Quick Guide on How To Write a Book (By an Expert) for 2024
If you love books and reading, you've probably thought about how to write a book to add your own voice to the publishing world — be it through poems, a novel or a non-fiction book on your areas of expertise. If you're new to writing and publishing, you may be wondering where to start, especially if you’re feeling that first itch of creativity and the desire to be a published author. With a few great tips on where to start, you can be on your way to having a book with your name on the cover in no time.
Jump to Section
- How To Write a Book With No Experience
- How To Write a Book and Get It Published for Free
- How To Write a Book for Kids
- How To Write a Book in 7 Days
How To Write a Book With No Experience
Books are simply a medium of communicating in the written word, something that most of us do to some degree in our lives and jobs anyway, either in written or oral form. We tell our stories. We hear the stories of others. We also enjoy narratives in other art forms like movies and music on a daily basis. And while you can learn writing and literary techniques to write the best books, you already have many tools in your toolbox, especially if you're a passionate and curious reader.
How Does a Beginner Write a Book?
One of the biggest challenges when deciding to write a book is deciding what KIND of book you want to write. If you already have some experience writing in a genre like science fiction, or the perfect idea for your version of the great American novel, you likely already have a great start.
If you’re new to writing, it may take a little soul-searching and trying different things out to see which genre best encompasses your passion for communicating. Other great options for books include personal memoirs, travelogs and other non-fiction volumes like histories, guides and how-tos.
Once you know what you want to write and the sort of book you’d like to put into the world, do some research on the publishing process for your chosen genre, which can vary from releasing books through traditional publishers or indie publishing your own work. This can help immensely for you to gauge markets, timelines and the business of releasing a book before you’ve even started drafting your book.
It can also help you prepare what to expect as you begin trying to share your work. Do you need an agent? Are there reading fees or contests in your future? How long does the editing and design process take? These answers will depend largely on the genre you choose, but they're great to know before you start the writing process.
The Basics of Writing a Book
Writing a book can be a rewarding journey, but it requires preparation, creativity, and discipline. Here are the fundamentals of writing a book:
- Choose Your Genre and Audience: As mentioned before, you'll need to determine what type of book you want to write. Choose among an array of themes and genres like fiction, nonfiction and memoirs or romance, science fiction and thrillers. You should also consider your target readers. Are they young or old, male or female, or do you want to get super specific like zombie romance for tweens.
- Develop an Idea or Concept: Start with a core idea, theme, or premise. Ask yourself what story or message you want to tell your chosen audience.
- Create a Detailed Outline: Plan the structure of your book. Consider the plot, characters, settings and then organize your chapters and main points. Conduct research on standard plots in the famous Hero's Journey which include:
- The Ordinary World: We meet our hero.
- Call to Adventure: Will they meet the challenge?
- Refusal of the Call: They resist the adventure.
- Meeting the Mentor: A teacher arrives.
- Crossing the First Threshold: The hero leaves their comfort zone.
- Tests, Allies, Enemies: Making friends and facing roadblocks.
- Approach to the Inmost Cave: Getting closer to our goal.
- Ordeal: The hero’s biggest test yet!
- Reward (Seizing the Sword): Light at the end of the tunnel
- The Road Back: We aren’t safe yet.
- Resurrection: The final hurdle is reached.
- Return with the Elixir: The hero heads home, triumphant.
- Establish Your Characters (Fiction): Develop characters with depth and clear motivations. Understand their arcs, such as struggles and triumphs, and then consider how minor characters can contribute to the story. Understand the main characters in any story, including the Protagonist, Antagonist, Deuteragonist, Tritagonist, Confidant, Love interest and Foil. You may also want to research the 8 main archetypes in the Hero's Journey including the Hero, Mentor, Ally, Herald, Trickster, Shapeshifter, Guardian and Shadow.
- Write Consistently: Set a schedule or daily word count goal to make progress steadily.
- Revise and Edit: Editing is essential in drafting a story. Good editing takes time because you will need to walk away from your story and come back again and again with fresh eyes. Your first draft is only a starting point. You will need to refine your work by focusing on clarity, structure, and flow. It's also important to always look for feedback from others you trust to be honest.
- Understand the Publishing Process: Decide whether to pursue traditional publishing (query agents/publishers) or self-publishing (independent release through platforms like Amazon KDP).
