writing of the story.

The conflict arises when your main hero’s goals and motivation conflict with everyone else, especially the antagonist villain. Your story will be crafted around this conflict, leading to the inevitable defeat of the villain, sometimes at the great sacrifice made by the hero.

You can use this to map out your character’s adversary, too.

#2 – Create an antagonist

Your antagonist is the villain, the bad guy, the character who is out to stop your hero/protagonist. Both characters have similar goals—to overcome the other in hopes of winning the big game, whatever that may be.

The antagonist is motivated by something they absolutely must have and are willing to go to any lengths to get it. This goal is revealed right away in the novel and becomes the driving force behind the novel’s pacing.

As with the protagonist, your villain’s motivation has to be so strong, they are willing to do anything, go to any distance, to achieve it.

This results in a massive, edge-of-your-seat climax. 

The essence of your novel can best be described as your protagonists’ world clashing with the antagonist. Both characters try to bring balance to this world by overthrowing the other. If you learn how to write a novel with this goal in mind, you will be on track to write a gripping novel with scene-after-scene built on conflict.

Related article: Character Development

#3 – Sketch out your minor characters

These are the characters that drop in and out of a novel, or they appear for a brief moment to deliver a message, play a part in the protagonist’s journey, but their appearance is brief.

If you are a pantser, you might just drop these characters in as you write as I do, based on a moment of imagination. For a plotter, your minor character might have a few lines buried inside your outline.

Make a list of your minor characters that will appear throughout the book. You don’t have to go into any lengthy descriptions. Keep details brief and remember: If your character isn’t engaged in the story, they shouldn’t be there.

#10 – Draft Your 5-Key Milestones

You have your characters mapped out. But now you need scenes for them to carry out the story. The next step in how to write a novel is to carve out the scenes and plot the events in your story.

In fiction, most novels follow the “5 Key Milestones Approach.” There could be dozens of scenes in your book, but the critical scenes are the events that turn everything around.

Here is the 5-Key Milestones Approach: 

1. The Opening Scene/Setup
2. The Inciting Incident
3. The Pivotal Complication
4. The 2nd Pivotal Complication
5. The Climax

The majority of novels, TV shows and movies (depending on genre) follow this formula. Your readers are trained to expect this kind of pattern. So, we must deliver to satisfy their expectations. 

#1 – Opening Scene/Setup

The opening scene is telling readers the kind of story to expect. You must connect your reader to your character. Connecting a reader to a character is done in several ways. You can show off a strength, reveal a weakness, or share an in-character insight. Each of these gives the reader a hook into the character, helping them to understand why they should follow along.

Here are the steps to create an opening scene:

1. Create a compelling first paragraph
2. Introduce your main character
3. Foreshadow the conflict
4. Elicit emotion
5. Leave the chapter on a cliffhanger (to keep them reading)

#2 – The Inciting Incident, or Point-of-no-Return

A decision is made or action is taken that changes everything. There is no going back after this happens. This is the event that sets the chase up or pushes the main character onto a path they have no choice but to take. This is known as the inciting incident. The inciting incident is the moment in your story when your hero’s life changes forever. It is the ‘no-going back’ moment, where nothing that happens afterward will return your hero’s world back to normal.

When this happens, it is full speed ahead and stays that way until the climax. The inciting incident is the doorway they walk through and can never return until things return to normal. That doesn’t happen until the end of the novel after the climax. But by then, your hero has changed and might decide she never wants to return back to the way things were.

#3 – Pivotal Complication: The First Slap

The first slap is the moment in our story when everything that our hero has gained is lost in one swift action. Your hero is brought down to nothing. All gains are lost, and your hero’s situation has never been bleeker. Readers need to squirm during this scene. Make your readers uncomfortable, and you will be distilling the storytelling down to perfect science.

#4 – Pivotal Complication: The Second Slap

If the first slap wasn’t enough, the second slap has to be worst. Just when your readers thing your hero has a chance, you take most of that hope away, save for a sliver.

In the second slap, we are setting up for the climax, which means that the hero needs to have an escape route. There should be some hope remaining. It is the “last chance”, the “only chance” for survival. If it fails, all is lost…

#5 – The Climactic Scene: “All Hell Breaks Loose”

No scene in your novel is as important a piece as your climax. Everything that has happened up to now has been building towards this climactic chaos. The reader must be so engaged with the climax that by the time they put down the book (or turn off the eReader) they are sweating bullets…and already searching for your next book on Amazon.

