For my author friends: If one was to write a book… how do you start? I have a little bit of a story in my head, and I’ve had it since forever. But I’m not familiar with some aspects and I would need to do some research… I have no idea where to start. Tips? TIA 🥰 💙📚👀📚⏰📚🌈📚 #booksky #writing - ThreadSky | a Reddit-style client for Bluesky

readrunlove.bsky.social • 38 days ago

For my author friends:
If one was to write a book… how do you start? I have a little bit of a story in my head, and I’ve had it since forever. But I’m not familiar with some aspects and I would need to do some research… I have no idea where to start. Tips?

TIA 🥰

💙📚👀📚⏰📚🌈📚
#booksky #writing

Comments

ack72.bsky.social•38 days ago

Honestly, I always get stuck researching and world building and looking up the amount of TNT it would take to flush a small lakes' worth of water over its banks (a lot)

If you have a bit of a story in your head, write it all down first. Writing advice make SO much more sense when you can relate.

readrunlove.bsky.social•38 days ago

Haha okay! I have a gist of how I want it to go so it’s enough to start with. I’m going to start as soon as I get done with my ARCs that are due 🥰

anndevon.bsky.social•38 days ago

Lots of great suggestions here! I love Abbie Emmons youtube videos. She has so many, and they cover about every aspect of writing a book. Some other craft books that haven't been mentioned are Story Genius and Save the Cat Writes a Novel. Feel free to message me if you want to chat or brainstorm!

readrunlove.bsky.social•38 days ago

Okay thank you!! I really appreciate it 🥰 I’ll check out those videos too!

anndevon.bsky.social•38 days ago

You're welcome 😊

anadipinto.bsky.social•38 days ago

When I 1st started I watched a lot of YouTube. Both from writers & readers. I like to write out all my ideas on notecards or in a notebook or sometimes in my phone if I’m out have a thought I don’t want to forget. From there I just start writing and watch the story develop

readrunlove.bsky.social•38 days ago

I’m going to have to keep a notebook on my at all times or something like that. That’s a really good idea. Thank you!!

anadipinto.bsky.social•38 days ago

Of course!!

authorandie.bsky.social•38 days ago

What makes you burn? What keeps you up or wakes you in the middle of the night? Start there. Describe your main character, down to the eyelash, including personality. Then, who do they meet? Who else is on the journey? Most importantly, have fun with it. Let your mind be loose for the first draft.

readrunlove.bsky.social•38 days ago

Thanks! That’s good questions to think about!

fluffyunicorn342.bsky.social•38 days ago

Check out Brandon Sanderson’s YouTube channel! He has an entire course available for free on this exact topic.

readrunlove.bsky.social•38 days ago

Oh really?! That’s awesome! Thank you!

moaware.bsky.social•38 days ago

upload your notes to ChatGPT and ask it to give an outline

finalboyo.bsky.social•37 days ago

Start a detailed outline, see if the ideas start flowing out.

Then envision one scene, maybe the opening scene. Start trying to write it, thinking of character first and setting second. Who is there and what is happening?

That should get you started.

readrunlove.bsky.social•37 days ago

Yes, thank you! I’ve been thinking about it and jotting down ideas for it since last night

thomasedmund.bsky.social•38 days ago

When I started writing I just tried to gobble up as many 'on writing' books as I could lay my hands on, John Gardner is great, Bird by Bird is great. Its also worth Googling/searching different writing structures e.g. the Snowflake method - they aren't for everyone but are worth considering. GL HF.

readrunlove.bsky.social•38 days ago

Thank you! I’m going to check those out 🥰

authorjjwhit.bsky.social•38 days ago

It’s different for me for every book. Usually it starts with an idea or a specific dramatic scene and I develop that and usually helps me to plan out the rest.

readrunlove.bsky.social•38 days ago

Okay! That’s nice to know that it can change depending on what I’m writing! Thank you!

authorjjwhit.bsky.social•38 days ago

Just keep going and write. You can always come back and revise.

sarahjoyce89.bsky.social•38 days ago

I'm a big fan of write the scene and then fill in around it. Sometimes I end up with a whole plot spreadsheet and then other times I am just jotting notes to myself In the middle of the store to figure out how to use later. There isn't a right way. The only tried and true advice is to always read.

readrunlove.bsky.social•38 days ago

Yes! I’ve gotten many inspirations from many of the books I’ve read and it’s sparked some more ideas. Thank you!

kerrymurphyeditor.bsky.social•38 days ago

Start with a logline. That's a one-sentence summary of your initial idea.

kerrymurphyeditor.bsky.social•38 days ago

If you like, I can send you a pdf I made showing you how to make a logline.

readrunlove.bsky.social•38 days ago

That would be awesome! Thank you! I’ll take anything you are willing to give me 🥰

kerrymurphyeditor.bsky.social•38 days ago

Hi Zena, here's a link for you. It's a very simple PDF that explains what a logline is, shows you some examples, and has a few pieces for you to play around with.
https://plotyournovel.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/All-About-Loglines.plotyournovel.pdf

readrunlove.bsky.social•38 days ago

You are the best!! Thank you! 🙏

davidryale.bsky.social•38 days ago

Read a book on novel structure, like "Structuring Your Novel: Essential Keys for Writing an Outstanding Story" by K. N. Weiland or "Plot & Structure (Write Great Fiction)" by James Scott Bell. That'll give you the info you need to shape your ideas into a novel. Good luck!
#WritingCommunity

danleylynne.bsky.social•38 days ago

These are both excellent books.

davidryale.bsky.social•38 days ago

Read a book about novel structure, like "Plot & Structure (Write Great Fiction)" by James Scott Bell. Or "Structuring Your Novel: Essential Keys for Writing an Outstanding Story" by K.M. Weiland. That will give you the knowledge you ned to turn your ideas into novels. #WritingCommunity

readrunlove.bsky.social•38 days ago

Thank you! I will check those and others out :)

angiequaranta.bsky.social•38 days ago

Lots of bullet points for me until I can build an outline. I keep a notebook on my desk for all of my random ideas. Then just write, it doesn’t matter what or if you think its not good, just keep going.
Good luck 😊

readrunlove.bsky.social•38 days ago

Thank you!! That’s a great idea!

