How to Write A Book - When You're Not a Writer

Writing tips to write like a pro.

As an author, writing coach and mentor, I hear from a lot of people that they want to write a book, or they once wanted to write one but gave up on the idea. Over the years I have gathered useful tips and writing hacks to make WRITING easier for non-writers. I learned that not everyone who wants to write a book wants to be a writer, they simply want a book for their business, their brand, or their speaking career.

How to WRITE A book

Did you know 83% of people want to write a book, but only 3% actually do?

I get it, we can’t all be writers. We also all can’t be Olympic athletes, rock stars, or pro basketball players. Because you can’t be world champion or get paid millions of dollars for something you want to do, should that stop you? NO.

Here are my top 4 how to write a book - when you don't want to be a writer tips:

1. Most important, before you start — READ. Read books that are similar to your topic, and books you love. Notice what you love about them. What keeps you hooked. And what you don’t like about what you’re reading. Some people recommend you read at least 100 books. If you don’t like to read, you’re going to find it hard to write. I don’t want this step to stop you from writing. Start reading now. Pick up a magazine, a self-help book, your car manual. ANYTHING. Study the style and what attracts you to keep reading.

Photo by Sam Mgrdichian on Unsplash

2. What question are you answering for your audience? To know that, you have to know who your audience is and what they want to know. You've got a little reverse engineering to do here. Your business was built with a particular niche in mind, and that, is the same for your book.

3. You know what you're asking - how are you going to answer? Hint here - don't answer the question in the second chapter. You have an entire book to write. Each chapter should be leading up to the finale. These chapters are what I call pillar points. I suggest you brainstorm your pillar points. You need everything you want to cover in your book and it should be leading to the answer. Too many? That's okay, you can cut some. Better to have too much than not enough.

4. What do you want to do with your book once it’s done? How do you want to publish? This is a huge hurdle for many writers. They don't start writing because they don't know where they are ending up. Remember the books I recommend you read? Pick out your favorites. Can you tell how they were published? Look up the publisher names on the internet. This should give you some ideas. There are several ways though you can go, and each one has it's own pro's and con's: traditional (need an agent), hybrid (small press), independent (self-publishing.

My biggest suggestion for you - is to just start. But start with a plan so you don't get lost or create a jumbled mess. These four steps are just a few that I recommend. Number 2 and 3 are from my Book Development program - which helps you write the RIGHT book.

You writing a book, may seem impossible. But it always seems impossible until it's done -