How to write your first book: 10 Do's and Don'ts

When you're just starting out your writing journey, tackling that first-ever novel might seem pretty daunting. After all, writing a book requires focus, planning, motivation, and discipline.

I’m the head of Prompts, Reedsy’s weekly writing competition, so I’ve seen tons of successful authors participate in our popular contest and end up publishing their own story collections and full-length novels!

To help you out today, here are my top tips for writing your first book — and make sure to stay until the end for a final bonus tip!

1. Do go in with a strong premise

Start with an idea you’re passionate about

With certain fiction trends on the rise (romantasy, anyone?), it can be tempting to pen something similar to what’s on the most popular bestseller lists. But your first novel shouldn’t just be written in response to whatever’s currently trending.

If you want to see your novel through until the end, you need to be in love with whatever you’ve decided to write about. If you’re constantly excited about your characters and the world you’ve created, not even the worst case of writer’s block can stop you!

Outline your novel for a solid foundation

Outlining your novel is a great way to establish a dependable roadmap that’ll give you a clear sense of direction as you write. Also, planning ahead will help you keep track of several important story elements, including character arcs and major plot points.

The good news is that there isn’t one set way to outline, so you can try one of these 7 outlining methods, for example, and see which one works best for you! 

I’m personally a fan of the humble index card — I love writing each important plot point on a single card and rearranging my collection of cards if I want to try out a new story structure or fix a pacing issue. Also, I’m a very visual person, so seeing my entire story laid out in front of me (either on a wall or on my living room floor) really helps me consider its various elements from beginning to end!

2. Do create a main character to root for

Draw on other beloved characters in your genre

If you’re struggling to write compelling, memorable characters, I highly recommend looking at successful ones in your genre for inspiration.

For example, if you’re writing a YA dystopian novel, read popular books in that genre with fan-favorite protagonists like Katniss Everdeen, Tris Prior, and June Iparis. These teenagers are all brave, clever, and interesting characters who become leaders to fight against the oppressive systems of their respective worlds. But they also deal with their own fair share of personal struggles and internal conflicts.

Keep in mind, however, that you should never create characters who are way too similar to existing ones. Writing a main character who’s practically identical to Thomas from James Dashner’s The Maze Runner might seem like a good idea, but changing his name and a few small details won’t be enough for your readers — they’ll spot a copycat a mile away.

In other words, look at beloved characters in fiction as inspiration, not as a detailed blueprint you must replicate. Who knows? Years from now, you just might realize that tons of writers have turned to your original characters for inspiration!

Delve more deeply into their psyche

Once you’ve started to build unique characters that shine on the page, it’s time to go beyond the surface. An intriguing protagonist should do more than say cool lines or have envy-worthy dance moves — the best kind of character also has fears, dreams, doubts, and insecurities that can make them all the more relatable and authentic.

If you ever find yourself struggling with understanding your character’s psyche, think of these questions:

• What are their core beliefs or values?
• What is their biggest internal conflict?
• What is something that will never fail to stress out or upset them?
• What is their ultimate goal in life, and what would they do to achieve it?
• How have their past experiences shaped who they are today?

Feel free to come up with more questions if needed! And if you want even more help with thinking more deeply about your characters, you can try creating or filling in a character profile template, like this free one here.

3. Do establish a productive writing routine

Put aside excuses and distractions

For many of us writers, we tend to find endless reasons why we can't write: "I don't have the time" and "My writing sucks" are two common ones.

Before you even start writing your first book, why not try journalling about the process itself? Jot down doubts, surprises, insights, self-discoveries, constant distractions — anything that’s worth keeping in mind. I’ve found that simply writing down your fears, insecurities, and seemingly never-ending hurdles makes it easier to put them to one side and focus on the most important task: finishing your book.

Make time for writing

Once you’ve silenced those excuses and distractions, make it a goal to write every day, even when you least feel like it.

“I don't have time to write” is one of the most common excuses I hear from writers. If you find yourself thinking this as you tackle your first novel, I recommend dividing your writing sessions into smaller units. It's much easier to squeeze in 15 minutes than a full hour at a time, so if you write every day — even if only for a little while — your writing can do nothing but improve.

