When I first started writing fiction, hitting just 500 words felt impossible. I’d write, delete, rewrite, delete again, trapped in an endless cycle of frustration. But recently, I challenged myself: write 10,000 words in just 14 days—and actually finish something. Spoiler alert: It worked.

The trick? Small daily goals, a super-simple outlining method, and zero editing (at least at first). Turns out, messy writing beats no writing every single time. Curious how I did it? Keep reading—I’ll walk you through exactly how you can do it too.

So—you’ve got a brilliant idea for your book. You’ve done your research, brainstormed your characters, maybe even made a few Pinterest boards (no judgment here—we’ve all been there). Now you’re staring at a blinking cursor, wondering…

“Okay… how do I actually start writing this thing?”

Thinking about self-publishing your book but not sure where to start? This beginner-friendly guide walks you through every step of the process—from editing and formatting to choosing the right platforms and launching your book like a pro. If you're ready to take control of your publishing journey, this is the roadmap you need.