How to Start Writing a Book in 2025: A Guide for Beginners
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One of the biggest achievements in life is being able to write a book. You can pretty much write about anything that you want and anything that interests you, from fantasy to nonfiction to contemporary romance. The path to becoming an author in 2025 has never been easier, and there are so many tools out there that have made the process significantly more accessible than before. Whereas a few years ago, you basically were forced to go through literary agents and big house publishers. Nowadays though, you can almost become an author overnight with the vast array and selection of services and websites and tools for you. So, if your goal is to become an author in 2025 but you aren’t exactly sure how to start writing a book, this guide will help you figure out how to start writing a book in 2025.
It’s not a very complicated process once you really break it down step-by-step. However, there are elements within the process that can make it feel a bit complex. If you want writing insights and tips, then I recommend you sign up for my newsletter. When you do, I’ll send you a free copy of my ultimate marketing checklist to help you figure out how to go from pre-launch to post-launch!
I also recommend you grab my Sprint to a Novel in 30 Days Workbook. Inside, you’ll get access to over 200 pages to help you go from idea to fully finished novel in just one month. Plus, there’s free writing prompts inside to keep you inspired and ways to help you schedule out your writing to accomplish your next goal! It’s a resource that’s helped a lot of writers just like you go from concept to book in just one month.
How to Write a Book: A Beginner’s Guide
Step 1: Commit to the Idea
Every book that you’ve seen sitting on a bookshelf store once started with an idea. However, many aspiring writers actually get caught up before they even write their first book because they say they’re waiting for the “perfect” idea. The truth is, there is no perfect idea. What matters is committing to the spark that you have and allowing it to grow through the writing process.
With all the technology and our access to the internet, it’s easier than ever to gather inspiration for your next book. You can search up trending topics online, find writing prompts like my 50 Paranormal Romance Blueprints or my 50 Romantasy Blueprints, or you can use Pinterest to gather inspiration. If you want to check out some inspiration for yourself, be sure to follow me on Pinterest!
You want to take your idea and expand on it and explore the concept. Don’t judge the quality of the idea, just think about how you can take it from a small seed to a full story. Think about what you want out of this whole process as well. It’s very possible that your initial concept will change with time, but that’s completely normal.
Step 2: Set Realistic Goals
One of the biggest mistakes new writers make when it comes to their first book is setting vague goals. You need to strike a happy balance with your writing goals. Telling yourself that you’ll write only when you have the time basically guarantees that your writing will be pushed aside. What you want to do is you want to think about your daily routine, your freetime, and how committed you are to writing your first book. You want to set realistic writing goals and think about how you can split that into sessions.
For instance, if you know that you can write 500 words a day, then that’s your goal. However, there are ways that you can get to writing higher and higher word counts on a daily basis. I actually talked about this in another blog post → How to Write 2,000 Words a Day (Even When You’re Tired, Busy, or Stuck)
Setting goals is a big part of the initial process in writing a book. You can easily gamify your planning or you can use a planner. I recommend you use the Sprint to a Novel in 30 Days workbook. It includes a daily tracker with weekly check-ins to help you plan out your novel-writing process and keep track of it at the same time.
Step 3: Establish a Writing Routine
One of the things that often gets overlooked when it comes to writing a book for the first time is the key point of consistency. Distractions are pretty much everywhere from Netflix to TikTok. It’s really easy to get caught up in the endless scrolling and swiping on apps and games. That’s why it’s important to create a dedicated writing routine.
I know some authors that write super early before work and others like myself that prefer to write in the quiet of the night. The key to this part is to find a rhythm that works for you and to stick to it. A steady, consistent routine can turn your writing into a habit and that’s what finishes books.
You should also consider the impact of your environment on your writing patterns. Personally, I like to use my work desk for writing. Others prefer the bustle of a coffee shop and some like cozy corners with notebooks. What matters is to create a writing space that helps you get into a creative mindset. Check out this blog post I wrote to learn more about how to set up your writing space.
