1. The idea
It is so easy to get stuck on just the IDEA of your book. So many possible stories swirling in your head….. Should he be a banker, werewolf or a lawyer?  Should it be a crime or a romance? Should it take place in the future or present day?  Chicago or Germiston? Should you actually write about yourself?  All writers have so many choices. Let’s get some focus.  Your very first choice and task is to move what is simply AN IDEA into a PLOT. You have to make some very clear decisions and stick to them. I always say, “that all stories are just a series of thumb sucks”. That means you just come up with an idea… and run with it. Yes, he’s banker, it’s crime novel set in the future and the book starts as he lands a big client but knows he is going to pay in blood money. Now plot THAT BOOK. Do the work to make a plot and stick to it.
 
2. The first few chapters
And here so many writers get stuck. Some for years!  Chances are it will all change in your second draft so just do your best in the first round and move forward.
 
3. 20,000 words
You reach 20,000 words and you have told your whole story. So common. But a book needs to be longer and you can see that now. What happened? Plotting needs to happen! A book is a long form and that is why we require a certain number of plot points to take your story to the correct length. We do the plotting / outlining upfront so you can't go wrong.