Brainstorm your book ideas. Take out a notepad or use your computer to write down as many book ideas as you can in less than three minutes. Let your imagination go free and don't censor any ideas at this point. Just write down whatever comes up. Even if you think you are sure about the book you want to write, brainstorm as many ideas on what you want the book to include. Use the phrase, "What if....?" to open up your thinking. For example, "What if you changed your autobiography into a novel?" "What if you made your idea for a western into a science fiction story?"Ask yourself why you want to write this book and who you are writing it for? What do you hope to accomplish? What is your motivation? Consider your experience, your expertise, your imagination, and your dreams. Consider your audience. Whom do you want to reach and why?
Decide what kind of book you want to write. Is it fiction or nonfiction? In other words, are you writing a novel or made up story (fiction)? Or is it fact-based (nonfiction), such as a memoir, biography, textbook, cookbook, or self-help book? Are you an expert in a certain subject? What do you know about that you can share with others? Do you have a story that you really want to tell? Do you have certain life lessons that you have learned from personal experience? Think about the kind of books you love to read. Write a book that you would want to read.
Describe your book in one sentence. Look at the New York Times Best Seller List book descriptions. In order to sell your book, you need to be able to give people an idea of what it's about in a single sentence. This process will also help you to stay on track when writing the book. In a novel, for example, tell us who the main character is and what challenge they are facing. In a how-to book, simply tell us what the book will teach us how to do.
Create a catchy title. Give your readers a good idea of what your book is about. Remember that you can change the title later. For now, you just want to have a working title, to keep you focused on the kind of book you will be writing. For example, if you are writing a how-to book on getting out of debt, a title such as "Life After Debt: Free Yourself from the Burdens of Money Worries - Once and for all" clearly tells readers what this book will do for them and why they should buy it.
Write a three sentence outline. Think about a three act play. Simply describe the beginning, middle and end. Where does the book start? How do you introduce the reader to your main subjects or characters? The middle is where you pour on the action in your novel or give the reader more detailed information about your subject. The ending is where you bring it all together and tie up the loose ends. If you're smart, you might also end with the hint of a sequel or more to come.
Develop a more detailed outline. Here is where you flesh out more specific information about your book. What are the step-by-step processes you want to describe to your reader? The Hero's Journey model of storytelling was popularized by Joseph Campbell in his book "The Hero with a Thousand Faces" and later used as a template for many Hollywood movies, including "Star Wars", "The Matrix" and "Indiana Jones." This is a formula that is based on powerful stories throughout history and throughout various cultures. There are many variations on this formula but the good news is that you can create your own. What are the actions your hero's journey? Start with a one-page outline. Then expand it by adding more detail to every step.
Revise your blueprint. Take another look at your detailed outline. Does it make sense? Does it outline the book you want to write? Is something missing? Take a break and come back to it with a fresh look before making your revisions. Continue revising until you are satisfied that you have the blueprint for the book that you really want to write.