#11 – Write your rough draft

Now that you have all the groundwork prepared for your novel, it’s time to actually start writing.

I wish I could give you a magic formula for this step in the process on how to write a novel. There isn’t much direction here – you simply need to put pen to paper and start writing the story that lives inside you. 

All the prepping you’ve done now until this point means you are set up for success! You know what your novel is about, you’ve researched the idea, and you have your characters, plot, and overall storyline mapped out. 

It’s time to tell that story! This is where your writing schedule and the established writing space you’ve set up will come in handy. So go forth, and get to writing! 

#12 – Edit your novel 

Once your rough draft is written, it’s time for the editing process. First, you will self-edit your book, then send your novel to the editor for professional editing. 

Self-editing will take your book to the next level. It will also challenge you as a writer. The material you have spent the past three-months [or three years?] working on is ready to be brutally shredded. But we know this is okay. What is coming out through the other side will be a much cleaner, enjoyable read.

The first draft is the foundation of the book. The editing involves working with the real structure. 

Here’s how to self-edit your book: 

1. Verbally read through to find any glaring errors. 
2. Find areas where depth can be added to the story. 
3. Identify any missing details or inconsistencies.
4. Catch any repetition.
5. Watch for showing vs. telling. 
6. Avoid passive voice.
7. Do a spellcheck and grammar check. 
8. Don’t over edit.
9. Make sure there is a logical flow and order. 
10. Eliminate any fluff or unnecessary words. 

Once you’ve done a thorough self-edit, it’s time to hand your book off to a professional editor, to really trim away the fat and whip your book into shape!

The editing process can be one of the longest [and difficult] parts of writing. But it is here that you really grasp what writing is about.

During the editing stage, you can work through your fears and doubts. You can overcome the resistance to hold on to your work and ship it out to the world where it has influence.

#13 – Rewrite and revise your novel

Real writing is about rewriting. The rewrite (or revision) is the stage when your book really starts to take shape. Learning how to write a novel is just as much revising than it is actually writing.

Now that your rough draft is written and has undergone a series of edits, it is time to rewrite your book using the feedback you’ve received.

When it comes to rewriting, we don’t want this to take forever. In the old days, writers would spend a year or more rewriting their books. But that was before they had any tools, computers, or the Internet.

Your editor is probably the first person that will see your manuscript. They will (and should) give you the no-holds-barred truth about what needs to be fixed. This can be hard to take if you are sensitive to criticism, and many people are. 

So what do you do if you get your manuscript back and it has more red marks on it than white space?

Simple. You take it as constructive feedback and get to work. Maybe that isn’t the answer you wanted to hear, but there are two choices. You can question the corrections your editor has made, and in some cases, challenge them. Or, you can work through your manuscript line by line, accepting the corrections as you move through the book, making additions here and there.

Catching errors or story inconsistencies now is better than having readers catch them after they paid for your book. Trust me, I’ve been there, and I can tell you firsthand that it’s better to make it great now instead of later.

So, when it comes time to work through your editing, stick with your editor’s suggestions. Run through the book page-by-page, paragraph-by-paragraph, and line-by-line. Read it as if you are reading it for the first time.

Then, make the corrections, and rewrite any sections based on their advice.

When you are done, you’ll have a novel with a riveting storyline that is polished for your readers.

How to Write a Novel: Checklist

Now, if you have done your job as a good storyteller and author, you will have created compelling characters, intoxicating action scenes, and pivotal points in the story that keeps readers flipping pages.

You now have everything to start writing your novel, and while these steps are pretty clear-cut, they can still be difficult to complete.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed with learning how to write a novel, use the checklist below as a condensed version of the steps to reference.

Novel Writing Checklist:

1. I have created a comfortable and inspiring environment to write my book
2. My writing space has very little clutter
3. I have selected at least five books in my genre to use as models for my writing
4. I researched the heavy details of my book. The rest I can do as I write.
5. I understand the basics of writing a novel
6. I have determined that, when it comes to novel planning and writing, I am a plotter/pantser/50-50
7. I have determined my writing schedule
8. I am clear on the genre of my book based on my story IDEA.
9. I have sketched out my protagonist and antagonist profiles
10. I have a list of minor characters to include
11. I have crafted at least three master scenes for my novel
12. I am clear on the earth-shattering climax
13. The book is ready for an editor
    

Now that you know how to write a novel, it’s time to start writing!