Writing your first non-fiction book can seem daunting. If you are used to writing blog posts and articles, the number of words needed for a book seems overwhelming. I started writing my first non-fiction book in mid-February 2024, and 8 months later, I started editing my first draft! With the systematic approach I followed, you'll be surprised by how quickly you can complete your first draft.

Let's dive in and explore the steps!

1. I started with a brain dump to get all my ideas out of my head. I've stored them in the Notes section of the Reedsy Editor app for easy access.

2. Next, I created a structure to guide me through my writing and ensure that I covered all the essential areas of my topic.

3. To prevent being overwhelmed, I focus only on the part of the book I am currently writing. I like to compare this process to writing a series of articles that combine to form your book.

4. I use the Grammarly Citation Generator to create citations and add them to my bibliography as I finish with that source.

5. I made the mistake of dividing my time between writing and learning about self-publishing and marketing. Since I read a lot and only made a few notes, it was a waste of time since I'll have to research it all over.

6. I wrote in the Reedsy Editor and used the Grammarly extension, which works well with it. I found it helpful to format the headings and subheadings as I wrote since it automatically creates the table of contents (TOC.). The TOC allows you to check for consistent numbering and headline formatting. Many writers recommend not doing this, but I get lost in my content if I don't format the headings.  

7. I wrote the introduction last since the content and direction of my book determine the insights to share in the introduction to entice readers to dive into your book.

8. I've exported my first draft as an ePub and read it on my Kindle to pick up structural issues. Then, I printed it out for manual editing. It is also a more efficient way to highlight words for your glossary and index.

9. I didn't set a specific deadline when I started writing my first non-fiction book. Because this book was highly personal, I've decided to enjoy every step of the process. 

10. It is essential to schedule time for your writing. I usually write for three to four hours on Sunday mornings, in 90-minute blocks and 15-minute breaks. I will start a new chapter and make as much progress as possible during this time. Then, I'll try to write a paragraph or two during my lunch breaks at work, sometimes finishing a chapter in a week.

According to author Leilanie Steward, only 3% of writers finish writing a book, and only 0.6% publish it. It brings us to the issue of accountability. Telling people about your book increases the likelihood of finishing it. However, when I started my book, I didn't tell anyone for a while. It was like planting a seed you want to nurture, and only when it starts to grow and get strong could I tell people about it.

Writing your first non-fiction book can be a scary and wild rollercoaster ride. Are you up for the challenge? Start today!