Every book begins with a spark. Not a polite spark either but more like the kind that snaps, hisses, and threatens to burn your eyebrows off if you ignore it. This week we’re talking about the moment the idea for my book was born. The genre. The themes. The characters who started whispering in my ear like they owned the place. Most importantly, this is the reason behind it all. Writing a book isn’t just “I had an idea.” It’s more of a “I had an idea…. then it wouldn’t leave me alone until I gave it somewhere else to live.”

Determining why is the first step. Every writer has a why. Some are noble. Some chaotic. Some are fueled by caffeine and spite. The truth is, your why is your engine to your entire book in my opinion. Your why is the thing that keeps writing when the plot twists knot themselves like tangled jewelry. It’s what pulls you back when you swear you’re quitting to become a barista in a small coastal town. The why can be a story you’ve never seen told. It can be a character who walked into your brain and refused to leave or a message you want to whisper or even scream into the world. It’s a version of yourself you’re finally ready to explore. Maybe it’s even a question you’re trying to answer. Whatever it is, your why matters because it becomes your compass. When you’re lost, overwhelmed, or tempted to set your manuscript on fire, your why is the thing that says, “No babe, we’re not done.”

Choosing your genre is the next step. Genre is basically the outfit that your books wear. Like any good outfit, it should fit your voice, your vibe, and your intentions. Here’s what I’ve found that no one tells you, you don’t choose your genre, your genre chooses you. If you’re writing fiction, it’s because you want to build worlds, break hearts, or let your imagination run feral. If you’re writing nonfiction, it’s because you have something to teach, unpack, or illuminate. If you’re writing a memoir, it’s because your life has been a plot twist buffet and you’re finally ready to serve it. So, you must ask yourself, what kind of story feels natural when you sit down to write? What tone do you slip into without trying? What do you want your reader to feel when they close the book? For me, genre isn’t a cage. It’s a container. A pair of heels that helps my story stand taller.

Clarifying my audience was the next step. Let’s be honest, no one writes for everyone. Not even the people who say they do. That’s just not a thing. You’re writing for someone specific. Someone who needs this story. Someone who will see themselves in your pages and exhale like they’ve been holding their breath for years. Your audience could be a younger version of you. It could be the woman who feels invisible. The dreamer who needs permission or the person who’s been through something and needs to know they’re not alone. It can be the reader who wants to escape into something delicious just for a little while every day. Knowing your audience doesn’t limit you. It sharpens you and your writing. It helps to choose a tone, a pace, a theme, and emotional beats. It helps you write with intention instead of wandering around like you’re lost in a mall. When you know who you are talking to, your writing becomes a conversation instead of a monologue.

What I found is this all matters and is truly the foundation of any story. Writing a book isn’t just about plot points and pretty sentences. It’s about purpose, direction, and connection. Your why gives your story heart. Your genre gives it structure. Your audience gives it meaning. This is the foundation of your book, the part that keeps you grounded when the writing gets messy, magical, and both at the same time. It’s about to be a chaotic ride but I am so ready for it and I can’t wait for everyone to read the final product. 

XOXO,

Savi Monroe