How To Write A Book: A Guide For Aspiring Authors
Awesome! So, you want to write a book of your own but may be uncertain about where and how to start; maybe even a little nervous. This is normal and to be expected.
Writing a book is no simple task, and yet, it can be greatly simplified with some book writing know-how. This article will give you all of the basics on how to write a book—a book you can be very proud of, and one others won’t laugh at.
Yeah, let’s get the negativity and fears out of the way right here and now.
Being someone who, some time ago, wanted to write my first masterpiece, I completely understand that there may be some concern about not embarrassing yourself.
Visions of others laughing at you, heavily criticizing your book … it’s enough to stop you in your tracks before you even type your first word!
Just know that these concerns and feelings are normal. Everyone goes through a bit of an emotional roller coaster with their first book. I totally get it—been there, done that myself.
There’s something comforting about knowing that you’re not alone with how you feel about something. Don’t you agree?
But know that it’s not just with books where this phenomenon happens. It’s like this with everything in life that you’re passionate about. It will stir up these kinds of emotions and concerns because they are so important to you.
You can definitely write your book, and this is how you can get past the considerations about others.
When I first started writing books, I was my biggest critic, to a major fault. But it existed because I was worried what others might think of me. And I have found that many of the aspiring authors I have worked with over the last 20 years have had similar challenges. Here’s what to do…
The 3 Fundamental Rules of a Book Writer
The most important thing to do before you write your book is to remove the emotional roadblocks that can sabotage your creativity and even stop you from writing your book. It means getting out of your own way. It means getting others out of the road as well.
So, here are the 3 fundamental rules for writing a book that will help you greatly:
1. DO NOT: worry about what others will think
2. DO NOT: be concerned with grammar rules to the point of stifling your voice and what you are trying to communicate
3. DO NOT: try to please everyone.
These 3 simple but challenging rules will save you from hours of agonizing struggle with yourself and even possibly save your book project from never happening. Understand that if you are writing to please critics, your purpose and intention is on the wrong thing.
You are writing for your audience and no one else! Never forget that.
Want more reassurance? My first book became a bestseller on Amazon, and I’ve gone on to write many more bestsellers for others as a ghostwriter.
Just know that you are understood in what you’re going through right now by facing one of the top bucket list items a person can accomplish in their life. It may be a bit overwhelming. But rest assured, if I could do it, so can you!
That shy, timid kid who had something to say to the world, with a passion strong enough to spin the earth in the opposite direction, has become one of the go-to ghostwriters, founded a publishing company and is CEO of one of the top book writing services companies in the world.
Everyday, I get to help people share their passion with the world to make it a better place!
A Chain Reaction of Greatness
Beyond the hope I held in the back of my mind as a tiny ember, I could have never dreamed of such a wonderful outcome for myself in being able to live a life where I would create a chain reaction of hope—where so many great individuals get to share their thoughts, knowledge, experiences and talents through the power of books; books that influence countless lives of others like we’re doing today!
Why not you?
I’m no different nor better, nor more talented than thee. Just understand that with hopes and dreams, your embers of hope can be fanned into a roaring flame of fulfilled passion and purpose.
Okay! Now that we have your blocks cleared from the road, let’s get into some technical aspects of book writing.
The first thing I wish to mention is it’s important to understand that being an author is being in business for yourself. Authorship is a business.
Too often, I see aspiring writers who think of themselves as artists only.
Long ago, I was speaking at a writer’s group, and one of the writers said, “I never think of promotion—ever.” Her revelation changed her career to moving forward because she realized the truth about being an author:
IF YOU DON’T TREAT YOUR WRITING AS A CAREER AND YOUR BOOK AS A PRODUCT, YOU WILL NEVER SELL ANY BOOKS.
Confusion and Overwhelm
There is nothing worse than having too many cooks in the kitchen—too many egos and not enough alignment of purpose. The same goes for books.
There is so much information about book writing out there that it has become overwhelming to say the least, especially when so much of the information conflicts.
There are so many Johnny-come-lately kids today who happen to sell a few books on Amazon, and suddenly, they are book writing experts! They may be good internet marketers perhaps, but NOT professional book writers in even the slightest way.
One person says to do one thing while another says to never do it. It’s frustrating to say the least.
So, it now has become confusing on the right way to write a book. It is dangerous to heed the advice of individuals who have no business teaching anything in the business of writing books. Just having written a couple of books doesn’t make anyone into an expert.
I may sound a bit harsh here, but destroying an aspiring author’s dreams is much harsher. Wouldn’t you agree? I just have a low tolerance for this kind of thing.
So to simplify things and help you move from where you are today onward in the right direction, I’ve put together…