Shut Up and Write the Book: A Step-by-Step Guide to Crafting Your Novel from Plan to Print

CHAPTER 1

WHAT THE HELL SHOULD I WRITE ABOUT?

CHOOSING A TOPIC AIN’T ALWAYS EASY

Before you put a single word on the page, you need to have a workable idea. This may sound obvious, but plenty of people dive headfirst into the writing process without having a firm grasp of the story they’re trying to tell. Pump the brakes, take a seat, and prepare for some serious soul-searching. I know, it seems like a boring first step when all you want to do is write, but I promise it will be worth it. Sure, you can open a document and start typing, but eventually the words—and your motivation—will fizzle out. Doing some brainstorming up front will expedite the writing and completing of your manuscript, which is the whole reason you’re reading this book, right?

You may already know exactly what you want to write. If that’s the case, feel free to scoot on over to the next chapter. But if your imagination has run dry, or you’ve got notebooks full of ideas but aren’t sure where to begin, these handy tips will help you generate topics fueled by passion, then whittle them away until only one remains: the premise for your wondrous, magical book baby.

Let’s start with the hard part, shall we?

COME UP WITH IDEAS . . . OBVIOUSLY

When people ask how writers scrounge up ideas, you often hear the same responses:

Read more.

Watch TV.

But it’s far more nuanced than that. The number one tool for being a creator is to have a truly creative mind. Many aspiring authors claim they want to write a book, but they also don’t consider themselves creative. Even when they read stacks of fiction or seek out inspiration, their brain feels constipated, unwilling to drum up anything fresh or unique.

Drawing a blank in the idea department can be extremely frustrating. You may want to quit before you’ve even started. Fortunately, there’s a well-kept secret to becoming an idea-generating cyborg:

All you have to do is think shit up.

But Jenna, that’s my problem. I can’t think of anything!

Sure you can. After all, how do you pick the clothes you wear each day? How do you choose the words that come out of your mouth? How do you select which restaurant you want takeout from? It’s all basic thought and decision-making. Coming up with story ideas is the same thing.

Have you ever thought up what-if scenarios on your commute to work, or while overhearing an argument between two strangers in a coffee shop? People create fiction every day without even realizing it. Do you remember creating worlds, storylines, and imaginary friends as a child? When I was in Kindergarten, I regularly pretended to be a baby boy cobra named Boobie. Do you have an equally embarrassing story? You better. I can’t be the only one oversharing among us.

You’ve made something out of nothing countless times before. There’s no reason you can’t apply this same practice to your writing. You’ve got a big, beautiful brain at your disposal. Use it.

Sometimes cooking up ideas requires a jump start, and that’s when outside influences come into play. Creativity begets creativity, so if you’re looking to spark your imagination, surround yourself with creative energy through whatever means suit you best.

If you’re a visual person, create physical or digital representations that speak to you, or discover art that gets your wheels turning. Make collages of face claims for your characters, collect images that reflect your story’s aesthetic, or piece together mood boards that emulate the themes you want your writing to convey. If you’re an artist, immerse yourself in the medium that most inspires you.

If music is your go-to inspiration source, writing playlists are a game changer. I have playlists devoted to individual characters, themes, and novels, where each song mirrors a particular chapter or scene within the story. Sometimes I listen to music while I write, but often I listen while I’m running errands, doing chores, showering, or winding down to sleep. All the while, storylines are playing in my mind, and suddenly I have an endless stream of ideas without having touched my keyboard.

If the written word inspires you, devour books or poetry in genres you love. If you’re more of a cinema buff, watch your favorite films and pay close attention to how they make you feel. How can your story generate the same reactions in your future readers?

If you’re inspired by the world around you, explore. Travel to new places that stimulate your mind, or simply spend an afternoon in your backyard. Go on a hike, take a walk, get moving, and get creating.

Figure out what works for you and put your imagination to work. If it helps, set a reminder on your phone, or make a date with yourself to be creative at least once a week. The more dedicated you are to this process, the longer your list of potential story concepts will be.

CHILL OUT

If you’re still overwhelmed, let’s chat about relaxation. At this point in time, the thought of writing shouldn’t stress you out, so we need to smooth out those wrinkles before tackling your book.

Why have you decided to embark on this journey in the first place? I’d wager it wasn’t for the money or the fame; if that’s your motivation, you’re either not very attuned to the writing industry, or you’ve got worms in your brain. I imagine you’re here because you love to write. It’s a creative endeavor that puts your imagination first. You’re at the helm of a unique and phenomenal story that you’ve concocted, beautifully tailored to your personal tastes and desires.