Break down your goals by word count

To make any daunting goal seem more achievable, it’s always a good idea to break said goal into smaller objectives. I recommend setting a deadline for completing your first draft — then, from there, you can work out how many words you need to write per day on average.

If, for example, you give yourself a year to finish, your necessary word count per day would be (length of your novel)/365. So, if you want to write a standard-length novel (approximately 80,000 to 100,000 words), your word count should be around 220 to 280 words per day. 

When you look at it this way, it's entirely possible to write your book in a year (or a much shorter period, if you have more time to write)!

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4. Do allow fresh plot ideas to flow

Go where the story takes you

For many aspiring authors, a writing session starts with opening a laptop or notebook and getting words down right away. But I’ve found that it can be useful to mentally prepare yourself first, before you flesh out your fictional setting or dive into an engaging conversation.

That’s why I recommend freewriting — which is one of my favorite things to do at the start of a novel-writing session. I take a pen, some paper, and write down some “high level” ideas that will guide the rest of the session. This helps me stay super focused, and it also gives me around 10 minutes to jot down possible solutions in case I’m struggling with a particular plot point or character conversation.

Freewriting is both easy and flexible — so try it out next time, even for just a few minutes, and see where this simple exercise takes you.

Read in your genre to stay inspired

Sometimes, when I need an extra boost of inspiration, I like to read a book that’s similar to the one I’m writing. I highly recommend doing this when you’re feeling lazy or unmotivated! 

Similar to freewriting, if you’re having trouble with one particular aspect of your novel, you may find the answer in someone else’s. Pay attention to other authors’ character development, pacing, or writing style and allow it to inspire your own. 

That’s not even to mention that seeing someone else’s published words is a useful tool to encourage yourself to get back to writing — and envision your own work as a published book one day.

Try out some writing prompts

When the words really aren’t coming, momentarily exploring another topic or idea can help get those creative juices flowing. You can find thousands of free prompts online, such as on Reedsy Prompts, to get started. Yes, a bit of a shameless plug here, but I wouldn’t promote something I didn’t believe in!

As the head of Prompts, I’ve written and published hundreds of prompts to inspire hundreds of thousands of writers around the world. Here are a few of my favorite recent prompts to try out in case you feel stuck:

• Write a story with a character or the narrator saying “I remember…”
• Write a story from the POV of a non-human character.
• Write a story that solely consists of dialogue. (No dialogue tags, actions, or descriptions. Just pure dialogue!)
• Write from the POV of a fairy tale character sharing their side of the story.
• Write a story with a big twist.

You could also consider choosing a prompt related to your genre, or pick something completely different to your story… whatever works best for you! Once you’ve finally warmed up (or reheated) those writing muscles, it’s time to return to your novel.

5. Do continue to challenge yourself

Strive to be original

A tip I often hear from fellow artists is: Don’t just be a writer — be a reader, too.

In other words, don’t think you’ll be able to pen a strong story if you’ve never read the works of fellow writers in your genre. It’s so important, especially when you’re tackling your first novel, to read, read, read. That way, you’ll have a better understanding of what actually works — and what doesn’t — in different kinds of stories.

But as touched on above, make sure that you’re not directly copying whatever you encounter. Draw from your own experiences, thoughts, and feelings as well, so that your readers will find your work authentic, memorable, and maybe even relatable. It’s a daunting challenge, sure, but the payoff will be well worth it in the end!

Meet your deadlines

I’ve found giving myself deadlines to be very helpful, especially when the last thing I feel like doing is writing. Breaking your main goal of writing a book down into smaller chunks, then deciding on end dates for each of them, could be just what you need to get into a regular rhythm and stick to a productive routine.

Hold yourself accountable by telling at least one trusted person about your goals. Whenever I start a writing project, I always let a friend know, and more often than not, they’ll suggest being accountability partners! 

Don’t forget, it’s okay if your accountability buddy isn’t also working on a book — having a big project to work on, no matter what it’s about, is the most important thing. Set deadlines with your accountability partner, check in before and on the day of these deadlines, and see your productivity shoot up tenfold!

