How to write a book – steps and ideas for first time writers

Many writers get stuck in the “idea” phase – they have too many stories to chase and constantly jot down scenes and characters, but have trouble writing a WHOLE book. I had that problem too, which is why I changed my goal: instead of trying to finish a novel, I tried to write a strong beginning and reach the halfway point.

I did that 5 times, until I was comfortable with it, then went back and finished the second half for those books.

My point is that learning to write the first half of a novel is not the same as learning to write the second half. Writing a WHOLE book at once can be intimidating because there are so many pieces to get wrong, it’s easy to get stuck or frustrated, and there are also gaps or broken bits that need fixing.

Writing a book is kind of like building a bridge. First you need a rough sketch, then temporary scaffolding, then the foundations, then the internal architecture… only after all that do you being laying down the permanent, external stuff and removing the temporary stuff. 

I love this quote from Neil Gaiman, answering the absurd question “real quick, how to plot a book?”

 

 

 

In a recent video I made about Guerrilla Publishing, I accidentally said something like “just write the best book in the world” – which is misleading, because of how I define “best”. Most writers focus on the words and sentences, the quality of the writing. That’s a bad idea for two reasons:

1. The rough draft is always bad. You have to allow yourself to write badly and get the story down first.
2. Most readers don’t care about the writing – they focus on story or content.

To have a successful book that readers love (which, I think, is the only kind of book worth writing), you need to do it deliberately (it can be done accidentally as well, but that path leads most authors to frustration). Almost all commercial books follow standard tropes and genre expectations and universal story architecture. If you want to write a GOOD book, you need to learn the rules and know your audience. A lot of authors resist this, which is why most authors fail (or work far harder than they need to, and spend more than they earn on publishing).

I have a huge guide on how to write a book you should check out. I’ve published over 20 books in the last few years so I’ve had a lot of practice.

For more on writing fiction, read these:

• How to self-edit your novel
• How to write books that sell
• A visual guide to writing fiction
• The craft and magic of writing

For nonfiction, start here:

• How to write a nonfiction book that changes lives (and earns six-figures)

Part 1: Before You Write a Single Word

Find an Idea That Actually Works

Every aspiring author has an idea. Most of those ideas won’t sell.

That’s not me being cynical — it’s me trying to save you a year of your life. The number one mistake first-time authors make is writing whatever excites them without checking whether anyone else would want to read it. “Write what you love” is fine advice for journaling. If you want people to buy your book, you need to write what you love at the intersection of what readers want.

For fiction: Look at what’s selling in your genre right now. Browse Amazon’s bestseller lists in your category. Read the top 10 books in the niche you want to write in. Notice the tropes, the themes, the packaging. Your job isn’t to copy them — it’s to understand what readers are already hungry for, and then deliver your unique version of that craving.

For nonfiction: Your idea needs to solve a specific problem for a specific audience. “A book about productivity” is too vague. “A system for freelance writers to produce 3x more content without burning out” — that’s a book people will search for, find, and buy. The more precisely you can define the problem and the person who has it, the stronger your book.

 Quick Viability Test for Any Book Idea

• Can you describe it in one sentence? If not, it’s too muddled.
• Does a clear audience exist? Not “everyone” — a specific group of people who’d pick this up.
• Are similar books selling? Competition is good. It means there’s a market. No competition usually means no demand.
• What’s your unique angle? What do you bring that existing books don’t? Experience, a new framework, a fresh perspective, a different voice?

Know Your Genre and Audience

Readers have expectations, and the fastest way to get bad reviews is to violate them.

If you’re writing a romance, it needs a happily-ever-after. If you’re writing a thriller, the pacing needs to be relentless. If you’re writing a self-help book, readers expect actionable steps, not just theory. Every genre has invisible rules, and readers punish books that break them — not by complaining, but by never recommending your book to anyone.

This doesn’t mean you can’t be creative. It means you need to understand the container before you try to stretch it. The best books deliver exactly what readers want in a way they never expected.

 How to Learn Your Genre Fast

1. Read 5–10 recent bestsellers in your category (not classics — current books).
2. Read the 1-star reviews of popular books in your genre. These tell you what readers consider unforgivable.
3. Read the 5-star reviews. These tell you what readers love most.
4. Join reader communities — Facebook groups, Reddit, Goodreads. Listen to what they rave about and what they complain about.

