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Start Writing Your Book Today: A step-by-step plan to write your nonfiction book, from first draft to finished manuscript
You know you want to write a book, so why does it feel so hard to sit down and do the writing? And once you get in a flow, why is it so difficult to stay in flow? And once you’ve finished writing, how do edit and revise so you know it’s a good book, that you’re proud to sell? NONFICTION writers, this is a STEP-BY-STEP guide that walks you through how to write a book. These steps will show
When we’re writing a book, we need inspiration, and we need the “how-to” pieces that we were never taught in school. Start Writing Your Book Today provides both. Over the last 10 years as a writing coach, Morgan has developed a blend of mindset and mechanics to help authors through feeling stuck and into power writing through their books. In this book, Morgan shares her methods with you, so that you can step up and become the writer you know you’re meant to be. Each step of how to write your book is laid out for you. No more excuses. You’ll be ready to finally start writing your book.
When we’re writing a book, we need inspiration, and we need the “how-to” pieces that we were never taught in school. Start Writing Your Book Today provides both. Over the last 10 years as a writing coach, Morgan has developed a blend of mindset and mechanics to help authors through feeling stuck and into power writing through their books. In this book, Morgan shares her methods with you, so that you can step up and become the writer you know you’re meant to be. Each step of how to write your book is laid out for you. No more excuses. You’ll be ready to finally start writing your book.
- GenresNonfictionWriting
164 pages, Paperback
Published December 4, 2018
4 people are currently reading
18 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 14, 2021
this book is exceptionally problematic,
Promotes multiple myths that are exceptionally dangerous.
I.e., the myth that everyone is an expert in something that simply isn’t true.
Why is that myth dangerous.?
For instance, I could call myself an expert in folding maps back up. Yes, this is an actual secret skill that I hold. But, no, it is not something I have expertise in.
Expertise means that you have special knowledge. It’s a profound level of education that’s different from the norm.
Is it possible that grandma has fantastic recipes? She is an expert, and absolutely. But is it likely that I know enough about horticulture to write a gardening book? No, it’s not.
This mentality that anybody is an expert. We’re all one has to do to become an expert is the best couple of hours of research.
An afternoon or two, this is the kind of mentality the perpetuates conspiracy theories.
Yes, this is An extreme example. But, nevertheless, it holds true.
I appreciate that the author talks about that criticism is important and helpful. I can think of some published authors that seriously could use that piece of knowledge.
But the same time, she insults her readers. She said that typically readers don’t really know why they don’t like a book.
Is it essential to accept that not everyone’s gonna like your book? Yes, because it doesn’t matter. Not everyone will like your work, and that’s OK.
And asking questions about why they didn’t, they like it, what about it didn’t work can this help me also excellent advice.
But saying that, readers don’t really know why that’s not OK.
In summary of this book is a bunch of hogwash self-help nonsense.
I picked it up because I am currently doing research for my own book. I learned nothing.
It’s harmful, full of toxic positivity, it perpetuates dangerous myth I just I would recommend not picking it up.
Promotes multiple myths that are exceptionally dangerous.
I.e., the myth that everyone is an expert in something that simply isn’t true.
Why is that myth dangerous.?
For instance, I could call myself an expert in folding maps back up. Yes, this is an actual secret skill that I hold. But, no, it is not something I have expertise in.
Expertise means that you have special knowledge. It’s a profound level of education that’s different from the norm.
Is it possible that grandma has fantastic recipes? She is an expert, and absolutely. But is it likely that I know enough about horticulture to write a gardening book? No, it’s not.
This mentality that anybody is an expert. We’re all one has to do to become an expert is the best couple of hours of research.
An afternoon or two, this is the kind of mentality the perpetuates conspiracy theories.
Yes, this is An extreme example. But, nevertheless, it holds true.
I appreciate that the author talks about that criticism is important and helpful. I can think of some published authors that seriously could use that piece of knowledge.
But the same time, she insults her readers. She said that typically readers don’t really know why they don’t like a book.
Is it essential to accept that not everyone’s gonna like your book? Yes, because it doesn’t matter. Not everyone will like your work, and that’s OK.
And asking questions about why they didn’t, they like it, what about it didn’t work can this help me also excellent advice.
But saying that, readers don’t really know why that’s not OK.
