How to Prepare for Writing a Book

Figure out when you work best. Some people work best first thing in the morning, when the house is quiet and the mind is clear.^[3] But if you're not an early riser, you may find yourself falling asleep at your desk instead of working. Be honest with yourself about when and how you write best.

Consider your other obligations. Before setting up your writing schedule, you need to be able to anticipate the things that will drag you away from writing. Do your work hours change from week to week? Do you have small children who might take up a lot of your time?^[4] Older children whose activities might have you on the run? You'll need to decide whether you will work best with a strict schedule or a flexible one.

• If you have a predictable schedule, develop a strict writing routine.
• If your schedule varies from day to day, know that you'll have to find writing time where you can.

Create a writing schedule.^[5] A daily writing routine will make you more likely to stick to your goals and finish your book.^[6] You should know when you’re going to write every day, and plan the rest of your schedule around it. Depending on how flexible your day to day life is, create either a strict or flexible writing schedule. The most important thing is that you have at least one hour of distraction-free writing time every single day. If you can find more time, that's even better! It doesn't have to come all at once: you might write for an hour before work in the morning, then for another hour in the evening once the rest of the house has gone to bed.^[7]

Make a promise that you won't get drawn away from the routine. Once you sit down to write, you shouldn't allow anything else to drag you away. Don't answer the phone or check emails, ask your spouse to watch the kids — do whatever you need to do to stay focused. You may need to discuss your writing needs with those you live with. Ask them to be understanding of your routine and to give you some space when you're working.

Set deadlines for yourself.^[8] Setting deadlines is a delicate balance. You want to push and challenge yourself so you're not getting lazy, but you also want to be reasonable. Don't set yourself up to fail. Assess your schedule and be honest about how much time you can set aside to write. Some examples of writing deadlines might include:

• Daily word counts: you have to write 2,000 words a day
• Notebook counts: you have to fill out one spiral-bound notebook each month
• Chapter deadlines
• Research deadlines

Get an accountability partner.^[9] An accountability partner is another writer who's also working on a book. You will hold each other accountable to your writing routines and goals. It's easy to slack off when you're writing in isolation. A good accountability partner will make you confront any laziness or distraction and help you get back on track.

• Meet with your accountability partner regularly. Depending on your schedule, this might be every day or every week. What's important is that you stay in regular touch.
• Share your schedule and goals/deadlines with your partner. They need to be able to tell if you're behind schedule!
• During these meetings, you can either work side by side on your own projects or look at each other's work. A second set of eyes can be a useful tool when writing a book!

Determine the book’s genre.^[10] When deciding what type of book you want to write, first consider what types of books you like to read. When you go to the bookstore or library, which section do you spend the most time in? Do you spend your weekends relaxing with a romance novel, or do you prefer to learn about historical figures through biographies? Do you enjoy the satisfaction of the long novel, or do you find the immediacy of the short story more gratifying?

• Writers perform best when they are familiar with the genre in which they are writing.
• This usually aligns with the genre they enjoy reading best. Choosing the genre you know most about will likely result in the most enjoyable writing experience, too!

Figure out the book's purpose.^[11] Once you've chosen your book's genre, you need to figure out what you want to provide the reader. Think about why you've enjoyed your favorite books in this genre. This will help you figure out what the purpose of your own book should be. For example, a biography George Washington might help you understand and connect to the culture of your country. Mystery novels consume you with tension, curiosity, and surprise. Fantasy novels let you escape this world and expand your imagination.

• Spend some time writing about what effect you hope to achieve in your reader.
• By laying out your goals before beginning the project, you have a reminder you can come back to later, when you feel lost or directionless in the writing process.

Conduct your research.^[12] If you are writing to provide information, it may seem obvious that you need to spend a lot of time researching. Don’t assume, though, that romance novels or dramatic short stories don’t require any research. If your novel is set in the past, you must be able to provide a realistic physical and social setting. If one of your characters is a police officer, you must be able to realistically portray her in that profession. To present the reader with a believable story, you must always conduct research.

• Look in textbooks to find basic language that will make a character’s professional life believable. You don’t want to use terms incorrectly!
• Research historical eras online and in books.
• Consider interviewing people who may have expertise in areas you want to write about.