You’ve been meaning to write your book. The knowledge is there. The stories are there. The expertise that could help someone else is sitting in your head, waiting to get onto the page.
Here’s what stops most people: the blank page. That cursor is blinking at you. That empty document mocks your good intentions. That feeling of Where do I even start?
Fortunately, writing prompts solve that problem. They give you a specific place to begin, a concrete question to answer, a clear story to tell.
The question is then, how do you use writing prompts effectively? You pick one, set a timer for 20-30 minutes, and write without stopping to edit. The goal isn’t perfection. Instead, the goal is getting words on the page that you can refine later.
Think of writing prompts as conversation starters with yourself. When you work with a book coach or book ghostwriter, they ask you questions to pull out your stories. Similarly, these writing prompts do the same thing when you’re working alone.
Key Takeaways
- Writing prompts break through the blank page paralysis that stops most people from starting their nonfiction books. Each prompt gives you a specific starting point tied to your expertise and stories.
- The 12-day structure creates manageable writing sessions. One prompt per day means you’ll have 12 sections written by the end, which can become chapters or foundation pieces for your book.
- These prompts work whether you write alone or hire support. Use them independently, with a nonfiction book coach, or hand them to a book ghostwriter to guide your interview conversations.
How to Use These Prompts
Pick a start date and complete one prompt per day for twelve consecutive days. By the end, you’ll have 12 pieces of writing that form the foundation of your nonfiction book.
Don’t overthink the process. Write for 20-30 minutes per prompt. Let the words flow without editing. You can refine later. The hardest part of writing a book isn’t the writing itself. It’s getting started and staying consistent.
Give yourself permission to write messy first drafts. Your book doesn’t need to be perfect on the first try. We’re going for progress, not perfection.
The 12 Writing Prompts
Day 1: Write About Your Origin Story
Where did your expertise begin? What moment made you realize you knew something worth sharing?
Maybe it was your first business trip when you stayed in your car and made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches because the budget was nonexistent. Perhaps it was the day a client called you crying because your advice changed their life. Maybe it was when you looked around and realized nobody was teaching what you’d learned the hard way.
Write about the moment your journey started. This becomes your book’s opening hook—the story that shows readers you understand their struggle because you’ve lived it.
Day 2: Two Turning Points
Every expert has moments that changed their trajectory. What are the two most significant turning points in your professional journey?
The first turning point might be when you decided to start your business, leave your corporate job, or launch your nonprofit. The second might be when you almost gave up, then didn’t. Or when you tried something that failed spectacularly, then learned the lesson that made everything else work.
Write about both moments. Explain what you learned from each. These stories add depth to your nonfiction book and show readers that success isn’t linear.
Day 3: Three Common Mistakes
What are the three biggest mistakes you see people make in your field? The ones that make you want to grab them by the shoulders and say “stop doing that!”
List each mistake, then explain why it happens and what to do instead. These become teachable moments in your book. Readers will highlight these sections and come back to them repeatedly.
When you identify common mistakes, you’re not criticizing your audience. You’re showing them the shortcuts you wish someone had shown you.
Day 4: Four Essential Tools or Resources
What four tools, resources, strategies, or frameworks do you recommend to everyone in your field?
Maybe it’s specific software, books that changed how you think, networking groups that opened doors, or systems you’ve developed. Write about each one and why it matters.
This section gives readers actionable takeaways. They’ll finish this chapter knowing exactly what to try next.
Day 5: Five Questions You’re Always Asked
Think about the questions people ask you at networking events, in consultation calls, or through email. What are the five that come up most often?
Write each question, then answer it thoroughly. Pretend you’re explaining it to someone who knows nothing about your field. These frequently asked questions often become the chapter titles in your book.
If people keep asking the same questions, your book needs to answer them. That’s how you create content that serves your target audience.
Day 6: Six Things You Wish You’d Known Earlier
What would you tell your younger self? What knowledge would have saved you time, money, or heartache?
Write six pieces of advice to the version of you that was just starting out. This exercise connects you to your reader’s current struggles. You were once where they are now.
These six insights might become a chapter, a series of sidebar tips, or the foundation for your book’s main teaching points.
Day 7: Seven Steps in Your Process
What’s your signature process? The system or framework you use to get results for clients or in your own work?
Break it down into seven clear steps. Explain what happens in each step and why it matters. Give examples of each step in action.
This becomes the instructional core of your nonfiction book. Readers want to know your method. They want the roadmap you’ve created through trial and error.
Day 8: Eight Stories That Illustrate Your Points
Stories make concepts memorable. What eight stories from your experience illustrate the principles you teach?
Think about client wins, personal failures that taught you something, moments when you saw your method work, or times when ignoring your own advice backfired. Write each story in 200-300 words.
These stories become the case studies sprinkled throughout your book. They prove your concepts work in real life, not just in theory.
