Where Do I Start?

One of the main questions I get asked by new writers is, “Where do I start?”
You have an amazing story idea in your head that you just KNOW is a best seller, and you’re dying to get it down on paper. But when you sit down at your laptop / computer / notebook, your brain freezes, and you have no idea how to proceed.

One of the first things to consider is whether you are a plotter or a pantser.

A plotter is someone who sits down first and plots out their story. You have a clear beginning, a middle and end, and each chapter mapped out. All you have to do then is sit down and actually write the story. This method is (in my opinion) important for genres such as sci-fi and fantasy where world building is a must. You need to know your backstory, your magic or tech systems, and if you’re a dick-head like me with characters over 1,000 years old, you need your timeline!

A pantser is someone who has an idea of the story, but sits down and just writes it as it comes to them. I used to be a pantser when I was younger, but as I started getting serious about fantasy, it ultimately led me to hitting a brick wall.

There is no right or wrong way. It is a topic that is debated amongst writers, but ultimately, we are all different, our brain processes all work in different ways. You do you.

What software or device should I use?

There are some great software packages out there that some writers swear by. Here are just a couple options to look at before you start.

Scrivener is popular as it allows you to organise characters, scenes, objects etc., but it does come with a price tag. It was primarily built for Mac, but it can be installed on Windows. It comes in at $77AUD, which might be out of some people’s budgets. I have never used it, but I have heard lots of people talking about it. Check out the website here.

yWriter is something I can only assume is similar to Scrivener. I dabbled with it for a while, and it is pretty cool, but I didn’t like that it’s not actually a word processor. I started organising my word count, characters and scenes, but after a while I grew tired of copy & pasting. But still, it’s free, so if you want something to help you stay organised, give it a crack. I do like this program, and will probably use it again in the future for a not-so-epic fantasy. Check it out here.

OpenOffice is a free package that is similar to Microsoft Office. This package by Apache is fantastic if you don’t have the luxury of Microsoft, but need something that is useful and powerful. I have used it many times over the years in workplaces and on spare PCs that didn’t have Microsoft. The UI is probably different, but it pretty much gets the job done. You can download it here.

Word is my go to. I am lucky enough to have a free subscription through my university, so I have the full package installed. This means I can log in on any of my devices and access my files instantly. I have my files stored in Dropbox, which means I can write some of my story on my laptop, save it, then go into the lounge room and open it on my iPad or phone and pick up where I left off. Good old Word is still (in my opinion) the most powerful word processor, and it will always be my go-to.

Dropbox? Why bother?

I am going to point out right now that you need to BACKUP YOUR WORK! At least once a week, I see writers have lost their entire book or collections due to catastrophic hard drive failure, fire, or theft. While I am still not 100% sold on cloud technology, I use Dropbox to keep up to date copies, plus I email myself my draft on occasion just in case. I also back up my work files to an external hard drive – this includes my book interior setup files, covers, artwork, and anything important. Some of these files are expensive, for example book covers, and if you lose them you may have to pay for a whole new one. So BACK UP YOUR WORK!

Ok, what now?

I’m not going to go into actually writing your book. That’s up to you. You will find that at first, your writing my be stiff and not flow as well as you’d like. Don’t worry. As you progress through your story, your writing will develop and you’ll get into the hang of things. Don’t do what I do and spend hours trying to edit one paragraph – if it doesn’t work, highlight it and move on. Eventually when you go back over it, you’ll be able to fix it up and make it amazing. Focus on getting that story written down, worry about fixing it up later.

I’ve finished my draft. How do I publish it?

There are a number of things you need to do from an admin perspective. Once you finish your manuscript, you need to go over it with a fine tooth comb and check that it’s ok. If using Word, do CTRL F and do searches for and and, to to, they they etc. Also do one for two spaces – you’ll be surprised how often we leave gaps in our work. When you are 100% sure it’s ready, it’s time to look for an editor.

Editors are expensive, but given the amount of hours they pour into our work, it is justified. However, it can be hard finding an editor within our budgets. I spent $200 on one on Fiverr, and that didn’t go so well. If you have read The Lowest Realm, you will see that first hand. I now have my amazing editor/ typo hunter going through it to prepare for a re-release.
You can ask around in writing groups or on Twitter, and most will edit 1,000 words for you so you can see how they work. But choose wisely. If you honestly think your writing is super good and doesn’t need an editor, skip this step for now. We’ll come back to it.

Beta Readers are like test readers. You may prefer to engage with betas before an editor, or after. I go with them before, so if there is a major issue, I can catch it before I waste the editor’s time. You can find betas on Facebook in dedicated groups, or on Twitter using the right hashtags. More recently, I’ve been working with readers who I have built up relationships with, so I get honest feedback from them.
Don’t ask your friends or family to do this! Friends and family think we are amazing, and no matter how crap our work might be, they will say it’s good. You need someone who will be honest and point out the plot holes and parts that don’t make sense.
This also brings me to another point: be prepared for negative feedback. You are a first time writer, not Stephen King, so be prepared to take on the feedback. This doesn’t mean all of it – I collate the feedback, then pick and choose which points I’ll change. I usually have around 3 betas, but the more the merrier.

