Writing a Book with No Experience: What It Feels Like Drafting Every Single Time

If you have a novel idea, diving into the writing process isn’t so easy. When you’re writing a book with no experience, where do you start and how do you approach the work of writing? The same way all writers do!

I don’t want to sound disingenuous, but I feel like every time I write a book, it’s like I’m writing a book for the first time. It takes a while to get into the subject matter, and it takes even longer to feel really connected to the story I’m writing.

For me, every time I start a new project, I get the jitters. I have no idea how to strategize the process other than just diving in. And that’s the thing. If you’re writing a book with no experience (which is what it feels like every single time I start a new draft) you just have to jump into the deep end and swim like hell.

I Want to Write a Book, Where Do I Start?

There is no right way to do anything creative. At least, not really.

Sure, there are things you’ll need to do to perfect the final product, but when it comes to writing a book, you just gotta do it. Remember, gang. It’s write first, edit later.

So if you find yourself saying, “I want to write a book, where do I start?” the answer is literally wherever you want.

You can make a bulleted list of the ideas you have. You can create a Pinterest board for inspiration. You can start putting bits and pieces of the story into a Word Doc.

Don’t overthink it. Usually, when people are asking how to start writing a book, they’re looking for permission. They want to know they are doing the thing correctly.

And like I said-there is no correct way to do it. So just start writing. The book will be a mess until you start editing anyway. And you don’t need permission from anyone to make the creative project you have kicking around inside your head.

There is no learning how to start writing a book about your life or a made-up novel without actually doing it. So, if you have that memoir inside you, just sit down and start drafting the things you know you want to include. You don’t have to put everything in there, and when you get enough…