Writing a book is no small feat, and every writer has his own strategy in tackling this challenge. There is no general formula to keep writers motivated and focused; however, there are a few useful guidelines when it comes to making a plan for writing a book.

The following tips may not work for every writer, but they have helped most achieve their goals for their books.

Turn writing into a habit.

Being a good writer is no use when you procrastinate with your writing and focus on other hobbies. Before coming up with any plan for writing a book, train yourself to write as if your life depends on it. Write every day—be it journals, essays, short stories, or poems. “Write as you breathe” may be a stretch, but at least make an effort to embed writing into your system.

Outline a story sketch or plan.

This is where individuality enters. Some writers do not have a story plan or character sketch at all. They just improvise as they go along, while some definitely need a framework to keep themselves from straying from their story. Whatever type of writer you may be, a general outline is useful—even if it’s only just to track your progress.

Steer clear of all distractions.

Only you know what things distract you the most, so you either remove yourself from your current environment or clear it of all possible distractions that will steer your focus away from finishing your book. This may be one of the most helpful tips you can include in your plan for writing a book.

Set your goals.

Set up milestones you wish to achieve: character sketches, first five chapters, story’s climax, perfectly executed twist, and a whole lot of other possible writing milestones. Having goals to reach is another writing motivation, and this technique also works for most writers.

Break down your goals into workable chunks.

If the goals you’ve set are too big for one writing session, break them down into small parts or subplots. This will make it easier for you to work on the specific details of your story. If you are the type who gets easily overwhelmed by large tasks, you can include this tip in your general plan for writing a book.

Be strict with deadlines.

It doesn’t matter if these are personal deadlines or timelines set by your publisher. Just as you’ve turned writing into a habit, make it a habit to catch your deadlines as well. This is the kind of self-discipline that will make you finish your book on your desired date—maybe even earlier.