Step 4: Use the Right Tools
When it comes to writing a book in 2025, it’s important to really understand that technology is driving pretty much everything that we do. There are so many great tools out there that can help you write a book, turn that book into a formatted PDF or a manuscript, etc… Programs like Scrivener and Notion are great for the writing process.
Beyond that, there’s also world building tools and self-publishing services. Tools can help streamline the process, keep things organized, and keep you on task.
In fact, as a writer myself, technology is something that is very present in my day-to-day work. Although I still love buying physical notebooks, I find that technology is easy because everything is just automatically kept in one place.
Check out these posts below to get more information on some great tools I recommend:
Step 5: Outline Your Story
One of the most important parts of the writing process to me has to be outlining. Some writers say that they need to do extensively detailed plans. Other writers prefer to just be a pantser and start writing and discover as they go. Both approaches are totally valid and I’ve actually tried both. I used to be more of a discovery writer and pantser. Over time, I did switch to become more of a planner though. Having a solid foundation for what your story is going to turn out to be like is definitely something that I think is important. It makes the entire process significantly easier and efficient.
If you’re just learning how to start writing a book, then it might help to start with a basic outline. This can provide clarity when your story is feeling overwhelming. It can also help you to just have an idea of what exactly you want to do in your book.
Step 6: Write the First Draft
The first draft is the next step in this process. It’s important to note that the first draft isn’t meant to be something perfect. A lot of new writers I’ve spoken to say that they end up losing motivation because they keep trying to edit endlessly or they keep comparing their rough drafts to published books. The goal at this stage is not to be like a published professional book. That book you’re reading has been through extensive edits and proofreads. It too was probably lacking a lot in the first draft.
Your first draft’s focus should be for moving the story forward and actually writing out the book. You can’t reach the final draft if you never finish the first draft, so keep that in mind!
Step 7: Stay Accountable
Accountability is definitely something that can help you as a new writer. You should try to find online communities, writer friends, or keep track of your progress on social media. When you know that people are watching and can see your progress, it keeps you more motivated. Accountability can help you push through moments of doubt as well.
One thing you can try is to join TikTok and create an account as a writer. You can then post inspo about your books, talk about how many words you’ve written, your biggest challenges, etc… I personally think social media is a big deal and I recommend every writer have multiple social media accounts. Check out this post to learn more about that.
Conclusion
If you’ve decided to write a book this year, then I want to commend you for making a big decision like that. Writing isn’t an easy process and it can definitely feel like a marathon. It’s important to keep in mind that there will be days where you feel like you can write anything and everything. However, there will also be days where you feel like you just have no ideas. You should embrace the process and not feel so let down if you go without inspiration for a few days. All it takes is a single spark, and you’re back to writing tons of great pages again!
Ready to take your first step toward authorship? Grab Sprint to a Novel in 30 Days, a proven guide that will help you draft your book with clarity, focus, and confidence. By the end of the month, you’ll have a complete manuscript and the momentum to carry it all the way to publication.
Don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter as well so you can get access to my ultimate marketing checklist designed specifically for authors and writers like yourself! You’ll also get writing insights, exclusive discount codes, product launch updates, and so much more!
FAQs
Ideas can come from anywhere like dreams, conversations, personal experiences, or even questions you ask yourself. Don’t wait for the “perfect” idea. Start with what excites you and allow it to grow during the writing process.
There’s no universal rule. The key is consistency. Choose a schedule you can realistically stick to and build momentum over time.
It depends on your writing style. Some writers prefer detailed outlines, while others dive in and discover the story as they go.
Timelines vary widely depending on length, genre, and personal pace. Some writers finish a draft in a month, while others take a year or more. Using structured guides like Sprint to a Novel in 30 Days can help you stay focused and finish faster.
Not at all. While tools like Scrivener, Notion, or Google Docs can help, even a simple notebook is enough. The best tool is the one that encourages you to keep writing consistently.
Set clear goals, celebrate small milestones, and use accountability systems like writing groups or online challenges. Motivation grows when you track your progress and remind yourself why you wanted to write in the first place.