How do you begin the long process of writing a book?

Question

My friends are begging me to write a book. I have a story that they say will sell and I am a very good writer. However, I have never written a book before and have no idea where to begin.

Answer 1

First you need to outline your story. Writing it without an outline first will cause you to go nowhere near where you wanted to end -trust me it's happened. Not to say that your book in the end still won't be a good one it's just easier to focus on your original goal.

Next find a place where you can focus. If you can focus in the middle of downtown then good for you but basically it needs to be some place easily accessible and reliable. If it's outside your home you don't want it closed to you on a regular basis.

Decide whether you're a type it on a computer or write it in a notebook kind of person. Personally I do both but it would be better to pick the one that you are less likely to lose your work in.

Keep a notebook with you even when you're not writing, if you have the perfect scene then write it down and add it later.

Don't feel weird to start somewhere other then the beginning. Start where you feel comfortable.

Good Luck!

Answer 2

From one of the published:

1. Daydream the story first. Know who your main character is and what he wants and what he's gonna get.

2. Start writing. Do not sweat the first page because you will revise later.

3. Set aside time every day for writing. Plan on doing a minimum of 200 words. That doesn't take long, but adds up if you do it consistently. Most people do not stop with just 200 words either.

4. Avoid revision loops. Concentrate on getting the story written down before you start revising. If you need a jump start, go back and lightly revise the previous chapter and use that to jump into the next one. Do not go back further than the previous chapter unless a major change needs to be made.

5. When you have the whole story written down, start revising. Ask again and people will tell you the best books to get.

Answer 3

First, if you really are a good writer, you already know the answer to this question.

Second, remember that IDEAS are a dime a dozen. It is the presentation of the idea that sells.

Third, do not ask or expect your friends to offer you real literary advice. I doubt any of them have actual writing credentials, or have studied publishing at all. Generally, whenever a query letter starts with some praise from friends or family, the story turns out to be a knock-off of a plot that has already been done a million times.

In short, you should be writing because YOU want to write and YOU have a story to tell. Not because your friends think it would be kewl and they (with their complete lack of knowledge of the industry) think it would sell.

Answer 4

Before you even begin writing, you first need to find a quiet place where there will be no disturbances. That way you can give full concentration to your book. After that, get yourself a notebook and start writing down your ideas for the book. You can do like a chapter-by-chapter outline and then just take it from there and start your first draft. Good luck on the book!

Answer 5

I have never written a book but I have 'put down ' a few stories .
Just DIVE IN then let it lye a while -go back reread -rewrite and then dive in again.
The computer makes it so much easier because it is less messy that a million pieces of paper on the floor.LOL
Just start writing -write just like you talk. Have fun ---I want to read it when you are done !

Answer 6

If you already have a story idea, my suggestion would be to begin the grueling process of developing fleshed-out and believable characters. Many people use what's called a character questionnaire/profile. With this, you are interviewing your character, so to speak. You want to know everything about your character - name, age, place of birth, likes, dislikes, fears, goals, religion, political affiliation, tattoos, distinguishing traits, odd ticks, etc. Once you've done this for your main characters, I suggest you figure out the POV you wish to tell the story in - 1st person (I did) or 3rd Person (He did). There's 3rd Person limited where you only know what's going on inside the head of the character you're writing about at that moment, then there's 3rd Person Omniscient where you know what's going on in the minds of all your characters at any point in the story.

Once you've figured out these things, you need to figure out the conflict that these characters will face and the uphill battles they will fight until the end of a story. Golden rule of a good story is that when it seems like it can't get worse, it does, and worser still.

Throw a few subplots in there like love, drug addiction, phobias that need to be overcome, etc. for some added meat to your story.

Some people write outlines, some just type off the top of their heads. Do what works for you.

Research the market to see what's out there. No sense of spending a couple years on a book only to discover it's already been done the year before.

Tips:

Avoid cliches at all costs (the dumb jock, the detective who smokes two packs a day, etc.) These cardboard cut-out characters are a no-no. Make the jock a presidential scholar or the detective a vegan.

Downplay or avoid melodrama (Oh the angst of it all!)

Minimize your adverbs, adjectives (the charasmatic, adventurous, sensitive painter woke up to a bright, hot, sunny spring day)

Don't overdo it with the dialogue and don't let the dialogue get in the way of the story ("Wat dat dere in dat shed, Jed?)

Show don't tell (I'm still working on this myself)

Pace yourself (Don't let the story drag or speed by)

Ok..i'm rambling.

Here's some books to help you out.....

http://www.amazon.com/Story-Structure-Architect-Situations-Compelling/dp/1582973253
http://amazon.com/Elements-Fiction-Writing-Ansen-Dibell/dp/0898799465
http://amazon.com/Beginnings-Middles-Elements-Fiction-Writing/dp/0898799058
http://amazon.com/Characters-Viewpoint-Elements-Fiction-Writing/dp/0898799279
http://amazon.com/Description-Elements-Fiction-Writing-Monica/dp/0898799082
http://amazon.com/Conflict-Suspense-Elements-Fiction-Writing/dp/0898799074
http://amazon.com/First-Five-Pages-Writers-Rejection/dp/068485743X

Good luck.

Answer 7

what the first person said. You write by writing. That's how you start. You may go right into the story, you may write an outline or synopsis first, but you start by writing.

Answer 8

By applying the seat of your pants to a chair in front of a desk. (or however you choose to write) By that I mean that thinking about writing is not writing you have to just start.

Here, let me get you started: It was a dark and stormy night...

Answer 9

Jot down ideas
Lead into an outline
Review grammar
Write a chapter or more a day
Review
Then look up how to publish it

Answer 10

well, personally I just sit down, and start writing, but I don't think that will count for everyone.
You already have a story in mind?
Then you'll just have to start at the beginning (duh) and think of where you'll start... ok.. I can't explain this well :P