Finding the Time to Write Your Book
When writing the actual book, one of your best and most elusive gifts can be time. If you’re writing amid an already busy life, you may have to steal a little time from your daily routine to work on your book. Many writers throughout history have spoken about the virtues of early-morning pages or late-night drafts. When you do have a longer period of time, whether on vacation, a break from caretaking or something like a writer's retreat or residency, relish the possibility to get more writing done with a singular focus.
How long a book will take in its first drafting stage will also depend on industry standards and genre expectations. Most novels fall in the range of 80,000 to 100,000 words, with anything under 50,000 considered a novella. Other books, like poetry collections and childrens books, will be much shorter, but may also involve illustrations or artwork.
Figure out if you're a “panster” or a “plotter.” Plotters begin by creating a careful outline, being specific and detailing individual scenes and bits of dialogue. Pansters on the other hand, tend to dive in and see where the writing takes them. There are, of course, benefits and drawbacks to both. Pantsers get the boost of more organic creative flow and can focus more on the journey than the results. They can also easily go off on a tangent or get lost in the weeds.
Plotters have the benefit of a tighter rein on the project, but can sometimes use too much valuable time and creative energy laying it out. This means that they become tired of the project before they start. One of the best ways to marry the strengths of both approaches is to create a general outline and direction, but still allow yourself to wander a bit more freely in the writing process and discover where the story takes you.
How Long Does It Take To Write a Book?
This answer will vary significantly depending on how much experience you have writing, your pace and how much time you have to work on your manuscript. If you've already done some writing in shorter genres like short stories, poems or short essays, you may already have written material and just need to focus on compiling and editing more than drafting. Even for longer projects, a period of sustained work can yield wonderful results.
Each November, thousands of people participate in NaNoWriMo, which has a suggested daily word count. Stick to it and, at the end of the month, you will have a novel-length manuscript. While many consider this adventure a first draft, with a little editing and work on what you’ve written, you can easily have a novel completed within a couple of months if you are consistent with your writing and editing. Some authors can turn out novels every few months, especially in popular genres like romance or horror, while other authors may spend years with each work.
What Format Do You Want to Publish In?
While print was long the publishing standard, many authors, particularly in genres like romance and sci-fi, release their books only in ebook format. Here, they can enjoy success on platforms like Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing, which makes books available with a couple of clicks and a scrolling e-reader.
Print books are still favored in some genres like poetry and children’s books, where the physical object is often preferred. You can also release your books as audiobooks, usually as an auxiliary format to electronic or print titles. Other fun options for releasing a book include digital downloads hosted electronically or on serialized platforms like Chanillo or Wattpad. On a smaller publishing scale, you can also publish via more DIY and handmade means like saddlebound chapbooks or exquisitely designed artist books you make yourself.
How Will You Reach Your Audience?
As you write your book, start thinking about marketing and your potential reading audience:
- Who are you writing for?
- What demographic are they in?
- What will guide interested readers to your work?
- How will they find your book and buy it?
- What are your goals as far as readership and acclaim?
Once you've determined who your audience is, the next challenge is figuring out how best to get your book into the hands of those readers. Some of this falls in the realm of social media promotion, advertising and reviews, but can also be things like communities you are a part of, socially or professionally, that may have an interest in what you write.
For creative genres, you may find one of the most lucrative ways to sell books is at readings and book events. It can also help to post samples, either on a blog or other publications, as teasers that lead back to your website or sales page. Interviews, podcasts, newsletters and other kinds of media and literary spaces are also good drivers of traffic to your book.
How to Publish the Best Book You Can
Once you have the first draft of your book, whatever its genre, there is still more work to do before releasing it out into the world, even if you are an indie self-published author who has charted out your own timeline. For writers publishing traditionally with literary presses, there is usually the work of landing an agent and sending out submissions. After acceptance, there are a few more steps such as editor suggestions and proofing.
As an indie author intending to self-publish, these are things you will likely do yourself, be it on your own or if possible, having beta readers, developmental editors and proofreaders lend a hand to make your book as strong as it can be when you do release it. You may also want to hire a designer or cover artist. You can find designers, editors and proofreaders who do this work freelance on sites like Fiverr or you can hire companies, like Reedsy, that will do these things for you for a fee with various packages available.
How To Write a Book and Get It Published for Free
How Much Money Can You Make From Writing a Book?
The amount of money you can make from writing a book varies significantly depending on factors like your publishing route, genre, marketing strategy, and audience reach. Here's a breakdown:
1. Traditional Publishing
If you sign with a publisher, your income typically comes from advances and royalties.
Advance:
- First-time authors: $1,000–$10,000 (occasionally higher).
- Established authors: $10,000–$100,000 or more.
- Advances are typically paid in installments (e.g., upon signing, manuscript delivery, and publication).
Royalties: After the advance is earned back, you’ll receive royalties (typically 10–15% of the book's retail price).
- Example: A $20 hardcover earns you $2–$3 per sale.
Factors Influencing Earnings:
- Genre: Commercial genres like romance, thrillers, or fantasy often earn more.
- Marketing and Distribution: Books heavily promoted by publishers can sell tens of thousands of copies.
2. Self-Publishing
Self-published authors retain more control and a larger share of profits, but earnings depend on sales and marketing.
Income Sources:
- Royalties: Platforms like Amazon KDP offer 35–70% royalties per book sold, depending on pricing.
- Example: Selling a $3.99 eBook at 70% royalty nets you about $2.80 per sale.
Upfront Costs: Self-published authors often invest $500–$5,000 (or more) in editing, cover design, and marketing.
Potential Earnings:
- Some authors earn a few hundred dollars a year.
- Successful indie authors (with strong marketing and a loyal audience) can earn $50,000–$100,000 or more annually.
- Bestsellers occasionally earn millions.
3. Hybrid Publishing
Hybrid publishing involves sharing costs and royalties with a publisher. Earnings vary depending on the agreement but are generally less than self-publishing and more than traditional publishing.
4. Factors That Boost Earnings
- Genre and Niche: Popular genres like romance, mystery, or self-help often sell better.
- Series vs. Standalone: Series books tend to earn more, as readers purchase multiple installments.
- Marketing: Authors with active social media presence or email lists can boost sales significantly.
- Adaptations and Rights Sales: Selling movie/TV rights or foreign language rights can bring in additional income.
Realistic Expectations
- First-time authors: $500–$5,000 in the first year is common for both traditional and self-published books.
- Experienced authors with multiple titles and strong marketing can earn $50,000–$100,000+ annually.
- Breakout hits and well-established authors may earn in the millions.
While every genre has its own ways of doing things, most publishing experiences after you’ve written a book fall into a couple of different categories. There is indie or self-publishing, where the expense and work to release a book falls on the author with the help of a Print on Demand (POD) company who actually prints the books.
Then there is traditional publishing, which means a large or small press releases your work, typically doing most of the heavy lifting as far as design, promotion, editing and manufacturing of the book. Even within these two categories, there is a wide variety of earning potential.
Many nonfiction and fiction presses give advances upon acceptance of the manuscript. Some poetry books are chosen via contests that offer a cash prize. Often these are levied against potential earnings and royalties, which are usually a small percentage of every book sold. A hugely popular book with publishers like Random House or Penguin or from a bestselling author (think Stephen King or Anne Rice) can make millions from writing and movie options, with eager readers waiting for the next release.
Some traditionally published mid-list authors who publish consistently are able to generate a decent income each year, though many will still need to supplement it with arts funding, teaching or other kinds of work. Some genres, like poetry, do not usually offer advances, but can pay in royalties after publications, though some tiny micropresses pay only in free copies of your book.
Traditional Publishing vs. Self Publishing
Which variety of publishing is best for you will depend on a number of factors, including your own personal goals and ambitions. Do you want to see your book in major bookstores like Barnes and Noble or at airport newsstands? These books are usually traditionally published, which often means you go through various gateways to get there, including getting representation by a literary agent, the submission process and, once accepted, the design and editorial process with the press. This is the best way to get published without having to front anything financially and in many cases, actually make some money from your book before or after it's published without an investment on your part.
Self-publishing has grown in popularity among authors in the past decade, as the bottlenecks in the publishing industry and the sometimes low yields of traditional publishing, have authors looking for new ways to get their work into the world. Many authors choose to embark on the journey toward publication themselves, with more control over the publication process and potentially higher earnings if they sell consistently and well.
In most cases, you upload your book, finalize it after some proofs and make it available without having to pay for anything except for the copies you order at a discounted rate and a percentage of your sales through the platform. There are also other hybrid models of publishing formats out there, including companies, sometimes called “vanity publishers,” who will do the design work, editing and printing as part of a paid package but will still require you to market your book on your own.
