how do you write a book?

Question

Please help me!

Answer 1

You come up with a plot. You write an outline. You do story analysis. You do character studies. You develop sub plots and back stories. You add them to your outline. You do your research. You come up with a killer first line. Then you start to write.





Start by deciding who your main characters are. Learn as much about them as you can (there are tons of character worksheets out there, if you google for them). Give them names and backgrounds. Make them well-rounded.

Then I would work on an outline of your story. I don't tend to have very detailed outlines when I begin (I have a one or two page plot synopsis, though), but for many writers they benefit immensely from doing a thorough outline first. It really depends on how your brain works, but give it a shot and see if it helps!

I would recommend reading as many books as possible in genres that you like to write, plus books about the craft of writing. When you are reading fiction books, pay attention to how the authors structure their work
If you need any help on writing on a specific subject go find a few books on that specific subject and read them get ideas and so on.

Hope I helped you!

Answer 2

Good writers are good readers.
By reading, you can see what you like and what doesn't work for you.

There are a few ways to approach writing a book.
- PLOT FOCUS: You have an idea of what you want to happen and guide the book to go through that.
- CHARACTER FOCUS: You get a quirky character and build flesh on him/her. Then that charaster will take the story in directions that may suprise even the author.
- FEELING FOCUS: After seeing a painting or life experience, you say, "What if ..." and then follow your feelings.

Many times, writing a story is like driving through a fog or walking through the dark with a torch ... you can only see so far ahead and you let the plot / Character / or Feeling guide you through.

Some will say, every story is of someone coming to a town or someone leaving a town.

But writing a good story can be hard ... re-writing it is easier to make it good.

Good luck and keep thumping on the keyboard.

Answer 3

i currently have around 62,000 wrds of my first project and I am loving the process so much that I have treated myself to a laptop.

it could be complete drivel and not worth publishing but it is therapeutic and rewarding just to do it and see it grow and develop.

the more i do, the more i am learning again about English and i love to read anyway so the research is a bonus.

i have half a dozen other projects in mind and although i am impatient and frustrated at times, i can spend as much or as little time on it as i want.

i prefer to lose 2 or 3 hours to writing than to just watch the television and vegetate.

if i ever reach the finish - someone might want to publish it?

all the best. get started and never forget........everyone says they could write a book........but only a minority actually do it!

x

no matter what you think of the writing just keep putting it down and flowing.....you will need to edit it multiple times anyway.....

Answer 4

Start by deciding who your main characters are. Learn as much about them as you can (there are tons of character worksheets out there, if you google for them). Give them names and backgrounds. Make them well-rounded.

Then I would work on an outline of your story. I don't tend to have very detailed outlines when I begin (I have a one or two page plot synopsis, though), but for many writers they benefit immensely from doing a thorough outline first. It really depends on how your brain works, but give it a shot and see if it helps!

I would recommend reading as many books as possible in genres that you like to write, plus books about the craft of writing. When you are reading fiction books, pay attention to how the authors structure their work.

Here are some of my favorites about writing (your local library should have most of them):
1) "Writing Down The Bones" by Natalie Goldberg
2) "Bird by Bird" by Anne Lamott
3) "On Writing Well" by William Zinsser
4) "How to Write Science Fiction & Fantasy" by Orson Scott Card
5) "On Writing" by Stephen King
6) "No Plot? No Problem!" by Chris Baty
7) "Eats, Shoots, and Leaves" by Lynne Truss
8) "The Elements of Style" by Strunk and White

Also, take a look at a few websites where authors gather. Some of them have very helpful articles and forums. Holly Lisle has a fantastic website that has articles on both the business and writing aspects:
http://hollylisle.com/fm/

Forward Motion is a wonderful, helpful community:
http://www.fmwriters.com/

Absolute Write is one of my favorite author communities, with a vast pool of resources and helpful people:
http://www.absolutewrite.com

Write every single day. Set a target for yourself. For instance, my goal right now is to write 1,000 words a day. I get this done before I go on the internet, read, watch TV, or goof around. To begin, maybe set an easier goal for yourself-- try 250 words each day. Write in a journal as well, if you feel so inclined!

When you get ideas, find a way to record them as well. I have a spiral notebook that I keep just for that purpose. This way, when I want to begin a new project I can read through my notes and find just the right idea!

Also, never forget how important it is to edit and rewrite! When you finish a short story or novel, I suggest setting it aside for a month. Don't look at it or think about it (if you can help it). Work on another project. Once that time has passed, go back and read what you wrote. Try to be objective-- are there parts that need to be expanded? Cut out? Rewritten? How is the grammar and spelling? Editing could (and should) take more time than the original draft!

And keep practicing!

Answer 5

There is no doubt that there are hundreds and thousands of writing guides and aids available in the market, and also on the net. But you would also like to spare some thoughts and consideration about the most important resource you already have – your mind.

It could be quite likely that you are, like many other people, unaware of the potentials of the mind: how much its sees, how many wonderful opinions it has in its stores about a wide range of things that came into you observation over the years, and how much it know without you ever knowing that it knows. The mind in it nature is an evolving entity; it is capable of creating it own reality as if it chooses to move along for purpose. But the hidden treasures of your mind will not reveal themselves to you until you learn you way through the intricacies they are placed with.

The mind, I my view, is like a vast city spread in dimensions more then just space and time. In this city you can see only as far as the path goes straight ahead. As you cannot see what is round the next corner until you actually get there and see for yourself. This is how the greatest extents of our mind stay hidden from our view. And as a matter of fact this is how it is possible for us to operate and concentrate upon things, one at time. But when you come to writing things start to unfold in the mind. You decide upon a main characters initially loosely knitted into an outline of your plot, then the magic of imagination start to happen; characters get animated they come to life, events unfold, issues, concerns and matter of great interest and intrigue roused to suspend all at your disposal that could be restricting in a real world.

Writing is creating, and if you do not enjoy writing you are not creation, just mulling over things written and read thousands of times before.

Answer 6

First I would get a plot together with lots of twists then sort of stretch each twist for about 10 pages good luck. I think it is quite a long process in writing books.

Answer 7

First, get a good idea, like what if....
Next, develop the story or interconnecting stories.
Then bring out your characters and weave them through.
Make an ending that amazes.
Polish the whole over and over and sharpen it all up.
Get an agent, publisher or do it yourself.
Enjoy.
I've done a few, it's hard work, fascinating and rewarding when successful. Don't be put off by a little thing like failure, you'll get there if you really want to!

Answer 8

You come up with a plot. You write an outline. You do story analysis. You do character studies. You develop sub plots and back stories. You add them to your outline. You do your research. You come up with a killer first line. Then you start to write.

Or as someone once said. Writing is easy - you sit down in front of a keyboard and open a vein. That about covers it. Pax - C

Answer 9

You sit down at the computer. You type. Of course, you have a story in your mind before you start. You write every day. Then, you edit and re-edit. And voila! You have a book!

Answer 10

Got some paper and a pen? Or, a computer with a word processing program? Great. You're all ready. Now write.