i am writing my 1st book?

Question

i was wondering i have the charactors in my end and written a draft outline.
is it good to keep it in short draft form and develope them as i am writing the book.
or have a complete life written out for them before i start writting..

Answer 1

You have to ask yourself if your novel is going to be character driven or plot driven. If its the latter, then yes 'mapping' their life out has its benefits, but if its character driven, you might want to develop them as you go along.

Answer 2

If you have the characters in your head and a draft outline, I'd suggest you set yourself to writing a scene / chapter from it - not the opening of the book unless that is particularly begging you to write it - but a scene from any point in the narrative which you know is vital to the whole thing - a scene which is dramatic, which excites you and which is definitely going to be in the finished book in some form or another.

This becomes (what I think of as) a pillar / post - and once you have a number of essential pillars propping up the structure, ideas stream as to how best to connect them.

Some writers find it helpful to write out the life stories of their characters before they start, whereas others find this to be a creativity-killer - or a way of putting off actually beginning to write.

Answer 3

I kindof like to really think about the main character at first--get them developed in my head. Then if there is someone who has a maijor part, but maybe the main character gets to know them better as the story goes along, I like to get to know that person along with the main character. Thus, developing them as I go along.
Also, a good thing to remember is to make it interesting by not only using 'said' or 'asked'. Use more descriptive words for that. Just a suggestion--something I've found helpful.

Happy Writing!!

Answer 4

Develop the characters as your are writing the story then while you are doing your second draft you can keep improving on where you think either the story or the characters are lacking, it's good to have a outline summary before you start but don't stick to it religiously as this might hinder the story

Answer 5

I congratulate you on your desire to write a book. It is best to have an idea about what you want to say from start to finish. You do not need to have it all laid out in draft form. I have written a book which is non-fiction. I had the concept in mind and how I was going to approach it. I did not have a short draft form laid out before I started writing. I developed my book as I went while conducting research and getting permission for any copyrighted material.

The key thing is to decide in a fiction book, which is what I believe you are talking about, is the purpose of the book. You can decide to possibly create a serial book in which case how you approach your first book can be critical.

You must have enthusiasm in your writing and devotion to making it great. Others have talked about your query letter to publishers. It is true that publishers want to have writing free of grammatical errors. There are a wide variety of publishers available to the author today. You need to search for a publisher who has experience with the type of book you write. It is also critical to choose wisely. There are many good publishers but there are also some bad ones to choose.

I have a free download which details my publishing journey. In it I have some suggestions and guidelines on choosing a publisher and reviewing their contracts before signing. It also offers some suggestions for marketing your writing before and after your book is completed. It is important to remember the success of any book today depends on the initiative and marketing initiatives of the author. You as the author must develop an interest in your book. There are thousands published every year. Yours must be different to make it stand out.

I also have a web site www.myqualitywriting.com which is a resource for other authors to gain exposure for their writing. It offers articles by myself and others and links to various sites which may help in marketing your book. I would also start connecting with writer's forums such as www.writersweekly.com. It is free and you can learn much from other authors. I would also suggest joining some networking sites with other authors such as www.bookmarket.ning.com and www.bookplace.ning.com. They are great and are gaining in popularity.

Sometimes people feel that we are in competition with each other as authors. I feel that we can help each other. Not everyone is going to buy every book. There are enough customers in the world that we can all succeed. We can learn from each other.

Good luck with your book, I wish you success.

Answer 6

The replies given thus far are good suggestions, but CaptDare and I share a stronger recommendation in that you must concentrate on correct spelling, grammar, and capitalization. The captain was right: literary agents or publishers won't look beyond the first paragraph of your novel if it contains inordinate errors. Their trash cans get emptied hourly because they fill them so fast.

Find a copy of "The Elements of Style" by Strunk and Williams. It is invaluable to the novice and professional writer.

Answer 7

You could give your characters a history and personalities. Then, their lives can develop from writing your book and referring to each history etc. Draft a basic story and plots, then work from there to delve in deeper. The more you can work from a basic model, the more you can put into it.

Answer 8

Either one works - authors have been known to do both. However, you do need to know enough about them to write their lives successfully - depending on how much character development you intend to have.

One thing I would strongly suggest, however. Make certain that your spelling and grammar are impeccable. Most editors will not look at a manuscript that contains bad grammar and terrible spelling. You have to make sure people CAN read your novel before they WILL read it.

Answer 9

I have the same passion, and I know from an Editor I had contact with years ago,...First things first,....Have The Title of your book. The library has all kinds of books about writing styles, ...GOOD LUCK!

Answer 10

I personaly think the complete life is better, it minimizes inconsistincies!