How to write a book | SusannahConway.com Before I wrote a book I had no idea how to write a book. Over the years I’ve bought many books about the art of writing — developing character, storyline, writing proposals, creativity, prompts, inspiration, confessions, memoirs, all of it — but no where in that thick shelf of books did I find the answer to my real question: How do I write MY book? So for those who have asked, and for my sweet friend who is embarking on her own book-writing odyssey this summer, here is a breakdown of how I finally found my way into the first draft of my (non-fiction) book. 1. Even if you’re not planning to approach a publisher and intend to self-publish, think of a proposal as your book’s blueprint. 2. I spent far too long on this stage, and when I start writing my next book (already planning for it, in fact) I’ll try to move through this stage faster. 3. I started and discarded a number of notebooks at the beginning as it felt essential that I find the right notebook to house my notes. 4. 5. 6. 7.
Advanced Fiction Writing Home Page Read These Seven Books, and You'll be a Better Writer Donald Miller I used to play golf but I wasn’t very good. I rented a DVD, though, that taught me a better way to swing, and after watching it a few times and spending an hour or so practicing, I knocked ten strokes off my game. I can’t believe how much time I wasted when a simple DVD saved me years of frustration. I’d say something similar is true in my writing career. If you read these books, your writing will improve to the point people who read your work will begin to comment on how well you write. • The War of Art by Steven Pressfield: This book is aimed at writers, but it’s also applicable to anybody who does creative work. Pressfield leaves out all the mushy romantic talk about the writing life, talk I don’t find helpful. • On Writing Well by William Zinsser: Zinsser may be the best practical writing coach out there. • Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott: Before becoming a literary superstar, Anne Lamott taught writing, and Bird by Bird is the best of her advice, broken up into chapters.
#54 – Writing Hacks, Part 1: Starting By Scott Berkun, Aug. 28 2006 (#54) Writing is easy, it’s quality that’s hard. Any idiot who knows 5 words can write a sentence (e.g. For this reason writer’s block is a sham. Consider this: Have you ever been blocked while playing Frisbee? So play. Writing hacks for starting In the grand tradition of lists and books of hacks, writing hacks are clever little actions that give you leverage and put the dynamics in your favor. Start with a word. Write about how it feels not to be able to write. Have a conversation. Read something you hate. Warm up. Make lists. Switch to something harder. Run like hell. Whiskey. Rummage your scrap pile. Smart writers have stockpiles of old ideas to arm themselves against the evils of the blank page. Notes [1] I sometimes write “I have nothing to say” and repeat it on the page. [2] True story. [4] I wrote the novel on and off for 10 years, and finished in 2005 (with draft #5). Further advice:
How To Write A Novel Using The Snowflake Method Writing a novel is easy. Writing a good novel is hard. That’s just life. If it were easy, we’d all be writing best-selling, prize-winning fiction. Frankly, there are a thousand different people out there who can tell you how to write a novel. In this article, I’d like to share with you what works for me. This page is the most popular one on my web site, and gets over a thousand page views per day, so you can guess that a lot of people find it useful. Good fiction doesn’t just happen, it is designed. For a number of years, I was a software architect designing large software projects. I claim that that’s how you design a novel — you start small, then build stuff up until it looks like a story. If you’re like most people, you spend a long time thinking about your novel before you ever start writing. But before you start writing, you need to get organized. Step 1) Take an hour and write a one-sentence summary of your novel. Some hints on what makes a good sentence: Shorter is better.
Pros and cons of the Snowflake Method » Jordan McCollum Planning out a novel? Be sure to join my newsletter for a FREE plotting/revision roadmap, and check out the full series on plotting novels in a free PDF! The Snowflake Method of story design is just one way to create a plot—but it’s not the best way, nor is it even a good way for all of us. (And we’ll continue to look at more methods to plot stories over the next two weeks.) Pros After spending so much time refining them and writing about them, you get to know your characters and your plot well. Another strength is that you can start with almost nothing and “grow” a plot “naturally.” Also, the method’s steps alternate between working on characters and on the plot, ensuring that you develop both—but that you don’t have to spend so long working straight on each one that you get bored. Simply put, if you like to know as much as you can about a book before you start writing, this can be a great way to discover your characters and their storylines. Cons And I can say this from experience.
