So you, and about 50 million other writers, want to write a book.
Where to start?
I assume that you already have a book project in mind; if not, do some brainstorming to figure out your topic--whether you plan to write The Great American Novel or the Great American Tell-All Memoir. It helps to have a rough plot and some of the main characters/players in mind.
Make a commitment to write at least five days a week, a minimum of one hour per day (more if you have decided that writing is your full time job).
Each day, park yourself in front of your computer, open your word processing program or blog, and start tapping.
It's just that simple.
At least in the beginning, don't get all hung up on quality, craft, creativity, or even the basics of writing, such as spelling or syntax; those concerns will come later, during the final drafting and editing stages.
The truth is, writing a book involves a lot of rough drafts, false starts, and crap writing. That's okay. Sometimes, one just has to mine tons of rock to find a a one-carat jewel.
Lit happens, but rarely in a straight forward, linear fashion.
Like any new activity, it takes a while to develop good writing habits.
But keep this in mind: an average book consists of 40,000 to 100,000 words, 200-500 pages.
On average, writers can produce about five pages of rough draft material (about 1,000 words) per day. Occasionally, there may be a writer who creates masterpieces at a break neck pace, but he or she is not you or I.
So roll up your sleeves and start tapping away, even if you have to begin by copying the dictionary.