Hello Friends!
It has been a while since I have written in this space, but I wanted to share a few thoughts on writing. I am not an expert, and I don’t claim to be one. I am an indie author, and someone who loves the writing journey. I have published three books, and I learn more each time.
I have had several people reach out and express interest in writing a book or sharing their story and want to know where to start. The questions I get are often process-related, like what company to use or where to secure publishing knowledge. There is a whole world of information on the actual publishing aspect if you choose to write to publish a book. Other people want to write just to get the story or their personal experiences in a documented form but feel overwhelmed with what to do first.
I want to address the elementary concept of getting started on your writing journey. No matter how much research and information you acquire, you can’t publish or share a book or story that you don’t write. Your story matters!
Here are four simple things that you can do today to get started with writing your book or sharing your story.
Why?
- Write down why you want to share your story. Clarity about why you are writing will help you to be committed to the process. When you get stuck or discouraged, remembering why you are doing it is motivation to complete it. There will be moments when you will feel unqualified, or like what you are working on won’t matter. Why is your biggest personal accountability for sharing your story.
What?
- Your what is the big picture. Write down a summary of what you would be sharing in your book/story. It is almost like a description if you had to explain what your manuscript will be about to someone else. This could be as short as one or two paragraphs or even a page or two. It will give you a visual of what you need to accomplish in your writing.
Brainstorm.
- Begin with a list of things/messages/stories/experiences you would like to include in your writing. Those would vary based on the type of material you would be writing, such as non-fiction, memoir, or even a fictional book. When you get an idea of what you want to cover in your book, that list will evolve into an outline or chapter ideas. This gives you smaller targets to reach for that can be developed and arranged into a cohesive final product later.
Write.
- Start somewhere. You don’t have to know how to format, publish, or even how it will turn out. You can and will figure out the technical stuff along the way. Research can’t replace the actual writing. You have to get your story out of your head and heart onto paper. You can type it or write it in a notebook and transfer it to a computer later. There are even methods of voice dictation that you can record your thoughts. I use sticky notes, journals, email, Word documents, and even the Notes app on my phone.
We all have a sphere of influence in life, and someone is waiting on what we have to say. Our experiences can help other people when we are willing to open up and share them. Writing is one effective way to do that. But we can’t publish or do anything else with that message until we write it first. I just want to encourage you if you have been thinking about writing, let this be the year that you WRITE!