Want to write a novel? There’s basically just one thing you need to do: get started and keep going. Your enthusiasm for writing is an indicator that you can do it, if you persist. In this article, we’ll look at three essential keys to success.

The day I learned that my publisher was offering a multi-book contract, over three decades ago, remains one of the happiest days of my life. To achieve that, I used three strategies.

Let’s look at the keys now.

1. Set yourself a daily goal for the number of words you’ll write that day. Never go to bed without writing those words. Consider that most novels are somewhere between 60,000 and 100,000 words. Consistency in writing is a huge secret, and now you know it.

How many words can you write each day? In the beginning, start with a low word count goal: say 200 words. You should be able to write this in 20 minutes to half an hour. Please don’t edit as you write: this interrupts your creative flow. You can edit when you’ve completed your first draft.

2. Have fun with your writing: feel free to write junk. If you’re wise, you’ll let your creative subconscious mind do the work for you. Just write whatever comes, in that day’s writing session.

Allow yourself to be creative. Perhaps one character takes control: stay with it. Remember that editing comes later. Accept what you write today. Eliminate judgement as much as you can.

3. Avoid planning until the writing is well under way. If you start creating a plot and planning intensively too soon, you’ll stall. It’s fine to start with just a picture in your mind, or a title, or a single evocative sentence.

I rarely bother with plotting until I’ve written 50 pages. By that time, I know something of the characters, and some of the events. It’s fine to leave planning characters and intensive plotting until you’re well under way with the book — some writers never plot at all.

Does a lack of a plot scare you? If you can’t feel comfortable not knowing what will happen next, do some plotting — but stay creative. Keep the plot simple, and be willing to change it. Keep the focus on your forward momentum — keep achieving your daily word count goals.

You can write a novel, and get it published, using these simple and practical keys to success.

If it’s your dream to write a book, Angela Booth’s report “Write a Book: Powerful Tips” (free) gets you started. You get the fruit of Angela’s 30 years in publishing: it makes writing easy and fun. For more information, read Angela’s Just Write a Book blog. It’s essential reading to help you to write a book.