If your beta readers point out some major issues, or even small ones, go back and fix them. Read your story again with fresh eyes, and make sure you’re happy with it. My number 1 hot top for this stage is to invest in a text to voice app, and spend time listening to your story. I use an app called Natural Reader (on my iPhone). It cost a few $$, but was totally worth the investment. I can catch any typos as they come through as weirdly pronounced words, and catch any double-typed words.

Once you have beta’d and edited, it’s time for a proofreader. Even if your typing is immaculate and you skipped the editor, I highly recommend you hire a proof reader. This is soooo important, a step I missed on my first book (hence why I’m doing it now). I have a friend who I hire for mine (whom I met on Twitter). You can find someone online or check out Fiverr, but make sure you vett them first and are sure you work well together. Be careful.

While you wait for your proofreader, it’s time to sort out admin and publishing options. I’m going to speed ahead and assume you are publishing ebook with Amazon, and paperbacks with IngramSpark. I don’t use LuLu or any of the others, but I highly recommend Ingram. Ingram (again, my opinion) are THE most professional self-pub option out there. Some writers don’t like the strict setup options, but if you want your books in the local bookstore, it’s the way to go. This is what you need:

1. Your blurb. This thing is the most horrid thing to write, but you need to write it.
2. ISBN. In Australia, buy them from Thomas Bowker. Get yourself a 10 pack, and DO NOT BUY THE BARCODES!
3. Book cover design! I highly recommend thebookcoverdesigner for pre-made covers. You pick one you like, buy it, and the designer will work with you to add your title, blurb, etc. Check with them what attribution they will require (they should be credited on the copyright page of your book),
4. Internal setup. If you are handy with inDesign, great! get yourself over to IS and download their file specs, and have your way with it. If not, you will need to hire someone to do it for you. There is so much to consider here, so check out this post for some design considerations. You can also contact me at my publishing page if you wish to hire me for this. The best way to contact me is via email. Once you have this file including your trim size, you can relay this information to your cover designer (along with your ISBN).
5. Uploading files is where it might be a bit confusing. You need to create an account with IngramSpark and do your paperback there. DO NOT use their ebook conversion service, this was a $300 mistake I made. You will only upload your paperbacks here. Check to see if IS are running any promo codes at the time – sometimes they have free setup and/or free revising of files. There are enough video guides on doing this, I’m not going to post the how-to’s here. You will need to fill out tax forms and financial stuff too.
6. For ebooks, you will need to create an account with Amazon KDP. There are lots of forms to fill out for tax purposes. I also recommend using a major bank account such as the Commonwealth so you are not charged transfer fees for royalties. Download the software called Kindle Create, and import your clean manuscript into the software. This will create your Kindle file for free. The file output is what you upload to KDP.

Congratulations! You’re now a published author.

The hard work doesn’t stop there. You will get some sales for the first month of publication, but after that, your sales will flatline. You will need to promote your work at all times to ensure people will see it. No matter how many times you post your links to your social media, your friends will rarely buy your work. You now have to start building your brand – you, as an author, are your brand (especially if you write under a pen name). You will need:

1. Author website. Build it in WordPress and pay to upgrade to the $10 a month option (charged annually). This removes WordPress branding and gives you your own domain. The commercial option which I have for this website is closer to $300 a year so I can have my own web store.
2. Social media. At minimum, Twitter, Facebook Page, and Instagram. Some writers have reported success on Tik-Tok, but that’s not for me. (Ok ok I have a Tik-Tok, but it will be used for booky-type vids and my maps.)
3. Amazon Author Central profile. Make it here. This is tied in with your KDP account and is important to maintaining a professional image on Amazon.
4. Jump on Goodreads and create a profile there as well. You will need to go to the author section and apply to be a Goodreads author. Once approved, you can then add your cover work and book details, so readers can find you and leave reviews. Hot tip: NEVER respond to reviews! It is poor etiquette and frowned upon in the community. Reviews are for the readers. You can use the feedback to improve your future work, but never confront a reader.

There is so much more I could say, but for now I think I have covered the basics. If you want to learn how to market your work and make money, you can find the group 20Booksto50k on Facebook. They have some amazing tips on there, but be sure to do the readings first.
Other groups worth joining:
Writers helping Writers
Fiction Writing
Writers group Australia
Australian Self Published Authors

And of course, make sure you follow me on Facebook, my blog, Twitter, everywhere. I’ll be making more guides on writing soon, so stay tuned for more! if you have ANY questions, please reply to this blog or shoot me off an email (or message me on FB or Twitter).

Final note of the day: You are NOT an aspiring writer. You ARE a writer! Remember that, always.

Much love,
AAC