It’s a common dream. You imagine holding your very own book in your hands, your name proudly displayed on the cover. Maybe it’s a novel, a memoir, or a collection of short stories—whatever the genre, the dream of becoming an author is one that many people share. In fact, studies show that 81% of Americans believe they have a book in them. That’s millions of people who aspire to tell their story. Yet, only 3% actually start writing, and even fewer complete a manuscript.

So, what separates the dreamers from the doers? The answer lies in the writing process itself. It’s not enough to want to write; you have to develop habits and strategies that keep you moving forward. If you’ve ever felt the pull to become an author, but struggle with where to start or how to stay on track, this post is for you. Let’s explore three key strategies that can help you turn your author dream into a reality.

The idea of writing a book can be overwhelming. Many aspiring authors stall because they think they need hours of uninterrupted time or bursts of inspiration to get started. But here’s the truth: books are written one word, one sentence, one paragraph at a time. The key to making progress is consistency, not perfection.

Establishing a daily writing habit, even if it’s just for 15-30 minutes a day, can transform your approach to writing. Those small, daily efforts add up. For example, writing just 300 words a day can result in over 100,000 words in a year—more than enough for a full-length novel!

The acclaimed author, Haruki Murakami, once said, “When I’m in writing mode for a novel, I get up at 4 a.m. and work for five to six hours.” While not everyone can—or should—follow such a rigorous schedule, the takeaway is clear: routine is your best friend.

​Practical Tip: Choose a time of day when you can consistently sit down to write, and stick to it. Whether it’s early in the morning, during your lunch break, or before bed, make it a non-negotiable part of your day.

One of the biggest pitfalls for new writers is getting bogged down in editing while they’re still writing the first draft. It’s tempting to fix every awkward sentence or unclear idea as you go, but this can seriously derail your progress. When you focus too much on editing, you shift from creating to critiquing, which can stop your momentum in its tracks.

Think of your first draft as a rough sketch. It’s not supposed to be perfect; it’s supposed to get your ideas out of your head and onto the page. You can—and should—return later to refine and polish, but during the initial writing phase, your only job is to keep the words flowing.

Bestselling author Anne Lamott famously coined the term “shitty first drafts” to describe this process. She emphasizes that writing is an act of discovery, and you can’t discover anything if you’re constantly hitting the brakes to edit.

​Practical Tip: If you find yourself wanting to edit while writing, remind yourself that you’ll have plenty of time to fix things later. For now, keep pushing forward, even if what you’re writing feels messy or incomplete.

A common misconception among aspiring authors is that they need to have everything figured out before they start writing. While having a plan is certainly helpful, especially for longer projects, don’t let the planning phase become a form of procrastination.

Some writers love to outline every chapter and scene in detail before they start. Others prefer to dive in and see where the story takes them. Both approaches are valid, but the most important thing is to not get stuck in the planning stage. It’s easy to spend weeks, months, or even years perfecting an outline without writing a single word of the actual book.

The late Terry Pratchett, a beloved fantasy author, often said that “the first draft is just you telling yourself the story.” Whether you have a detailed plan or just a vague idea, the act of writing will clarify your thoughts and help you discover the story you want to tell.

​Practical Tip: Set a deadline for how long you’ll spend planning, and then stick to it. Once that time is up, start writing—even if your plan isn’t perfect.

The dream of becoming an author is alive in many of us, but turning that dream into reality requires action. By cultivating daily writing habits, resisting the urge to edit too soon, and balancing planning with actual writing, you can make steady progress toward completing your manuscript.

​Remember, the journey to becoming an author doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a process of small, consistent steps that lead to a big, rewarding outcome. So, if you’ve been holding onto the dream of writing a book, there’s no better time to start than now. Your story is waiting to be told, and it all begins with that first word.