If someone was writing a book, what is some suggestions you would give them?

Question

If one of my friends or family was writing a book, i would tell them to take it easy.

And what would you tell them if they had witers block? i would tell them that they should write in the moring, when things are new and fresh.

your turn......

Answer 1

What you need is a good plan and some writing skills to get you started. This is the way I teach it. Get yourself a blank notebook, a package of file cards and a big sheet of poster paper.

1) Brainstorm in a notebook - write down any and all ideas you have - no matter how silly they sound. Draw sketches, write phrases, diagrams, names, anything that comes into your mind. Little snippets of plot ideas. Anything that comes into your mind at all when you think of the subject of the novella.

2) Put each of the ideas on a file card and sit down at a table and start shuffling them around - changing the order of events until you get something that sounds good to you.

3) Do the same brainstorming with characters - character studies - write down every single thing you know about your characters - the more the better.

4) Put those on cards and start shuffling them around - see who rubs up against who - who likes who - who hates who etc. That will help you to add subplots to your story.

5)Work up a complete outline - adding subplots and main plots - Do it on your big piece of paper so you have room to add any ideas that come to you along the way. You can also do a story curve and draw a rainbow shape and place the events along the curve to see where you story peaks and how it plays out.

Then you are ready to write. If you have a good first page and a good first sentence, then the hard part is out of the way. Now you are ready to take those notes and that outline and turn them into a story ...

That is the way I teach it. It will work for you if you put a lot into it. The secret is really really knowing your characters well so that you will know how they respond in situations. The more you know about your characters, the more likely you will be to develop conflict and resolution because you will know how your people will react.

If you want more information about my "system" get in touch. .Happy to explain further.

Good luck. Pax - C.

Answer 2

Contrary to the opinions of most of the other answerers, I've always found that sporadic writing - without even the slightest hint of a system - works best. Don't worry too much about the characters and their allergies and appearance and all that other junk; part of the magic of writing is that they will, eventually, develop those things as necessary throughout the course of your writing. Trying to flesh out the characters beforehand limits the flow of your story as you attempt to twist the plot around those traits. You restrict your capability for change, and that's never a good thing.

Outside of that, think about the story for a few minutes before you go to bed, between dreams and the crap you can come up with when you're sleep deprived, you'll never be at a loss for new ideas and interesting twists.

And finally, the best way I've found to handle writer's block is to always stop your writing in the middle of a paragraph, a sentence, even a word. Wait until you've gotten to a bit where you know what's going to happen, and stop. That way the next time you start writing you can jump right in, and, in the course of finishing the previous scene, you'll get those 'creative juices' flowing.

Answer 3

I'd suggest that you could try writing a book about a person that has no imagination of their own so they go through life sponging off the creativity of those around them. I "would" suggest that, but I've just decided to write a novel based loosely on you.. so I call dibs on this idea.

Answer 4

Write a little bit everyday, even if it is only a shopping list or a love letter to your cat!

Review what you have written regularly but don't overanalyse - you may improve with rewrites but you might also lose a gem.

Read. Not only do you get inspiration but you get new words and ideas too and it relaxes you.

Live your life. Only through experience will you gain understanding of what to say in your book.

Enjoy it.

Answer 5

I would have someone proof read the chapters to make sure my grammer was ok and that the storyline kept on track. Every writer has their own timing. If blocked they should listen to music for awhile and rest.

Answer 6

-Get dressed every day
-Eat and get exercise every day
(Many writers write in their pajamas--and some don't leave the house at all--this is not healthy)

-Write every day
-Keep a writer's journal
-Read a lot
-For writer's block - go outdoors and see people, places and things. Keep your writer's journal with you--and note different actions, expressions, conversations, changes in weather, etc.

Answer 7

the best cure for writers block is to just write...something, because the longer you go without writing the harder it is to start again. ispiration is very unreliable and sometimes what causes writes block is the fear of writing crap so...i say, write write write anyway, even if its just little observations, and then edit

Answer 8

i would say don't blab on. don't use more then one or two ways to say what you mean ..ya gotta keep the readers attention im not say don't be discriptive...theres a fine line between being discriptive and just using fill words..

Answer 9

you should go sit down and clear your mind. maybe read a short book or two to give you some ideas.

Answer 10

I would tell them to make sure they were using proper english and grammer...