You experience enough pressure on the daily. Writing should be an escape, not a burden.

Make it fun

Children are inherently and wildly creative. Have you ever watched a child play with a cardboard box? To them, it becomes a rocket ship, a magical cave, or a palace. That’s the crux of imagination: It’s play. Somewhere down the line you may have lost that part of you, possibly because of your parents, school, or society as a whole sucking the joy out of your tender artist’s heart. It’s time to take the fun back. If you think about it, you’re inventing characters, conflicts, and worlds with your imagination. That is the definition of playtime.

You’ve been stifling your inner child for far too long, and the poor thing is probably bored to tears. Let them live a little. You’ll both appreciate it.

Unwind

Many writers worry about cover art, publication dates, and above all else, reader opinion before they’ve even written a word. The tension builds, feeding on any semblance of creativity.

Not only is this intense stress unnecessary, but it also prevents the writing process from being any fun—which, as we already covered, is kind of important.

Have you ever had a story idea when you were about to fall asleep, or while taking a shower? We writers get our best ideas when we’re relaxed, so this is an important trick to master. Easing open that pressure valve will do your imagination a world of good.

No judgments allowed

Another reason children are so much more creative than adults is because they don’t embarrass as easily. They haven’t yet experienced the shame that comes with age, which means they typically feel free to make mistakes. That’s a mindset you’ll need to relearn if you want to be a more creative writer. Give yourself the green light to come up with as many ideas as you want, no matter how ridiculous or self-indulgent.

No, seriously. Any idea. I don’t care if it’s completely bonkers. Jot it down.

Remember, just because you have an idea doesn’t mean you have to write about it. Embracing the freedom to produce anything you desire means abandoning all limitations on your imagination. In turn, you’ll generate more ideas at a rapid pace, and you’ll have more content to work with.

But Jenna, won’t some of these ideas suck?

Not some of them—most of them. Sometimes your imagination is a mind-vagina birthing spectacular wisdom, and other times it’s a mind-anus spewing shit. But when you put a cap on your creativity, you’re stifling all areas of invention. Sure, the garbage won’t surface, but neither will the brilliance.

Allow yourself to be an idiot, and I promise you’ll find some genius in it. The worst thing that can happen is your story turns out to be no good, in which case, you can delete it and try again. This is your space to explore the wonderful ideas in your head. No one is watching, and this time is for you and you alone to express your artistry.

EXAMINE THE MARKET

This is a vital step that’s often mishandled by aspiring authors. Many writers skip this step entirely, or they put far too much weight on it, stifling their own creativity in the process.

I get it. This book is your art. It’s your passion. But you’re also planning to exchange it with customers for cash, which means it’s a product to be sold. Congratulations, you’re officially a businessperson, and it behooves you to study the industry you’re entering.

What are the current trends within the writing and publishing business? Which genres are on the outs? Which categories are making a comeback? Which niches are thriving? Understanding the market means understanding your place within it, and that will make both the writing and marketing process a whole lot easier to navigate. Eventually, you’ll want to examine the industry further, analyzing advertising strategies, author platform best practices, and cover art trends, but don’t worry about that yet. Right now, your focus is singular: Which books are people reading, and why?

But Jenna, I’ve already done this step!

You might have overdone this step, in fact. That’s where the second oopsie comes into play—you’ve strategized to your own detriment. Don’t be the person who selects a story concept because a successful author already wrote it, or solely because it’s trendy.

It’s true when people say everything’s been done before. There will always be books about demons, magic, true love, and betrayal. It’s perfectly fine to write about any of these topics; I’ve covered the latter three myself. But there’s a difference between utilizing common tropes and using a popular novel as a blueprint for your work in progress.

Just because you love a book series doesn’t mean you should copy and paste those exact concepts into your manuscript. Relying on another author to generate ideas for you means abandoning what it takes to be a creative writer. In fact, it isn’t considered creating at all. It’s valid to find inspiration in stories you admire, but add your own unique take on plot dynamics, subplots, characters, and relationships. This breathes originality into a concept, and that’s what readers are hungry for.

After creating your own ideas, trust your instincts and imagination. It’s okay if your book features a dystopian society, but if your heroine is an impoverished teen archer who volunteers to compete in a deadly competition, it might be time to rethink your direction.

Along with not regurgitating your favorite stories, it’s best to avoid trend-chasing just for the sake of it. This may go against some advice given within the writing community. For what it’s worth, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with writing an on-trend book; in fact, it works in your favor. But choosing a story concept for the sole purpose of fitting into a trend is another beast entirely, and it’s one you should probably steer clear of.

