How to write your book in 10 simple steps

The chances are, you’ve always wanted to write a book but haven’t quite got round to it yet. Perhaps you’re in the process of jotting thoughts down or maybe the ideas are still floating around in your head. Either way, here are our top tips for getting that manuscript written.

1.     Keep a notebook/note app handy at all times so you can write down ideas as they pop into your head. You may think you’ll remember them later, but you invariably won’t. Scribble them down before they’re lost into the ether.

2.     Find somewhere comfortable to write, whether that’s in bed with pen and paper, on the bus with a tablet or at your desktop computer. The chances are, you’re not going to be writing your book from a log cabin in the Alps, so start closer to home.

3.     Set a publication target. Think about when you’d like to publish your book and work back from there. Whether you’re self-publishing or going down the traditional publishing route, it can take six months to a year (sometimes longer) to get your finished manuscript to the printer, so allow plenty of time for that.

4.     Put some bite-sized steps in place. How many hours of research do you need to do? How many words do you need to get down each day or week to get your book ready in time for your publication deadline? How long are you going to allow for redrafting?

5.     Write! This may seem obvious, but if you never get any words down on the page, you’ll never end up with a book. It doesn’t have to be carefully planned or even good – just start writing. You can always come back and amend/recraft/scrap it at a later date.

6.     Be disciplined. Once you have your daily/weekly word count in mind, stick to it. Ditch the smartphone, turn off the telly, banish the cat and focus on your book.

7.     Don’t procrastinate! The second you sit down you’ll remember the 73 other things that need doing. Get anything super urgent done and off your mind, then keep a list of anything else you think of, but make sure you have reached your writing target before you tackle those.

8.     Avoid editing as you go along. If you keep looking back at what you’ve done so far, you’ll never make it to the end.

9.     Take a break. Once your book is finished, stay away from it for at least a week, or ideally longer. This way you’ll go back with fresh eyes and will be more objective when it comes to making the necessary changes.

10.  Redraft at least once before reaching out to agents/publishers. The first draft will not be your finest work. It’s really just a skeleton that you can flesh out and make beautiful as you rework it. If you hit a wall, ask a friend, beta reader or – better still – a professional structural editor to give you some constructive feedback.

Already written a book? We'd love to hear from you! Visit our website, emirapress.co.uk, for more information.