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It’s time. You’ve decided you’ll finally start writing a book for the first time, and you’re excited but also super nervous. We understand, and we’re here to help.

We’ve scoured the top books and resources for the best writing tips, from outlining to completing your book. You’ll also get access to writing resources and tools for both beginners and experienced writers.

Ten steps to writing a book as a beginner

Figuring out how to start writing a book can seem even more daunting than the actual writing process. Here are ten steps to follow while writing your first book — hopefully a bestseller.

1. Make a plan

Writing requires time, dedication, and hard work, so you need a schedule if you want to write a book from start to finish. A book is at least 20,000 words long — for novellas. Novels are typically 50,000 words and up. You should know when and where you will write daily. If possible, plan to write in the same places to build a reliable habit.

2. What do you want to write about?

You may not know every plot point, but don’t start writing if you don't see what you’re writing about. You’ll waste your time. A helpful exercise is writing a 3-5 line synopsis of your book. Publisher’s Weekly’s Rights Roundups is a great place to find examples of these synopses. Here’s one.

Some things may change or become more apparent as you write, but you need a starting premise to make your book idea work.

3. Make an outline

Once you’re clear on your book’s subject matter, it’s time to create an outline. There are different outline styles, but the goal is to get a clearer picture of most of what happens in your book — chapter by chapter. We’ll dive deeper into this later in this article.

4. Do the research

Sometimes writer’s block is just a sign of insufficient research. Good writing requires research. Studying to tell your story, explain a subject, or sell an idea would be best. Use the internet, libraries, first-person accounts, or even research trips.

5. The messy first draft

After the research comes real creative writing; this is the hardest part for many writers.

Our best tip here is to let your first draft be messy. Styles differ, but often the first draft is you figuring out the story for yourself, while the second draft is making it shine for readers. Let it be messy; focus on getting out the level, not making it pretty. Other tips for a successful first draft:

• Set daily word count goals. It keeps you accountable.

• Be consistent. Show up daily — preferably in a dedicated writing space — to write, even if you don’t meet your goals.

• Avoid distractions. Write without internet connectivity, go to a coffee shop, lock your office door, use noise-canceling headphones — whatever it takes.

• Know your target audience. Writing is easier and more effective when you can picture your specific audience.

6. Edit and revise

The first round of edits is usually the most grueling. Some writers realize that a story isn’t viable. Others find numerous plot holes to fill. And for some, their message becomes more apparent, and the book comes to life. Either way, don’t skip the editing process, and if you can get a professional editor to review the entire book, that will do wonders for your work.

7. The cleaner second draft

In your second draft, you make any changes flagged by your editor (or you!) during the initial revision process. Fill plot holes, rewrite sections more persuasively, and cut any fluff that may have gotten through in the first draft. You’re now on your way to a great book.

8. Meet your first readers

Ideally, the first readers should be a sample of your target audience. Whether these are other authors you’d like to blurb your book or industry experts you hope will endorse it, send those digital copies to the first readers. Your first reader could also be a spouse or friend who can provide kind but critical feedback.

9. Final edits and proofreading

With comments from first readers and one more close look by a professional (hopefully!) proofreader, your book should be in its final state. Its message should be clear, it should be the back flap copy, and the cover design should be ready to meet more readers.

10. Time to publish

Self-publishing is becoming more popular as writers refuse to wait for publishing gatekeepers to validate their efforts. If this is your chosen route, you can now get your book formatted and ready to sell on Amazon or other platforms. But if you’d like to give traditional publishing a shot, now would be the time to find an agent and query!