Most important—Don’t be fooled into thinking there is only one way.
There is no single guaranteed path to producing a best selling book. Asking yourself a few questions before you start, after you start, once you finish your first draft, after your book is published, and in the years that follow may help you find the right starting point for you at that moment in time. You might even find more than one place to start.
Here I offer 16 questions to get you to start thinking, with links to more information. All of them are suggestions, not ingredients in a book-making recipe.
Caveat: I list resources here that I know of, but including a resource is not an endorsement. Do your own research into writing coaches, for example, by checking their references before making a commitment.
Sixteen questions to ask and answer if you want to be a writer. Subsequent posts on the dates indicated below will provide links to resources based on your answers to these questions.
Questions requiring research to answer
1. Do you have a story or idea in mind?
2. Do you know who your audience is?
3. Does your audience want books?
4. Is your book idea fiction, memoir, or creative nonfiction based on history?
Questions regarding writing
5. Do you have an outline, summary, or synopsis for your story?
6. Have your written a first draft?
7. Have you had your draft edited by a developmental editor?
8. Have you had your draft reviewed by beta readers or manuscript reviewers?
Questions regarding book production
9. Do you want to publish your book through a traditional publisher?
10. Do you know what indie authors must do for themselves?
11. Do you have an agent?
Questions regarding marketing and publicity
12. Has your agent sold the publishing rights for your book?
13. Do you have a marketing plan for the lead up to the launch of your book?
14. Has the book been published?
15. Do you have a marketing plan for the continued promotion of the book?
Nonfiction research
16. Do others consider you an expert on the topic of your nonfiction book?
sandrayeaman.com 
Whoa, these are great questions indeed, and they will surely help a budding writer find their way into their first project. A good resource, and I’m looking forward to the extra links you have to share. Thanks for this post!