As a writer, I’ve sat in front of blank pages more times than I can count. I know how it feels to want to write something meaningful but not know where to start. That first step is never easy, and for most of us, it feels like walking into the dark with no map. The desire to write often begins with a whisper in the back of your mind. Maybe you had a powerful life experience you want to share. Maybe you’ve always loved stories and thought, “One day, I’ll write mine.” If that thought led you here, then you’re already on the right path. You might be wondering how to begin writing a book or whether your idea is strong enough. That anxiety is common. The truth is, there’s no perfect starting point.
Today, I will give you the complete steps to write a book from scratch. By the time you finish reading, you’ll know how to write a book. Let’s get into it.
1. Laying the Groundwork
Every book begins with a flicker of inspiration. It might come to you when you’re out on a walk, listening to music, watching a movie, or talking to a friend. Suddenly, there it is! A thought, a feeling, a moment that makes you pause. Don’t wait to write it down. Open your phone’s notes app, or just email yourself the thought.
At this early stage, don’t worry if the idea feels small. If you’re looking for tips on how to write a book, this is one of the most powerful ones.
Idea Generation is Easy but Sustainability is Hard
Many finished books started as nothing more than a single image or a simple “what if.” A powerful story doesn’t always reveal itself all at once. It starts small, then grows with time, effort, and curiosity.
Ask yourself one important question: can I see myself working on this for months, or maybe even a year?
If the answer is yes, you’re probably onto something real. This is one of the essential tips for book writing you’ll come back to again and again.
Know Your Purpose and Audience
Knowing why you want to write is just as important as knowing what you want to write. Are you hoping to teach something? Share an experience? Entertain? Your purpose helps shape your tone, voice, and message. Understanding this will help you decide how to construct a book.
Next, think about who you’re writing for. Writing for everyone means writing for no one. Narrow it down. Maybe you’re writing for people like your younger self. Or maybe it’s for readers interested in a certain genre. Once you know who you’re talking to, the words will come easier. You’ll start to speak their language without even trying.
Gather Your Thoughts Before You Begin
Before you open a blank document and start typing, give your mind space to wander. Jot down scenes, characters, or themes that come to you. Some writers use voice notes while walking. Others keep a physical notebook close. Some prefer writing apps on their phones. This kind of prewriting is the easiest way to write a book because it reduces overwhelm once you’re ready to start.
2. Read and Research Your Genre
Once you’ve settled on your book idea, it’s time to immerse yourself in the genre you’ve chosen. If you have already read books similar to what you want to write, that’s a huge advantage. But if not, now’s the time to study. Pick up a few bestsellers from the same shelf your book would sit on. Observe how they begin. Notice how the chapters are shaped and how the tension builds. Get a feel for the kind of storytelling that works in that space.
Study What’s Selling Right Now
Go beyond the books you love and look at the ones that are currently winning readers. Head to Amazon’s Best Sellers page and look through your category. Read the blurbs, check out the titles, glance at the covers, and see what keeps those books floating to the top.
Ask yourself what you see over and over.
Is there a particular mood or subject that keeps appearing? Are authors leaning into suspense, humor, vulnerability, or something unexpected?
The more you read and absorb, the clearer it becomes where your own book fits. And how it might stand out.
3. Plan the Book Before You Write
Planning a book gives your story a spine before you start layering on the flesh. You don’t need to create a bulletproof outline, but you do need to give yourself a direction, especially for the days when writing feels like pulling teeth.
Create an Outline
A strong outline gives you something to return to when the middle starts to drag or when your plot starts to drift. For first-time writers especially, it’s the one step that can save you from giving up halfway through.
Outlining looks different for everyone. Some writers sketch mind maps filled with arrows and colors. Others prefer a linear chapter-by-chapter breakdown with brief notes on what happens and why it matters.
No matter which style you choose, your outline should offer structure. It needs a beginning that sets the tone, a middle that carries tension, and an end that feels earned. Build in key conflict points: places where things go wrong, where decisions get harder, where something breaks. Those moments keep your reader invested.
Layer in character motivation and turning points. Let each stage of your outline reflect emotional movement as well as plot.
You’ll likely update the outline as the story evolves, and that’s a good thing. As long as it keeps you focused and helps you move forward, it’s doing its job.
Don’t Let Worldbuilding Swallow the Story
Worldbuilding can be thrilling. But many writers make the mistake of spending weeks building cities, histories, family trees, or magic systems without ever writing a single scene.
It’s tempting to create an encyclopedia of your world before typing Chapter One. But if you’re not careful, you’ll drown in the details before the story even begins. Build what you need, and let the rest unfold as the story progresses.
