How to Write Your Book: Step 1

The first step in writing your book is simply: Write. 

I know. Easier said than done. Where do you start? Do you brainstorm an outline first? Write the first chapter? Do research? What if you’re not a writer?

The answer is: Just start.

An entire book can seem like an insurmountable task. But every author started the same way you’re starting—one paragraph at a time. 

What makes it hard is we get ahead of ourselves. We want to know what the finished product will be, how our book cover will look, and if anyone will like it. We’re afraid of being judged. We’re afraid we’re not good enough. 

But when you’re starting a book, none of that matters. As Winston Churchill said: “It is a mistake to look too far ahead. Only one link of the chain of destiny can be handled at a time.”

If you have an idea for the first chapter—or the last chapter, or something in the middle—write that down. Write before your ideas leave you so you get something on the page. Don’t worry about the details yet.

The goal here is to “free write,” which means to write without judgment. Get all your thoughts, ideas, inspirations, anger, sadness and silliness onto the page. Don’t worry if it’s “good” or “bad” because it’s neither. It’s just the beginning. Keep that red pen in the drawer and have fun! The editing pen will show up later. If it shows up at the beginning, it will threaten everything you want to say until you end up with the same blank page you started with.

No Judgment Here

Musician Bria Skonberg says a big part of her songwriting process is to “take judgment out of it. Whatever comes out is perfect.” That’s exactly how you need to write. Whatever you put down on paper (computer/phone) is just a draft. There’s no need for judgment. 

A woodworker/writer friend of mine says it’s like starting a woodworking project. It looks funky when you first put the pieces together, but getting the structure is important. The sanding and polishing happen later.

If you never start and write a draft, you will never have anything to edit and make better. 

When you’ve written something, review it with fresh eyes and ask yourself, “What more do I want to say? What can I add?” Then write some more. Don’t edit or delete too much yet—no judgment! Keep growing your ideas. This is the substance—the structure—of your book.

Business book ghostwriter Derek Lewis calls the first draft the Frankendraft™, which is a good way to put it. It will be messy. It won’t always sound good or have all the bits and pieces yet. And that’s okay. If you keep working on it, it will slowly come to life. 

The Music of Writing 

You may have discovered or created a brand-new way to save money or time or create happiness. Or maybe you feel you’re just rehashing what’s already out there. You’re worried you won’t stand out from all the other authors or have anything truly life-changing to say. The good news is that every book—and every author—is different. Whatever you write is yours.

In music there are only so many notes and chords, but each songwriter puts them together in a different way. Your book will “sing” if it comes from you—your experiences, personality, attitude, and insights. No one else can put all that together the way you can. And someone out there needs your unique “song” to help them. 

Some people find outlines super helpful while others end up stuck on one and never go further. Sometimes it’s best to write first, see what you have, and create an outline from that. But if brainstorming an outline helps you get started, then do that first. Create a rough list of topics and fill in the gaps with your knowledge and experiences. 

Either way, eventually, you have to write something.

I hear some of you saying, “But I already tried that, and it didn’t work!” This is when you need to create a schedule, set some goals, and/or get an accountability partner. Write for an hour or even just 30 minutes every day. Or make a goal to write 300–500 words a day. Maybe write at a coffee shop or library on your way to or from work so you’re not distracted at home. Or record your book ideas during your commute and use a transcription service to transcribe it into a word document. (Note: AI transcription is not perfect and must be edited; keep a copy of the audio until you’re sure it’s correct.) Meet with your accountability partner once a week or month and share your progress. Join a writing group (online or local), or hire a book coach.

However you do it is fine—as long as you don’t give up. 

Are You a Writer? 

It doesn’t matter if you don’t think you’re a good writer. The great writers of history felt the exact same way. And just like them, you’ll develop your skills and improve. 

That doesn’t mean you have to go it alone. I highly recommend joining a writing group, meeting with and reading about other writers, and reading books on writing. My favorites are: 

• Write a Must-Read by AJ Harper: A must for every nonfiction author
• You Are a Writer by Jeff Goins: A short and easy read that will help you gain an audience, so your book has a better chance of selling
• Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg: An inspiration, especially if you want to write fiction, memoir, poetry, or really anything 

If you’re questioning whether you’re a writer at all, reading one of those books will help you answer that question. 

Yet the only way to know for sure is to give it a try. 

Persevere

If you mess up or don’t succeed right away, that’s okay. That’s why editors and writing coaches and ghostwriters like me exist—to help writers and nonwriters and people who are just plain too busy get your story out into the world, so you can help others with your message. Because everyone deserves to be heard. 

AJ Harper says, “If you have big dreams for your book, don’t ask yourself, ‘Who am I?’ Ask a different question. ‘Why not me?’” (Write a Must-Read, p. 37). 

So don’t give up. Persevere. Write now and judge later. Enjoy the process. Say what you need to say and bring your Frankendraft™ to life!

If you liked this, subscribe to my blog and download my free e-booklet How to Write Your Book: Everything You Need for Your Legacy on my website https://andreakuhlman.com.