How to write a book

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Breaking down the process

Please note: this is a blog post, not a book! What is included here is not comprehensive. It’s a start, not the final word. Thanks for stopping by and read on.

Where to start?

It’s a process with lots of steps.

Start small. A blog post? A letter to a friend? A letter to the editor? It all counts.

Write what you know

Non-fiction–Write a useful book. I learned the importance of this from the best: Write Useful Books, by Rob Fitzpatrick. Plan to write a book that teaches what you’ve learned, shares skills you have developed, or inspires others who are coping with life challenges related to what you have faced.

Fiction–You will still be writing what you know, with a huge dash of imagination thrown into the mix. Of course there’s more to it than that, but it’s where you start.

Reluctant writers

I was a reluctant writer. When faced with serious illness, everything I had learned up to that point no longer applied and I had to start over. As I began healing, I learned new lessons.

That’s what I began to write about. Simple emails to family and friends. No pressure. No perfectionism. No expectations, just sharing what I was learning, what I saw, and what I was thinking about. You can read many of those early pieces, now polished, edited, and compiled into thematic chapters in: My Liturgy of Easy Walks: Reclaiming Hope in a World Turned Upside Down.

Did this begin as a book? Not at first. Not for a long time. But I saved my work. And kept writing. When I started it was simply something I needed to do to help me heal. And it did help. (It still does).

My Easy Walks book series began when I recognized a need. People who wanted to get outdoors near where I lived did not know how to find places where they could walk safely. I thought I could figure it out. My limited mobility turned out to be my most important asset for writing this trail guide series. Instead of feeling like “I’m the only one,” I learned, as I worked on the Easy Walks books, that I am NOT the only one who struggles to get outside safely. I’m not the only one who longs to enjoy the outdoors with support. Providing resources to help others is not only gratifying, it’s also a tremendous amount of fun! Easy Walks books.

Keep writing (and save your work!).

You never know. You may have a book in you. Back up whatever you are writing somewhere other than on your phone, tablet, or laptop.

Share your writing

Getting feedback on your writing is essential. You may be too harsh on yourself. Or … you may think everything you write is great. Reality most likely lies somewhere in between. Some people never get comfortable hearing how they could improve their writing. It’s likely those same people will never write a book others want to read. If you want to get your book “out there” you need help making what you write the best it can be. Everyone deserves a good editor. I know and work with some great ones.

Navigating the online self-publishing world

In the past, traditional publishing was the only path to getting a book out into the world. If your book concept did not fit in with what a publisher thought could make them money, you were turned down (or just never heard back!). Few other options remained.

These days, beyond traditional publishing houses and hybrid publishers (more on that in another post), self-publishing platforms offer a wide range of choices. Figuring out what works best for you can be overwhelming.

Get help

Our clients are often people who have an idea, have written about it, and know they need help to make their writing better, more coherent, and more organized. That’s where we come in. Finding a trusted editor takes time and experience. If you are doing it on your own the process often can lead to paying for a poor editing product.

Finding an effective editor is challenging. The writer-editor relationship is extremely personal. We help our clients find the best match for their work and their writing style. Our next post will explain the different forms of editing, why and how the types differ, and how to decide what your manuscript needs.

Got questions? email me: Marjorie@marjorieturner.com

Good luck, and happy writing!

Marjorie Turner Hollman

Does publishing a book independently feel overwhelming? Get the help you need to make your book available. Then you can start reaching the audience that needs to hear what you have to say. We’re ready to work with you to get your book self-published, and assure that you keep all the royalties from your book.

We work with trusted developmental editors, copy editors, proofreaders, and book layout and cover designers as part of our team of professionals. Email to see how we can work together. marjorie@marjorieturner.com