Fiction or Nonfiction? The Process Is Different

 Fiction

• Sustained creative output — building worlds, characters, narrative tension
• 60,000–100,000 words typical
• Hard part: the middle — maintaining momentum when excitement fades
• Best for: people who have a story to tell

 Nonfiction

• Organization over inspiration — you probably already know your content
• 40,000–60,000 words typical
• Hard part: making it engaging instead of reading like a textbook
• Best for: people who have knowledge to share

Part 2: Planning Your Book

If you want to know how to write a book that people actually finish reading, this section is where it starts. Most people skip planning and pay for it later. Planning doesn’t kill creativity — it prevents the kind of structural disasters that make you abandon a manuscript at chapter 12.

The Outlining vs. Pantsing Debate

“Pantsing” (writing by the seat of your pants, with no outline) works for some writers. Stephen King is the famous example. But here’s what nobody tells you: King has written 60+ novels. He has internalized story structure so deeply that his “pantsing” is actually guided by decades of pattern recognition.

If you’re writing a book for the first time, you don’t have that. You need at least a loose outline.

I’m not talking about a rigid scene-by-scene blueprint that sucks the life out of your writing. I’m talking about knowing your major turning points before you start. Think of it like driving cross-country: you don’t need to plan every rest stop, but you should probably know which highway to take.

 At Minimum, Know These Before You Start

• Your opening hook — what grabs the reader on page one?
• Your major turning points — 2–3 moments where everything changes
• Your ending — you don’t need exact words, but you need a direction
• Fiction: what your protagonist wants, and what’s stopping them
• Nonfiction: your core promise, and how each chapter delivers on it

The Plot Dot Method (Fiction)

For fiction writers, I developed a 24-chapter plotting template called Plot Dot that maps the essential beats of a satisfying novel. It’s not a formula that makes every book identical — it’s a structural scaffold that ensures your story has the right pacing, tension, and emotional payoff readers expect.

Nonfiction Structure: The 12-Step Framework

Nonfiction books need structure even more than fiction, because without a compelling narrative arc, you’re just writing a very long blog post.

Not every nonfiction book needs all twelve elements, but most successful ones hit at least eight. The key insight: nonfiction is still storytelling. You’re taking the reader on a journey from confusion to clarity.

Character Development Basics (Fiction)

Plot is what happens. Character is why we care.

You don’t need a 20-page character biography before you start writing. But you do need to know three things about every major character The Character Triangle

1. What do they want? External goal — a specific, concrete objective
2. What do they need? Internal growth — the emotional lesson they haven’t learned yet
3. What’s their wound? The backstory event that created their flaw and drives their bad decisions

The gap between what a character wants and what they need is where all the good fiction lives.

Also: give every character a distinct voice. If you can swap dialogue between two characters without anyone noticing, those characters aren’t differentiated enough.

Part 3: Writing Your First Draft

If you’re wondering how to write your first novel — or any book — this is the part where it actually happens. And this is where most aspiring writers fail. Not because writing is impossibly hard, but because they wait for perfect conditions that never arrive.

Set a Daily Word Count Goal

One thousand words is about two pages. Most people can type that in 30–60 minutes once they know what they’re writing about.

The key is consistency, not volume. Writing 5,000 words on Saturday and nothing for the rest of the week is worse than writing 500 words every day. Daily writing builds momentum, keeps the story fresh in your mind, and prevents the “where was I?” re-reading spiral that eats entire writing sessions.

Writing Sprints and Momentum

Writing sprints are the single most effective technique I’ve seen for getting words on the page.

The concept is simple: set a timer for 20–30 minutes. Write as fast as you can without stopping. Don’t edit. Don’t reread. Don’t fix typos. Just get words down. When the timer goes off, take a short break, then do another sprint.

Why this works: the biggest enemy of a first draft is your inner editor. That voice that says “this sentence isn’t good enough” after every paragraph. Writing sprints physically outrun that voice. You’re typing too fast for self-doubt to keep up.

Push Through the Messy Middle

Here’s a near-universal experience among first-time authors: you start your book with excitement, the first few chapters flow easily, and then somewhere around chapter 8–12, everything grinds to a halt. The book feels boring. Your plot has holes. Your characters are doing things that don’t make sense. You’re convinced the whole project is garbage.