The Burnout Loop: Overplan → Get Demoralized → Quit
This is where many writers either feel stuck or overly ambitious. Some get lost trying to build the perfect outline. Others jump straight into writing and quickly burn out. Both are valid. You don’t have to follow someone else’s method. Just pick what fits your brain.
If you enjoy plotting every scene, go for it. If you prefer discovering the story as you write, keep notes to track where things go.
Set Realistic Writing Goals
One of the hardest parts of writing a book is staying consistent. It’s easy to start with a burst of energy. But writing takes time, and energy fades. That’s why setting small, realistic goals makes a huge difference.
Think about what fits your schedule. Maybe you can write for half an hour each night. Maybe your weekends are better. Pick something that works and stick with it. It’s okay to start small. And if you miss a day, don’t stress, just keep showing up.
4. Let the First Draft Be Messy
This is the phase where most people freeze. They get so caught up in writing something good that they forget the most important step is writing something at all. Your first draft will not be polished. It might not even be readable in places. That’s fine. That’s normal. The goal here is not perfection.
Get the story down. Push through the awkward scenes and broken dialogue. Don’t worry about grammar or pacing just yet. What you’re doing is building a rough version of your book’s soul. That version will have gaps and cracks, but it’s real. You can’t fix what doesn’t exist.
Some writers like to draft quickly, chasing the story before it cools. Others go slower, letting each chapter sit before moving on. Either way, keep moving forward. Editing can wait.
Stay Focused and Eliminate Distractions
It’s worth creating a space that supports your writing, even if it’s just a small corner of your day. A comfortable ergonomic chair and a sturdy desk can go a long way in helping you sit and stay focused for hours.
Set up your laptop, clear away distractions, and let that space become your quiet zone. For those just figuring out how to start writing a book, this step can make all the difference.
Everyone has a time of day when they think more clearly. For some, it’s the quiet of early morning. For others, it’s the hush after midnight. Pay attention to when your brain feels most awake and when the distractions are minimal.
Use that window as your writing zone. Set it aside. Protect it. Even if it’s only 45 minutes, if it’s uninterrupted, you’ll get more done than you expect.
Keep the Reader in Mind
As the pages grow, it’s easy to get caught up in your own head. You start thinking about structure, language, and pacing. And suddenly, it feels like you’re writing for yourself, or for critics. But the heart of your book beats for your reader. Think about the kind of person who would pick up your book, curl up in a chair, and not want to put it down. That’s the reader you’re writing to.
It keeps you grounded in what matters and reminds you why book writing is an act of communication.
Pro Tip: When you’re unsure about a scene or a moment, ask yourself if that reader would care. Would they keep reading? Would they feel something?
5. Build a Writing Routine
You can finish a novel by writing just a few hundred words a day if you do it regularly. It’s not glamorous, but it works. Aim for a daily or weekly word count that fits your life.
If you’re juggling work, family, or other obligations, start with 500 words a day. That’s a page. It’s enough. If you’re aiming to move faster, 1,500 or more in one sitting is doable but be honest about what you can maintain long-term.
Once writing becomes part of your day, it gets easier to return to. And the more pages you stack up, the more confident you’ll feel.
Track Your Progress and Guard Your Focus
Sometimes it feels like you’re not getting anywhere. That’s why tracking helps. Use a word count log, a calendar, or a notebook filled with dates and page numbers. Seeing the growth helps you keep going.
If you start missing days, forgive yourself. Just don’t miss two in a row. It’s a slippery slope, and your brain quickly forgets the habit.
6. Revise and Improve Your Manuscript
Once you’ve finished your first draft, there’s a strong urge to jump back in and start fixing things immediately. You might even spot a few things in your manuscript that you already want to change. But the best thing you can do right now is stop. Set the draft aside. Give yourself space to breathe.
A few days or even a week can make a big difference. This time away clears your mind. When you return, you’ll see things you missed the first time.
Edit Your Work in Layers
Editing is a layered process. Start with the big picture first. Look at the story as a whole.
- Does it flow from beginning to end?
- Does the story make sense?
- Are the characters consistent?
- Do scenes build toward something meaningful?
Once the structure feels right, dive into the details. Refine your sentences. Swap weak words for stronger ones. Fix grammar and punctuation. Each round of edits brings you closer to the book you imagined when you started.
External Accountability Keeps You Writing
Sharing your work with others is nerve-wracking at first. But it’s also one of the most helpful steps in the entire process. Start with people who understand writing. Maybe a writing group, a fellow author, or trusted beta readers. Ask them what they felt while reading.
- What confused them?
- What stood out?
- And what held their attention?
Pro Tip: It helps to give a little guidance when asking for feedback. Let them know what kind of input you’re looking for.
Also, you don’t have to take every suggestion. Some notes will feel off. And that’s okay. The goal isn’t to please everyone.