Free Ways to Market Your Book
Once you have a book or are getting ready to release one, there are many great ways to reach your readers without paying for costly advertising. Social media and blogs offer opportunities to help connect readers with writers, sometimes directly, through platforms like Instagram and TikTok, where sub-communities like #bookstagram and #booktok are steadily gaining momentum as literary taste shapers.
These platforms cost nothing and can be a great way to connect with readers. You can also set up a website for very little money that you can direct readers to with platforms like Squarespace and Weebly that are beginner-friendly.
Staying Small
While many people have dreams of releasing a book widely, there are also times when you want to create a bound book as an object or a gift. Many POD companies and printing companies can create gorgeous volumes if you plan to publish a book you will only share with people you know (or even just for yourself). This approach works splendidly as a fun journal idea to produce a bound version of your thoughts and writing. Or create a personal memoir, family memory book, cookbook or travelog. These kinds of books are also suitable for smaller handmade volumes, like a hand-bound memory album that can double as a birthday card idea or a family time capsule idea.
How To Write a Book for Kids
Children's books and YA literature are among the hottest publishing genres and the easiest to break into as a new author. While traditional publishing still involves the system and structure of agents and editors to get in the door, creating a self-issued children's book can be immensely rewarding, even if you only plan to share it with a few people like your kids, greater family or friends.
Determine the Age of Your Readers
Age brackets for young readers span picture and early reader books meant for kids under 5 to young adult novels for teen and early adult readers. There are also other genres, like graphic novels and nonfiction books geared toward youth audiences. The age of your reader will help you determine the subject matter and complexity of what you write, as well as how many illustrations and artwork you will likely have in your book.
Picture Books
Some of the earliest books for young readers contain minimal text and lots of eye-catching images. If you're an artist or illustrator, you already have many of the tools and abilities that you will need to write a children's picture book. You can also enlist a friend or family member with an artistic eye to create artwork. There are also a host of illustrators and artists looking to work with authors on these kinds of projects that can be found on places like Fiverr who will work with you collaboratively. Since these books tend to be rather short, you can often write them much faster than other genres.
Young Adult (YA) Fiction
This popular genre of young adult fiction also has different age ranges, from early preteen books to older teen books that have more adult-friendly storylines like violence, drug use, crime and so on. Focusing on the age range you are writing for can help you learn the expectations editors or readers will be looking for in the books they read. Many of these young books have subgenres, like YA romance, YA fantasy or YA horror, each with their own genre expectations you can research as you write.
Quick Guide on How To Write a Book for Kids
Here are some things to consider if you're looking to write a children's book:
How To Write a Book in 7 Days
While many books take much longer to write and finesse into publishable form, there is something to be said of the passion and focus you get from a short and sustained time to write a book. Such concentrated stretches, even as short as a week, can give you more focus and productivity in writing your first draft, as well as help you keep a sustained momentum free of other disruptions. This kind of writing is perfect for spaces like writing retreats, either somewhere else or self-organized, where your sole focus and purpose for the week is getting your book down on the page.
Speed Writing & Editing
Writing with the speed needed to complete a book in seven days may require melding your drafting and editing more closely together. Rather than creating an initial rough draft that is messier and less perfect, you may want to create a cleaner copy with minimal errors, which can be helped by editing software like Grammarly.
While the book may still require edits after the rough draft, the shorter timeline can benefit by handling these things in that initial draft to save time later. At the same time, try not to get too bogged down in any particular scene or section of the book at the cost of making progress on the manuscript as a whole. A second reader and someone to offer a hand at proofing can also be very helpful as you write.
Layout & Design
This can often be one of the lengthiest processes, even for a self-published book written on a short timeline. Keeping it simple will help, as will hiring a design professional for the interior or cover. Book layout software like Blurb can also help, as can pre-made cover template designs available for free on Canva.
The goal is to swiftly create a print-ready file to upload to a POD or e-book producer like Amazon, Barnes & Noble Press or Lulu. Once you upload it, you can have copies printed within a couple of weeks or an e-book available in hours.
There is likely one good book, at least, in everyone who loves to write, so why not make it happen?
For even more fun ideas to get you inspired, check out the experiences happening on Classpop!