25 Ways To Plot, Plan and Prep Your Story I’m a panster at heart, plotter by necessity — and I always advocate learning how to plot and plan because inevitably someone on the business side of things is going to poke you with a pointy stick and say, “I want this.” Thus you will demonstrate your talent. Even so, in choosing to plot on your own, you aren’t limited to a single path. And so it is that we take a look at the myriad plotting techniques (“plotniques?”) The Basic Vanilla Tried-And-True Outline The basic and essential outline. The Reverse Outline Start at the end, instead. Tentpole Moments A story in your head may require certain keystone events to be part of the plot. Beginning, Middle, End Write three paragraphs, each detailing the rough three acts found in every story: the inciting incident and outcome of the beginning (Act I), the escalation and conflict in the middle (Act II), the climactic culmination of events and the ease-down denoument of the end (Act III). A Series Of Sequences Chapter-By-Chapter Beat Sheet Mind-Maps
How to Write a Book - Writing a Book Guide Write a Novel Edit Article Four Parts:Writing HelpCreating a Fictional WorldDrafting the NovelRevising the NovelQuestions and Answers A novel is a fictional work of narrative prose. Ad Steps Part 1 Creating a Fictional World <img alt="Image titled Write a Novel Step 1" src=" width="728" height="485" class="whcdn">1Get inspired. <img alt="Image titled Write a Novel Step 7" src=" width="728" height="485" class="whcdn">7Consider starting from scratch. Part 2 Drafting the Novel <img alt="Image titled Write a Novel Step 8" src=" width="728" height="546" class="whcdn">1Consider making an outline. Part 3 Revising the Novel Tips Warnings
likable characters « Nail Your Novel A foolish inconsistency – round out your characters with contradictions Think about the people you know. Who are you are most curious about? It’s not the ones who are most straightforward, although they are probably the easiest company. It’s the enigmas. Consider the guy who’s gruff and abrasive when you talk to him, but surprises you by being fiercely loyal to his friends. More extremely, they might have an edge that makes it difficult to truly know them. This crowd make great central characters. It’s war To observers, they may seem inconsistent. They might feel the world is too small for them, but some complex equilibrium keeps them that way. Or they might be headed for tragedy. Contradictory characters might sabotage themselves. Likability Contradictory characters might not be liked by the reader – but likability doesn’t keep us reading as much as interest does. What it’s not Here’s something that isn’t a character contradiction: Indiana Jones’s fear of snakes. That’s back story.
Creative Writing Courses and Ideas: An Online Resource for Writers Lawyers and Writers: How They Share Methods I often tell people that being a lawyer isn’t so different from being a fiction writer. The comment always elicits some laughs, maybe a suspicious squint or two, but I couldn’t be more serious. As a junior and mid-level corporate litigator, much of my day was spent writing briefs, witness statements and other court documents. Over the years, I developed writing skills and strategies that helped me finish my debut novel, THE HOUSE GIRL (Feb. 2012) while also holding down a day job. (The term “platform” defined — learn how to sell more books.) Guest column by Tara Conklin, author of the debut novel, THE HOUSE GIRL (Feb. 2012, William Morrow), one of thetitles featured in Writer’s Digest’s “Breaking In” section in 2013.Find Tara at her website or connect with her on Twitter. 1) Use a Timeline Most legal disputes involve a complex array of characters, events and conflicts, much like a novel. (Look over our growing list of literary fiction agents.) 2) Time is money Lawyers bill by the hour.
In Writing,You Need a Likable Character. In Life, Be a Likable Character | Larry Shallenberger This isn’t the most high-brow thing to confess on a web site. But I love mixed martial arts. I’m working toward a black belt in a MMA system. I enjoy watching title fights. I just can’t watch The Ultimate Fighter reality show anymore. I can’t stomach it. Here’s why. Donald Miller uses a counter example in his Storyline Conference. They answered the question by making Rocky likable. This isn’t to say that our characters need to be perfect. The thrust of Don’s Storyline conference is an experiment that fuses life and literature. What would happen if we paid attention to our personal character and became people work cheering for? For starters we’d have the strength of character to rise up, chase our ambitions, and overcome our conflicts. (For an example of a fight movie with characters worth cheering on, see the Warrior Movie.)