How do you start a book?

Question

I cant think how to start it.

Answer 1

"It was a dark and stormy night..."

Answer 2

Just sit down and start writing. Sometimes writing with a pen stirs the creative process even more than typing. Write about what you know and let the ideas flow.

Then read it over and see where it needs work to sound better. It needs to be at least 250-300 pages to be a book. Should have a clear beginning, exciting middle (more toward the end) and an end. If you make the characters seem real and fill the book with actions, more people will want to read it.

If you write about a topic that you know more about than other people, then it makes it more interesting. If you have a particular hobby or an unusual job, use information learned from real life. People like to learn new things, especially from an unusual perspective.

When you are done ask several people to read it and honestly tell you what they think. If you need to re-write it - don't be reluctant to do so. It may come out better the second time. Writing can be "polished" which means you can make it better and better. When you think it is the best it can be then look for a publishing company that specializes in the type of book you wrote - that is - if you want to publish it.

Keep trying. Don't give up. Writing is a competitive business, often hard to break into, like acting. Perseverence is just as important as talent.

Answer 3

Why start at the beginning? Some books are not written chronologically. So you could start by describing a character's daily life, then go back to something that happened in the past that explains why this person is the way they are right now. Play around with it a little. Write the end first, then write the beginning, if you'd like. There is no rule that you have to write your book as a perfect final copy. So just start writing. Write "in the dark," that is, write with the lights off or your computer screen turned dark so you can't see it. You can always go back and change it later. Good luck :)

Answer 4

With a three dimensional character and a plot outline. Also, pick a genre, weather to write in first or third person and write write write. No matter what comes out on the page write and write often when not writing listen to other peoples' conversations in order to hear how everyday people speak. If you get writer's block then write a hundred times 'I have writer's block.' This will get your juices flowing. I suggest pen and paper and do not throw anything away. Instead start a file system of you own design. You will get there. Start with short stories then move on to longer stuff. Also ask the opinion of people who will actually criticize your work rather than just saying that was good or nice.

Answer 5

Do you mean how to actually start the transcript? Well, what's the plot of the book? Who are the characters? What are they like? Does something major happen in the plot? In the last question, if that's true, you can start with that, and have the story backtrack to the beginning.

I'm writing a book as well, and it can be very difficult to begin novels. But don't let it discourage you! Keep it up!

Answer 6

There are many ways to start a book. Usually, you want to start it with a hook, or something that will make the reader keep reading. Asking a question is an easy way, but a really lame one. You could just start in the middle of a conflict, like an argument. Or, my personal favorite, start in the middle of a character's nightmare, but make it seem like the real life, then abruptly have them wake up at the climax. ^_^

Answer 7

Some people need to plan how before writting. First get a basic idea of your plot. Have points A, B, C, and D. You fill in how to get to point B from A when you are writting. Next plan out your characters, what they look like, their history, mannarisms, and how the relate to the other characters. This will give you a good starting point.

Some people can just sit down and type away and have a story others need to plan. You just have to find your style.

Answer 8

Call Me Ishmael...

I usually start them with the dragon making a wisecrack, though it varies. You start it by setting up the story. You, um, have about two paragraphs before the reader closes your book and places it back on the shelf unbought, so it is important. Put a hook in there to make them want to read the rest of the book. If you don't, don't bother writing it.

-Dio

Answer 9

Sometimes there is no start. Just write and let the story flow. The ideas will come and you will find more of the story. It's not always a linear process. Just start writing and you will find the beginning, middle and the end. It might help to write an outline first. Write character descriptions and backgrounds also.

Answer 10

First you gotta have an idea for a story, then brainstorm about it, then make up some sort of outline roughdraft, then start on a roughdraft with segments from the outline and piece it all together, edit it and make a final draft....then your done. That should be the basics. Then getting it published is another story.

Answer 11

You start with a hook---a sentence, paragraph, scene to grab someone's attention and keep it---and get better from there. How that's worded depends on genre, story, and intended audience.

Try reading Noah Lukeman's "The First Five Pages".