Staring at a blank sheet of paper or Word document as you start your book is a scary thing. It stops the flow of creativity in even the most talented writer. As for newcomers to the process, it can kill the dream at the start.

Published writers, editors and publishers offer much advice about what you should do before you write your book. Most say you should create an outline or put pressure on yourself by announcing your plan to the world. Today I ran across a sound and easy-to-do piece of advice from a talented writer, coach and speaker, Ofili,  in his article 7 Things You Must Do Before Writing Your Book.

Steal a book.

Ofili doesn’t mean ease out of the bookstore with the unpaid-for-contraband tucked in your bag, of course. Nor does he suggest you should plagiarize.

What he means by “steal a book”  is called market research in some circles. (I require my private clients to study the top books in their genre and report to me what they discovered.)  Ofili suggests you study a writer whose style you admire and is similar to your own.

There are three good reasons for it.

1. Inspiration

The mere fact that a favorite author has successfully shared her ideas in print is encouraging, especially at the start when your first words seem out of reach. Observing the author use words you can understand to unfold concepts before your very eyes will give you encouragement and often call forth your ideas that until now were too shy to reveal themselves.

2. Guidance

It is very instructive to turn an analytical eye to the work of an admired author or even the top authors in your genre, whether you admire them or not. You can learn about writing, structuring and publishing all in one place.

First pay attention to how you approach to the book as a reader:  check out the title, author’s name, quick scan of front cover, flip over to back cover looking for proof that this book will keep the promise of its title and solve your problem or fill your need.

Second, go inside the book to see how the author delivers on his promise. How does he begin, develop and end the chapters? Is the book light-hearted, humorous or serious with lessons and activities? Are there quotes, stories, illustrations, and if so, do they add to the message? Are there examples to make key points clear or does the author pose questions and leave you to reflect?

3. Direction

After you have read, examined and analyzed the “stolen book,” you will begin to see gaps in what and how the author wrote his book and how you want to write yours.

You will notice omissions, ideas she didn’t cover or information glazed over that you’d like to explain in more depth in your book.

You will begin to see missing evidence you would set forth to support ideas in your book that somehow the author in question neglected.

In this phase you will begin to see your book emerge as distinctive. Even  though it may be on the same or similar topic or style and isn’t even written yet, you will begin to see the gap your book will fill in the literature.

You will be able to visualize the books currently on the bookstore shelf  moving closer together making just enough space on the shelf for your upcoming book to join them.

There are two very practical reasons to study another author or authors in your genre.

• You will be able to return to them when your confidence wanes along the way (and it will.)
• If you plan to approach a literary agent or submit directly to a traditional publisher, this will be a required part of your proposal, without which they won’t even consider your manuscript.

Are you now convinced to “steal a book?”

Can you see this working for you?

Speak up in the Comments.