The Top 5 Things That Helped Me Write My Book

How I finished a thriller with ADHD, dyslexia, a full-time job and zero writing background

1. Learning to Plot Before Falling in Love with My Characters

When I started writing, all I had was a beginning, middle, and end. It seemed simple until my characters took over. Their backstories hijacked the plot, and chaos followed.

So I took an online writing course. The instructor explained something that changed everything: your beginning, middle, and end should be about the plot, not the characters; that was a “light bulb” moment.

Then, he introduced a tool I’d never heard of: Scene and Sequel; alternating action and reaction to keep things moving. Once I learned that, the story finally started to make sense.

If you're feeling stuck, this technique might be the structure you're missing.

2. Discovering Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody

As someone with dyslexia, reading classics like The Great Gatsby was never easy. I wanted to understand what made those books great, but I just couldn’t access them the way others could.

Then I found Save the Cat Writes a Novel. It breaks storytelling into “beats” which are key moments that shape every successful story; even Shakespeare followed beats.

Jessica Brody uses real novels, many of them classics, to show how these beats work. Suddenly, I understood stories I’d never been able to finish. The Grapes of Wrath finally clicked, at least the Cliffs Notes version!

This book didn’t just teach me structure, but it helped me feel included in the process.

3. Read (even if you don’t like to)

Reading doesn’t come easy to me. It’s slow, and exhausting. But as much as I hate to admit it, the advice is true: the more you read, the better you write.

My problem? I love nonfiction, especially true ghost stories, which didn’t help much when writing fiction. So I pushed myself to read more novels.

One that made a big impact was The Housemaid by Freida McFadden. The opening line? “If I leave this house, it will be in handcuffs.”

Boom. I was hooked. That one line taught me how powerful an opener can be. Now, as I work on Psycho Killer, I’m chasing that same kind of impact.

Even if it’s hard, reading other authors will spark your creativity. Sometimes all it takes is one great line.

4. Join a Writing Circle (even if you’re nervous to read aloud)

When I moved to Seattle, I wanted to make friends, volunteer, and finish my book. I had a coach who suggested I join a critique group and I’m so glad I did.

I joined the Seattle Writers Meetup Group, led by Michele, who was a huge help. We met every Monday night at the College Inn Pub, a cozy, slightly scruffy dive near the University of Washington with pool tables and a fireplace; it was the perfect setting.

Each week, writers would bring pages to read aloud and get feedback. I didn’t read much (reading aloud still makes me panic), but I learned so much just by listening to the work and the critiques.

Bonus: I was exposed to genres I’d never normally read, like sci-fi, middle-grade, and poetry. Some of the writers were even published. I left every meeting inspired.

Then COVID hit – you know the rest…

Even if you never share your work, just being around other writers will teach you so much. You’ll improve faster and you won’t feel so alone.

5. Don’t Believe Everything You Hear - You Do You

There’s a lot of writing advice out there. Some of it’s great. Some of it’s not for everyone.

Like:
- Write every day (But what if you have nothing to say?)
- Read constantly (What if you’re dyslexic like me?)

My advice? You do you.

Trying to follow someone else’s routine made me feel like a failure. I once had writer’s block for five years until I realized I was an outliner. The more I plan, the more my creativity flows.

Now I start by outlining each chapter using Scene and Sequel. Then I handwrite the scenes in long form (yep, with a pen). When I get home, I type them into my computer.

I also like to talk through plot ideas, usually with my husband, who doesn’t always appreciate this while he’s trying to watch something on television. Saying my ideas out loud helps me shape them.

Everyone writes differently, so you just have to figure out what works for you. Once I did, the process got easier and even became enjoyable.

Final Thoughts

Writing Flight 987 wasn’t a straight line. It was more like a long-haul flight with turbulence, reroutes, and unexpected layovers. But I kept going.

If you’re writing a book, remember: You don’t have to be perfect, you just need to start.Try everything and keep what works - let the rest go.

You’ll find your rhythm and your story, and one day, you’ll look up and realize… you finished the book.