How to Start Writing a Book? Advice Backed by Science

Dear readers, today we’ve put together an article for everyone who’s ever said “I have a novel in me, but I don’t know how to start.” Countless inspiring quotes about wanting to write a book circulate online, but in this article we’re going to move past the inspirational quotes and look at what scientific research on writing actually says.

Writing a Little Every Day Beats Writing a Lot Occasionally

One of the most common misconceptions among aspiring authors is waiting to write in long, intense sessions “when inspiration strikes.” Psychologist Robert Boice, in years of research on academics’ writing habits, reached a striking conclusion: the most productive writers weren’t the ones doing intense “writing marathons” at long intervals, but those who set aside a short, regular amount of time every day. According to Boice’s research, people who write regularly for ten to fifty minutes a day turn out to be far more productive in the long run than those who write for hours at a time but do so infrequently.

The logic behind this finding is actually simple: infrequent, long writing sessions lead to both burnout and procrastination. Short, regular sessions, on the other hand, keep ideas fresh in the mind, which shortens the “warm-up” time spent at the start of each session.

Starting to Write Before You “Feel Ready”

Another problem shared by aspiring authors is waiting to find the perfect sentence or the perfect opening. Boice’s research offers a clear recommendation here too: writers should start writing before they feel ready. The first draft doesn’t have to be perfect; what matters is starting to get ideas down on paper and leaving the editing for later.

This approach aligns with a principle that comes up often in creativity research: the brain’s “generative” and “critical” modes don’t work efficiently at the same time. Silencing the critical mind while drafting, and bringing it back into play during the editing stage, is a method recommended in many writing workshops as well.

Stopping Mid-Session Prevents Burnout

Perhaps the most surprising recommendation from Boice’s research is this: end a writing session in the middle of a sentence or paragraph, while your work is still unfinished. This carries a logic similar to athletes ending a workout before they’re completely exhausted. Leaving a session at an unfinished point lets you know exactly where to pick up the next day, and reduces the resistance to sitting down to write.

A Fixed Time Slot Is More Reliable Than Motivation

Aspiring authors often count on motivation showing up on its own. But research shows that setting a fixed time slot is far more effective than waiting for motivation. Pinning writing time to a specific hour of the day trains the brain to automatically switch into writing mode at that hour; this is one of the fundamental principles of habit formation.

Sharing What You Write with Others Speeds Up the Process

Another notable finding from Boice’s research is that the time writers spend talking to other people about what they’re writing also has a positive effect on productivity. Joining a writing group, sharing a draft with a reading circle, or simply talking to a friend about what you wrote that day both refreshes motivation and gives the text an outside perspective.

Make Time for Prewriting and Editing Too

Many aspiring authors plan to spend all their time directly writing. Yet research shows that the time spent on “prewriting” stages such as planning, note-taking, and drafting an outline should be roughly equal to time spent on direct writing. The same holds for rewriting and editing. A book’s quality is often shaped far more in later rounds of editing than in the first draft.

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