Work with a Professional Editor
When your book is as strong as you can make it, consider bringing in a professional. Editors see things most writers don’t. They polish language, fix structure, and prepare your book for readers. A good editor won’t change your voice. They’ll help your voice come through clearly.
7. Decide How You Want to Publish
Now comes the big decision. Do you want to go the traditional route or handle it yourself? Traditional publishing involves submitting to agents or publishers. If accepted, they’ll guide you through production, marketing, and distribution.
It’s competitive, but you won’t bear the upfront costs.
Self-publishing gives you control. You upload your book to platforms like Amazon KDP, set your price, and manage sales. It takes effort, but many writers enjoy the freedom. Both paths are valid. Pick the one that suits your goals.
Format Your Book for Print or Digital
No matter which route you go, formatting is a step you can’t skip. This is where your book gets its final look. For print, this means clean layout, proper margins and fonts. For digital, make sure it looks good on all devices.
You can format your book yourself using tools like Google Docs, Vellum, Reedsy Book Editor or Scrivener. Or you can hire someone who specialises in book formatting.
If you go traditional publishing, the publisher will handle this for you. But for self-publishers, this step is key. A well formatted book builds trust and gives readers a smooth experience from start to finish.
Design a Great Cover
Your cover is your book’s first impression. Before anyone reads a word, they’ll see your cover. That moment matters. It’s what makes someone pause, click or pick it up from the shelf. A good cover fits your genre and gives a clear signal about what’s inside.
If you self publish you’re in charge. You can hire a cover designer or use a design tool. Either way aim for clarity and professionalism. Avoid cluttered layouts, unreadable fonts or vague imagery.
Note: If your cover looks like it was slapped together quickly people may assume the writing inside is just as rushed. Give your book the visual attention it deserves.
Get Your ISBN and Copyright
To sell your book in stores you’ll need an ISBN. It’s the ID number for your book. Some platforms give it for free but you can buy your own if you want more control.
Copyright happens the moment you write your book. But registering it adds legal protection. This step is especially important if your work is valuable or at risk of being copied.
8. Build Your Author Platform Early
People want to know the person behind the book. You can create a simple website. Share updates on social media. Let readers in on your journey.
You don’t need thousands of followers. You need real ones. Readers who care, who share your work, who wait for your next book. That starts with showing up and sharing what matters to you.
Plan a Launch That Builds Buzz
A good launch takes planning.
- Pick a release date and work backward.
- Share sneak peeks.
- Offer pre-orders.
- Run giveaways.
- Host online or in-person events if you can.
Your goal is to get people excited before the book is out. That way, you’re not starting from zero on day one.
Promote Your Book Consistently
After launch day, don’t disappear. Keep talking about your book. Share reviews. Do interviews. Connect with bloggers or podcasters in your genre.
Promotion doesn’t end when the book hits the shelf. Keep finding new ways to share your work. Each post, conversation, or event is another chance for someone to discover your book.
9. Watch Feedback and Sales Trends
After your book is out in the world, the next wave of learning begins. You’ll start hearing from readers. Some will send lovely notes that make all the hard work worth it. Others will leave reviews that hurt a little. Both matter! But it’s how you respond to them that matters.
Read your reviews with an open mind. Look for patterns. If several people say the middle was slow, pay attention.
Sales trends tell their own story. See which formats are selling best.
- Are people reading the ebook more than the print version?
- Is there a spike in sales after a particular post or interview?
These little clues can guide your next steps. They don’t define your worth as a writer, but they can help you make better decisions.
Writing New Projects
Finishing a book is a major milestone but it’s not the end. One of the best things you can do after launching a book is to start writing the next one. Not because the first didn’t matter, but because writing builds momentum. The more you write, the more ideas flow.
Final Thoughts
Writing a book from scratch isn’t about waiting for the perfect idea, the perfect time, or the perfect setup. It’s about starting with what you have right now and being willing to grow through the process. Maybe you’re on your first sentence or your fifth revision, but every step you take matters. You’re doing something most people only talk about.
Take what you’ve learned, apply it in your own way, and trust yourself to figure things out as you go. And if you’ve read this far, it means you’re serious about making it happen. So take a deep breath, find your place in the process, and begin. You’ve got everything you need to write the book only you can write. And when you’re ready to take the next big step, Mayfair Publishers is here to help.
Resources:
[1] Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing. https://kdp.amazon.com/
[2] ISBN US. https://www.isbn-us.com/
[3] Literature & Latte. Scrivener Overview. https://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener/overview
[4] Vellum. https://vellum.pub/
[5] Copyright Alliance. Benefits of Copyright Registration. https://copyrightalliance.org/education/copyright-law-explained/copyright-registration/benefits-of-copyright-registration/
