How to Write the Book You’ve Always Dreamed Of According to Three Published Authors

For many people the idea of writing a book sits quietly on a vision board or on a list of New Year’s resolutions, every single year. It’s often there alongside things like “run a marathon”, “learn a new language”, and “give up alcohol”. Writing a book feels bigger than most goals, it’s romantic, daunting, and perpetually postponed.

If this sounds like you and you want this year to be the year you finally write that book, three published authors share the same message, stop waiting and start writing.

Whether you’re commuting on the Tube, grabbing five minutes between meetings, or stealing moments late at night, writing a book is far more achievable than it appears.

Simply Start

Gemma Denham, author of two psychological thrillers The Storm and The Inheritance, believes aspiring writers often stall before they’ve even begun.

“Do it! Get writing and keep writing,” she says. “The first draft doesn’t need to be perfect, so just get it down and don’t get bogged down in the details. If you fuss about with it as you go along you’ll never finish. So write and keep writing!”

This is the advice that is echoed across the publishing world, yet rarely followed. Many aspiring authors wait for confidence, clarity, or the elusive “right time”. Denham’s approach strips away that pressure. A messy first draft isn’t a failure, it’s a necessary step.

The reality is simple: you can’t edit a blank page.

You Don’t Need More Time Just Different Habits

For thriller writer K.J. Dando, the biggest myth about writing a book is that you need long stretches of uninterrupted time.

“Stop scrolling and start typing,” he advises. “Even on your phone.”

Dando wrote the entire first draft of his novel in total secrecy, not at a desk, but on his phone in the stolen minutes most of us lose to social media.

“I tapped out sentences during breaks or while out in the Welsh hills,” he explains. “By the time I told my family, I hadn’t just ‘tried’ to write a book, I’d finished one.”

His experience is a reminder that writing doesn’t require a quiet study, expensive courses, or literary connections. It requires discipline and intention. Five minutes here and there adds up, especially when used consistently.

Write What You Know and Research the Rest

Helen Aitchison, author of six fiction books and several non-fiction titles, believes authenticity is what keeps readers engaged.

“Write about what you know,” she says. “And if not, research thoroughly.”

Drawing on personal experiences or professional knowledge gives writing depth and emotional truth. Readers, she explains, can sense when something feels real and when it doesn’t.

“I try to write about experiences from my life or career,” Aitchison says. “But there are many topics I wouldn’t write about without gaining knowledge from someone who has lived it.”

For her upcoming novel Finding Arthur Whittle, Aitchison spoke with a friend who was researching her ancestry, ensuring the details were accurate and believable.

“Fiction allows interpretation,” she says, “but it’s important to me that characters and plots feel realistic and relatable.”

Make this year be the Year You Write Your Book

The common thread running through all three authors’ advice is reassuring: writing a book isn’t about talent alone. It’s about commitment, honesty, and showing up, imperfectly, again and again.

If writing a book is on your vision board then consider this your sign to stop waiting. Open a notes app on your phone, grab a notepad or reach for your laptop and start writing.