Buzz
Anyone with a story to share can write a book, whether for personal enjoyment or to publish it for others to read. The hardest part is usually getting started, so create a comfortable workspace, set up a regular writing schedule, and stay motivated to write something each day. Focus on developing a ‘big idea’ that drives the story, create at least one memorable character, and include real-world conflicts. Once your draft is complete and edited, consider different publishing options to get your book into the hands of readers.
Steps
Maintain Focus and Productivity
Understand why you want to write a book. Before you begin typing, or even thinking about your book, be honest with yourself about the reasons driving you to write. Are you hoping to become wealthy and famous? Do you need to write to advance your career? Do you dream of seeing your name on the cover of a book one day? Or is it simply because you have an interesting story to share with others?
- Writing a book is both a career and a hobby – it’s a job as well as a passion. Reflect on why you need to write and why you want to write.
- Keep your goal in mind and use it as motivation, but don’t stray too far from reality. It’s unlikely that you’ll become the next J.K. Rowling with your first book.
Create an effective workspace that works for you. The ideal writing space differs for everyone. Some prefer a quiet desk in a secluded room, while others thrive in the background noise of a bustling café. However, most writers work best when distractions are minimized, and all necessary materials are within easy reach.
- Even if you work well in different settings like a café or park bench, it’s important to create a dedicated space for writing, where you write regularly.
- Arrange your workspace so that tools and reference materials are easily accessible. This will prevent distractions when looking for pens, ink, or dictionaries.
- Choose a sturdy chair – back pain is a major distraction!
Establish a daily writing routine. While inspiration often drives writing, it’s also the perfect excuse for not writing at all. Instead, try setting aside a specific time each day dedicated to writing.
- The average writer typically spends 30 minutes to 2 hours each day writing, at least five days a week – but ideally, every day.
- Pick a time when you are most alert and productive – for example, each morning from 10:30 to 11:45.
- Having a regular writing schedule also means scheduling your daily activities. As long as you don’t sacrifice time for family or sleep, this could be a worthwhile decision.
Set goals for the number of words to write each day and week. Instead of hoping to write 10 pages whenever inspiration strikes, set a goal to write one page every day. Based on your writing speed and deadlines, try not to adjust the target after setting it.
- For example, if you set a one-year deadline to finish a 100,000-word novel, you will need to write 300 words a day.
- Another example, if you need to submit a 350-page dissertation within a year, you’ll have to write about one page per day.
Write freely and don’t worry about editing. This is another important aspect of sticking to a schedule – focus on writing what’s on your mind, and leave the editing for later. To complete a book, follow the principle of “write fast, edit slow.”
- Typically, the editing time for a book equals or even exceeds the time spent writing the first draft, so just write! Focus on getting your ideas on paper, and worry about editing later. Don’t worry about typos!
- If you can’t resist editing while writing, take a short break after each section to make quick revisions. For example, you could spend the last 15 minutes of a 90-minute writing session to review your work.
Seek feedback early and often. Don’t wait until your manuscript is complete to share it with others. After finishing each chapter, have a trusted person read it and give feedback on the ‘big picture’ – meaning an overall sense of clarity and quality, not detailed edits on style and spelling.
- Depending on the situation, you might work with an editor, ask committee members to review your manuscript, or find a group of fellow writers to share experiences. You could also ask a book-loving friend or family member whose opinions you trust.
- Expect to go through multiple rounds of feedback and revisions before publishing your book. Don’t get discouraged – it’s all part of the process of creating the best book you can write!
Crafting an Engaging Story
Start with a compelling, big idea. Of course, it’s easier said than done, but it’s essential to write a great book. Whether you’re working on fiction or nonfiction, you need an idea that will keep your enthusiasm high during the lengthy process of writing and editing, and it’s also what will capture the reader’s attention.
- Begin with the ‘big picture’ first, then fill in the smaller details.
- Think about themes, scenarios, or ideas that inspire you. Write them down, reflect on them, and figure out what excites you the most.
- For example: “What if a guy traveled to a land of tiny people and became a giant, then wandered into a land of giants and became small?”
Research the topic you’re writing about to enhance your expertise. If your book falls under the nonfiction category, you’ll need to conduct deep research on the subject matter to create a quality piece. Even fictional works often draw on reality to some extent.
- For instance, a fantasy adventure in space will captivate readers more if the technologies featured are grounded in some real-life science.
- If you’re writing about a crime case, look into how police investigate the type of crime you plan to describe.
Break your big idea into smaller, more manageable parts. If your goal for the day is to write about the American Civil War or events from the ‘Middle Kingdom,’ you might feel overwhelmed by the vast scope of the task. Instead, break your broad topic into smaller, easier-to-handle segments.
- For example, instead of waking up each morning thinking, “I need to write about the Civil War,” you might tell yourself, “Today, I’m going to write about General Grant’s military strategy.”
- These smaller parts may eventually become chapters in your book, but they don’t have to be structured that way.