6. Don’t dance around the actual writing

Don’t let perfectionism delay your progress

I’m a huge perfectionist, so I’ve spent more hours than I’d like to admit polishing specific sentences and searching for synonyms. Strong word choice and clean, beautiful prose are so important to me when it comes to writing — but the problem is that if I’m not careful, I can spend a whole afternoon refining just a single page of my manuscript.

If that resonates with you, don’t worry; just because you’re a perfectionist doesn’t mean you’ll never finish a book! The key is to prioritize progress. It can be so easy to overthink all the little choices we make while we write, but that usually feeds into a bad case of writer’s block. 

Remember, perfect is the enemy of good — at this point in time, wouldn’t it be better to have a final draft that’s ready than half a book that’s taken you years to write?

It’s okay to deviate a little

If you’ve created a strong story outline, as I suggested earlier, then the hope is that you’ll find the writing process fairly straightforward.

But here’s the thing — while outlines can be super useful for any author, it’s also important not to follow them to a tee if things aren’t going the way you expected. Deviating from your plans isn’t the end of the world… in fact, I’d even argue that going down unplanned paths every once in a while can make your story more exciting!

Remember, though, that this doesn't mean you should keep changing your mind and starting over. If you’re struggling with a certain scene and your story plans or outline aren’t helping you in the current moment, you shouldn’t just throw everything you’ve written out the window!

In this case, to avoid wasting time (and chucking out all your hard work), I’d suggest skipping ahead and working on a scene or chapter that you know will excite you. That way, you’re still getting some writing done, and you can stay on track and meet your deadlines or word count goals either way.

7. Don’t include excessive exposition

Avoid overloading readers with backstory

While working on your first book, you might feel compelled to share heaps of information about your protagonist or the world you’ve built.

But a huge info dump is the last thing readers want to see — we’re not in the 19th century, after all! If you want to hook your readers from the start and captivate anyone with a very short attention span (*coughs* me), I’d recommend slowly revealing important details throughout your story. 

That way, you’ll be giving your readers opportunities to emotionally connect more to your characters and plot and anticipate what’s next, and there’ll be a much lower chance of them ending up confused or overwhelmed. When it comes to storytelling, info-dumping doesn’t look or feel natural at all!

Introduce details naturally through dialogue and action

“Fine,” you’re probably saying. “I won’t info-dump… but then how on earth do you expect me to share important information with my readers?” 

Great question. When you think about meeting a person for the first time, do you learn about their entire life story in the span of half an hour? The probable answer, in my experience, is no. To really get to know someone, it takes time — and that’s how you should approach telling readers about your characters, too.

In that vein, using informative yet authentic-sounding dialogue throughout your story can go a long way towards naturally revealing thoughts, beliefs, dreams, childhood crushes… anything you can think of, really.

And to go the extra mile, don’t forget to “show, not tell” through actions. Instead of directly telling your reader that your character doesn’t like their best friend’s husband, for example, why not show it through their interactions? For example, write a scene with your protagonist talking to their best friend’s husband and showing subtle (or more obvious) dislike through facial expressions, body language, and a snide remark or two.

8. Don’t focus on worldbuilding at the expense of characterization

Remember that characters should drive the plot

One of my favorite things to do while writing is to dream up brand-new worlds (especially if that lets me escape reality every time I turn on my laptop!). However, don’t forget that even the most intricately planned narrative with unforgettable worldbuilding pales in comparison to a story with all of that and strong, multi-faceted characters.

If you want your readers to care about your writing, you’ve got to go the extra mile and create realistic characters with their own dreams, fears, and struggles… otherwise, your readers won’t bat an eye if something happens to your protagonist and their friends, even if they’re running for their lives in a post-apocalyptic wasteland.

Another thing to keep in mind is the dynamics between your characters. If your characters don’t have any chemistry or interesting relationships with each other, your story will unfortunately fall flat. Making their interactions realistic and engaging is a surefire way to take your book to the next level.

Don’t let intricate world details overshadow emotional depth

Worldbuilding is always fun, and it’s essential for so many different kinds of stories out there. (I’m definitely guilty of spending whole afternoons dreaming of creepy dark academia settings and bleak dystopian societies!)

