How To Write A Book And Become Published

Writing a book is the dream of many people. It’s something that we all want to accomplish but few can do. You see, it’s not enough to write a book. You have to get it published and that’s not as easy as it sounds. In this article, I’ll tell you exactly how I wrote my first book and got it published!

Key Takeaways
1. Writing a book is a journey with challenges.
2. Persistence and motivation are crucial.
3. Efficient writing techniques can save time.
4. Consider the reasons for writing a book.
5. Literary agents can help secure book deals.
6. Self-publishing offers control and flexibility.
7. Marketing is essential for book promotion.

Decide What Type Of Writer You Want To Be Commercial Or Literary

Once you have decided to pursue writing as a career, or have simply decided that you want to publish your first book and become a published author, the next step is deciding what type of writer you want to be.

The terms commercial and literary are often used interchangeably when discussing the difference between these two types of writers. However, there is more than one way in which this can be defined. For example:

A commercial writer writes books focused on entertainment value rather than quality literature. Their primary focus is on getting readers hooked on their story so they can make some money off of it by selling copies of their books through various channels (including Amazon).

A literary writer writes books with themes and messages that are traditionally thought of as less mainstream or popular but still have some sort of entertainment value just not as much as other kinds would have. 

This type tends to focus more on character development and plot development instead of action sequences because those aspects are more important than others when trying to tell an engaging tale about real people rather than caricatures who don’t exist outside our imaginations yet still seem realistic enough for us.

Not only identify with them but also see ourselves in them too (if we were ever so lucky!).

If you have to write about something you don’t know enough about, start reading and researching.

If you are writing about a subject that you know little or nothing about, start reading and researching.

Read books and articles on the subject.

Talk to experts in the field.

Read other people’s books in the field.

Writing a book is a journey filled with challenges and moments of doubt. However, it’s crucial to remember not to give up along the way. Check out our guide on staying motivated and persistent to keep pushing through the tough times.

Watch Documentaries On Youtube (Some Of Them Are Quite Good)

Go to lectures and museum exhibits on your topic of interest even if it feels like an indulgence right now, trust me when I say this will be helpful later on down the line! 

If there aren’t any lectures in your area but there is an exhibit at one of your local museums or libraries, go visit that as well you’ll find yourself learning a lot just by walking around and taking things in visually while thinking through what questions need answering when it comes time for research later on down the line! 

You’ll be pleasantly surprised at how much knowledge you can gain from just taking these kinds of simple steps without needing anything more than curiosity about where things came from before becoming popularized today…

Take Some Time Off To Read A Lot Of Fiction

If you’re a writer, reading is your most important job. Reading will help you improve your writing style. It will also help you develop a sense of how to structure a story and how to create compelling characters.

Reading fiction can be intimidating because it seems like there is so much out there! 

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when trying to find good books that are appropriate for your age group especially if English isn’t your first language or if English isn’t even one of the languages in which you read fluently. But don’t worry: we’ve got some great recommendations for both children’s and adult literature (and even some graphic novels) below!

Efficiency is key when it comes to book writing. Discover how one writer managed to significantly reduce their writing time from 48 hours to just 3 hours. Learn the strategies in our post on accelerating your book writing process and make the most of your time.

Ignore The Urge (For Now) To Write The Opening Sentence Until You’ve Got The Rest Of Your Book Done

When you’re ready to write the opening sentence, it’s tempting to rush through the other chapters to get there. Don’t do that! The best opening sentences are those that work in concert with what follows them. 

If your first sentence is a dud, no one will read any further than that—and if readers don’t connect with what they read in the first few pages of your book, they’re unlikely to finish it at all.

You may also be tempted (and even encouraged) by friends and family members who want nothing more than for you to finish this project so they can see how great it is (or so they can finally read something of yours). Don’t let them rush you! Remember: finishing a book takes time…even if it feels like one day should be enough time.

Write In Multiple Settings

If you’re writing a book, it’s always good to have variety in your surroundings. If you always write at home, try writing in your workplace or at the library. Try writing outside on the grass. Write while listening to music (or not). Write while watching TV (or not). 

Write in different seasons of the year in winter when it’s cold, or in the summertime when there are more hours of daylight and fresh air. Try writing at different times of day: early morning before work starts; late at night after everyone else has gone home for the evening; first thing in the morning when your brain is still groggy from sleep.

You don’t need much more than a pen and paper or even a notebook computer if that’s all you’ve got available but if possible.

I highly recommend getting comfortable with an actual typewriter or word processor so that there are no distractions from outside sources such as emails or phone calls coming through constantly -it also helps avoid self-doubt about whether what I’m typing makes sense!

Have you ever considered writing a book? There are numerous reasons to take on this endeavor, from sharing your expertise to leaving a lasting legacy. Explore our article on 12 compelling reasons to write a book and find your inspiration to begin.

Understand That All Of Your Characters Are Mirrors Of You

This is a very important point. You will find that all of your characters are mirrors of you in some way. They will have something in common with you and something different from you, too. 

For example, if the main character is brave, then the author might be afraid of spiders or shy around people she doesn’t know well. 

If the main character is kind and helpful to others, then maybe the author isn’t very helpful at all! So even though we see different parts of ourselves in each character we write about (that’s why it’s fun!), there will always be some piece that makes us think: “Oh yeah…I am like this.”

So when I say that all my characters are reflections of me, what do I mean?

Read aloud when editing and revising.

Once you’ve finished the first draft, it’s time to go through your work. You want to make sure that everything sounds good when read aloud.

This is a great way to revise and edit for spelling errors as well because many words sound similar but are spelled differently. So if you don’t have time right away, try reading it aloud another day and see if anything stands out!

As you read, listen for any grammar errors (including word choice), style issues, awkward sentences or paragraphs – whether they’re long or short – and passive voice usage. 

