So you want to write a book—but you have no idea where to start.

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You’re probably an avid reader. You've probably picked up a book and though hmm, I could write that. You probably have some great ideas for concepts and characters swirling around in your head. But maybe once you sit down to write this great story, you feel a little stuck about how to get the ideas from your head onto the page. Well, let’s talk a little about that. 

How do you write a book? And where do you even begin? These are great questions, and I would argue that in order to write a story, you need to understand what every story is at its core:

• A story is a character trying to achieve a goal and encountering obstacles along the way. 

Here are some examples: 

• In Lord of the Rings, Frodo’s goal is to destroy the Ring of Power. Some of the obstacles in his way: the ring’s temptation, Gollum’s trying to steal back the ring, Sauron hunting the ring, etc. 

• In Legends and Lattes, Viv’s goal is to open a coffee shop. Some of the obstacles she encounters: finding the materials to set up shop, finding staff, and standing up to the local thugs who want to shut her down. 

• In Fourth Wing, Violet’s goal is to survive training. She must survive physical challenges, face off with classmates who want to kill her, and prove her worth. 

This is obviously an oversimplification of each of these stories, but this is what’s at the core: a memorable character with a strong goal and obstacles standing in their way. 

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Suggested exercise: 

If you aren’t quite sure how to map out your story, start by asking these simple questions: 

• Who is my character? 

• What goal are they trying to achieve? 

• What obstacles will they encounter? 

Or, if you already have a story and the plot isn’t feeling quite right, try answering these questions. Are you able to answer them? If not, there might be a core structural issue with your story.