So You Want to Write a Book? Just Start.

I can’t tell you how many times someone has come up to me and asked, “How do I start writing a book?” As if there’s some secret handshake or guarded initiation process only authors know about.

Let me be clear: there is no secret. If you want to write a book, the best—and only—real answer is this: just write.

It might sound too simple, but trust me, every author you admire started with a blank page. And none of them got where they are without first putting words on it.

No Plot? No Problem.

Some writers are plotters. They outline everything from chapter one to the epilogue. They know where the story starts, where it twists, and how it ends. If you’re one of those people, great—outline to your heart’s content. But don’t feel like you have to be.

Others are pantsers—they “fly by the seat of their pants.” They might begin with a single image: a child alone at a train station, a knock at the door at midnight, a figure standing motionless beneath a streetlamp. And from there, they write forward, discovering the story as they go.

If you don’t have a plot or a detailed outline, that’s fine. What you do need is a starting point. That’s all. The story will often unfold in ways you didn’t expect. Let it.

The key is to write—even if you’re unsure of what happens next.

Plant the Seed of Your Story

Every story starts with a seed. Maybe it’s a memory, a dream, a phrase, or a face you can’t forget. Ask yourself: Where did this idea come from? Let that be your starting point.

Stephen King’s It didn’t emerge from thin air. The concept was born from a bridge in Boulder that reminded him of a fairy tale. Then a line of poetry twisted in his head. Then came a fascination with sewers and childhood fears. None of those alone were “a story,” but together, they formed something iconic.

The same can happen to you.

Maybe your story started when you passed an abandoned building and wondered who once lived there. Maybe you overheard a strange conversation at the grocery store. Or maybe your idea came from a nightmare you couldn’t shake.

Whatever it is, honor that spark. It doesn’t have to make perfect sense yet. Let it breathe and grow on the page.

Use What You Know (Even If It’s Ugly)

Don’t underestimate your own life experience. The people you’ve met, the neighborhoods you’ve lived in, the weird jobs you’ve worked, the pain you’ve endured—all of that is raw material for great storytelling.

If someone tells me they want to write a story about their life, I always ask:

• What makes your story stand out?
• What makes it worth reading to someone else who’s never met you?
• Is there a lesson, a triumph, or a heartbreak that others can relate to—or learn from?

The truth is, a lot of people have had similar experiences. But how you tell your story, what details you focus on, what emotions you dig into—that’s what makes it yours.

Don’t just write what happened—write why it mattered.

Just Start Writing (Seriously)

This part can’t be stressed enough.

Get whatever tool works best for you: a journal, a Word doc, Google Docs, Scrivener, Notepad on your phone—anything. Sit somewhere quiet. Set a timer if it helps. Ten minutes, twenty, an hour. And just start writing.

Let your thoughts spill out without worrying about punctuation, grammar, or if it even makes sense. That is what a rough draft is. It’s supposed to be rough. Think of it like pouring the foundation before building a house. You’ll fix the cracks later.

Most writers hate their first drafts. And most of them won’t let anyone see that version. That’s not failure—that’s process.

After your rough draft, you revise. Then you revise again. You add dialogue, deepen character motivations, clean up inconsistencies. Your story begins to take shape. It becomes something you’re proud of.

But again, that can only happen after you start.

My Beginning: A Drunken Dare

Let me be real with you.

I wrote my first book, Strong, on a dare. A literal, drunken dare. My wife and I were out on the patio having a few drinks as I was telling a story concept. One I had made up years earlier during a road trip. She turned to me and said, “I dare you to write your own story before Hollywood steals another one.” (That’s another story) So I did.

I wrote one chapter—and I couldn’t stop.

Once the wheels were turning, the story took on a life of its own. And that’s exactly what can happen to you if you just sit down and let it out.

Final Word: Just Start

Don’t wait until your idea is perfect. Don’t wait for more free time. Don’t worry about who’s going to read it yet.

Start.

That’s the most powerful thing you can do as a writer.

Let your mind lead, let your fingers follow, and trust that your story will find its shape in time. Writing a book isn’t about magic or waiting for the stars to align. It’s about showing up, over and over again, until the work is done.

So go ahead—grab your pen, your keyboard, your phone—and take that first step.

Just start.