3llatiny.bsky.social•38 days ago

Every word you write down is one word closer to a draft you can edit, which can then become your book. I'm on my first draft too. We can do it together.

readrunlove.bsky.social•38 days ago

Thank you for the encouragement!! Good luck to you!!

whirloglyphics.bsky.social•38 days ago

You start putting words on the page. Dead ass. Just start writing. Get it at least onto the paper. And then rework it until it sparkles. But you can't do that if you have nothing to rework.

readrunlove.bsky.social•38 days ago

That’s true. I just need to start.

whirloglyphics.bsky.social•38 days ago

It's a story worth telling. 💜

readrunlove.bsky.social•38 days ago

🥰 thank you!

imagine2create.bsky.social•38 days ago

I’ve been writing professionally for 10 years, but I’m still working on my debut novel.

That being said, I started a Substack and a podcast recently dedicated to my short fiction and tips/lessons I’ve learned over the years.

In case it’s helpful: 😁
https://Bradleyramsey.substack.com

readrunlove.bsky.social•38 days ago

Thank you!! I’ll check it out 🥰

rebeccaholcomb.bsky.social•38 days ago

Start with the scenes that you’ve thought of and let it build the rest of the story. Of course, that’s coming from a pantser who can’t write with a plot line already set in stone 🤣

readrunlove.bsky.social•38 days ago

I kind of have a plot, like the high bullet main points… but not any of the detailed stuff and how they get from point a to point b. 😅

robertofdevera.bsky.social•38 days ago

Get your ideas down. They don't have to be in order. Just write them down.

You can organize the structure later on.

readrunlove.bsky.social•38 days ago

Thank you! I’ve started keeping notes in my phone 💙

robertofdevera.bsky.social•38 days ago

Strength to your arm, woman! Do well! Write with passion. 🙂

readrunlove.bsky.social•38 days ago

Thank you! :)

danielhatchsf.bsky.social•38 days ago

Start with a narrative problem that your character must solve. A foe to be defeated, an obstacle to be overcome, a disaster to be averted. Look around, you'll find them. Give your character purpose, and readers will follow them through 400 pages of adventure.

readrunlove.bsky.social•38 days ago

Thank you!! That’s extremely helpful :)

itsjennmara.bsky.social•38 days ago

i play with the idea in my head first and basically write the outline in little daydreams about what these characters may be like. then i write

readrunlove.bsky.social•38 days ago

I think I’m stuck on the writing part lol that’s sounds weird but I hope you know what I mean. I have no idea what writing style I want to do. I’m going to have to play with it 😅

amymzimm.bsky.social•38 days ago

I'm totally a pantser (no plan or outline) and just start writing then see what happens 😂

readrunlove.bsky.social•38 days ago

Oh geez. That sounds chaotic 😂 but it may be what I need to try to brainstorm

the-bookishmun.bsky.social•38 days ago

From the sounds of it you have a plan. Write a first draft, it’s going to be rubbish first drafts always are. Then as you edit you’ll see which bits need more fleshing out and more research added to make it realistic

readrunlove.bsky.social•38 days ago

Yeah, I think so. I outlined a lot last night on my phone, I just need to start 😅

rhiannonlee01.bsky.social•38 days ago

It can be a little different process for everyone, so don’t be scared to try out lots of different things! Outlining is great, and you can make it as specific or vague as feels right to you 😄 I like using the 27-chapter method, personally. Just always try to have fun with it!!!

readrunlove.bsky.social•38 days ago

I’m going to have to look up the 27-chapter method since I have no idea what it is 😅 it’s a good starting point for researching though!

rhiannonlee01.bsky.social•38 days ago

Oh I have a link if you want!! Having it in a grid like this helps visualize better haha 😅 https://www.campfirewriting.com/learn/27-chapter-outline

readrunlove.bsky.social•38 days ago

THANK YOU! 🙏

cameron-sidhe.bsky.social•38 days ago

I have a blog post that might help! You can also check out my other posts to see if anything is helpful to you. I post twice a week, mostly to do with writing advice. https://eirenicverses.com/2025/01/18/how-do-i-make-myself-start-writing/

readrunlove.bsky.social•38 days ago

Thank you!!! I’m going to check it out!

rebeccafung.bsky.social•38 days ago

There are many different ways to start.

Write an outline
Start writing a scene and see where it goes
Do some research on stuff related to thoughts on it, jot down notes, see what unfolds
Ask questions to develop the story
Mindmap, draw pics
Character profiles
Figure out the ending, write toward it

rebeccafung.bsky.social•38 days ago

In terms of questions, start with your idea and think of questions a reader might have. Why does she do that? What would he do next? How does she feel about that? Would he pick that or this? Where would they go next? What would make sense to happen if X does Y?

readrunlove.bsky.social•38 days ago

That makes a lot of sense, thank you!!