How to (finally) start writing your non-fiction book
Simple ideas for starting on the road to book authorship
The last three weeks have been like the start of a journey. A step towards taking a long-held (but back of the mind) idea, and shaping it into a book concept that now seems alive, real, full of promise.
Like many people, I’ve been wanting to write a book for a long time. I’m not new to writing, and not new to writing for publication. But have never written a full-length book. This article touches on ideas I’ve found helpful so far in starting to write a non-fiction book.
Seek out accountability
One thought that has held me back in the past is this: “I won’t be able to write a book unless I get a publishing contract in advance.”
I didn’t believe I could deliver unless I had a deadline looming over me. I’m great at meeting deadlines! But am now seeing that there are other ways to get accountability, without a publishing contract. I posted my intention on LinkedIn a week ago. The post attracted lots of encouraging comments.
Well, I’ve said it now! And I like to be thought of as someone who delivers on what they said they’d do. I’m taking this public sharing a step further, and starting with this article on what’s helping with this journey of writing a book for the first time.
Find challenge and support
As it happens, two wonderful women in my network offered book writing challenges in the same week. Nicola Humber is the author of Unbound Writing. I had just finished reading Nicola’s book, and journaling on many of her magical writing prompts, when I saw she was running a five-day Unbound Writing challenge. What great timing!
The other challenge was run by a dear colleague Glenda Shawley, MD of the Fabulous Networking community, and author of “Founded after 40”. I admire both these women, and their challenges could not have been more different.
Nicola’s challenge invited us to dig deeply into our relationship with our book and our writing. Amongst other things we were offered a visualisation to help us connect with our book and were invited to journal on any fears coming up for us around our writing.
Glenda’s challenge was quite practical. The exercises including identifying our ideal reader, and planning our content. I discovered over the week that those two approaches complemented each other brilliantly. I’m also now part of an ongoing support group, through Fabulous Networking, of individuals who’ve committed to writing a book.
Discover your process
As well as gathering support, you’ll also need to discover a writing process that works for you. I started with a rough outline of my book and chapters, as a mind map. I’ve now moved on to mapping individual chapters, using colourful Sharpies. This is bringing some things into focus, where the topics overlap, where a topic doesn’t fit into the whole. (Have spotted places where I was just trying to shoehorn in a pet topic!) More clarity is emerging on how things might fit together. The concept of my book is still the same. But the structure is shifting a little and coming more into focus.
Research (and then stop researching)
Part of writing a non-fiction book is the research. As I get clearer about my topic, I keep noticing interesting pieces of information, research findings and writings related to my topic. This process is exciting for me. One of my signature strengths is love of learning. And one of my motivations for writing this book was to learn and to enjoy the process.
But I’m aware this can also be a trap as there’s always something more that you can learn and research about a subject. I also have to write, and at some point accept that I’ve researched enough. I’m not writing a PhD! I’m writing what I hope will be both an inspiring and practical guide for people who want to improve their communication skills and confidence.
Advice in summary…
If you’re thinking about writing a book, you might find it helpful to:
- Read some informative books on writing and publishing. Here are a few that I’d recommend.
- Unbound Writing, Nicola Humber, 2020, Unbound Press
- This Book Means Business, Alison Jones, 2018, Practical Inspiration
- Leap Write In, Karen Benke, 2013, Roost Books
Do you have any recommendations? Please share in the comments.
2. Ask yourself what support would help you to succeed? There’s lots out there! Could it be it a challenge to get your started? Ongoing support from a book coach, or book buddy who’s also writing a book? Participating in a writing group or mastermind?
3. Experiment and discover a writing process that works for you. Do you want to start with a very clear structure and outline? Do you prefer to just write and let the structure emerge? If you need to do research, do you like to do most of this in advance, or as you go along? How will you capture your ideas?
Are you writing a book? If so, what’s helping you?
January 2021 Update: since writing this blog I’ve also now completed a Book Proposal Challenge run by Alison Jones of Practical Inspiration. It was a brilliant challenge. It really moved my thinking to another level and I now have a clear book proposal and outline table of content to work from.