The Book Writing Process: 5 Essential Tips for Success
“I have a book in me!”
How many people have said this phrase, yet somehow that life-changing book never actually makes it out of their heads and onto the pages, let alone onto published pages?
It isn’t that 99% of the world is lazy. Well, okay, maybe a lot of us are! But that’s often not the real problem and what stops us before we even start the book writing process.
You could also guess that time is what stops many from getting started. As my primary audience is busy homeschool moms, many of you dear readers can’t imagine adding one more thing to the schedule! But then again, who isn’t busy?
And we are lifeschoolers, right? We integrate life with homeschooling, and help our children to do the same, so surely we can add this into the mix somehow.
But homeschooling (or lifeschooling) or not, the real problem is that most people who long to write a book simply don’t know where to begin and they feel totally overwhelmed at the thought of actually carrying through the entire book writing process.
As someone who has actually just recently completed this grueling challenge, writing and publishing Lifeschooling: Learning to Think Outside the Curriculum Box, I’m not going to go easy on you here. There are many considerations and struggles that go into writing a book, and depending on your life’s experience and technical savvy, the learning curve can be extreme enough to practically cause whiplash!
So let me try to break it down for you. I’m going to cover The Book Writing Process: 5 Essential Tips for Success, and then you can decide if you (or your aspiring teen author) really have what it takes!
And here’s something fun! I’ve incorporated some alliteration so you can easily remember these concepts:
1. Build your Reach
The first essential tip in the book writing process is to build your audience through a personal blog and possibly social media. Nowadays, whether you decide to self-publish (as I did) or go with a publishing company, your ability to sell copies of your book by having a built-in audience is essential!
It’s a noisy, cluttered world out there and there are soooo many options for book purchases when someone goes on Amazon or walks into a bookstore.
A publishing company takes a huge risk when they decide to publish someone’s book, and if you were in their shoes, would you rather publish Aunt Sally’s life story, or the non-fiction book written by an expert guitar-maker with a following of 50,000 fans on his blog, giving away trade secrets of his craft?
That makes it a lot more clear, doesn’t it!
If you’re wondering how to do this, the answer is to just start somewhere. Read some helpful books, such as Blogging for Today’s Writer, by Edie Melson, and then take action! Remember, you’ve had that book on your heart for perhaps years. So why not invest in the time and effort it takes to build an audience who will be eager to read it?
And keep this in mind: Your audience does not necessarily have to be huge. They just have to be the type of dedicated fans who will immediately purchase your book and then go out and tell all their friends to, as well!
This can definitely count as a business and/or marketing course for your teen, if they are the one embarking on this writing project. Obviously, you will want to set some parameters and keep a close eye on their accounts. It may even be best for you to be the one who runs them.
2. Treat the book writing process like a Responsibility
It is so easy to continue to think in terms of “someday” when it comes to a big goal such as writing a book. But if you don’t just make the decision and then treat it like an actual job, that book will likely never end up on anyone’s shelf!
For years, I wanted to write a book about a philosophy of homeschooling that I call “Lifeschooling.” When the timing finally seemed right to pursue that venture, I knew I needed to set goals and deadlines for myself.
Now, when it comes to goals and deadlines and scheduling, I am the worst. So please don’t think I just don’t “get you”! Oh, I do. Believe me!
But God, in His goodness, knows this about me and He graciously gave me an important speaking engagement that loomed over me. I knew having the book ready for that event was very important, so despite the short timeframe, I was able to make it happen!
The key to my success in getting it done on time was treating my book writing process as a job. I have found that one of the best ways for me to work on my business (and in this case writing my book) is to get out of the house every Friday afternoon. My family knows that I will not be home at that time. It’s firmly set in the schedule!
I take my laptop and escape to the coffee shop for the entire afternoon.
No interruptions.
No beatboxing in the background (looking at you, son).
No laundry beckoning my name from a giant, growing pile on the couch!
Plus, I get to spoil myself with wonderful iced matcha or a mocha latte. If I get nothing done all week, at least I know I will have that dedicated time, and I’ve found that just being in that coffee shop almost magically flips my brain into “work mode.”
Of course, if this is your teen’s project, it will naturally be a responsibility if you’re building it into the curriculum. They will need to figure out how many hours per week they plan to spend on it in order to earn the desired credits, then set aside that time in their schedules.
3. Recruit volunteers and paid help for the book writing process
Some of your “volunteers” will seem to appear from nowhere, offering help and advice. One of the most amazing aspects of my own book-writing journey was how God orchestrated all the right people to help along the way. “Orchestrated” is truly the word for it, because it was as though everyone had this important part and came together to make the end result such a beautiful symphony!
And it was nothing I could have done on my own! The first “God-connection” came when I “randomly” met a sister-in-Christ at the coffee shop one Friday afternoon who also “happened” to be a published author.
Melodie gave me many great tips, as we continued to meet up often on Fridays from that point. But one of the most instrumental pieces of information she gave was that there was a Christian writing conference (Carolina Christian Writers Conference) in the town where I grew up and where my parents still live!
I immediately knew I needed to go, so I signed up. (This gave me another little goal, by the way, because I wanted to have my book done or nearly done by that time in case I met a publisher. I was unable to meet that goal, but it did push me!)
At the conference, I met some amazing writers and also got some fantastic ideas that dramatically impacted my book. Two of these ideas were related to recruiting volunteers:
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Form a prayer team
As a Christian, the most powerful tool you have is prayer! Make sure you have friends and family who will be supporting you in prayer daily throughout your book writing process. These are your most important volunteers.
I recruited a small prayer team from my followers, and I remember one instance in particular when their prayers made a huge difference! I took time to email them during a mental roadblock. The next morning, what I had spent hours trying to figure out the day before suddenly came to me and I finished up in 30 minutes!
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Form a Beta Readers team
This is so helpful for understanding how your ideal audience receives your message and gives you a chance to make necessary adjustments!
I think if I had not taken this advice, I would still be editing and writing my book! Perhaps it has something to do with my niche, but these ladies went above and beyond simply reading and providing feedback.
These amazing women were hard core. They went through my entire Google doc, editing like professionals and giving such insightful observations! I guess recruiting women who teach their own kids grammar and writing is pretty helpful!
I can’t guarantee you will get free editing, as I did, but you will be surprised at the way some things hit people. What may sound straight-forward and obvious to you, may go over certain people’s heads or land in a way you hadn’t expected.
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Offer to write endorsements
This doesn’t really fit with the point, but it’s another important tip I learned at that conference, so consider it a random bonus. If you are trying to get endorsements from very busy or even famous people, it can be a good idea to actually offer to write the endorsement and simply get their approval (with possible edits) after.
There is a famous actress (Sam Sorbo, wife to actor Kevin Sorbo) who has become a huge advocate in the Christian homeschooling world. Years ago, she had been a guest on my podcast, so I decided to reach out.
I sent her my book synopsis and a mock-up of the cover, offering to write the endorsement for her, if she wished. And it worked! She loved my book concept and allowed me to write the endorsement, which she then tweaked to her own voice.
Other than volunteers, it is equally as important to pay the right people. Most of you will not have the blessing of free editing, as I did (my mom is also an editor) and most of you are not trained artists, as I am. These are two areas that I (and many others) highly recommend you pay for!
It is painfully obvious when a book cover is designed by a non-designer, and let’s face it…people do judge a book by its cover! You want the message of the book, portrayed by its beautiful and clear design, to impact people before they even open it. Invest the money in a good graphic designer for the cover.
Likewise editing is a long, tedious process and most people today do not have a good understanding of grammar rules, or the conventions that are followed in the publishing world. It is crucial to hire a good editor.
While I did not pay for editing or designing, I did pay for my book to be formatted and uploaded to Amazon KDP. Know your limits! I hired Jessica Brodie, whom I met at the Carolina Christian Writers Conference, because I knew if I didn’t, I wouldn’t get the book done on time. I also knew that Jessica understood the formatting conventions much better than I did! While she handled that part, I could focus on preparing for my speaking, getting marketing materials designed, etc.
Here’s the bottom line. There’s an old saying that I think is good to remember: “Only do what only you can do.” If you can pay to hire something out that you are not an expert at, then by all means do it! You will save time and headache in the end.
And bear in mind that if this is your teen’s project, you are investing in their future. Count the associated costs as part of their curriculum, and remember, if they are successful, some of those funds may return to you in the form of book sales. Be sure you set up a plan ahead of time as to how this will look. Will they owe you a certain percentage to offset costs? Or will they keep all the profits?
4. Reject impostor syndrome
We all struggle at times feeling like we don’t belong. Who hasn’t been dragged to a party that you weren’t technically invited to? Or dressed in the wrong outfit to an event?
