You feel it deep inside: God has placed a book idea on your heart.
You might even have snippets of scenes, chapters, or titles scribbled on sticky notes. But when you sit down to write — you freeze.

Where do you start? How do you take this holy nudge and turn it into something real?

Good news: you don’t have to stay stuck. Here’s a simple, practical way to turn your God-given idea into a clear outline so you can start writing with purpose and peace.

1️⃣ Pray for Clarity

Before you pick up your pen or open your laptop, pause.
Ask God for wisdom (James 1:5) and clarity about your message.

“Lord, thank You for placing this idea in my heart. Show me what You want me to write, who this book is for, and the words they need to hear.

2️⃣ Define Your Big Message

Every book should answer two questions:

• Who is this for? (your ideal reader)
• What will it do for them? (the transformation or takeaway)

Write a single sentence that sums this up. Example:

“This book will help busy mums rediscover joy through simple, grace-filled spiritual habits.”

This one-sentence summary becomes your north star as you outline.

3️⃣ Brainstorm Everything

Grab a notebook, a whiteboard, or digital notes app.
Write down every idea that comes to mind — stories, lessons, Bible verses, illustrations, tips.

Don’t censor yourself. This is your creative “brain dump.”

4️⃣ Group and Arrange Your Ideas

Once you have your big list, start grouping similar ideas together.
Each group could become a chapter or section.

Ask:

• What order makes sense for the reader?
• Does one idea naturally lead into another?
• Is there a beginning, middle, and end to the journey?

5️⃣ Create a Simple Chapter Outline

Take your groups and arrange them into a sequence.
Give each section or chapter a working title — even if it’s just a placeholder.

Your outline could look like this:

1. Introduction: Why This Book Matters
2. Chapter 1: [Theme or Lesson]
3. Chapter 2: [Theme or Lesson]
   …
4. Conclusion: A Call to Action or Encouragement

6️⃣ Check for Balance

Look over your outline and ask:

• Are chapters roughly the same length or weight?
• Are you covering the most important points without overwhelming the reader?
• Do you end with hope, encouragement, or a clear next step?

7️⃣ Start Writing with Confidence

Your outline is your roadmap — it doesn’t have to be perfect.
Now you can sit down to write without fear because you know where you’re headed.

Turning your God-given idea into a book outline doesn’t have to be complicated.
With prayer, clarity, and a little structure, you can move from “someday” to “starting today.”

Ready to go deeper?

My book Faith to Published walks you step by step through planning, writing, and publishing your book — without the overwhelm.

Get Faith to Published