Hints To Take Your Book From Idea To Delivery

Writing a book is one of the most daunting tasks many people will ever undertake. The prospect of writing a book can be overwhelming, and it’s easy to get lost in the process.

In this article, I’m going to lay out some practical tips for writing your book. These tips will help you complete your work faster and make sure it has a solid structure that makes sense for your readers (and potential publishers). Let’s get started!

Special Delivery: Holding Your Book for the First Time

Takeaways
1. Develop a clear and focused book idea.
2. Set realistic writing goals and timelines.
3. Create a detailed outline before writing.
4. Utilize writing guides and tools for assistance.
5. Craft engaging characters and a compelling plot.
6. Implement feedback and revisions for improvement.
7. Pay attention to book cover design and title.
8. Plan your book launch and marketing strategies.
9. Collaborate with professionals for editing and formatting.
10. Engage with your audience through author branding.

Table of Contents

1. Avoid Big Prologues

Prologues are a waste of time. They were once used to give the reader background information about characters or settings, but nowadays, publishers want you to start in the middle of your story so that readers don’t get bogged down with unnecessary details.

Even if they do still use prologues, they’re often boring and confusing to readers because they’re not written as well as the rest of the book you know, like all those others in this list whose tips have already been implemented?

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2. Don’t Be Afraid To Start At The End

So you’re writing a novel, and you’re stuck on how to begin it. Most writers start at the beginning. This can be a good way to get started, but it’s also pretty limiting.

If your beginning is all about setting up your characters and introducing them to their world, that may be all that happens in this story, and what if there’s more? What if they have adventures? What if they fall in love or go on quests or discover dark truths about themselves? These are all things that can happen later in the book, but not so much at the start!

What if I told you there was an easy trick for getting around this problem? It’s called “Don’t Be Afraid To Start At The End.”

3. Your Readers Don’t Have To Like You, But They Do Have To Like Your Main Character

Your readers don’t have to like you, but they do have to like your main character. The reason for this is simple: if your main character is a jerk, then the reader will associate with him and hate the book. But if he’s relatable and sympathetic, then the reader will feel that way too.

Your main character should be someone who has a lot at stake in what happens in the story: he must face a dilemma or two that forces him out of his comfort zone into some kind of action or danger (or both).

As he struggles through his decisions or tries to solve his problems during these events, we learn more about who he is and so does our protagonist find out things about himself as well!

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4. Small Details Matter

Details are important. As human beings, we love details and we can’t help but notice them wherever we go. We want to know about the characters in our books, not just what they look like but also what kind of house they live in and how many pets they have.

Details show us the personality of a character or their background or their relationship with other characters or their relationship with the world around them.

For example, A man walks into a room for an interview wearing sneakers with holes in them, jeans that are way too big for him, no socks (but he does have shoes), a T-shirt from some band I’ve never heard of, and two days’ worth of stubble on his chin now that’s interesting!

Now I have something to work with as far as creating this person goes; now I know where he lives or who he lives near; now I know his political views based on the T-shirt he wears; now I have some idea of what kind of music he listens to when he’s walking down city streets at night after working all day long…you get my point!

5. Keep It Simple, Stupid!

Here is the most important point in this entire article:

The more complicated you make things, the harder they are to understand and the less likely people will want to read them. Some readers like complexity and it can indeed be useful for certain types of writing but when it comes to books (especially nonfiction), I think it’s best if you keep things as straightforward as possible.

This means not trying too hard with fancy words or complex sentences or long descriptions; just write plainly so that anyone can follow along without getting confused or needing a dictionary at hand.

6. Write And Revise In Quick, Short Bursts- 30 Minutes Or Less

Writing in short bursts, and then revising and editing later is an effective way to get started. It helps you focus on what you’re doing, prevents you from getting distracted by social media or other tasks, and can help you avoid procrastination.

Writing in quick, focused bursts also supports the creation of a dynamic structure for your book. When writing this way it’s easy to move around chapters without having to start over from scratch because you know how everything fits together as a whole.

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7. Steal Your Theme From A Classic Piece Of Literature

There is a reason why classics like War and Peace, The Great Gatsby, and Crime and Punishment continue to be read today: their themes speak to people even after many years. You can borrow these ideas for your book.

For example, Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina tells the story of a woman who is driven to suicide due to her unhappy marriage. In this way, it explores themes of freedom against social norms—a conflict that still resonates today with readers who may be struggling with their marital relationships.

