You’ve always thought about writing a book and even tried writing some stories. You know you're an okay writer, and you sense you have something worth sharing. Now it is the time to do this thing.

Taking that mental step and deciding to write your memoir, story, or experience is huge. It's an incredible commitment to yourself and all the people who will benefit from your book. And that's worth celebrating!

But you’re not sure how to turn the words in your head into an actual book. There are so many things in your head that it feels overwhelming. You have no idea where to start.

And the years are ticking by. You don’t want to regret not trying. But where do you start? How do you get going?

The antidote to this overwhelm is a step-by-step plan you can easily follow, so you know what to do at every stage, just like a "real writer!" And so you can do it at your own pace, without overloading your energy—because I bet you’re juggling a few other things in your world.

But no matter what you’ve got going on, with a gentle hand guiding you along, you can get to the finish line.

You can hold your book in your hands and know no one can ever take that accomplishment away.

You can hand your book to someone going through what you experienced, and tell them, “Here. This is everything I wished someone had shared with me when I was in a dark place.” You can give them real hope they’ll make it out the other side.

And you can find peace in knowing you took control of your story and made something good out of everything you went through.

1. Start with self-coaching

Before you can start building serious momentum, you need to step out of this rut you're currently in.

If you love woo-woo, spiritual stuff, you can do this by tapping into some heartfelt self-talk.

For the more pragmatic amongst us, imagine being your own sports coach. The game is the writing championships, and it's time to dig deep for victory.

Coach, ask your player (writer) self these questions right now for real insights to get you started today. (And if you're clear on these ideas already, keep reading!)

What do you want from this book-writing thing?

Take a step back and remind yourself of what you want from this whole endeavor by asking yourself these questions:

- I'm writing this book because...

- I want help with writing because...

- From the experience of writing a book, I want...

Be honest with yourself. No one is listening or judging here. And acknowledging what you want will reconnect you with the passion that started this whole book idea.

Do you still want to share your story?

No matter where you are in the writing process, if you've stalled out, take a beat to see if you really want to get going again.

I love books, and I think writing them is the most honest, brave, and generous thing you can do. But it's not the onlygood thing in the world.

If you'd rather spend time working, making play forts with your kids, or watching reruns of Friends, that's all valuable too. (I may occasionally work on my business while watching Friends.)

It's okay if you'd rather do other things. If writing is an old dream you don't really want anymore, you can quit! It's okay. Really.

But if the thought of quitting—for good—makes you profoundly sad, keep reading.

What do you want your journey to look like?

If you decide you’re committed to this journey, I have good news. You have the power to choose what you’re journey looks like.

Remember, we’re talking about writing here. This isn’t the well-defined, industry-regulated path of becoming an anesthesiologist: bachelor’s degree, medical degree, residency, board exam, certification, blah, blah, blahdy-blah.

No! This is the arts! Screw “the proper way.” There is no single right way, anyway. So, you get to choose how you write, learn, edit, master the craft, and become proud of your work.

Yes, other people have developed plans based on what worked for them or how they helped clients achieve success (ahem, like me). But you can form your own step-by-step plan or choose whose advice to follow based on what resonates with you.

If you take nothing else from this, remember that you can choose a path that works for you. Copy someone else’s exactly, adapt only what inspires you, or craft your own scenic adventure. There is real power in choosing a path for yourself. I want you to seize that power.

2. Then take action!

You're usually a motivated person. You don't need someone to do the work for you. You just need a little guidance—someone to point you in the right direction and point out the best path.

If you're committed to your book and ready to get going, here are your next steps:

Trust yourself to find what you need

There is tons of writing info is out there, and you are fully capable of acting on it! Use your determination and research skills to find the step-by-step path you want, and trust yourself to use it well. You can create the path you want. Trust yourself!

Decide on your path

Knowing you can choose what this journey looks like can be overwhelming. It leaves so many options open! So ask yourself questions and dig deep to discover a path to writing that feels really good to you.

• Want community and camaraderie? Or are you more of a lone wolf needing guidance from arm’s length?

• Do you like to listen to advice on podcasts while you drive, or do you prefer to read articles in bed on your phone?

• Is there anyone in the writing world whose advice you trust who you can follow for more inspiration?

• Ever ran a marathon? Quit smoking? Got an education? Raised a kid? Done anything at all that made you feel proud? What worked for you in those situations? How can you apply those techniques to your writing journey?

Take the answers from these questions and use them to point you in the right direction as you form your own path to writing your book.

Start with the free resources at Green Goose Writing

Green Goose Writing is my site where I share free advice and inspiration for everyday folks like you who want to write a book but are stuck getting the words on the page. There’s a bunch of valuable insights on there, but I hand-picked these posts to get you started:

• What if you're not writing?

• Three tips to start writing your memoir

• How to write about abuse in a memoir

• Let your writing goals be small

3. Finally, keep the momentum going

If you gave me your email address on the last page, I'll send new blog posts with more free writing advice and inspiration direct to your inbox, so you can keep your energy and momentum going.

Or even, dare I say, give it a big ol’ booster rocket ride! Just wait and see what happens when you’re getting regular pep talks from someone who understands what you’re trying to do, and believes with all her heart that it matters. (That’s me, by the way. I’ll be there for you, cheering you on.)

If you skipped that step, that’s cool. But I want you to sign up below to get my regular emails with free writing advice and inspiration because I know you can do this book thing.

But I also know it’s hard to do on your own, and I want to be there for you. I wanna be the big ol’ rocket booster under your butt, pushing you (lovingly, of course) to do this beautiful, challenging, life-changing thing. Get the emails, and you’ll get the momentum to keep going.

Plus, you’ll enjoy some classic writing jokes like this gem:

What dinosaur is a writer's best friend?

A thesaurus.

Let me introduce myself

If we haven’t met yet, I’m Liz Green, the editor, book coach, and ghostwriter behind Green Goose Writing. I’ve written 16 books, taught college writing classes, and edited countless manuscripts to help people tell their stories.

But those I work with don’t think of themselves as “real writers.” They’re everyday folks like you who want to write a book that will inspire others but are stuck trying to get the words on the page.

Maybe you're used to getting things done in other areas of your life, and you’re frustrated that, for some reason, your book just isn’t working. But you know now is the time to push through and do this.

And I love that. I love working with people who are stepping outside their wheelhouse, maybe feeling a bit scared or intimidated, but doing it anyway because they know they have something worth sharing. If that’s you, you’re my kind of person!

I am here to help you figure this thing out, finally write your book, and feel proud of sharing your words with the world.