Day 9: Nine Beliefs You Hold (That Others Might Question)
What do you believe about your field that goes against conventional wisdom? Where do you disagree with the mainstream approach?
Write nine statements that start with “I believe…” or “In my experience…” These controversial or contrarian views make your book distinctive. They show your unique perspective.
You don’t need to be right about everything. You need to have a point of view worth reading.
Day 10: Ten Things Your Ideal Reader Needs to Know
Who are you writing for? What does that person need to understand to transform their situation?
List ten concepts, facts, mindset shifts, or realizations your ideal reader must grasp. Write 2-3 sentences explaining each one.
This exercise clarifies the teaching objectives of your book. When you know what your reader needs to learn, you know what your book needs to cover.
Day 11: Eleven Obstacles Your Readers Face
What stands between your ideal reader and their goal? What obstacles, fears, doubts, or external barriers are in their way?
Write about eleven challenges. Acknowledge them honestly. Explain which ones you can help them overcome and which ones they’ll need to navigate themselves.
This section shows empathy. You understand what’s hard. You’re not pretending the path is easier than it is. That builds trust with your readers.
Day 12: Twelve Months from Now
Where could your reader be twelve months after implementing what you teach? Paint that picture in specific detail.
Write about what their life, business, or situation looks like. What’s different? What’s possible now that wasn’t before?
This becomes your book’s closing vision. You’re not promising miracles. You’re showing what’s possible with consistent application of your principles.
What to Do with These Twelve Pieces
You’ve now written twelve sections. Some might be rough. Some might surprise you with how well they flowed. That’s the beauty of writing prompts—they get you writing without the pressure of perfection.
Here’s what comes next.
Read through what you’ve written. Look for themes that connect multiple prompts. Notice which sections feel strongest. Identify where you need more examples or explanation.
These twelve pieces might become chapters. They might become the outline you needed to finally start your book. They might become the material you discuss with a book coach to develop further.
If you’re working with a book ghostwriter, these responses become the interview transcripts they’ll expand into your manuscript. You’ve already done the hard work of capturing your knowledge and stories.
Don’t let these sit in a document forever. Your book won’t write itself, though these prompts have given you a strong start.
Using Writing Prompts Throughout Your Book Project
Writing prompts aren’t just for getting started. They’re useful throughout your entire book-writing process.
When you hit a section where you’re stuck, create a prompt for that specific challenge. “What story best illustrates this concept?” or “What objection will readers have here?” or “What does my reader need to know before moving to the next chapter?”
The question is: do you need a book coach, or can you write your book alone? That depends on your situation. If these twelve prompts helped you generate substantial content, you might write independently. If you struggled to complete them or need accountability to keep going, a nonfiction book coach might be the support you need.
A book coach provides guidance, structure, and accountability while you do the writing. A book ghostwriter writes the manuscript for you based on interviews and your existing content. Both start with conversations and questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I complete these prompts in order or jump around?
Complete them in order if you can. The sequence builds from personal story to practical application to future vision. This creates a logical flow for your book. If you get stuck on one prompt, skip it and return later. Forward progress matters more than perfect sequence.
What if I write more than 20-30 minutes on a prompt?
That’s excellent. Keep writing. Some prompts will unlock more content than others. The time guideline exists to prevent perfectionism, not to limit your productive writing sessions.
Can I use these prompts for a memoir or a different book type?
These prompts work best for nonfiction books based on professional expertise, business experience, or teaching others a skill. For memoir or other genres, you’d need different prompts focused on narrative structure rather than instructional content.
Do I need to hire someone after completing these prompts?
Not necessarily. These prompts give you a foundation to continue writing independently. Hire a book coach if you need ongoing accountability and guidance. Hire a book ghostwriter if you have the content but limited time to write. Complete your manuscript independently if you’re making consistent progress alone.
Ready to Write Your Book?
The twelve prompts give you a starting point. However, the rest depends on whether you keep writing.
After all, your expertise deserves to become a book. The knowledge sitting in your head could help someone else avoid your mistakes or replicate your success. In the end, these writing prompts for your nonfiction book remove the excuse of not knowing where to start.
Here’s how to begin: Start with Day 1. Write for 20-30 minutes. Don’t edit. Just get the words onto the page. Then do it again tomorrow with Day 2.
Twelve days from now, you’ll have the foundation of your book written. That’s twelve days closer to being a content author than you are right now.
Let’s talk about your book ideas. Whether you need a book coach to guide you through writing your nonfiction book, writing tips for nonwriters (available to download on the home page) to help you feel confident, or you’re wondering if these prompts are right for your situation, I’d love to help.
Schedule a consultation, and let’s figure out the best path forward for your book.
Anne McAuley Lopez is a content writer and nonfiction book coach based in Charlotte, North Carolina. She specializes in book coaching services for entrepreneurs, thought leaders, and nonprofit leaders ready to write their stories.