Aspiring author: How do you write a book?
Me: What’s holding you up?
Aspirer: Everything.
Me: The first step of writing a book is knowing what you want to write about. Are you stuck on that part?
Aspirer: No, mainly what to do after I write it. Where do I…How do I…When do I…
Me: Don’t worry about all that.
We often allow step two to block us from getting step one done. You want to write a book, but the thought of what to do with it once you’re done writing it confuses you. Maybe it’s where to find the editor and the illustrator, whether to self-publish or not, how to find someone to do your cover, how to get it in the bookstore, if it’ll be as great as you envision it to be in your head, etc.
None of that is your business right now. Right now, your job is to write. Plus, none of those questions can really be answered until you finish the manuscript. Focus on the process. Focus on where you are in the process. It looks something like this:
- Brainstorm: Figure out what you want to write about.
- Outline: Figure out which specific chapters/stories you want included and the order you want them.
- First draft: Start writing. Do the best you can without overthinking anything. Your goal is to get to the end, so you can fix it.
- Rest: You’ve finished your first draft, now let it chill. Writing a book is a relationship and partners need breaks from one another every now and then. Relax your mind, boo.
- Second draft: Reread what you wrote in the first draft and fix what needs to be fixed. This is also called revision.
- Ask a friend: This step is optional, but it works. Tell them what you want them to check for and ask them to read it and give you feedback by a certain date.
- Edit: While your professional editor is doing her thing with it, you can be researching publishing options, graphic designers, etc. Each editor will have her own process, so follow that accordingly.
- Publish: What you do here depends on which route you take.
This goes for whatever project you’re working on. I wanted to decorate my laundry room, but when I saw how much everything would cost, I got overwhelmed and stopped. Then I decided to, like my book, see it as a process versus a product. Focus on what I can afford right now. Got the rug, jars, and picture frames, and I’ll do the cabinets, painting, and other wall hangings later.
Focusing on right now is a mental shift that can turn your whole life around, not just your book. So many of us suffer with anxiety and bad nerves because it all feels like so much to do. Just work on step one. Afterwards, move on to the next phase. This way, you’ll have your stuff together to ask the right questions and get the right answers.