So you’ve decided to dip your toe in the literary waters.

Your inner Dickens is calling out and it is time to put pen to paper (or more likely - keyboard to screen).

So you’ve decided to dip your toe in the literary waters.

With so much going on between the first idea and the finished product, you’ll need some guidance along the way.

#1 THE TAGLINE

You should be able to describe the concept of your book in one sentence

Aiming to pitch your book idea in one line should help you narrow your concept.

If it takes three paragraphs to explain the premise of your book, it’s not focused enough.

If it takes three paragraphs to explain the premise of your book, it’s not focused enough.

Concentrate on coming up with a punchy line that explains your book idea to someone who doesn’t know you. This will help you to keep a clear vision in mind during the writing process.

#2 THE PURPOSE

You need to have a 100% clarity on why you’re writing your story

Are you writing this book because you want to make money? Are you writing because you enjoy it?

It’s important to know why you’re writing a book so you can remind yourself when things get tedious.

It’s important to know why you’re writing a book so you can remind yourself when things get tedious.

Very few authors make a substantial amount of money from book writing, so this perhaps isn’t the best overall aim when writing your first book.

#3 THE RESEARCH

It is imperative that you find the gap in the market!

It’s important to be aware of what’s already out there. You need to know where your book will sit among others and what your book will bring to the genre. Read widely. Read different areas within the genre and read as many different styles as you can.

Read widely. Read different areas within the genre and read as many different styles as you can.

If you’re not sure where to begin you can browse popular titles in your genre on Amazon, and perhaps use a recommendation app like itcher to find the lesser known titles.

#4 THE FORMAT

Being tight with your structure will help you see the end product in your mind

Are you writing a trilogy? An illustrated story? A collection of short stories?

Think about how your message is best delivered. 

Think about how your message is best delivered. You might think you can drag out a story for 50,000 words but upon closer inspection, it may be that it works better as a short story.

#5 THE PLAN

The right system will increase your chances of success

Some writers prefer to write and see what happens, but if you think you’ll find this difficult (and many would) it’s a good idea to have a structured plan for each chapter or each section of your book.

This doesn’t just have to be bullet pointing what’s going to happen or what’s going to be discussed – even answering questions such as ‘what will the reader feel after reading this chapter’ will help guide you throughout your writing.

Whether you decide to use Workflowy, Trello or good old fashioned pens and paper, the more organised your planning is the more you can declutter your brain and instead focus on the writing.

The more organised your planning is the more you can declutter your brain and instead focus on the writing.

It’s also crucial to designate writing hours in your day. A book is a very large project to take on.

Telling yourself that this year you are going to ‘write a book’ doesn’t mean you’ll have a book written by the end of the year. Instead, carve out a designated writing slot in your day and stick to it.

BONUS: Identify and connect with others like you

By networking with others who are taking on the task of writing a book, you’ll have a support system in place for when questions and queries arise.

Speaking to real people in a similar situation will help you along your way and also try searching Twitter and Facebook for new authors. You can always ask your friends if they know anyone writing a book.

What tips do you have for new writers who want to write their first book?