In summary of this book is a bunch of hogwash self-help nonsense.
I picked it up because I am currently doing research for my own book. I learned nothing.
It’s harmful, full of toxic positivity, it perpetuates dangerous myth I just I would recommend not picking it up.
April 14, 2022
3.5⭐️
I felt there were some excellent tips on here. It was accessible and I liked the way it was written. The only thing that made me think ‘hmmm’ was it did give the impression that absolutely anyone can make it as an author. This isn’t true, you have to have skill and talent to begin with.
I felt there were some excellent tips on here. It was accessible and I liked the way it was written. The only thing that made me think ‘hmmm’ was it did give the impression that absolutely anyone can make it as an author. This isn’t true, you have to have skill and talent to begin with.
November 15, 2022
Concise and applicable. Morgan gets to the point and identifies the bottlenecks and pain points to the process of drafting a book.
In particular, I appreciate her willingness to break things down to the nitty-gritty, such as rough pace of writing words, time spent (realistically), and targets to hit for general lengths of novels/manuscripts. She doesn't sugarcoat or fluff the act of writing. She shows her own spreadsheets and reverse-outlines for this particular book, making the advice real and easy to understand in practice. I loved seeing the process that went into writing this book, and the way she handles/groups criticism.
She writes about timelines, such as developmental editing and copyediting, and time to press, but the press part of the story doesn't get enough attention or coverage in this book. She argues that it is out-of-scope, which may be true, but it's nonetheless a key part of the pipeline to print, so I would have liked to hear more about her use of Amazon as a self-publishing partner, whether she submitted to agents -- still a part of the industry if you're trying to reach children through a traditional publishing house -- how she handles rejection, strategies for topdecking the slush pile, and the business/publishing side in general. If that means a second separate short book, then so be it! But writing without a market is only half the story.
In particular, I appreciate her willingness to break things down to the nitty-gritty, such as rough pace of writing words, time spent (realistically), and targets to hit for general lengths of novels/manuscripts. She doesn't sugarcoat or fluff the act of writing. She shows her own spreadsheets and reverse-outlines for this particular book, making the advice real and easy to understand in practice. I loved seeing the process that went into writing this book, and the way she handles/groups criticism.
She writes about timelines, such as developmental editing and copyediting, and time to press, but the press part of the story doesn't get enough attention or coverage in this book. She argues that it is out-of-scope, which may be true, but it's nonetheless a key part of the pipeline to print, so I would have liked to hear more about her use of Amazon as a self-publishing partner, whether she submitted to agents -- still a part of the industry if you're trying to reach children through a traditional publishing house -- how she handles rejection, strategies for topdecking the slush pile, and the business/publishing side in general. If that means a second separate short book, then so be it! But writing without a market is only half the story.
August 23, 2025
This book is for writers of non fiction but some areas can relate to the fiction writers among us. The book is a step by step guide that walks you through how to write a book.
The author shares her methods for writing non fiction with the reader. The steps of how to write your book are all laid out for the reader.
The author asks questions that a reader will ask and she also answers them.
The book was instructive and well written.
Would I recommend it? Yes, Morgan knows her craft and shows her ability to coach within the books pages.
The author shares her methods for writing non fiction with the reader. The steps of how to write your book are all laid out for the reader.
The author asks questions that a reader will ask and she also answers them.
The book was instructive and well written.
Would I recommend it? Yes, Morgan knows her craft and shows her ability to coach within the books pages.
July 11, 2023
Morgan Gist MacDonald is one well organized lady. This book is very tidily organized and executed. She makes writing a book seem simple, but admits the challenges, and encourages the reader to stick with it. And she uses this book to illustrate her methods. Highly recommended!
November 15, 2022
This totally changed my writing game!!
July 23, 2024
Useful advice but no real light-bulb moments.
February 19, 2019
This book focuses on non-fiction writing and offers you a step by step plan to finish a manuscript. MacDonald hypes you up, gives you a daily and weekly goal, and even breaks down the different types of editors you'll need once you finish. This book has also given me a lot more respect for self-publishers because they are working their tails off to put out good content.
August 12, 2019
I enjoyed reading this book. I didn't agree with all of the advice, but I think a beginning writer could benefit from reading it.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews