So you want to be a writer?
There's an old saying: "There’s a book in all of us." You might interpret that in different ways, but today, I’m focusing on the most literal one—inside each of us is the ability to craft a work of fiction. But where do you begin? That depends on what you want to achieve and what success looks like to you.
I’m an author, but I can’t tell you how to become a bestseller or win literary awards—my book isn’t even published yet. What I can do is speak to the aspiring writers in you who, like me, believe that simply finishing a novel is an achievement worth celebrating. The reality is, only a tiny percentage of writers secure an agent, even fewer get traditionally published, and self-published authors still face the challenge of standing out in an overcrowded market. But just writing a book? That’s HUGE. And it deserves to be recognized. So, let’s talk about how you can take that idea lingering in the back of your mind and transform it into a fully formed novel ready to share with the world.
Start with Your "Why". Why are you writing? If your goal is to become a full-time, famous author—fair play! Dream big. But understand that success in this field demands skill, luck, and relentless hard work, and even then, nothing is guaranteed. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go for it, just that you should be prepared for the long haul.
Agents and publishers will tell you to study the market—to analyse trends the way gamblers study horse racing odds. If you want to be commercially successful, you should read what’s selling, identify the elements that resonate with readers, and write something similar. And do it fast because trends shift before you can say, "vampire romance novels."
But here’s the thing—I don’t agree with that approach. Don’t write to chase trends. Write about what you know, what you love, what consumes your thoughts in waking and dreaming hours. That’s how you create stories filled with passion and originality. Writing purely for commercial success often results in uninspired, formulaic content—the literary equivalent of today’s music industry, where pop songs feel like minor variations of the same tune.
You Have an Idea—Now What? Maybe inspiration struck while watching a movie, or you read a book and thought, "I’d love to write something like this, but with my own twist." So many people have these thoughts but never act on them. Since announcing my book’s pre-order, countless friends and family members have told me, "I’ve always wanted to write a book but never got around to it." Why? The excuses are endless—"No one would want to read what I write," "I don’t have the time," "I don’t know where to start." But those are just that—excuses.
If you want to write a book, the first step is simple: just start. (Insert Shia LaBeouf meme here!)
The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, and the journey of a 100,000-word novel starts with, "Once upon a time," or "In a hole in the ground…" or "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." There’s no single right way to begin—it depends on what you have and how committed you are to seeing it through.
Need inspiration? Consider how some of the greatest stories were born:
J.R.R. Tolkien started with a love of language. He invented Elvish for fun, then asked himself: Who speaks this language? Where do they live? From that curiosity, Middle-earth was born.
Brandon Sanderson built Mistborn around a simple “what if” scenario: What if the Dark Lord won? He looked at classic fantasy narratives and imagined a world where evil had already triumphed.
Robert Jordan, inspired by The Lord of the Rings, created The Wheel of Time as a reimagining of similar themes with his own twist.
What’s your idea? Maybe it’s just a single scene playing in your mind. Write it down. Don’t stress about characters, world-building, or what happens next—just capture that moment and work backward. Or maybe you have a vivid world in your mind’s eye. Fantastic. Build it out. Who lives there? What challenges do they face? Your main character will emerge from that world naturally.
Your Story Matters. The fear that "no one will want to read my book" shouldn’t stop you from writing it. Seeing your world come to life on the page is rewarding enough—trust me. As you write, you’ll improve, and you might just surprise yourself with what you’re capable of creating.
Some of the greatest artists died in obscurity—H.P. Lovecraft, one of the most influential horror writers, was unknown in his lifetime. Vincent van Gogh died a pauper, yet his work now hangs in the world’s most prestigious galleries. I’m not saying you have to wait until after death to be successful. I’m saying these creative giants didn’t write or paint for fame—they did it for the love of the craft. And thank goodness they did, or we would have lost some of the greatest art ever created.
Where to Begin? Isn’t it obvious? You start at the beginning—with an idea and the commitment to see it through.
Good luck.