16 Writing Tips I Learned In My First 6 Months Of Book Writing

I’ve just about finished my first book, and for the most part, it feels great. I think it’s a solid piece of work that does what I set out to do: help people overcome their fear of public speaking. The writing was hard, but that’s okay because nothing worth doing is easy.

Takeaways
1. Consistency is key to progress.
2. Start with a strong outline to guide your writing.
3. Embrace imperfections in your first draft.
4. Find a writing routine that suits your schedule.
5. Set achievable word count goals for each session.
6. Experiment with different writing environments.
7. Don’t be afraid to write badly at first; editing comes later.
8. Seek feedback from trusted peers or writing groups.
9. Research is essential for authenticity in your writing.
10. Use prompts or exercises to spark creativity.

The First Draft Is Just A Way To Get The Story Out

The first draft is just a way to get the story out. When I write my first drafts, I don’t worry about spelling, grammar, or style. It’s just words on paper. I also don’t worry about how long it is or how many pages I have.

You might think this would lead to a sloppy book but it doesn’t! When you’re telling your story straight from your head (and heart), it will naturally flow and be written in a way that makes sense for you as an author.

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It’s Not Too Late To Start

I’ve read a lot of books on writing, and in the beginning, a lot of them talked about how you need to be writing since you were in grade school and have been at it for years before you can expect anything to come out. 

But I think this is completely false! Don’t let anyone tell you that it’s not worth starting now because your writing isn’t good enough yet or because you don’t know what you’re doing yet. You’ll never get any better if all your focus is on getting better by learning from other writers instead of doing something yourself!

Just start writing. Write every day even if no one ever reads your work, even if it’s terrible at first even if only squirrels read it (which I would pay good money for). 

The great thing about being an adult is that we have more control over our lives than when we were in school or college; so make sure that part of that control means making time for the things that are important to us!

Edit The Next Day, Not Immediately

You should never edit as you go because it’s easy to get emotional about what you’ve written. Do you know when you’re writing something and then immediately start wondering if it sucks? Well, that happens when you edit as you write. That’s why I say wait until the next day before editing. If there are spelling errors or typos in your text, just fix them as they come up—don’t worry about them later on!

Also keep in mind that while editing should be done at least once every 6 months (or more often if needed), it can take weeks or even months for your book idea to fully develop into what it needs to be. 

So don’t fret if the first draft doesn’t seem perfect (even though some people will tell you otherwise). Don’t fret over anything when writing: just enjoy yourself!

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Your Emotional State Can Affect Your Writing

Your emotional state can affect your writing. I’m sure you’ve noticed this, but don’t try and write when you are angry or depressed. Don’t write when you are tired or hungry. Don’t write when you are too excited or happy. Finally, don’t write when you are too tired or too hungry, and again also don’t write if you’re overly excited or happy either!

I have found that if I start writing while in an emotional state (good or bad) it’s harder for me to get back into a good mindset for writing after a break from the page (or screen). 

Even if it’s only for five minutes between paragraphs of email response.

Taking time away from my project helps me get into the zone again without having to worry about what the other person might think about my initial response being late because they sent it at 3 am and I didn’t respond until 7 pm because they were up all night thinking about how much they love their boyfriends/girlfriends/fiancées’ mothers.

Break It Up Into Smaller Parts, So You Avoid Feeling Overwhelmed By How Much Is Left To Tackle

In addition to setting a daily word count goal and writing for a set amount of time each day (both of which you should do), there are other ways you can break down your novel so that it’s not quite as daunting as the whole thing at once.

Write for a set number of words per day: Use this method if you don’t want to commit yourself to 4 hours every day or don’t like setting “strict” goals in terms of word count. 

For example, if your average chapter is 2,000 words long and the entire book is 50 chapters long, then know that each week should have an average of 100 chapters written by Friday night! This may seem like an intimidating number at first glance but isn’t if we break it down into smaller chunks.

Write In Your Voice. Don’t Try And Impress Anyone With Big Words Or Technical Jargon That People Won’t Understand

Writing in your voice is one of the most important pieces of advice I can give. Don’t try and impress anyone with big words or technical jargon that people won’t understand. 

The best way to write your book is to write it like you would talk to someone if they were sitting at your kitchen table, having coffee with you. If you’ve got a friend who’s an English major, I’d suggest having them read through what you’ve written as well for another set of eyes (and ears).

