So, you want to write a book? You’ve got a unique idea that you want to share with the world. You’ve got a main character that you believe people will fall in love with. Your plot is both original and intriguing. Awesome! You pull out your laptop, crack your knuckles and stare at a dead screen for about two hours before calling it quits. I’ve been there before and trust me when I say… It sucks. You really, really want to write this book, but the only problem is you don’t know where to start. You can have a mountain of willpower, but if you don’t know where to begin you won’t make it far. This is the biggest issue that many people face when it comes to getting their idea out of their heads and onto electronic paper. You may not want to believe this, but there is a simple solution to this problem and it’s called, ‘planning.’ That’s right. People don’t realize that having a great idea, cool characters and an intriguing plot isn’t enough. You have to have a plan. A plan is intended to give you structure and direction. Your book is a project to which you are going to dedicate a ton of time and energy, so you want to put your best foot forward and planning helps you do just that. With that being said, let’s dive into what elements make up a good plan.
The first thing that you’ll need is a clear vision of exactly what you want. You need to know what genre the book falls into, how long it’ll be, how many chapters, what does the book cover look like, how the book begins and how the book ends. This gives you the general outline of the book and sets the blueprint for the project. Be meticulous. Think of every detail and jot them down. This will give you a better image of what the finished product will look like.
Your dream of writing a book will remain a dream if you don’t create some goals. Goals will act as the bricks and mortar to your project. Let’s be honest, writing an eighty-thousand-word book can seem pretty daunting. The word count alone is what scares most people into inaction. With that being said, if you break that larger number down into smaller numbers the fear will magically dissipate. This technique is called chunking. You’re simply taking a big goal and turning it into a bunch of micro-goals. To begin, write down each goal and draw a box next to it. Every time you complete a goal check the box. This is a good way to keep track of your progress. Also, each time you achieve a goal you should reward yourself. This positive reinforcement will also act as motivation.
The next thing you want to do is give the project a deadline. A time restraint adds more structure to the project and serves as motivation. A looming deadline helps keep you on track and focused. Include warning posts within the duration that remind you that the deadline is coming up. These can come in the form of sticky posts, phone calendar alarms, and people. If you want to take things to another level you can create fake deadlines to keep you ahead of the actual deadline.
The next step will be to execute the plan. You’ve laid out the clear vision of your book, broken the dream down into easy-to-do goals and gave yourself a deadline. This is a great starting point.
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