QUESTION : HOW TO WRITE A BOOK

I received an email asking if theres a 'formula or strategy to how I write a book?'.. from one of participants on the project, which was a good question as I had never actually analysed this before. It's good to look at what thought processes you adopt, so you can understand what steps you take and improve your strategy, as well as model it for other people to take the same steps. This is the process I use when I model successful people, finding out the moves they take mentally and physically to achieve their goals. It's great with business, sport and relationships, and the ideal method to enhance the levels of success you can teach and achieve yourself.

There's a best seller in all of us, it's just dragging the dam thing out that's the problem. How do you write a book? Well, the truth is it's not so difficult when you get the hang of it, especially when it comes to writing a novel. But practice makes perfect, and perfection is in the writing just as much as the re & re writing.

There are only two things that will stop you, one...your attitude, and two.. lack of structure. These two will be the basis of success in all things you do in life, not just writing. If you take the decision to achieve your goal, the only difficulty that really comes between you and success will be your commitment to that success and consistency to find ways to overcome the difficulties that may stand in your way.

But a good strategy is also essential, otherwise you will drift with the currents of life and never get things done. How many half finished literary works of art remain in draws gathering dust? 

There are a few basic steps that I can tell you that will help you construct a book. First of all just start writing,  get in the habit.

Strategy
Firstly, linear thinking and lateral thinking can be expanded and contracted.
A story has a beginning, middle and end.... linear, and each section can be expanded laterally, with description, events and problems.
Posing problems and answering them with common sense helps the story line.
Having layers to the plot, a journey for example, a chance meeting,  a romance, a problem, but all within a day, with a choice to be made. 
The plot should set the scene, pose the problem, find the resolution. (potentially having sub plots of the same format included in the main as the book becomes more complex).

For example: I went to work and came home... The end.
Now apply questions that you may or may not choose to answer to expand the idea.
Who am I
Why did I go
When did I go
How did I go
What did I go for

I met someone.
Who, what, why, when, where, how

Problem. I lost their number.

Dificulty I tripped over and broke my leg.

Solution they were the nurse in the hospital I went to, 

Message fate sometimes takes a hand in love

To develop the story using lateral thought to develop any scene with description or a sub plot will make the story more interesting, colourful and diverse. Humour, irony, or any emotion will add flavour.

Remember pace, build slowly, develop the problem and give the resolution as a conclusion without dragging on.

If you don't have an idea for a story just start writing to practice, you'll find the story comes to you once you have a character in mind, just keep giving them problems, that's life after all. Don't try to write a best seller, just write something you would enjoy to read, hopefully they will end up the same, but it's all about confidence. 

Hopefully that helps as a quick strategy to start writing, you just need to focus and develop a pattern of thought that leads to success for you.