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Writing a book is a marathon, not a sprint. Whether you’re aiming for a sprawling fantasy epic or a tight business manual, the process generally breaks down into three distinct phases: Planning, Drafting, and Refining.

You cannot be a writer without being a reader first.

Here’s my process of writing my book Destiny (available on my website). I also have the book available on Amazon and on Kindle.

I wanted to write. I felt the urge that I must accomplish this skill in my life. My first story that I dreamed of writing was based on true story from my grandmother’s life experience. I wanted to make it in a fiction style using real life events. I knew that my book category will be placed in mystery, thriller, historical, suspense. I loved this idea from the very beginning. So, I kept going.

My first draft wasn’t very detailed. I didn’t have all the bright explanations of events, and the smooth flow of the story. My first draft was literally an outline of different people, places and events in quick story telling.

I read my “outline” like 10 times before I started rewriting everything with much more details.

Imagine your story as if you are the director and the producer of your movie.

Some people count words of how much they already wrote. Honestly, I hated doing that. I never counted words or kept track of it every single day. That doesn’t inspire me. I don’t like when there’s a “minimum you have to write” each day. My inspiration doesn’t fall on minimum or maximum. Limit disappears when inspired. You will find yourself one day writing non-stop, the story just flows smoothly on its own, next day – nothing really comes to mind. And so on it goes. You sort of have to “catch” the moment.

Instead, set a deadline – 6 to 8 months to type your final two words “The End” will make you keep going. You will eventually find that one thing that always inspires you.

Never go back and fix your grammar, typos and etc. You will do that later.

Your mission is to give your finished idea to a Publisher, not a professional looking story outline. Focus on the idea. Publishers will do the rest of the work. That’s their job. They get paid for creating your “writing project” to a “commercial product”. They will rewrite your “idea” story so good, that you won’t belive that it was actually you who gave them the job to do.

Go outside to find inspiration.

Listen to epic music (often called “Cinematic” or “Trailer Music”—is a favorite tool for authors because it acts as a neurological and emotional shortcut to the creative “flow state.”)

Watch a movie that inspires you to write.

Take a little hike, go to the beach.

You can fill in the list.

My personal inspiration for most of my writing days was my Epic Playlist on YouTube that I created over a little time. Maybe a Playlist with Cinematic Music will benefit you too during your writing moments.

When it’s finally time to submit your finished book to a Publisher, it can get frustrating at first. Most of Traditional Publishers don’t accept any submissions without a Literary Agent. If you choose to go the Traditional route, hire a Literary Agent who will represent your book.

A Traditional Publisher is a company that buys the right to publish your book and takes on all the financial risk of producing, distributing, and marketing it. In this model, the author should never pay the publisher; instead, the publisher pays the author.

I chose to go with a Hybrid Publisher with my book Destiny.

A Hybrid Publisher is a middle-ground model that combines elements of traditional publishing and self-publishing. In this setup, the author and the publisher share the risk: the author pays an upfront fee for professional services, and the publisher provides the expertise, distribution, and a higher share of the profits (royalties).

Or you can choose a route of Self Publishing Your Book.

The steep in this route is you are now a Business Owner not a writer. You now have to think how to sell your book, be the Marketing Expert.

Remember the nominated New York Times authors? The title goes to The Best Selling Author, not The Best Writing Author. So think about it.

Every Publisher wether the Traditional or Hybrid, Self Publishing aims to sell the idea in the book. All publishers have a team of educated experts, and they each do their assigned job in order to sell the book. They compete and they are highly competitive. Will you be this competitive?!

I’m not trying to scare you or put you down in some way if you were to choose the Self Publishing route. I’m just letting you know of the difficult reality in the Publishing World. If you are ready for the headache, and new learning curves, then this option is for you.

Writing World and the Publishing World are Two Different Worlds.

Publishing World is a Business World. If you are a one time book writer, and you don’t plan to write anymore books, then Self Publishing is your best option.  You get to keep all the royalties. 100% of earnings are your! You earned it!

These are a few of main points from my experience on how to successfully finish writing a book, and to successfully publish a book. Make your decision wisely. I want you to be successful, and never be scared of anything.

Don’t you ever think, that nobody will read your story.

Our worlds population is 8.28 billion people. Eventually there will be those that will read your book and find it very interesting.

Take care of yourself and continue writing!