Preparing to Write Your Book

Write your book

It is easy to get distracted or overwhelmed by trying to write the perfect sentence; and it’s harder still to finish a book however, you must get it done. Only you can write your book. So write it and finish it!

At some point, you should be aware of the “proper” format for your book. I feel that it is easiest to work in the correct format; however, if this is too much, remember that the format means nothing if you don’t finish your book.

Some writers edit as they write; but most write then edit and revise. Here are some strategies:

·        Write the entire book (rough, down and dirty) then go back and edit and revise.

·        Start each day’s writing by reading and editing what you wrote the day before.

·        The hybrid: write with some editing as you go; then edit and revise when you’re done.

It is easy to get sidetracked looking for the right word or name for something: have good reference books (including visual dictionaries); use the computer for searches; set a time limit (if after X minutes you cannot find the word leave an underlined space, or type in the closest word and highlight it; on a “rainy” day, you can go on a quest for that word or fact).

Just as easy as it is to get distracted looking for the right word, it is easy to get trapped doing research. So set limits.

Some writers plot their stories then write. Some have an idea, and then have a run at it. There is no right way. For me, I get to see a character who comes to me with a conflict. I know, also, if not the actual words of the last sentence, the sense of it, which acts like a beacon towards which I hope my characters will go.

What do you do if your hero doesn’t act heroically? Doesn’t do what you want? You have two choices. First, like the biographer, you must stick to the plot or facts. Second, if your character surprises you, accept the surprise and follow it. There are pros and cons: these are as varied as there are writers.

I will walk you through the basics, and I will give you reference books to help along the way in my subsequent posts so keep visiting and reading or subscribe to my posts so you could be alerted by email anytime I post a new articles. But what made my first book hard was trying to figure out each day, what to do next.

The next few posts will briefly talk about a few story-telling issues; but it isn’t until Edit and Revise, posts that we get into grammatical issues.

Absorb what you can. Develop good writing skills, but do not let the quest for perfect grammar or the perfect sentence permit you to stop. Walk away from any book that threatens to overwhelm you—you can always come back.

All you need to finish your book is seat time. At a minimum, try to write one page or one hour every day.