Four Steps to Begin Writing Your Book
Whether you choose to write fiction or nonfiction, a poetry book, a novel, an autobiography or a book sharing your professional knowledge, becoming a published author may provide you with a certain level of credibility and status. Others may become inspired by your book as well as by your motivation and tenacity to complete the book.
Even if this is not your first book, you can still benefit from these four steps. For example, after I had published over 25 books, these steps helped me to get yet a brand new book idea out of my head and on to paper.
Here are the Four Steps to help you begin writing your book:
Step #1: Determine your WHY
Step #2: Determine your WHO
Step #3: Determine your WHAT
Step #4: Determine your HOW
Determining these four things will help you begin the process of taking your book out of your head and putting it on to paper!
After writing your answers to the questions under each of these four steps, you will have the foundation necessary to begin creating a tangible book!
Here are the foundational questions, for each of the steps, which will help you begin:
Step #1: Determine your WHY
Why do you want to write this book?
Why is writing this book so important to you?
Is what you want to write a passion, an experience or a general interest?
Step #2: Determine your WHO
Who is your audience?
Who do you want to read your book?
Who will benefit from the information in your book?
Who will care about the information in your book?
Determine your WHAT
What main message do you want to share with your audience?
What is the first thing you want your audience to know when they begin reading?
What do you want your audience to understand and/or appreciate about your book/story/ message?
What do you want your audience to think before, during and after reading your book?
What action would you like your readers to take as a result of reading your book?
Determine your HOW
How will you benefit from writing this book?
How/Where would you like to begin in sharing your message?
How would you like to portray your message?
How would you like to end your message to your audience?
How would you like your readers to feel as a result of reading your book?
Now answer these questions to the best of your ability to begin the process of taking your book out of your head!
As you answer the questions, under these four steps, ideas may begin to flow. If that happens don’t stop writing! Continue to write whatever comes to your mind.
I suggest having some blank sheets of paper in your reach just in case additional ideas and thoughts begin to creep in as you are responding to the questions. Please keep writing and don’t worry about how it sounds, what it looks like, or what order your thoughts are in. You can always sort out your thoughts later. But, the important thing is to start writing...which is the ultimate goal of this blog post!
This is an excerpt from Dr. Grace LaJoy's Aspiring Author Series - 4 Steps to Begin Writing Your Book: Workbook One. The actual workbook provides space to write your answers to the foundational questions listed above. It provides insight to continue writing, as well as a bonus step.
