World renowned writer, Neil Gaiman once said: “a book is a dream you hold in your hand”, and when you’re a budding writer with a great story to tell there’s nothing you want more than to share that dream with the whole world. However, the hard work isn’t the idea, the editing side of things – click here for a plagiarism checking tool – or even getting your works published, it’s actually sitting down and getting the writing done. And when you’re a busy parent, someone who works 9-5, or both, then it can feel like you’ve got a mountain to climb.
The process of writing isn’t straightforward, it stops, and it starts, and then stops and starts again. If you’re fortunate you can write whole paragraphs without backtracking or being interrupted otherwise it’s a slow process. But a rewarding one, nonetheless. So, how to do you go about writing your first book? Sure, JK Rowling wrote a bestseller whilst juggling family life, but can you really match up?
Read on for how to unleash the writer within and write your first book.
Decide on what your book will be about
You may already have this idea fully planted in your head. But if you want to write consistently and efficiently, then it’s always a good idea to write it out fully. You don’t need to know all the details, but a basic idea isn’t enough, write down the themes, the initial characters and where you want the book to go. Consider the beginning the middle and the end and, of course, if you intend to have a follow-up book at some point. Create the book skeleton if you will, then you can fill it out later on.
Decide on a realistic word count
So you’re a busy parent and you’ve got your hands full most of the day. Writing can seem like a daunting task, but this is why deciding on a word count is incredibly helpful. You don’t need to write reams and reams each day, but you need to write as often as you can. A page a day? A whole chapter? A couple of paragraphs? Whatever you think is achievable, go for it. Over time you’ll have an entire book. Consider working your writing goals into your daily schedule. Get up a little earlier or write when the kids have gone to bed.
Get feedback
This is incredibly daunting and it’s the reason why so many great books go unfinished. You’re scared of what people might think. It’s daunting but getting feedback as soon as you can, will help you become a better writer and know that you’re heading in the right direction. Share your work with honest friends or people you know who love reading!
Don’t be downhearted
You need to embrace failure as a writer. Harry Potter was rejected 12 times before it was finally picked up by a publisher who decided to take a chance on it. So, embrace the fact that you’re going to hear a lot of “no” before you hear that elusive “yes”. You need to remember to keep trying and don’t let it put you off your writing dream.
