Almost every time I tell someone I have written a book, I get the response, "Oh, I've always wanted to write a book." But most people never write that book because writing a book can be a daunting, overwhelming task. Guess what? It doesn't have to be that difficult. On this web page, I give you advice and resources on how to write book content that can be effective and successful.
Here are some tips on writing a book:
- Decide What Kind of Book It Will Be. Fiction? Nonfiction? Mystery? Thriller? Romance? You need to know what genre you'll be writing and who your target reader is.
- Research. Do the necessary research on your book. No matter what the book is on, you need to know what you're talking about; otherwise, people just won't want to hear what you have to say.
- Outline the Content (and Characters). Whether it's fiction or nonfiction, you need to create an outline you can follow--this will serve as the blueprint for your book. You need to outline your purpose for writing the book, your theme, and stay focused on this purpose. With fiction, develop and understand your characters and the roles they play in your book. Make them memorable but real.
- Write with a Quota. This is critical. Writing a book is too much to swallow at once. Give yourself a daily page quota to fulfill, and then write that amount every day, no matter how long it takes. My suggestion is to write 3 pages a day.
- Revise. It has been said that true writing is re-writing. Nothing I ever write--even the simplest email--is the way I want it the first time around. Get good at editing your book, revising it, re-writing it. Go over your writing content multiple times.
- Feedback. Getting quality feedback is extremely beneficial to improving your book, whether it is from a smart, trusted friend or loved one, or a professional writer or editor. Listen and be open-minded.
I highly recommend a few outstanding books and guides on writing and how to write a great book:
How to Write a Damn Good Novel: A Step-By-Step No Nonsense Guide to Dramatic Storytelling. Written in a clear, crisp style, this book is perfect for beginners or professional writers who need a crash course in the down-to-earth basics of storytelling. The author gives helpful, sensible rules and principles that will free a writer to face that intimidating first page, keep him on track when he falters, and help him analyze the problems with his work when he's done.
Writing Fiction: The Practical Guide from New York 's Acclaimed Creative Writing School . Written for the aspiring and experienced writer alike, the book includes: the fundamental elements of fiction craft--character, plot, point of view, etc--explained clearly and completely; key concepts illustrated with passages from great works of fiction; the complete text of "Cathedral" by Raymond Carver--a masterpiece of contemporary short fiction that is analyzed throughout the book; exercises that let you immediately apply what you learn to your own writing.
How to Write & Sell Your First Novel. An inspiring guide that gives information on the principles of writing a novel--story, plot, characters, etc--and motivating stories and advice on getting it published.