But don’t get too carried away, because no matter how awesome your setting is, it won’t be the element of your work that’ll resonate with your readers the most. That’s why I recommend constantly thinking about the balance between worldbuilding and the emotional arcs of your characters.

Occasionally, the setting of your world might throw up a challenge (or lend an assist) within your story. Think of characters in an adventure novel having to navigate rocky terrain or stormy seas — or alternatively, of how they might stumble upon a precious resource in the wild! But for the most part, the wonderful world you’ve conjured should simply serve as a backdrop. 

9. Don’t edit too much as you go

Resist the urge to constantly revise

In this day and age, most people prefer drafting their stories with a laptop or tablet. Here’s a tip: if you’re someone who constantly finds themself editing as they go, you might need to try something else, such as using a typewriter or good ol’ pen and paper!

Whenever I feel like I’ve been revising a bit too much while working on a first draft, I take a break from all my gadgets and go old school. There’s just something so great about the inability to erase — typewriters don’t have backspace bars, after all, and crossing out every other word on the page will make your writing illegible, so you definitely want to avoid that. Going back to basics might be just what you need to finally finish that first draft!

Lean into the “shitty first draft”

If you’re in dire need of some words of inspiration, here’s some advice: “Think of your writing as a shitty first draft.”

Now, this isn’t to say that your story is horrible, or that it should never be published. It’s more of a reminder for when you’re feeling pressured or stressed about the whole writing process. 

When I was at university, one of my favorite professors introduced me to the writing of Anne Lamott. In her writing guide Bird by Bird, Lamott suggests that writers should keep “the idea of shitty first drafts” in mind.

“The only way I can get anything written at all is to write really, really shitty first drafts,” she shares. 

As Lamott reminds her readers, no one is ever going to see your first draft — so it doesn’t have to be perfect. “Almost all good writing begins with terrible first efforts,” she writes. “A friend of mine says that the first draft is the down draft — you just get it down. The second draft is the up draft — you fix it up.”

10. Don’t underestimate what it takes to succeed

Writing a novel takes time, dedication, and persistence

In an ideal world, writing a novel would take a few weeks at most. But as we all know by now, finishing a book isn’t a fleeting, short endeavor — to create something that’ll entertain, excite, and inspire requires many months or even years.

Whether you’re a few months into your book, a few chapters away from finishing it, or stuck in the dreaded mid-novel slump, here are some quick tips to keep in mind so you don’t give up: 

• Return to your original outline and notes to remember how passionate you are about your story and characters. Sometimes, it can be easy to forget all the excitement when you’re agonizing over a certain scene or plot point!
• Work somewhere else for a change of scenery. If you always write in your living room, for example, then try writing in your kitchen, your bedroom, or maybe even a café or library to shake things up!
• Envision your published book with your dream cover. Or better yet, close your eyes and imagine the launch event of your novel in your favorite bookshop filled with your loved ones and plenty of eager fans!

Stay committed, but celebrate your wins

Finishing the first draft of your novel is just the beginning, so don’t forget to enjoy the process. Celebrate your small wins. Treat yourself whenever you meet a deadline or achieve a mini goal. Embrace whatever comes your way, because you only write a first novel once! 

Bonus advice

For anyone who’s read up until the end, I’ve got some bonus advice for you! If you’re looking for even more motivation to finish that first novel, why not take a writing course? The great thing is that you don’t even need to leave your house — there are tons of online courses out there, with many of them ready to start at any date and time.

Here’s my top recommendation if you’d like one right away: Reedsy’s popular “How to Write a Novel” course. This 3-month novel-writing course is designed to guide you from blank page to finished draft, with daily video lessons, weekly webinars, feedback sessions, and a friendly community of writers to help you stay on track.

I’ve been taking this course for almost a month now, and I can say it’s worth every penny so far. Tom Bromley, the course’s instructor, has helped me look at my writing in a completely different light, and I now feel like I have a better handle on my manuscript because of it. I always love learning new things about writing craft, and as I previously mentioned, accountability really helps me reach my goals, so if you’ve got the time and drive, go sign up! (You’ll get a free lesson if you join today!)

Good luck, and happy writing!