8 Ways to Start Writing Your Book

Call it strange, or call it a coincidence or call it a strange coincidence, in the last 4 months I have met over a dozen people who are in the process of writing or are planning to write a book sometime in he near future. The ideas range from non-fiction books to a book on Class X Mathematics to a compilation of essays on Indian wedding customs. With my own learnings deliciously topped with my teenie weenie talks and sometimes lengthy discussions with many of them, I’ve gathered some useful tips on writing a book. With the collective wisdom of over 15 aspiring writers, chances are you will be able to successfully write your book if you follow these quick tips.

1. Write your book’s title.
This will help you focus on the topic and gives you a concept to start working with. Ensure that the title is clear to you and answers the many questions that are doing the rounds in your mind. “Class X Mathematics without a calculator” is a great title to start a book which focuses on providing students with quick problem solving tricks. “20 ways to turn your hobby into a profession” clearly suggests what the book is about and will help you focus on it. You can always give the book a different title when you’re finished but to start with one helps. I am made to believe that John Grisham began his book “The Client” with “Two kids and a dead body” as its title.

2. Write your book’s SMP (Single Minded Proposition).
In one single sentence try to answer the target audience’s ‘problems’ and how your book can solve it. Again, writing the SMP keeps you focused on what your book should contain and all chapters work in tandem to support the SMP. “Students find maths difficult. These quick tips make Mathematics interesting and easy” is an acceptable SMP for your ‘without the calculator’ book!

3. Define your target audience.
Be very clear about whom you’re writing the book for. Define the target audience’s demographics and psychographics. Under your TA thoroughly. What they like, what they hate. What interests them for scares them… everything. And after understanding them, write a mock letter to your TA telling them detail about the book you intend writing for them. Write your reasons for writing this book. Be honest to yourself and to them. This is where you build on the SMP you wrote earlier and turn into a summary of your book.

4. Write the back cover of your book.
Write the back cover exactly the way you would want it to be. Concoct some testimonials and reviews. This will give you the initial confidence and inspiration and will also help you set the tone of voice for your book. Of course, in addition to giving your book direction.

5. Design the front cover of your book.
Keep it on your desk to inspire you. As much as it’s not advised, many people still judge a book by its cover. Get the title your name and the visual on the cover. See if it hooks you into picked up the book. If it doesn’t interest you, chances are it won’t interest the reader.

6. Buy some office files to organise your book.
In one file, keep your introduction. In another, the index or resources. In one, a brief outline of all the characters (if any) in your book. File every chapter separately so you can always refer to it when you need it.

7. Write down the chapter’s format.
Readers like consistency. All chapters should follow more or less the same format. Introduction, main body, conclusion, tips, notes and exercises. Particularly for non-fiction books, try to have all chapters of the same length and the same sections.

8. Write a minimum number of pages everyday.
Come rain, thunder, snow or spouse, write at least 3 pages of your book everyday. If you follow this, by the end of six months you would have written a minimum of 540 pages. Sure, you might have a bad hair day and might have to re write some pages later… but at least you’ve written something. Nothing scares a writer more than an blank sheet of paper.

So, go ahead, start writing that book you’ve been thinking of. And please feel absolutely free to add to this list.

~ Arun Verma