This is normal. It’s so normal it has a name: the messy middle. And the only way through it is through it. Stuck in the Middle? Here’s What’s Usually Wrong

1. You’ve lost sight of the stakes. Go back to your outline. What does your protagonist stand to lose? Make that threat more immediate.
2. You’re writing connecting scenes instead of conflict scenes. Every chapter needs tension. If a scene is just moving characters from A to B, cut it or add an obstacle.
3. You’re trying to fix while you write. Stop. That’s what revision is for. Give yourself permission to write a terrible chapter and move on.

The messy middle has killed more books than writer’s block ever has. The authors who finish are the ones who push through it — not the ones who feel inspired.

Permission to Write Badly

Your first draft is supposed to be bad.

I’m not being encouraging. I’m being factual. First drafts are rough, disorganized, and full of problems by definition. Their purpose is to get the raw material on the page so you have something to shape during revision. Trying to write a perfect first draft is like trying to sculpt marble while it’s still in the quarry.

Write it badly. Write it fast. Write it all the way to the end. Then fix it.

Writing Tools That Actually Help

You don’t need special software to write a book. But the right tool can remove friction.

The best tool is the one you’ll actually use. Don’t spend three weeks researching the perfect app. Pick one and start writing.

For a deeper comparison, see our full guide to the best writing software for authors.

Part 4: Self-Editing Your Manuscript

You’ve finished your first draft. Congratulations — that puts you ahead of 90% of aspiring authors. Now comes the work that separates a draft from a book. Learning how to write a book isn’t just about getting words on the page — it’s about shaping those words into something publishable.

Self-editing happens in passes. Trying to fix everything at once is overwhelming and ineffective. Instead, go through your manuscript multiple times, each pass focused on a different layer.

PASS 1

Story & Structure

The big-picture pass. Don’t worry about prose — worry about whether the book works.

Fiction:

• Does the plot make sense end to end?
• Does the protagonist have a clear arc?
• Is the pacing right?
• Does the ending feel earned?

Nonfiction:

• Does each chapter deliver on the promise?
• Is the structure logical?
• Are there sections that repeat?
• Enough actionable content?

PASS 2

Scene-Level Editing

• Pacing: Every scene needs tension or reveals something new
• Dialogue: Read it out loud — does it sound like real people?
• Show vs. tell: “She was angry” → “She slammed the folder on the desk”
• Scene openings: Start late, end early. Cut the arriving-and-greeting.
• Chapter endings: Every chapter needs a reason to turn the page

PASS 3

Line-Level Polish

Tighten prose, fix repetition, elevate word choice. Last pass for a reason — no point polishing scenes you might cut.

• Repeated words/phrases (search for crutch words)
• Adverb overload (“said angrily” → “snapped”)
• Filter words (saw, heard, felt, noticed, realized, seemed)
• Bloated sentences and passive voice

Common Mistakes That Kill Manuscripts

After critiquing thousands of manuscripts, I can tell you the most common problems show up again and again:

 Starting Too Slowly

The #1 reason readers abandon a book. If nothing interesting happens in the first three pages, most won’t make it to chapter two.

 Passive Protagonist

Characters who react to events but never drive them are boring. Your main character needs desire and agency from page one.

 Telling, Not Showing

“It was a terrifying sight.” Don’t tell me it’s terrifying — describe it and let me be terrified.

 Inconsistent Tone

A thriller that suddenly turns into comedy, or a light romance that drops in graphic violence. Confuses readers and breaks trust.

 The Info Dump

Stopping the story cold to explain worldbuilding or backstory. Weave information into action and dialogue instead.

 Adjective Overload

“The beautiful, ancient, crumbling, ivy-covered stone tower” — pick one or two and move on.

For a comprehensive checklist of writing mistakes and how to fix them, check out Fix Your Fiction: 201 Common Writing Mistakes and How to Fix Them.

When to Hire a Professional Editor

Self-editing will take your manuscript a long way, but at some point you need a professional set of eyes. The question is which kind of editor, and when.

Editor Type	What They Do	When to Hire	Typical Cost
Developmental	Big-picture: plot, structure, arcs, pacing	If you’re unsure the story works	$1,000–$5,000+
Copy Editor	Grammar, consistency, word choice, sentences	After structural issues are handled	$500–$2,000
Proofreader	Typos, formatting errors, missed mistakes	Last — after copy editing	$200–$800

 The Most Common Mistake

Hiring a copy editor or proofreader before the manuscript is structurally sound. You’ll pay someone to polish chapters you end up rewriting. Get the structure right first, then invest in line editing.