You might also want to listen for repetitions of phrases within a sentence; these can often be shortened by using synonyms or other more interesting ways of saying things. Finally, pay attention when something seems awkward; these sentences may need more explanation so that readers understand why they’re there in the first place!

Don’t Stop Until The Words Stop Flowing!

You can’t know how long it will take to finish the book. Some people write fast, while others write slow. The important thing is to keep writing until you feel like you’ve said everything you want or need to say and maybe even a little more!

If your fingers are getting tired, use a keyboard instead of handwriting your book (though this will probably make some people think that you’re an expert typist). If you run out of ideas for what else should happen in your story, wait until another idea pops into mind it might surprise and delight everyone who reads it!

Securing a literary agent and a lucrative book deal can be a dream come true for any aspiring author. Learn the steps to make this dream a reality with our guide on getting an agent and landing a six-figure book deal. Your writing journey could take an exciting turn.

Find Your Theme, And Then Write Toward It

A theme is the overriding message of your book. It’s what makes it different from other books, and what will make people want to buy it.

Your theme should be something that you feel strongly about, something you can get excited about sharing with others. Once you have your theme in mind, write toward it that is, write the story in such a way that your readers understand what the message is as they go along.

You might find that once you begin writing, your theme changes significantly from how it started (this can be good or bad). 

You may also find that there are multiple themes throughout your book for example: “love conquers all” could be one theme; “people can change” could be another; “evil triumphs over good” could also work well here. Try not to force any connection between these ideas to let them evolve naturally as the story progresses instead!

Make Sure Your Character Is Proactive

When you write a novel, you’re telling the story of your characters. And while active characters can be just as interesting and even more fun to write than passive ones, they also make much better protagonists.

To connect with your readers and keep them engaged in your book, your characters must be proactive they must take action to achieve their goals or overcome challenges. If they don’t act on their behalf (as opposed to being manipulated by others), then the plot will become stagnant and boring for both you and the reader.

Every Scene Must Make Something Happen In The Protagonist’s Life

Every scene must make something happen in the protagonist’s life. Otherwise, it should be cut out of the book.

A scene is necessary if it furthers the plot and/or character development. If a chapter doesn’t move the story forward, then it’s probably unnecessary to your book. 

The same goes for characters: if they don’t need to be there, they shouldn’t be there! This applies to every chapter and even paragraphs within each chapter; if you’re not sure whether or not something should stay in your book, ask yourself these questions:

Is this relevant? Does this help me understand my main character better?

Does this add depth or complexity to my story? Am I telling myself something about my world that I didn’t already know?

Is this interesting enough on its own merits? Will people want to read about this particular character doing whatever it is he/she does at that moment in time (whether that means shooting someone with a gun or texting friends with witty banter)? If so, great! Keep going; if not…

Change The Locale Often; Don’t Let Anyone Stay In One Place Too Long

There are two reasons to change the locale often:

You don’t want your reader to get bored and lose interest, so you’re constantly changing things up.

Your characters’ story arc can only be told by moving them around, as they learn and grow from their experiences. If this doesn’t happen, it’s like watching a movie where nothing happens for an hour after an explosion has taken place (which would be awesome).

Don’t try to create a “bestseller.” Just tell a story worth living for.

It’s not about writing a bestseller. It’s about telling a story worth living for.

Publishing a book in a short timeframe requires strategic planning and focused effort. If you’re eager to share your work with the world sooner rather than later, delve into our comprehensive resource on fast-tracking your book publication. You’ll discover valuable tips for a successful rapid publishing process.

Write What You Know

If you don’t have any experience with something, ask for help and spend time learning the ins and outs of what interests you. You can take courses, read books by experts in their field, or even learn from people who are doing it now. The only way to become an expert is to start doing something so much that it becomes second nature to you like breathing!

Don’t Necessarily Write What Your Readers Expect; Instead, Write What They’ll Be Unable To Forget

Writing a book is a great way to get your voice out there and make an impact, but it’s not an easy task by any means. It takes time and effort, but when you finally see your book published and available for sale, it will feel like all that hard work was worth it.

You need to be prepared for this process if you want your book to succeed; otherwise, it won’t matter how much time and energy you put into writing it. Here are some things to keep in mind as you start writing:

Don’t necessarily write what your readers expect; instead, write what they’ll be unable to forget

Don’t try super hard or else people won’t like the results! (this has worked well for me)

Conclusion

Writing a book is a great way to share your ideas, and can be an excellent source of income. However, it’s not easy to write a book and get it published. You need to have discipline, time management skills, persistence, and creativity. But don’t worry – with the tips in this article you’ll be able to write that book in no time at all!

Further Reading

Here are some additional resources for further guidance on writing and publishing a book:

Now Novel – How to Write a Book and Get PublishedExplore expert advice on crafting your book and navigating the publishing process.

wikiHow – Write and Publish a BookA comprehensive guide covering the steps to write, edit, and publish your book.

Shopify Blog – How to Self-Publish a BookLearn about self-publishing options and strategies to bring your book to market.

FAQs

How do I start the book writing process?

Starting your book involves brainstorming ideas, creating an outline, and defining your target audience.

What steps are involved in publishing a book?

Publishing a book includes editing, formatting, designing a cover, selecting a publishing method (traditional or self-publishing), and marketing.

How can I find a literary agent?

Research reputable literary agencies, tailor your query letter, and submit a compelling book proposal to potential agents.

What are the benefits of self-publishing?

Self-publishing grants you more control over the publishing process, higher royalties, and the ability to publish on your timeline.

How do I promote and market my published book?

Marketing strategies include building an author platform, utilizing social media, reaching out to book bloggers, and organizing book signings or virtual events.