This is it! You planned this time, you protected the space in your schedule, and now you’re ready, coffee in hand, laptop good to go. You are finally going to write your book. But how the hell do you start? Use these writing prompts to get started on your book.
But first, congrats! You planned time for your writing and actually showed up for it. Take a celebratory sip of coffee. You’re already killing it.
But now you gotta get some words on that big, blank page.
If you know what you want to write, have at it. Go to town! You can’t go wrong.
But if you’re wondering what the hell to do next, this is for you.
How to actually start writing
When I coach writing clients, we start with questions. Lots of them. That’s where I want you to start, too. Questions start you down a rabbit hole of interesting ideas, which leads to interesting writing.
Ask yourself the questions below and jot down your thoughts. You might write pages and pages for each question, or you might just come up with a few words. It’s all good.
The idea is simply to use these as prompts to explore what’s sitting in your big, beautiful brain.
Some of it will be insightful and brilliant. Some will be utter tosh. And it’s likely you won’t even know which is which.
Fun, huh?
Don’t worry. All will become clear in time.
Questions to kick your writing into gear
Use these question prompts to start writing:
Who do I hope will read this book? (If you answer everyone, try re-phrasing as: Who will get the most benefit from reading this?)
Why are they reaching for a book on this subject? What do they want from reading this?
Why now? Why have they reached for this book now? What’s happening in their life at this moment that made them reach out?
If I could tell them just one thing, what would I say?
What’s the one big lie (misbelief, misconception) that exists about what I want to write about?
Why do I want to share this?
Why do I want to share this in a book (as opposed to giving a TED Talk, creating a course, writing a movie script, or designing a board game)?
Why do I, specifically, want to talk about this? Why me? What’s happened in my life that makes this subject important to me?
What was the moment I realized this subject is important?
How is my life different now I’ve realized this? How will others’ lives be different when they’ve noticed?
Trust your instincts
Start by answering this list of questions. Then, follow your gut. If something feels interesting, follow that rabbit hole and write on it more.
Ask more questions about your answers. Keep going. Explore. Be curious.
That’s all a book is, really. You pose a question, situation, or circumstance. The reader asks about it. You answer.
They ask another question. You answer that.
A book is a conversation.
“Oh my god, what happened next?” (If you’re writing memoir.)
“Oh my god, then what happens?” (If you’re writing self-help.)
“Then what?”
“But what if…?”
You know what a reader will ask. Trust your instincts and follow that line of questioning. It will prompt you into writing a whole damn book.
That blank page will be filled in no time.
Thanks,
Liz “Lemme Ask…” Green
Editor, Book Coach, and Ghostwriter
Green Goose Writing
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