While coaching many writers, I am often asked how do you organize your jumbled thoughts to create a cohesive book. There are as many ways to start a book as there are people. However, I have some guidelines to launch the process for you.
Free Write
Once you have a spark of an idea, and you are not sure where to start. Free write your thoughts out to clear your mind of all the ideas running around in your head. You may or may not use this information in your book, but at this point, you are simply clearing your mind to see what direction you want to go. Sometimes I create more in-depth content when I take the time to free write my ideas.
After the spark of an idea for a book, what's next? Transform Your Jumbled Thoughts Into A Book.
Create Your Writing Plan
After taking four years to write my first book, I decided there had to be a better way. I created a four-step writing plan to organize my ideas and thoughts for the entire book and then each chapter. You can download a copy of the Four-Step Writing Plan with instructions from The Write Academy.
I am a co-founder of The Write Academy with Colleen Wietmarschen and Peter Wietmarschen, a mother and son team of Your Literary Prose. We share a common desire to assist writers on the journey from idea to publishing their books.
Research
Research your topic, find illustrations and stories to include, and look at similar books in your genre to see how others organize their book.
What do you like about other books similar to the style or genre you want to write? What can you do differently?
How you can you help others? What is the point of your book? What do you want readers to feel or do after reading your book?
Decide On The Format
As with many things with writing, you may have one idea when you start, and as you progress your idea evolves into something a little different. Be prepared to change to what you will think will work. Be willing to experiment.
Again, this is where you will want to compare books in similar style and genre as yours. How did they set up the book?
What do you like? What would you do differently?
Ask beta readers for feedback. If they love it, then continue. If they suggest changes, evaluate their recommendations with what you are trying to accomplish with the book. Are their suggestions the best idea, or maybe it sparks an idea into something else.
