Before even trying to put words out there, you have to have a reason to write.  

So, step one. Why do you want to write a book?

• If it’s to get rich, find a real job.
• If it’s to be famous, become a notorious serial killer instead.
• If it’s to make friends, buy a dog.
• If it’s to get laid, OK, it will work, but Tinder would be easier.

Sure, fame and fortune could be the by-product of publishing books, but they should never be the driving force because it does not mean it will make you are a good writer!

Having the right marketing team or publicist could make the difference if you’re worthy of being a literary giant or just another keyboard masher picking up a cheque.

You could be a lousy writer who reaches millions, or if you write for the right reasons, you could be a great writer who touches a few. 

To be a great writer doesn’t require a defined skill to put pen to paper. It requires understanding yourself so you can translate your thoughts, skills and imagination into words. 

Your words are what your reader will absorb and remember in their day-to-day life. It’s your words that could keep them up at night or help inspire your reader to change their lives, perspectives, or circumstances from just a simple sentence.

Remember, whatever you write and publish will be there forever, which has a romantic tone attached to this. Your soul, mind, thoughts, fears, loves, hates, passions, and convictions will be immortalised forever.

It can be a scary, dreadful thought knowing this, but this is what will drive you to become an amazing writer. 

Forget the notion that you are writing your book to “share your story”. It’s all been done before. With 7.8 Billion people on this planet, your story will not be that incredible! 

However, if you are writing this book for yourself, then you are on the right track. Your passion will reflect and be absorbed by your reader because you kept it real…!

Writing is about getting to your happy place. In large, writing is also incredibly therapeutic and can help you channel your passions and desires into text for others to enjoy, empower or enrich their lives.

Discover your “why”, and you will find your book almost writing itself. 

So how do you discover your WHY?

Simple. Figure out yourself and who you are, and then decide what it is you want to say.

It’s all good and well to write another self-help book, biography or yet another How-To-Life guide, but unless you have something to say and are comfortable with who you are, keep digging until you find it.

But, there is a way forward. Discovering who you are is not as daunting as it sounds. Nor do you have to sell everything and venture out into the Tibetan mountains. No! All you have to do is assess who you are. 

I know you came to learn how to write, publish and market a book, but bear with me for a second.  

Good writers drive their fears, passions, phobias, love, anger, lust, anxiety and desires into words through their imagination, thoughts and ideas. It’s not their knowledge because knowledge is a text-book; passion is a story.

To do this, you have to conquer the fear of discovering who you are first.

• What do you love about yourself?
• What do you hate about yourself?
• What are the emotions that drive you? Fear, anger, lust, love, anxiety.

Finding your head-space

It may seem too “airy-fairy”, but some writers use these emotions to drive or inspire themselves to write amazing pieces. So you have to discover what would drive you.

For instance, do you write better when you are depressed, angry or upset or do you write better when you feel loved, comfortable or stable?

So let’s put this to the test.

If I were to tell you that I have just smashed your car, ran over your cat and cheated on you, how would your letter to me differ if you were writing to someone who you just fell in love with? Which one has more passion? Which one is more expressive? Which one is more engaging?

Now it’s not to say if you need to be angry or depressed to write, that you go out and find trouble, far from it. Instead, what you do is get your head-space into that emotion by stepping out of reality for the time being.

This is why it is recommended to find your special place to write. Your writing space will help shift your mindset so that you can leap into your world of writing.

Finding your special place

When we think of writers, we often picture someone with a typewriter sitting high in the mountains surrounded by beautiful scenery while puffing on a pipe. Where in reality, it’s usually someone sitting at the kitchen table covered with crumbs, kids screaming, and the TV blaring.

Welcome to the life of a writer. But, this is where escapism comes into play. As a writer, you should be able to step away from your reality and step into your world. Of course, this is not so easy. This is why you need to find your special place and a special time when you can and should write.

This can be anywhere and anytime. If you enjoy the company of people and not easily distracted, find a coffee shop. If you need a quiet and secluded place, find a library. 

Just never use the excuse that “I don’t know where to write” or “I don’t have the time” because this only means that you are not ready, hungry or willing to write just yet. 

Instead, you are more in love with the idea of being a writer than actually becoming a writer.

No matter where your happy space is, try and eliminate the distractions, but as long as it’s not used as another excuse. “I can’t write because my mother-in-law is visiting” or “I have to look after kids”. Nonsense, because mothers-in-law, just like the kids, have to sleep at some point too. If you’re dedicated, you will not mind mashing your keyboard until 1 am while the house is quiet; but only if you have a pure desire to write, that is.

Find your Muse!

Every writer needs to have a muse who will help encourage and give us the inspiration to write. They are also helpful when it comes to editing, too, of course!

Not to say you need a groupie or a fan. Instead, you want to have that one (or two) special people in your life to inspire your writing and your work.

How do you find one? Simply, select someone in your social circle and involve them in your writing and ask them to help you. In return, mention them in a special thank you in the Acknowledgements in your book. Nobody ever says no to subtle recognition.