Each author’s journey is unique. Instant success is rare; most writers are familiar with rejection letters. While people might decide to try writing books for various reasons, most authors hope to be able to generate income with their stories.
If you’re new to writing books, there are several things you’ll want to do before taking on a project. Not doing these things doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t be able to finish a novel. You might not, however, enjoy as much success in the sales department as you would have if you had completed this startup checklist.
Give due diligence to research before writing books
Imagine that you’re walking in a park one day and an idea for a story pops into your head. As a person who hopes to earn a living writing books, it would not be advisable to forge ahead before “testing the waters” to see if there’s an audience for your story. Many readers buy their books online; this is why landing on the best-seller list on shopping venues like Amazon should always be your goal.
Running a keyword search for a new idea is a good first step to take when writing books. You’re looking for phrases that shoppers might type into a search bar, such as “Christian fiction,” “Stories of redemption,” “Christian action thriller” or whatever fits your idea. You can then analyze search results to determine whether your story has a chance of making it into a top spot, which produces a profitable monthly income.
Create an outline for your story
While there are many prolific authors who don’t use formal outlines, it’s best to create at least a basic roadmap for each new story, especially if you’re a novice. Outlines help you organize your thoughts. They provide a visible plan that you can follow and refer to as you transfer the thoughts in your head to written form.
Next come all the firsts
Whether you’re new to writing books or have been a best-selling author for decades, each story involves taking a first step. Sitting down to bring your characters to life can feel like a daunting task. This is why it’s helpful to focus on the firsts: Set a goal (including date of completion) to write the first sentence, the first page, and the first chapter.
If you’ve decided to make writing books a career, you might want to give this 3-step beginners’ plan a try. Test your idea (to determine if there’s a market), create an outline, and conquer the firsts before settling in to allow your novel to unfold. These three steps form a firm foundation from which you can bring your stories to the world.
