Fiction
I want to write a novel.
Start with the central idea, the characters, the conflict and the kind of reader experience you want to create.
Start My NovelStart writing
Start writing your book.
You do not need a perfect plan, a literary agent or a finished first chapter.
You need a clear idea of what you want to write, who it is for and what the next step should be. Quill & Reed helps you work that out.
Already writing? Explore Writing Help →
How do I start writing a book?
To start writing a book, first define the central idea, identify who the book is for, decide what kind of book you are writing, create a simple structure and choose one small writing task to begin with. You do not need a complete outline before you start, but having a clear direction makes it easier to keep going.
Before you begin
You do not need to know exactly what you are doing.
Most books do not begin with a perfectly formed manuscript. They begin with something much smaller:
- An idea
- A question
- A memory
- A character
- An experience
- A problem
- A subject somebody understands deeply
- A story somebody cannot stop thinking about
The first job is not to make it perfect. The first job is to work out what the book might become.
Find your kind of book
What are you thinking of writing?
Memoir
I want to write about my life.
Memoir is not simply recording everything that happened. It is choosing the experiences, perspective and story that matter.
Start My MemoirChildren’s book
I have a children’s-book idea.
Work out the age group, story concept, length, language and whether illustration is central to the idea.
Explore Children’s BooksBusiness / expertise
I want to turn what I know into a book.
Your expertise can become a useful, credible book if the reader, problem and outcome are clear.
Start My Business BookNon-fiction
I want to explain something that matters.
Structure the subject around the questions your reader actually needs answered.
Start My Non-fiction BookI’m not sure
I have an idea but I do not know what kind of book it is.
That is completely fine. Start with the idea itself.
Could My Idea Become a Book?First practical steps
The first five things to work out.
- 1
What is the book about?
Not the full plot. Try describing the book in one or two sentences.
If you cannot explain the central idea simply yet, that does not mean the idea is bad. It means it still needs shaping.
- 2
Who is it for?
Who do you imagine reading this? What would they enjoy, learn, feel or understand by the end?
- 3
Why this book?
Why do you want to write it? Why does it matter to you — and why might it matter to somebody else?
- 4
What kind of book is it?
Naming the form early shapes length, structure and reader expectations.
- Novel
- Memoir
- Children’s book
- Business book
- Practical non-fiction
- History
- Biography
- Personal development
- Other
- 5
What is your next small step?
Choose one task you could finish this week.
- Write the opening scene
- Write the book idea in 200 words
- List the main chapters
- Describe the protagonist
- Record the key memories
- Outline the questions the reader needs answered
Start small
Do not try to write the whole book today.
“Write a book” is a terrible task. It is too large. Instead, turn the book into smaller pieces.
Fiction
- Central premise
- Protagonist
- Conflict
- Ending
- Key scenes
Memoir
- Key events
- Timeline
- Central theme
- Emotional turning points
- What the reader should understand
Non-fiction
- Reader problem
- Core argument
- Chapter questions
- Examples
- Practical outcomes
Children’s
- Age range
- Central character
- Problem
- Story arc
- Tone
- Likely illustration requirements
Planning
Do I need to plan my book before I start?
Not in detail — but a light framework helps most first-time writers. There is no single correct method.
- Plotters
- Plan the structure in advance, then write to the plan.
- Discovery writers (“pantsers”)
- Find the story by writing it, then shape it in revision.
- Hybrid
- Sketch the key points, then discover the detail along the way. This suits many first books.
A minimum viable outline
Fiction
Beginning → Middle → End
or Problem → Development → Resolution
Non-fiction
Reader problem → Main ideas → Sequence → Outcome
Length
How long should my book be?
Word count depends on genre, audience, age group, format and purpose. These are broad conventions, not absolute rules.
| Type of book | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Adult commercial fiction | 70,000–100,000 words |
| Crime / thriller | 70,000–100,000 words |
| Fantasy | Often 80,000–120,000+ words |
| Memoir | 60,000–90,000 words |
| Business / non-fiction | 40,000–70,000 words |
| Children’s picture book | Much shorter and highly format-specific |
| Middle grade | Varies substantially |
| Young adult | Often around 60,000–90,000 words |
Time
How long will it take?
Honestly, it depends: target length, available time, planning, research, writing speed, revision and complexity all play a part.
A worked example
500 words a day × 5 days a week = 2,500 words a week
An 80,000-word first draft at that pace takes about 32 weeks.
This does not include major revision or editing, which usually takes further time.
Routine
Build a routine you can actually keep.
- Decide when you normally have energy.
- Choose realistic weekly writing time.
- Set a small word target.
- Track consistency rather than perfection.
- Stop each session knowing what comes next.
- Keep research separate from writing where possible.
- Do not endlessly rewrite Chapter One before writing Chapter Two.
A sample beginner routine
- sessions a week
- 3
- sessions a week
- minutes each
- 45
- minutes each
- words a session
- 300–500
- words a session
Even 1,000–1,500 words a week compounds. Over a year, that is a substantial draft.
