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Getting Started Writing a Book: Initial Organization

April 17, 2015 By Christine Field

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how to write your book

Because I have written books (both ebooks and traditionally published books) people I meet often confide to me that they want to write a book.  Often they have been thinking about it a long time but they don’t know how to start.    There are several ways to think about getting started writing a book.  Here’s one idea to get initially organized.

My logical, linear inclination is to think I have to start with the first paragraph and write sequentially until the end.  Not so.  Although I don’t write fiction, this process has much to offer the fiction writer, but is aimed specifically at the nonfiction writer.

Nonfiction books consist of chapters, generally.  Each chapter is one topic and while the topic is related to the book as a whole, chapters are often separate divisions of information.

As you begin to think about your book, draft a rough outline.  It might look as simple as this:

 

Massively interesting title                                                                        

Introduction

Chapter One: Chunk

Chapter Two: Chunk

Chapter Three: Chunk

Chapter Four: Chunk

Chapter Five: Chunk

Chapter Six: Chunk

Chapter Seven: Chunk

Chapter Eight: Chunk

Chapter Nine: Chunk

Chapter Ten: Summarize chunks and draw your conclusions

 

If you browse the nonfiction section of your bookstore, you’ll notice many books have 10, 12 or 15 chapters so this is a good start.

 

Next you have to decide if you are a digital gal or a pen-and-paper person.  I am the latter so I always start this process with labeled file folders.  Each folder has the chapter number and topic on the label.  Stuff these folders into a bigger folder (like a legal folder) so they are all in one place.

If you’re a digital gal, open a new folder on your desktop with your working title.  Open 10 Word documents with the chapter number and title.

From this day forward, every time you think of or come across something that belongs in the book, you write it down or make an electronic note and dump it into the file.  My physical files usually end up being filled with articles I’ve town out or printed, scribbled notes, notecards of info, and slips of random paper.  Your digital file would have similar contents.

This is going to take some time.  If you’re writing a short ebook, the process is quicker.  But if you are looking at a full-length book, this could take months or years!

As time allows, pull out a file (or open a file), organize the information and record your thoughts.  Over time you will have sentences.  Sentences grow into paragraphs, paragraphs into pages.  Soon you’ll have a book.

What’s the best way to start writing a book?

Just make a start.

 


Filed Under: Creativity and Spirituality, Writing Tagged With: best way to start writing a book, get started writing a book, getting started writing a book, how do i start to write a book, how do you start writing a book, how to write a book, writing a book, writing a book getting started, writing a book where to start

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Hi, I’m Christine

Have you been a wholehearted mother, but time, toddlers and teenagers have moved on? If you are wondering what comes next for you, you’ll feel right at home here.

Or, are you a mom for whom family life has been non-Pinworthy and parenting has been downright painful? I hear ya. There are many of us around.

Are you looking for a life full of exploration and adventure after the nest empties, but maybe you have no idea how to go about doing that? Stick around! We’ll explore adventures together to help you gain more clarity for your own path.

After a couple decades of writing books and articles about parenting, homeschooling and adoption, speaking to homeschoolers and other parent groups, and reaching out to the mom in the trenches who was trying to make the best of it - my kids grew up. Some grew up and grew away. I was determined to find a way out of the pain, emptiness and lack of direction.

For many of us, the journey starts with something we moms are not accustomed to. After years of caring for and serving others, sometimes we forget the beauty and wonder of US. We need to spend some time getting to know the parts of ourselves that have lain dormant, and take the time to explore interests and passions that we set aside.

I’d like to invite you to get the “What’s Next for Mom” workbook and jump into this growing tribe of Moms who are emptying the nest and filling the life! Let’s reignite your Mojo after Mothering!
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About Christine

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At Real Mom Life, my passion is to provide resources and reassurances for moms facing the surprising challenges of family life. In my writing and speaking, I explore solutions to unexpected issues in adoption, homeschooling, special needs, and more while encouraging moms to extract the maximum joy out of each day. Read More…

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