How To Survive Writing A Book (A Fool Proof Plan For Success)

Writing a book is a tough job. 

If it were easy more people would do it instead of just starting one and stopping somewhere in the middle. 

You don't want to be this type of writer. 

You want to make it to the end of your novel. 

Prepare for battle! Here are five tips to help you survive writing your novel and make it to the finish line. 

Make A Solid Outline 

Don't go running away right away soldier. 

If this is your first time writing a novel you need to give yourself an easy win or else you'll never make it to the end., 

The best way to do this?

Make an outline. 

I don't mean you have to write down every single thing about your novel on a giant whiteboard like the ones from the cop shows with thumbtacks and red string that doesn't connect to a single rational thought.  

A simple sheet of paper will do. 

Write down the things about your story that you NEED to know before you begin writing.

WHO is your story about? 

WHAT do they want to achieve?

WHAT or WHO is standing in their way?

If you know all this, you're off to a great start.  

Set Realistic Goals and Deadlines

Deadlines are a writer's best friend and the motivation behind most books being finished. 

As for goals. Writing a novel is a pretty big one when you take a step back and look at it, so much so that the new writer can find the climb overwhelming. 

What's not overwhelming is getting to that first resting ground to pitch the tent for the night. 

Or the first chapter of your novel. 

Break the big goal into smaller goals so that you don't get overwhelmed and quit before you've even reached the trees.

Create A Writing Routine 

The best writing happens when it happens like clockwork. 

Wake up, write 500 or 5,000 words, then go about the day. 

Or, 

Do whatever it is you need to for the day, write 500 or 5,000, and go to bed.

Repeat this cycle or whatever cycle works best for you until it becomes as much a part of you as which sock and shoe you put on first. 

You won't have to think about when you're going to write or if you're going to write. 

You'll just write. 

Stay Motivated 

Most writers get halfway up that mountain, look how far they've come, see how far they have to go and start heading back in the opposite direction. 

Hold on. Can you see that? Up there on the top of the mountain?

That's your reason why. That's the reason you started writing your book to begin with. 

Anytime you think you might want to throw in the towel and be helicoptered off the mountain or call for a ride-share car to come and pick you up - look up to your why and let it motivate you to keep climbing towards it. 

Take Care Of Yourself 

A writer in pain won't want to write. 

A writer with bad eyes won't want to sit in front of the screen. 

Just like you need to make sure in your trek up that mountain that you have plenty of food and water, that you're taking plenty of breaks and taking care of yourself - did you already guess it?

The same goes for writing. 

It can be tempting to plant your butt in your writing chair and sit there until you start to grow roots and your story sits in full bloom, but your body needs movement. Your eyes need to see further away than the computer screen in front of you. Your back needs to be straight because I know you're probably hunched as you read this - I am as I write it as well. 

Take care of yourself and your story will take care of you. 

Best of luck with your writing journey. 

You have all the tools you need to survive. 

Make sure you use them. 

With love, 

B. xo xo

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This story was originally posted on Medium.

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