Eureka! You’ve had a sudden blast of inspiration and now you have a great book idea. It’s genius and the world needs to read it. However, you’ve ran into you’re first dilemma: Where do I start? Well, here’s my solution. Plan. Sure, it is easier said than done writing a book can seem intimidating, but with the right plan, you can absolutely do this! So, don’t worry, in this blog I will go over basic planning steps that will set you on your way to writing your story.

 

One of the most crucial steps many aspiring authors overlook when beginning their book-writing journey is planning. I know it might sound obvious, but have you truly created a step-by-step plan for your book? Writing a book isn’t just about writing; it’s about getting yourself ready mentally and logistically. Without proper preparation, your project may fizzle out before it even gets off the ground.

 

Why is planning so vital in my writing journey?

I’m glad you asked. When I was 18 years young, still a novice author, I promised myself I would have my first book written and published by the time I was 25. Needless to say my self-imposed deadline had come and gone without a book in sight. It was only recently I went from 2,000 words to 50,000 words, but the question is why did it take me so long to get there? Easy answer? I had no plan, no outline, no concept of the publishing world.

 

It wasn’t that I lacked the desire to write, because I love writing and creating beautiful ways to say the simplest things. My problem was that I had never formulated a concrete plan of execution. Having an idea for a story and the ambition to publish it is one thing, but the ability to transform that idea into a story and complete the story and get it on the shelves was another.

 

For example, say that I want to plant a sunflower garden, but I’ve never had a flower garden before. Some of the necessary things I would need to have a successful garden would look like the following.

I would need to study gardening, purchase sunflower seeds, prepare the garden patch soil, and carefully plant the seeds. Easy. Now, imagine that I skipped out on reading the gardening book, never tilled the soil, and scattered the seeds haphazardly. Though I see seedlings, soon after they wither away.

 

This unfortunate outcome could have been avoided if I had followed the original plan. So, the lesson, do not let impatience cause you to make the process longer than it needs to be.

 

Now, let’s get back to writing and prepare you for the journey. The following vital elements that’ll help you in your journey.

 

6 Essential Elements to Include in Your Plan

1. Create a Writing Schedule:

A writing schedule is to help you begin a habit of writing consistently. This does not mean you need to write every day but it also do not mean you should only write twice a week. Create a schedule that is beneficial to you and your current schedule. You can dedicate specific, regular time slots in your daily or weekly routine. Consistency is the key to making progress.

 

2. Set Achievable Goals:

This immediately follows creating a schedule because if you want to write a novel, the minimum word count is 50,000 words which is an intimidating number. One way to face this is to break down your writing goals into smaller, manageable milestones. For example, writing for at least 30 minutes to an hour per day or writing 700 words per day sounds a lot more attainable than facing a 50,000-word goal head on. And for the record, a lot of our favorite novels are 25,000 words plus more than that.

 

3. Determine Your First Draft Deadline:

This one I will keep straight forward. You are the one who wants to write a book so no one will be around to hold you accountable for finishing your book. Therefore, setting a realistic deadline for completing your first draft will aid you in creating a writing schedule. This is an achievable goal to consider. Reflect on this question: When am I okay with getting this book written by? When do I officially want it to be published and on the shelves? This is when you need to consider multiple timeframes. Others will be involved in your journey such as readers, editors, book cover design, querying if you decide to self-publish and other steps. So, this is now not just about your aspirations but the reality of it all.

 

4. Outline Your Story

As a beginner your best bet is to outline key plot points, characters, and themes of your story. A clear understanding of your narrative will serve as a guiding light throughout your writing journey. There are so many books on how to outline a novel, one of my favorites is Save the Cat Writes a Novel, it’s beginner friendly and explains all 15 beats. There are various versions of this book and all have various topics. So don’t fret if it speaks on something that doesn’t meet your need.

 

5. Review types of publishing

Though you do not have a manuscript just yet, in your free time do some research on the types of publishing. The primary choices are traditional and self-publishing with others in between. Each path has unique requirements and considerations, so research thoroughly and select the one that aligns with your goals. If it starts to freak you out, drop it for a while and get back to writing. After all, it won’t matter which publishing route if your don’t have a book.

 

6. Consider a writing coach or joining a writing community:

Again, this journey is your own. Therefore, you have no one to answer to. However, if you are serious about this journey, it is very helpful to have someone to be accountable to. Even Moreso, with a writing coach you are privy to beneficial information that you can apply as you complete your manuscript. A second pair of eyes adds value by asking questions you may have not considered. So when choosing make sure they fit your criteria and that you fit theirs.

 

This may not be exactly what you wanted to hear but it’s definitely something authors need to hear. By taking these steps to prepare you’ll better equip yourself to transform your dream of writing a book into a reality. So, start planning now! If you need more guidance book a 60-minute coaching session with me! Remember, planning doesn’t stifle your creativity, it creates a path that will create more space for creativity in the future.