Lucy V. Hay
Author, Writer, and Script Editor
Author, Writer, and Script Editor
Pay attention to the plot segments in a movie to understand the structure of a successful story. There are many helpful resources, such as Script Lab or TV Tropes, that can assist you in learning about the plot segments of popular films. Read the summaries, watch the movies, then think about how to write a story structure similar to the films you truly love.
Create at least one memorable character. This is also one of the parts that is "easier said than done" when writing a great book. Try to develop at least one complex and well-rounded character, not just a one-dimensional “hero” or “villain.” Readers should be able to identify with the characters and care about what happens to them.
- Think about some characters from your favorite books. Write down a few characteristics of those characters and use them to build your own unique characters.
- If it's a nonfiction genre, delve into the complex aspects and very human qualities of the real-life character you're writing about. Show readers a vivid and authentic image of the character.
Emphasize conflict and tension in the plot. Set up challenges and obstacles right from the beginning of the book and lead your characters through struggles, victories, and failures. Conflict and tension can come from external factors (such as a cunning enemy) and internal factors (the protagonist's inner demons arising from past tragedies). Make sure that readers cannot put the book down once they start!
- The main conflict of the story – such as Captain Ahab's obsession with the white whale in the novel Moby Dick – can serve as the starting point for a chain of other conflicts, both external and internal.
- Don't underestimate conflict and tension in nonfiction works – they help keep your writing grounded in reality.
Ensure every detail in the book contributes to the story’s development. This is crucial when writing your first draft and essential during the editing phase. Remember that every chapter, every page, even every word you write must serve the purpose of advancing the story. If not, find ways to edit or rearrange it to make sense.
- Your goal is not to let readers lose interest. Keep them hooked and turning the pages!
- This doesn’t mean you can’t use long sentences, descriptive passages, or even introspective monologues that stray from the main plot. Just ensure these elements support the overall story arc.
Publishing a book
Continue editing the book, but don’t use it as an excuse to delay submitting the manuscript. In other words, you need to be determined to release your book and stop saying “I’m not ready yet.” Reviewing, refining, and editing are all necessary steps to perfect a good book, but at some point, you must have the courage to publish it.
- When you're working on publishing your book, you might feel like you're losing control over your manuscript after so much writing and editing. Remind yourself that your book deserves to be read by others!
- If needed, set a deadline for yourself: “I will submit my manuscript to the publisher by October 15th, no matter what!”
Hire a literary agent if you plan to publish traditionally. You can submit your manuscript directly to publishers, but your chances of success will be higher if you work with an agent. They have experience and connections in the industry to help you find the right publisher. Unless you live near a publishing house, it’s best to find a literary agent online.
- Evaluate different literary agents and choose the one that suits you and your manuscript the best. If you know any authors whose books have been published, ask for their advice and recommendations.
- Usually, you’ll submit some excerpts or even the full manuscript to the agent, and they’ll decide whether they’ll represent you. Be sure to understand their submission guidelines before you proceed.
Consider self-publishing if traditional methods don’t work. If your book has a niche audience, you might struggle to find a publisher, especially if you're a new author. Fortunately, there are still options if you want to self-publish your book.
- You can self-publish to save money, but it will take more time. You’ll have to manage everything yourself, from registering copyrights to designing the cover and printing the pages.
- Working with self-publishing companies is another option, but usually, the money you spend to publish the book will be more than what you’ll make from sales.
- Self-publishing an e-book can be a viable choice due to low costs, and your book can quickly reach a wide audience. Be sure to carefully consider the e-book publishers to find the right one.
Ask an expert
- How do you start writing a book?
There are many different ways to write a book, and everyone has their own method. Some people get ideas while showering or on their way to work. Others are more proactive and look for story ideas in the news or through suggestions. Once you have an idea, you must decide whether it’s something you need to write. Is it a story you can’t ignore? Then, you should write it.
- How do you write and publish a book?
Joining a writing community is extremely helpful. They will encourage you, hold you accountable, and later offer feedback or help. They may introduce you to editors or agents who can help publish your work. Writing a book, as the famous quote from William Faulkner goes, is: "Writing is ninety-nine percent sweat, and one percent inspiration."
- How can I write my debut novel?
Identify your idea and start writing every day with determination. Setting a goal and a deadline will keep you motivated to finish. Once you reach the publishing stage, you’ll need to edit and get feedback from others and your editor – a long journey ahead. Of course, you can self-publish, which is often the easiest way.
Advice
- Always keep a notebook and pen by your bed to jot down any dreams. Who knows, one of those dreams might give you inspiration or a story to write!
- If you want to incorporate a real event into your story, be sure to research it thoroughly first.
- Ask other authors for advice and take notes.
- There will be times when your book might seem silly, and you’ll feel like giving up. DON’T DO IT. Take a break for a few days (or even weeks) and then try writing it again.
- Sometimes, you just need to start writing, and the story will eventually unfold in your mind.
- Find the time of day when you’re most productive and schedule your writing sessions for that time.
Warning
- Avoid plagiarism (copying other authors' works). Even if you do it cleverly, someone will eventually spot it and trace back all the copied parts.
