suggestions in how to make a good book?

Answer 1

A beginning, middle and end are crucial, also a good title is necessary.

Seriously...
Well, the characters should be 3D... not just simple characters that you can see right through. Give every major character (and a few minor characters) an interesting history to go with their present situation...
Decide what kind of genre you want, Science Fiction? Mystery? Romance?
Think the basic plot ALL THE WAY THROUGH. Then you know where to go with the book and can foreshadow about upcoming events during the book.
Catch the reader's attention on the first sentence, make it so that they can't put the book down until they've finished it.
Just start jotting down ideas somewhere. Ask your friends and family (or Yahoo! Answerers) what they think about the basic plot. When you've decided you've found a good one, just start writing. Keep reading everything over aloud to make sure that you don't make any mistakes or change something...

Answer 2

In my opinion the single most important aspect of a book is the characters. Sure, plot is also very important but characters, dialogue, interaction...etc, will make or break the book.

A person can have a fairly mundane plot, but if the characters are funny, memorable and just fun to read, the plot they are in isn't as relevant. On the flip side, you cannot have a wonderful plot and make a good book, if you have boring, forgetable characters that have no real personality. (You can have characters without any real plot, but you cannot have plot without characters)

The plot depends greatly upon the characters. You don't want a bland character if you are writing a great action/adventure, romance story. Your character's abilities and personalities will sort of decide what you can and can't have in a plot as well. You obviously can't have a fat, balding middle aged man as a main character in a plot that will require a lot of intense physical activity.

I think if an author puts enough effort into their characters, they will start to actually FEEL what their characters feel and know them deeply enough that their writing becomes much stronger and more personable. Once a writer has connected on such a basis with the people they are writing, the plot will begin to flow on it's own.

Answer 3

The internet is full of good, basic advice on basic elements of telling a story, if you're talking about writing fiction. Generally, the first book that most writing teachers will recommend is John Gardner's The Art of Fiction. Also, keep in mind that many consider /reading/ to be the best way to write better. Find a book you like and study it. What did you like about it? How was it structured? Most importantly, writing more creates better writing, generally speaking, and meeting other people who share your skill level and style helps a long way. Consult local schools for classes and workshops in your area.

Answer 4

Dolphy is on the right track. First you dream up the plot, then create a main character strong enough to carry the plot. Next you buckle down and figure out the details.

I started one book because of a single paragraph in a previous one. It read: "We all have reasons for being here. Ask Drolak his story some time. He betrayed his family and friends to bring down the Blood Circle."

In that one paragraph I had the basic plot and main character, but I still needed to know WHY and WHEN. How old my main character was, why he fought so hard against his own family, and what he had to gain and lose from it. I did know the Blood Circle was an assassin cult, but little else.

It turned out that 15-year-old Drolak simply wanted to be free of the cult himself and get his sisters free after the Circle executed his mother. When the story started out, he was young and hated his father, but he had no notion of betraying the cult. When he was captured by their enemies and they began showing him everything he'd been taught was wrong, he still didn't want to betray them. He was swept up by events, though, and finally took his stand with those who would stop the cult. You could say he was a reluctant hero. THE BLOOD CIRCLE will be re-released in 2008.

Get your basic plot. Create your main character to a depth that you know what he wants, where he's coming from, and where he needs to go. Throw in some road bumps to create conflict and a supporting character to help or hinder the hero. As your characters gain more life, they will carry the story along and you will just have to guide it and write it down. Great fun.

Answer 5

You need a really good idea. Everything flows from that.

Mona Charen got a good idea in her book Useful Idiots.

She used liberals own words against them throughout the entire book and she showed how their opposition Reagan's policies that brought down the Evil Empire perfectly parallels their appeasement with terrorist now.

I could have wrote that book if I thought of it first.

Answer 6

i think if u want to make a good book just write what u like. umm i mean like what do u want to write about scary, romance, drama etc.