Or take another classic novel: Fyodor Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment tells the tale of Raskolnikov’s crime spree before he receives redemption in its final pages via his love for Sonya Karamazova. Together these elements illustrate the basic human need for love in an unforgiving world where altruism often goes unrewarded (thus creating tension).

8. Have An Outline, But Write Out Of Order

Now that you’ve got your outline, there are some additional things to keep in mind when writing your book.

This is a guide. The outline is meant to be followed, but don’t feel like you have to stick rigidly with it. If your ideas aren’t flowing and need some time to percolate, go ahead and write something else just make sure that whatever it is has something to do with the overall topic of your book.

If you’re having trouble getting started on a particular chapter or section, consider writing something else instead: maybe an introduction for the next chapter? Or maybe an example of how that topic applies in real life?

As long as you stay focused on the ultimate goal of finishing this book by December 31st (or whenever), taking breaks from one part of your work can help clear up mental blocks and get new ideas flowing again!

9. Start With Something That Happened To You Personally- Then Fictionalize It

You have to start with something that happened to you personally- then fictionalize it.

To create a story, use your own life experiences. Create a character who is a version of yourself: as I mentioned earlier, this is often the easiest way to write a book.

You don’t want your character too close to yourself- so make sure they are different from you in some ways (maybe they are taller or shorter than you). Or create an entirely fictional character that comes from nothing at all and just comes out of nowhere when you sit down at the computer! Either way, it works if it helps get the story going.

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10. Record Your Dreams. Use Dream Imagery In Your Story

Dream imagery is another way to tap into your subconscious mind and mine for ideas. Dreaming is the subconscious mind’s way of making sense of the world, so it makes perfect sense that you can use dreams as inspiration for a story.

You can start recording your dreams by keeping a notebook by your bed or recording them in an app on your phone while they’re still fresh in your mind.

When you do this, make sure not to analyze or think about them too much just write down whatever comes up naturally. Once you’ve got some material to work with, go back through it and pick out any images or scenes that seem like they could fit nicely into one of the stories you want to tell in your book.

11. Work Offline As Much As Possible To Avoid Distractions And Procrastination Tools Like Facebook And Youtube

Work offline as much as possible. This sounds like a no-brainer, but it’s something you should keep in mind if you want to get your writing done.

Don’t be tempted by internet distractions. Many people think that the internet has made it easier for us to research and write our books, but in reality, it can have the exact opposite effect for some people.

If you find yourself getting distracted by Facebook or YouTube videos all too often, try setting up a separate browser window with nothing but Google Docs open so that when those pesky pop-ups appear on your screen, all they’ll do is remind you of work that needs doing!

Don’t turn off your phone altogether but do mute all notifications from apps like Facebook Messenger and Instagram so that they don’t distract from what matters most: finishing that book!

12. Create Accountability By Joining A Group Or Starting A Writing Club For Peers, Or Hiring A Writing Coach For More Guidance And Assistance

Writing a book can often feel like an isolated experience. You’re sitting in your chair, staring at your screen or notebook, and working to find the next word.

But that doesn’t have to be how it is. By finding other People who are in the same boat as you whether they’re fellow authors or just friends who want to support your journey you’ll get more out of this process than if you go at it alone.

You can create accountability by joining a group or starting a writing club for peers, or hiring a writing coach for more guidance and assistance (see tip #20).

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Conclusion

It can be a bit overwhelming for authors to think about all the steps involved in writing a book (especially if it’s their first). But with these tips, we hope that you have some ideas for getting started on your own story. Remember: the most important thing is to just keep working on it!

FAQs

Got questions? Here are some common queries related to writing and publishing books:

How do I start the book writing process?

Begin by outlining your ideas and organizing your thoughts. Break down the writing process into manageable steps and set achievable goals.

How can I generate unique and compelling book ideas?

Exploring real-life experiences, personal passions, and the world around you can spark innovative and captivating book ideas.

What role does a book title play in its success?

A book title is your first chance to make an impression on potential readers. It should be intriguing, relevant, and reflective of your book’s essence.

How do I test the viability of my book ideas?

Share your concepts with a trusted circle of friends, beta readers, or writing groups. Their feedback can help you refine and enhance your ideas.

What steps should I take after finishing my manuscript?

Editing and revising your manuscript are crucial. Consider seeking professional editing services to ensure your book is polished and error-free.

Costantine Edward

Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.