Just get it down on paper, and then we’ll see what to do with it.” ― Maxwell Perkins
Yesterday a friend of mine called and wanted some insight on how to write a book. When learning that he was interested in writing a book and that I was who he felt could help him, I was a tad apprehensive. Feelings of self-depreciation crept into my mind as I wondered who I was to advise on writing a book. I hadn’t written a best seller, appeared on Oprah, or had a film producer begging me for the literary rights of my book, so I was insecure. Then I thought about some of my insights. I felt that I had made it look easy to produce my three books. Upon further reflection, I decided to share some pointers on how I go about my book writing process with the hopes of inspiring you to write your book.
Doing Lots Of Reading
Like football players watch film, and rappers listen to music, writers must read and read as often as possible. I’m a pretty avid reader, but I take my reading up a notch whenever I know that I’m about to write a book. I was reading a book a week during the writing process of “Halfway Thru My 20s”. Writing is like a muscle and one that takes practice and inspiration. A sure way to be inspired is by reading intensely. Whenever a person expresses to me that they desire to write a book, my first question to them is,
“What are the last five books that you’ve read?”
Great writers are avid readers.
It should also be noted that you read books within your genre close to the kind of book you wish to create. I wouldn’t read The Great Gatsby if I were trying to write a book like The Alchemist. Do your best to plant good seeds in your mind of the kind of “fruits” you want to produce. If you desire to write anything of value, you must make habitual reading a part of your life and read books similar to the book you wish to create.
Writing For Myself First
When writing, there is only one voice that truly matters, and it’s yours. I know that not everyone will appreciate, understand or applaud my writing and that is okay. I’m not writing for everyone. I’m writing for myself first and hope that it resonates with others second. A practical way I implement writing for myself is by reading my writing to myself aloud. A rule of thumb for me when writing is: “if it moves me, it will move others.”
As writers, we must trust that we are relatable, that something we have to say will enlighten or entertain others. It’s a rookie trap to become so engulfed into one’s ego that you think no one is like you. It’s a mistake to think that your writing, thoughts, and words are so unique that they won’t resonate with someone. The world needs your work and writing. Don’t let anyone convince you of otherwise.
Trust me; there is an audience for everyone and everything. Looking at weird products such as The Snuggie is a perfect example to support this thought. As a child, I always thought that was an odd purchase that I would never spend my money on, but I was wrong. The Snuggie still became a national sensation grossing over 500 million dollars in sales. There is an audience for anything and everybody. When writing my books, I always aim to write for myself first, and I encourage you to do the same. If your writing moves you, it will impact others; trust me.
Understanding My Intent
With each of my books, I aimed to have a clear intent as to why I was writing it before I wrote a single word. Book writing is challenging, and if you don’t have a clear reason as to why you are going through the trouble of writing, it will be incredibly more difficult to finish the project. You must understand “your why,” and that reason must be solid. I often hear people say they want to write a book because their life was hard. Newsflash! Everyone’s life is hard. All of us go through trials and tribulations that make our lives difficult; that reason alone will not pull you through because it is not unique enough. Some people think that writing a book is a way to get rich quickly. This idea is also an insufficient intent because most writers have day jobs.
If you can find a reason to write a book rooted in virtue and keeps you up at night, that is an excellent place to start. Your reason for writing a book should be so powerful that you feel your life will be incomplete if you don’t publish your book. Understanding my intentions for wanting to write my books has been the driving force for pulling me through writing when I almost wanted to give up.
Outlining Before Writing
An outline is like a road map. You would never take a road trip without a destination; the same idea can be applied to writing. Before I start writing, I always outline what my chapters will be. I always know how many chapters there will be, what is my intention for each chapter and what that chapter will entail. Having a clear outline also decreases writer’s block. Many people struggle with writer’s block because they don’t know what to say or where they are going with their writing, an outline can help with that.
At the beginning of my writing of any of my books, I do an outline just as I would do in school. Doing so gives me a clear idea of where I’m going and something I would strongly urge you to do as well.
Write, Write, Write
Writing like anything takes practice. You can have ideas until you turn blue in the face, but until you put pen to paper, you are wasting your time. No matter how bad or great you think your writing is; you have to get started. I remember I banged out the first draft of my first book in one month. Part due to my typing speed–but it was also due to my passion for getting the book out. Was that writing great? Not even close, but it was done. Make it a point to write, not edit, not brainstorming for years, write, get it out. You can edit and fine-tune later, but it is far more possible to edit written words than brainstormed ones. Don’t expect perfection early on; just do your best. No one writes a good first draft, and it’s okay; just make it a point to put your words onto the page.
Conclusion
Book writing is challenging, but the reward is worth the labor. I’m proud of being the author of three books. I’ve put in the work and plan to do much more. I hope that after reading this blog, you have found some insights to help you write your book.
I look forward to reading it.