For starters, it takes a long time to write a book, especially if it’s your first. That means by the time your book comes out, this trend might be long gone. And if you’re writing a series, forget it. What happens when you release book one and the trend is already outdated?

Second, if you hop on a trend strictly for readership, you’re probably not going to be all that invested in your story. Passion oozes off the pages of a novel, and it’s even more apparent if the passion is nonexistent. Your story likely won’t have that oomph readers crave, and even worse, you’ll probably have a terrible time writing it. How can you rationalize spending years toiling over a project with no guarantee of success when you don’t even enjoy the process? Remember, writing is supposed to be fun.

If you’re passionate about a concept that happens to be on trend, by all means, have at it. Either way, your joy or lack thereof will show in your writing.

WRITE WHAT YOU WANT TO READ

I’d argue this is the most important step in this part of the writing process. A lot of people will tell you that when it comes to fiction, you should write what you want to write. But there’s a better suggestion out there, and Robin McKinley said it best: Write what you want to read. Often what you want to write and what you want to read overlap, but there can be a few discrepancies.

I love writing dialogue, especially banter. But if I were to solely write what I wanted to write, I’d have a book filled with snarky jokes, playful flirtations, and little else. As much as I enjoy a giggle fit, endless sarcasm does not a story make.

Put your go-to writing aside and ask yourself, what story have you been looking for but haven’t been able to find yet?

If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it. – Toni Morrison

Listen, Morrison knew what she was talking about.

There are many reasons it’s a great idea to write what you want to read. If it’s a concept you’d read, that means your heart is involved. You’ll be invested in the storyline because it contains elements that excite you. It’s a lot easier to ride out the difficult parts of the writing process when you deeply care about the material and genuinely believe in its message.

Let’s not forget the fact that, if you want to read the story, chances are other people will want to read it too. Some folks feel like their tastes are too unique, but there’s a niche for everything. Hell, dinosaur erotica has a vibrant, thriving audience. I promise your story isn’t nearly as obscure as you think.

Be honest with yourself. What story calls to you? What would you like to see more of in fiction? Which idea keeps coming back into your mind throughout the day? If you’re going to spend countless hours and grueling effort writing a story to completion, it should be one you feel deeply connected to. This is about gut instinct. Which idea speaks to you louder than all the rest?

Sometimes it’s not the most obvious choice. Before writing my dark fantasy romance novel, The Savior’s Champion, I had a different concept already outlined in full—a Cinderella retelling with a fleshed out cast of characters and a vibrant world. But something about it didn’t feel right. I craved darker, more dangerous content, along with a much deeper, mature love story. The Savior’s Champion was the concept that provided this for me, and truthfully, it was the exact kind of story I was dying to read at the time. I didn’t have an outline—hell, I didn’t even know my main character’s name—but it didn’t matter. I chose the concept I couldn’t get out of my head, and it was one of the smartest business decisions I’ve ever made.

Take on the task of creating those characters, those conflicts, and that world. The passion and commitment you bleed onto the pages will attract readers who share the same excitement as you.

PASSION AND MARKETING CAN (AND SHOULD) COEXIST

At this point, you should have a list of potential ideas. You’re relaxed, you’ve examined the market, and you’ve found the type of fiction that gets your juices flowing. But what happens when two or more ideas are at the finish line, waiting for you to break the tie?

This can be a big stopping-point for a lot of writers. You’ve already consulted your gut when it comes to these ideas, and you’re invested in finishing this novel. Now it’s time to turn on the practical side of your brain and consult your industry research. Remember, you’re an artist and a businessperson now. Consider this your first business decision.

Which idea is performing best in the current market?

Trend-chasing for the sake of it isn’t ideal, but if readers are ravenous for a genre that happens to encapsulate one of your favorite ideas, then that’s an opportunity worth snatching up. If another idea fits into a genre that’s currently on the outs, it’s probably wise to keep it on the backburner for now.

Which idea would be quicker or easier to write?

All writers want to start their book as quickly as possible, but finishing that book is its own struggle. If completion is a recurring issue for you, identify if one of your ideas is shorter or simpler than the others. If there is one, it should be a definite contender for your attention. Getting a few finished pieces under your belt is great motivation for completing harder projects in the future.

Which idea would suit you best at this stage of your writing journey?

Say you’re a mere babe of a writer, and you have two ideas for your next work in progress. One is an epic fantasy spanning hundreds of worlds and generations, and the other is the introspective journey