Writing a Book with ChatGPT: A Step-by-Step Guide

I wrote some instructions for you all, on how I use Chat GPT to write eBooks and guides that I can sell or use as Magnet Leads.

1️⃣ Start with an Open Mind & Playful Energy

The magic of working with ChatGPT happens when you approach the process with a spirit of play, creativity, and flow. If writing starts to feel stressful, pause. Shift your energy and return when you're ready. ChatGPT remembers everything, so there's no rush.

2️⃣ How the Process Works

Here’s the step-by-step journey you’ll go through with ChatGPT, along with helpful prompt ideas for each stage:

Idea Generation: If you don’t have a book idea yet, ChatGPT can help you brainstorm based on your passions, expertise, and audience. Try using prompts like: "I want to write a book, but I’m not sure what about. Can you suggest ideas based on my interests?" "Give me 5 book ideas related to [your niche or topic]." "What are some trending topics in [your genre]?"

Outline Creation: ChatGPT will generate a Table of Contents with chapters. You can review and make changes—add, remove, or edit sections as needed. You can use prompts such as: "Create a chapter outline for a book about [your topic]." "Suggest a structure for a self-help book on [your theme]." "How can I organise my book into logical sections?"

Chapter-by-Chapter Writing: ChatGPT will write each chapter one at a time. After each chapter, review the content and request tweaks or additions before moving on. Consider using prompts like: "Expand on this section with a real-life example." "Make this chapter more engaging by adding a personal anecdote." "Rewrite this section to be more concise and impactful."Example Prompt for Writing a Chapter:Suppose your book outline includes a chapter titled: "Overcoming Self-Doubt and Building Confidence". You can ask ChatGPT:👉 "Write a chapter titled 'Overcoming Self-Doubt and Building Confidence'. Include practical exercises, a motivational story, and actionable steps."If you need more refinement, you could follow up with:👉 "Make the tone more conversational and engaging." 👉 "Add a real-life success story that illustrates these principles."

Saving Your Work: Copy and paste each completed section into a Google Doc or Word Doc for safekeeping and further edits. You might also ask: "Summarise this chapter in a few key points." "Give me a compelling chapter title."

By using these structured steps and prompts, you can streamline the writing process while keeping your book aligned with your vision.

3️⃣ How to Customise Your Book’s Style

If you’re unsure about your book’s tone or style, you can ask ChatGPT to emulate a famous author or choose from the following options:

Inspirational & Uplifting
Conversational & Friendly
Bold & Direct
Calm, Nurturing & Supportive
Professional & Structured (Great for business, self-help, or instructional books.)

If you're unsure, trust the process. ChatGPT will guide you, and you can always refine the tone as you go.

4️⃣ What to Do If ChatGPT Stops Writing

Sometimes ChatGPT may pause before a chapter is fully written. If this happens, simply type:

👉 "Continue writing from where you left off."

This will resume the section seamlessly. Always review the content, request edits where necessary, and add your own unique magic!

5️⃣ How to Save Your Work

To avoid losing progress:

Copy the chapter that ChatGPT produces.
Paste it into a Google Doc or Word file.
Review, edit, and refine it as needed.

This ensures you keep full control over your book’s content.

6️⃣ How to Request Changes to a Chapter

After each chapter is written, ChatGPT will ask if you’re happy with it. You have two options:

✅ Yes, it’s great! Copy and save it.

❌ No, I want changes. ChatGPT will ask:

Do you want to add, remove, or change a section?
What should the new content focus on?

Simply provide feedback, and ChatGPT will refine the chapter accordingly.

7️⃣ Tips for Getting the Most Out of ChatGPT

💡 Treat it like a co-creator – You don’t have to do it all alone. ChatGPT supports your vision.

💡 Don’t let perfectionism slow you down – Get words on the page first, refine later.

💡 Take breaks when stuck – Step away, refresh, and return with a new perspective.

💡 Ask ChatGPT for inspiration – Need a unique story or opening hook? Type:

👉 "Can you suggest a unique story or anecdote to open this chapter?"

💡 Enhance storytelling – Ask ChatGPT to add emotional storytelling, reflection questions, or powerful hooks.

9️⃣ Need More Help?

If you feel stuck, try these solutions:

Ask ChatGPT for guidance: "Can you suggest ideas for this chapter?"
Break the process into smaller steps: Focus on one section at a time.
If you experience technical issues, such as trouble downloading content, copy and paste manually into your document.

🔟Editing and Adding Your Own Fairy Dust

Enjoy the creative journey! Writing with ChatGPT is a co-creation process. Trust your instincts, shape the content to reflect your vision, and most importantly—have fun! 🚀

In my opinion this is the MOST important part!! Once all chapters are copied into a saved document, carefully edit and refine the wording. Go back and ask ChatGPT to rewrite sections where necessary. Look for anything that sounds repetitive or robotic. ChatGPT provides an amazing foundation for your book, but the real power of making it great lies in your ability to edit it and make it your own. Your unique voice and perspective are what will truly bring your book to life! This is the part of the process I spend most of my time on and hours of obsession.

💡 Bonus Tip: Formatting Your eBook with Canva

Once your book is fully written and edited, you can create a beautifully formatted eBook using Canva’s free eBook templates. Canva provides ready-made designs that you can customise with your brand colours, fonts, and images. Simply upload your text, adjust the layout, and export it as a PDF for easy sharing or publishing. Canva makes it simple to design a professional-looking book without any graphic design skills!

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