You don’t write a book unless you have something to say. A 70,000 word manuscript isn’t a small undertaking, so, you have to really want to say it. Before you start anything, really interrogate that. This project is a small kernel of an idea right now but it is likely going to be in your life for a few years before it’s on bookshelves. And then you’re going to need to talk about it for another year.

Any large project is easier to tackle when you break it down into smaller, achievable chunks. Many writers have specific word counts they like to hit each day or week. But if you are writing on the side – at night, on the weekends, early in the morning before the rest of the world wakes up – a better way to tackle it is to set up a writing habit, and focus on the habit over the word count.

Carve out a set time each week to write, whether that is from 9am until 12pm each Saturday or for an hour each morning before work begins. And at that time each week, sit down at your desk, and write. Some weeks the words will flow, other weeks they won’t. But that’s not the point. The point is that you’re at your desk, trying, creating space for it to happen. And eventually it will. But focus on the habit above all else.

At some point along the way, usually at the 20,000 word mark, you will look at everything you have written and decide it is rubbish. Before you delete it all, know that this is a normal part of the process. So sit with it, acknowledge it, and if you need to take some time away from it, do that. But don’t let the doubt stop you. Keep going until you’ve got it all down. Your inner-editor and inner-critic can have their say later.

Once you have something that represents a manuscript – which can range from 50,000 words for non-fiction to 90,000 words for fiction – share it, or a portion of it, with someone you trust. You don’t want too many opinions, but the fresh eye of someone whose opinion you respect can be incredibly useful. They will likely have some affirming and constructive thoughts that will give you the confidence to make edits and then share it more widely. The next step on the publishing journey would be to find a literary agent and share it with them. (You can read more on that here.)

Like anything difficult in life, you have to enjoy the process otherwise you should probably ask yourself why you’re doing it. Writing is hard and it can be lonely but it can also be incredibly enjoyable. So enjoy the process and focus on the words, not the end goal. That doesn’t mean it won’t be hard or lonely. That doesn’t mean you won’t have a breakdown mid-way through, because you probably will. We all do. But focus on the act, because the act is why you’re doing it in the first place.