Confidence
What if I do not think I’m good enough?
Your first draft is not supposed to prove that you are a brilliant writer. It is supposed to give you something that can be improved.
Writing improves through drafting, reading, feedback and revision. The first version is material. It is not the finished book.
- 01
Drafting
Getting the book onto the page. Mess is expected.
- 02
Editing
Reshaping structure, scenes, argument and language.
- 03
Proofreading
Catching errors in near-final text.
- 04
Publishing
Designing, producing and releasing the finished book.
AI and writing
Can AI help me start writing?
It can be a useful thinking aid in the early stages. It is not a substitute for your voice, judgement or knowledge.
Where it can help
- Brainstorming questions
- Organising research
- Exploring structure
- Testing alternative outlines
- Identifying gaps
- Generating planning prompts
- Analysing existing text
Where to be careful
- Replacing your own voice
- Generating large amounts of generic prose
- Introducing factual errors
- Copyright and platform considerations
- Losing control of tone and originality
Which starting point suits you?
Book Plan & Idea Conversation
Free
- Suits you if…
- You have an idea, or are just starting to write
- What it helps with
- Shape the idea and decide what kind of book it could be
- Not designed for
- A finished manuscript ready to publish
Manuscript Health Check
Free
- Suits you if…
- You have a draft and want an early read on it
- What it helps with
- Spot patterns in the opening — pacing, dialogue, point of view, repetition
- Not designed for
- A full edit or a judgement on the whole book
Editing
Quoted after review
- Suits you if…
- Your manuscript needs professional editing before publication
- What it helps with
- Structural, line or copy editing, or proofreading
- Not designed for
- Early drafts still taking shape
Book idea tool
Could your idea become a book?
Tell us what you are thinking about writing and we will help turn the idea into a clearer starting plan.
Build My Book Starting PlanIt will consider
- Type of book
- Intended reader
- What you want the book to achieve
- How much has already been written
- Likely next steps
- Useful resources
Book Idea Conversation
Rather talk it through?
Some ideas are easier to explain than to put into a form. If you are genuinely considering writing a book but do not know what the next step should be, you can book a short Book Idea Conversation with the founder of Quill & Reed.
- Around 15 minutes
- No finished manuscript required
- No obligation to publish
- Intended to clarify the idea and next step
- Limited availability
Already started?
Already writing?
Choose what sounds most like where you are now.
Free Manuscript Health Check
Already have 5,000 words?
Upload the first 5,000 words of your manuscript for a free diagnostic assessment covering areas such as pacing, readability, dialogue, point of view, character clarity and structural signals.
Check My Manuscript
Free • First 5,000 words • DOCX or PDF
Common questions
Questions people ask when starting a book.
How do I start writing a book?
Define the central idea, decide who it is for and what kind of book it is, sketch a simple structure, then choose one small writing task. Direction matters more than a complete plan.
Do I need an outline before I start?
Not a detailed one. Most first-time writers benefit from a light framework — beginning, middle and end, or reader problem, main ideas and outcome — which can change as you write.
How many words should a first-time author aim for?
It depends on genre and audience. Many adult novels sit around 70,000–100,000 words and many non-fiction books around 40,000–70,000, but these are conventions, not rules.
Can I write a book with no writing experience?
Yes. Experience helps, but most writing skill is built through drafting, reading, feedback and revision. A first draft is where that learning starts.
How long does writing a book take?
It depends on length, available time, research and revision. At 2,500 words a week, an 80,000-word first draft takes roughly 32 weeks — before editing.
Should I edit while I write?
Light tidying is fine, but heavy rewriting of early chapters often stops people reaching the end. Most writers find it easier to finish a draft, then revise.
Should I use writing software?
Use whatever lets you write consistently. A word processor is enough to start; dedicated tools can help with long, complex projects but are not required.
Can AI help me write?
It can help with planning, organising research and testing structure. It is less useful as a replacement for your own voice, and anything factual it produces needs checking.
When should I show my manuscript to someone?
Usually once you have a complete draft or a substantial section you have revised yourself. Early feedback on the opening can also help if you are unsure about direction.
How do I know if my idea is good enough?
Test whether you can explain it simply, who it is for and why it matters. If those answers are still vague, the idea likely needs shaping rather than abandoning.
Start Writing guides
Featured guides.
- How do I start writing a book?
- I have a book idea — what do I do next?
- How do I turn an idea into a book?
- How do I start writing a novel?
- How do I write my first chapter?
- How do I outline a book?
- How many chapters should a book have?
- How long should a book be?
- How do I stay motivated while writing?
- How do I finish a first draft?
A suggested path
01 / Start here
How do I start writing a book?02 / Shape the idea
Could Your Idea Become a Book?03 / Plan
How do I outline my book?04 / Write
Build a realistic writing routine05 / Refine
Free Manuscript Health Check06 / Publish
Explore Quill & Reed publishing
You do not need the whole book figured out.
You only need to know what the next step is.