In the beginning, there was an idea…

that turned into a story…

that turned into a paragraph…

that became a chapter…

then a manuscript…

then a beautiful book on the shelf.

Sounds simple, right?

I won’t lie. The process of writing a book isn’t what I would deem EASY, but it is worth it. And it is doable, even if you don’t have a background in writing, English, or just storytelling in general.

So what does it take? What do you need to know to write a book? Well, we are going to start SUPER simple and hopefully fill in the gaps as we go.

1. Become a voracious reader.

Some of you read that point and immediately thought “I don’t have time to read!” Preaching to the choir. But I promise, you have more time than you think. Read a chapter before bed instead of watching a show. Download the kindle app and read a library book while you wait in the school pick up line. Find your time windows and read. Read different genres, authors, and styles. The more you read, the more you will discover your voice.

And if you need some book recommendations, you can sign up for the fall reading checklist. If you are already subscribed to my newsletter, then you should have received it.

2. Time to start studying again.

You don’t need a degree in writing, but you do need to study a little technique and process. Need to learn how to develop your characters? What about how to plot your novel? How about the right publishers or finding an agent? Indie or traditional?

If you don’t know the answers to any or all of those questions, you are in great company! All learning starts somewhere, and google is a good place to start. Some of your favorite authors may have great resources available, too. And I would love to share tips and tricks along your journey. Feel free to email me your number 1 question, so I can help answer in future blogs or resources.

Pro tip. Don’t worry about the agent or publisher right now if you don’t have a story written. Let’s focus on that part first.

3. Start an idea journal.

Buy a small notebook or journal and start taking it with you everywhere. Buy one small enough to fit in your purse. Whenever you have an idea, write it down. Put ideas for characters, scenes, or themes. Write down your favorite lines from other books and what you like about them (don’t copy them, though).

And to my fellow perfectionist, this is not a place to try to be organized or super neat. (Some of you just decided to take that statement as a challenge.) This is the place to brainstorm. To capture ideas. You’ll organize in a plot later.

It starts here, my friends, the beginnings of a beautiful story—the one you are going to write and the one God is writing in and through you. Are you ready?