Part 5: Publishing Your Book

You’ve written it, revised it, and had it professionally edited. Now it’s time to get it into readers’ hands. This is the final stretch — the part where your manuscript becomes a real, purchasable product.

Self-Publishing vs. Traditional: An Honest Comparison

Self-Publishing

• You handle (or hire out) everything
• 70% royalties on ebooks (Amazon KDP)
• Publish as fast as the book is ready
• Total creative control — cover, price, marketing
• No stigma anymore — many indies out-earn trad authors

Traditional Publishing

• Publisher handles editing, cover, formatting, distribution
• 10–15% royalties of cover price
• Slow: querying takes months, pub date 12–18 months after deal
• Less creative control, but bookstore distribution
• Advance ($5K–$15K typical debut, many lower)

My honest take: For most authors — especially first-time authors who want to learn the process, build an audience, and actually earn money — self-publishing is the faster, more educational, and often more profitable path. Traditional makes sense if you specifically want bookstore distribution, a large advance, or an imprint’s credibility behind your name.

Neither path is “better.” They’re different tools for different goals.

 Launch Essentials

• Build an email list before you publish. Even 100–200 interested readers gives you a launch day audience.
• Set up pre-orders if you can. Pre-order sales accumulate and count on release day.
• Get early reviews. Send advance copies to opted-in readers. Even 10–15 reviews in the first week matters.
• Don’t expect miracles on day one. Most successful self-published books build momentum over weeks and months, not overnight.

Part 6: Resources and Next Steps

Writing a book for the first time is a massive undertaking, and no single article covers everything. Here are the resources I recommend based on where you are in the process.

 25 Best Creative Writing Courses
 Best Writing Software


UP NEXT: 65 YA adult authors share their #1 writing tips!

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to write a book?

At 1,000 words per day, a novel draft takes 2.5–3 months. A nonfiction book at 500 words per day takes 3–4 months. Add 2–4 months for revision and editing. Total: 6–9 months from first word to publish-ready manuscript for most first-time authors.How many words should a book be?

Fiction: 70,000–90,000 words for most genres (60,000 minimum for romance, up to 120,000 for epic fantasy). Nonfiction: 40,000–60,000 words. Anything under 30,000 is usually classified as a novella or extended guide.Do I need an outline to write a book?

You don’t need a rigid scene-by-scene outline, but you need at least a loose structure: your opening hook, 2–3 major turning points, and your ending. First-time authors who skip outlining entirely almost always stall in the middle of their manuscript.Should I self-publish or try traditional publishing?

Self-publishing is faster, gives you more control, and usually earns higher per-book royalties (70% vs. 10–15%). Traditional publishing offers bookstore distribution, an advance, and imprint credibility. For most first-time authors learning the craft, self-publishing is the more practical and educational path.How much does it cost to self-publish a book?

Bare minimum: $500–$800 (cover design + basic editing). Professional quality: $1,500–$3,000 (developmental edit, cover, formatting, proofreading). Premium: $3,000–$5,000+ with marketing support. The cover and developmental edit are where you should invest most.Can I write a book with no experience?

Yes. Every published author started with no experience. The process is learnable: study your genre, plan your structure, write daily, edit in passes, get professional feedback. The authors who finish aren’t more talented — they’re more consistent.What’s the best software for writing a book?

Scrivener is the gold standard for organizing long manuscripts. Microsoft Word is the simplest and most universally compatible. Google Docs works if you write across multiple devices. The best tool is whichever one you’ll actually sit down and use every day.How do I stay motivated to finish my book?

Set a daily word count goal (even 500 words counts). Use writing sprints (20–30 min timed sessions). Track your progress visibly. Accept that the messy middle is normal and push through it. The authors who finish are the ones who write on the days they don’t feel like it.

The Only Step Left Is the First One

The process isn’t a mystery. It’s work. Consistent, daily, imperfect work. The people who finish books aren’t more talented than the people who don’t. They just kept writing when it got hard.

Open a document. Write the first sentence. Then write the next one. Do that every day, and in a few months, you’ll have a book. Not a dream of a book. An actual book.

So go write it.

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