Understand that those feelings of impostor syndrome when you write a book are normal. But “normal” does not mean “valid”! If you have made it to this point, putting in all the hard work, trusting the process, and following through to the very end, then you belong here (even if you are “just” a teen)!
I believe that as Christians, we need to recognize who we are in Christ. We need to accept the gifts that He has given us and acknowledge their source.
When you know where your abilities and talents come from and that you are not the true source, then you can walk confidently in them! You can know that they were given in order to be used; that your message is important and needs to get out.
So walk in the authority you have in Christ! When you walk in that confidence, it is almost magnetic, and you will draw your audience in. You have a message. You have a calling. But if you don’t believe in your message and calling, why should anyone else?
5. Rest in God and His timing throughout the book writing process
You’ve “done everything right.” You’ve tried to build an audience, but so far, it’s just your mom, grandma, and best friend. You forged ahead anyway, faithfully working late into the evenings, pouring out your heart on paper.
But no one seems interested. And nothing is coming together.
It’s so important that we recognize that just because we “have a book in us” doesn’t mean that the book is meant to be released into the world on our timetable (if at all).
On the one hand, God promises to give us the desires of our hearts! But did you know that we must first align them with the desires of His heart for us? And that comes through delighting ourselves in Him.
“Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart,” Psalm 37:4 (ESV).
If you have truly submitted your desires to Him, yet that longing remains, perhaps it is just not His timing yet?
Years ago, I wanted to write a book on Lifeschooling. I remember thinking at the beginning of several years, “Maybe this is the year I will finally write my book!” Yet every time I would try to take a step forward, it just didn’t seem like the right time.
Then last year, after a period of prayer and fasting (totally unrelated to book-writing), I woke up before the sun on the last day. The Lord seemed to whisper the illusive “key” to the whole book, and suddenly I just knew! This was the time.
Looking back at the end of this journey, it is now very clear to me that His timing was best. (Why do we ever doubt?) He confirmed it in so many different ways throughout the whole book writing process! Divine appointments, ordained connections, perfect timing. But also, He showed me from a practical standpoint why it just makes sense.
My two oldest children are grown and married (or engaged) and leading successful lives. I have the living evidence that fearful, nervous moms would want to see before trusting my claims; the “proof” that our more relaxed style of education works!
God knows what pieces need to fall into place for you in order to write your book, and His plan for you is best! Rest in His timing. Find strength in the knowledge that…
“…my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts,” Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV).
Conclusion
By remembering these five “R words” – Reach, Responsibility, Recruit, Reject, Rest – you can recall the five tips for the book writing process. But ultimately, that last tip of resting in God is the one that will guide you in all areas of the book writing process.
Of course, this list is not exhaustive! There are many other important tips and bits of advice that I may not have covered here. And this is just based on my experience of writing one book!
Do you have more ideas that you have found helpful for the book writing process, or tips you’ve heard from others? I’d love to hear them below in the comments!
Special Event: A Message, a Mission, and God’s Crazy Methods: My Book-writing Journey
Maybe what I’ve described sounds all too familiar… You have a book in you, but you have no idea where to begin. You feel overwhelmed by the options, and you’re not sure you even know what they are! And you’ve started so many projects in the past, only to give up or get distracted by something else that catches your attention.
This blog post is helpful, but when it gets down to it… You just need to pick someone’s brain!
On July 3rd at 7:30 PM EST, through a private, limited Zoom event, I am going to share my book writing journey in more detail and how I finally overcame all the obstacles and found success. After years of waiting, countless distractions, and feeling like it would just never happen, I finally wrote my book…and you can, too!
If you are interested in writing a book, you will not only be encouraged by my story (because God was so clearly directing the whole thing!), but you will also learn some practical tips and advice that will help you pursue your own dream of writing a book, using your God-given gifts for Him! (We’re never too old to lifeschool!)
At the end, there will be an open Q&A time for unlimited questions! Yes, you can pick my brain all you want about writing, publishing, and promoting a book! The event will go as long as people have questions…within reason, of course. I want this to be really helpful, and almost like a group coaching session!
Sign up for “A Message, a Mission, and God’s Crazy Methods: My Book-writing Journey” now! I hope to see you there!
- The Book Writing Process: 5 Essential Tips (Plus a few more) - June 26, 2025
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