How to Just Start Writing

Honestly, a book is just a bunch of words. Anyone can write a book. It doesn’t matter if it doesn’t make any sense to anyone but you, or if only your neighbor gets to read it. Go buy a notebook, a pen or pencil and JUST START WRITING! You can write a book! 

Many times when people ask famous authors, “How do I write a book?” they actually mean, “How do I write a good book that will get published and read?” The answer to that question is a bit more complex. But not to worry, anyone can do it! It takes work. I don’t mean twenty minutes during your lunch break once a month. I mean hard work – the kind that makes you think, write and re-write everything you create. Garrett Pierson, in his book How to Write a Book ASAP, shares some strategies that can teach how to just start writing your first book.

There is no secret writing club or underground technique, however, which eliminates the amount of time it takes to write a book. And you, as an author, must take that time constantly and consistently. Your time must be spent pre-writing, writing, editing, re-writing, and researching. As the author of three bestsellers, Scott Berkun, has stated, “It takes effort to learn the ropes, send out smart queries, and do the research required to both craft the idea for a book, and then to propose it effectively.”

A good tip to just start writing is to keep a notebook or recording device with you at all times. That way you can write down any inspiration that comes to you or anything you hear that sounds like it could be relevant to your book. Even if you don’t use all the words you write down, being constantly on the lookout for insight and promptings will take you that much closer to thinking like and eventually becoming a writer. 

When all is quiet, spend some time meditating. Picture yourself as a published author. Envision yourself in a year or less signing your book, doing radio and TV interviews, talking with movie producers. Then, when you believe you can do it, get busy and just start writing.