The journey from the initial idea to the completed manuscript can seem long and daunting. As an author, how do you shape those first nebulous thoughts into a fully-formed book? While every writer has their process, some common steps can help you navigate the path from conception to completion.
Finding Your Idea
Before you can begin writing, you need an idea worth developing. Inspiration can strike anywhere - a news headline, a conversation with a friend, an image or experience that sticks with you. Carry a small notebook or use the notes app on your phone to jot down any ideas or thoughts that come to you throughout your day. Don't censor or judge these ideas yet - capture them for later review.
When you've accumulated a list of potential ideas, start to evaluate them more critically. Which ones excite you and get your creative juices flowing? A statement that connects on an emotional level or touches on your passions is more likely to sustain you through the writing process. If you're unsure, try fleshing an idea into a short synopsis. This exercise can help crystallize the concept and show if it has legs.
Outlining Your Structure
Once you've settled on an idea to pursue, it's time to map out the overall shape of your book. Outlining gives your manuscript structure and helps organize your thoughts. Don't feel chained to your initial outline - it's a guide that can change as you write - but have some direction before starting the first draft.
Your outline should capture your story's major plot points, characters, and arcs. Identifying the beginning hook, inciting incident, climax, and resolution can be helpful. An outline need not be extended or overly detailed. Even jotting down a beginning, middle, and end is enough to get you thinking about overall flow and progression.
Just Write!
With your basic outline in hand, the fun part is writing the first draft! This is where you bring your ideas to life on the page. Silence your inner critic and resist the urge to edit as you write heavily. The goal of your first draft is to get the story down from beginning to end. It will be messy and flawed, and that's okay. You can polish and refine it in later drafts. Just push through to that first complete manuscript.
Revise and Rewrite
You've made it to the end - congratulations! Take a breather, but don't submit your manuscript just yet. Very few first drafts are publication-ready. Now is when the actual revision work begins. Set your manuscript aside for a few weeks to gain critical distance. Then, start reading and editing with fresh eyes. Pay attention to the overall structure, pacing, character development, and prose style. Look for plot holes, redundancies, and logical gaps - all the areas that need smoothing. You may go through several drafts before having a polished final manuscript ready for others to read.
Stay Encouraged!
Writing a book takes perseverance, but the journey from idea to completed manuscript can also be enriching. Keep your passion for your story at the forefront as you navigate each stage of the writing process. Stay encouraged, be patient with yourself, and know that finishing is an accomplishment to celebrate!