When writing this book I had someone read every chapter before publishing it because sometimes what sounds good in my head doesn’t always translate well on paper!

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Finish What You Start

I’ll make this short and sweet: Finish what you start.

I don’t care how good or bad the book is, if anyone else has ever read it, or if they think it’s worthless junk. If you start something, finish it. 

Don’t let anyone else’s opinion of your work influence you you’re the only one who knows whether or not the story is done! 

And keep in mind that a lot of people are going to try to discourage you from writing because they don’t understand how powerful words can be; they’ll tell you that nobody cares about books anymore and that there’s no market for them anymore either (which isn’t true). 

Don’t listen to them; just finish what needs finishing so that other people have a chance at reading it too!

Don’t worry about what other people are doing; focus on yourself instead by setting deadlines for yourself and sticking to them! Make small goals every day until your big goal is complete a little bit each day goes a long way towards making those dreams come true 🙂

Writing Isn’t A Spectator Sport, It Needs To Be Something You Actively Do Yourself To Really Benefit From It

Writing isn’t a spectator sport, it needs to be something you actively do yourself to benefit from it.

It’s easy to get caught up in the idea of writing as some product that is finished and polished and ready for others to consume. But this perspective can lead us down a rabbit hole where we beat ourselves up over mistakes or feel disappointed if our first draft isn’t perfect. 

The truth is that writing is an iterative process where each step leads toward improving your writing skills and creating something worthwhile.

This doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy the final product! You absolutely should read through what you wrote, make any edits necessary, and then share it with people who will give honest feedback about your work (ideally those who are writers themselves). 

Your goal shouldn’t be perfection; rather focus on improvement over time by taking small steps forward every day until one day…you write well enough!

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You Have To Write Your Book If You Want It To Be Good

You have to write your book if you want it to be good. No matter how good the book is, people are going to read it and judge it as a reflection of who you are as a person. 

So if you’re going to put yourself out there as an author, make sure that what people see is something that accurately reflects who you are and what kind of writer and person that makes you. 

The best way for this to happen is by writing your material by creating something from scratch based on knowledge and experience rather than copying or adapting someone else’s work.

If we look at the most successful authors in history, many of them started out writing books about themselves or their experiences before moving on to other topics (see: JK Rowling). 

When they did start writing fiction novels based on other characters’ lives instead of their own first-hand experience (see: Stephen King), they still used what they knew about human nature and behavior effectively enough so as not to cause anyone any harm through their creative endeavors.

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Conclusion

I hope these tips will help you on your writing journey. If they sound familiar, it might mean that you’re already doing a lot of these things.  But even if you aren’t, don’t worry! The most important thing is to keep writing and keep learning. Like all skills, becoming a good writer takes time and practice, which means there’s always room for improvement!

Further Reading

Here are some additional resources for further enhancing your writing skills and achieving your book writing goals:

15 Things I Learned in My First Year of Writing: Gain insights from a writer’s personal journey through their first year of writing, learning, and growth.

7 Tips to Help You Write the Book You Always Dreamed About: Discover practical advice to transform your dream of writing a book into a reality with these actionable tips.

How to Write a Book: The Ultimate Guide: Delve into a comprehensive guide that provides step-by-step guidance on writing a book, from ideation to publication.

FAQs

Have questions about book writing? We’ve got you covered!

How do I get started with book writing?

Getting started with book writing involves finding your inspiration and establishing a writing routine. Set aside dedicated time, explore different ideas, and start jotting down your thoughts.

What are some key tips for writing a compelling book?

Writing a compelling book requires well-developed characters, engaging plotlines, and vivid descriptions. Create relatable characters, weave an intriguing narrative, and use descriptive language to immerse readers in your story.

How can I overcome writer’s block during the writing process?

Writer’s block can be frustrating, but you can overcome it by taking breaks, trying different writing exercises, or focusing on a different section of your book. Sometimes, changing your environment or brainstorming with others can also help.

What’s the importance of outlining before writing a book?

Outlining helps provide structure to your book, allowing you to organize your ideas, plot, and character arcs. It serves as a roadmap that keeps you on track and minimizes the risk of getting stuck in the middle of your writing.

How can I stay motivated and consistent throughout the book writing journey?

Maintaining motivation and consistency involves setting realistic goals, celebrating small victories, and reminding yourself of the reasons you started writing. Surround yourself with a supportive community or accountability partner to stay motivated.