writing my book

[John stefan]

Hi Everyone
What is the best way to start writing a book? I await some replies.


kind regards John Stefan

 

[Montero]

OK I posted a reply to the original thread, and what was said by the OP has been changed. All credit to him for listening, when I said chat before you try to sell, but a bit disconcerting.

In response to the new question....
Read a fair bit to get an idea how it is done.
Start typing or scribbling.
There is a wide variety of preferences from "pantser" - make it up as you go along to "plotter" where you write a detailed plot outline first and tend to to stick to it . There is a whole spectrum in between of mixes of pantsing and plotting as suits people.

 

[Christine Wheelwright]

Get started with something that is fun and easy. Don't try to knock the ball out of the park in your early efforts.

Don't worry about what people will think when they read it. In fact it is best to assume nobody will ever read it. That way you will express yourself more and won't feel inhibited (look up 'internal censor').

 

[Swank]

I think you need an idea that includes how the story concludes. That's your guardrails that will keep you on some sort of course.

Then, having an idea about plot, setting and character, write a scene or chapter and see how it comes out. Get someone else to read it. That will tell you a lot about what you have to address to make it through a whole book.

 

[OuttaInc]

What is the best way to start writing a book?

Entire books have been written on how to write books. I would recommend a visit to your local library. Browse the books in the 800s, or Google "best books on writing" and pick a few titles from the myriad curated lists that will pop up and show them to your librarian. They'll help you find what you need.

As others have pointed out, some people write by the seat of their pants, and others like to plot out most of a story ahead of time. It's really up to you. As for me, I'm in the Edgar Allan Poe camp- I like to write the ending first, so I know where it's going, and then I make decisions about setting, character, POV, dialogue, etc in service of building up to that singular epiphany or climax. I suspect this is a minority position, though.

As an aside, Joyce Carol Oates suggests new writers start writing short stories first (before attempting a novel) as short stories are quicker to write and easier to revise/edit. ("Easier" being a relative term.) Also, the psychological benefit of finishing a project is huge, and you're more likely to finish a short story than a novel.

Whatever path you take, make sure it's enjoyable to you. For the vast majority of us, that personal enjoyment will be the only payback we get. (And it will be enough. )

 

[Wayne Mack]

You may get some ideas from reviewing the Brandon Sanderson lectures. https://www.youtube.com/user/WriteAboutDragons/videos . This are course lectures, so they repeat year to year -- it is only necessary to listen to one years worth. You will need to mouse over the titles to determine the sequence within a lecture; they are not sorted in order for some reason. I found that this was a good investment of multiple hours and I found Mr. Sanderson to be an interesting speaker to listen to.

 

[AnyaKimlin]

Pick up a pen, or turn on a laptop start to write. If you don't know what you want to write then go for a stream of consciousness and keep writing what comes into your mind until you come up with something that could be a story.

It sound facetious and unhelpful but writing is just putting words to paper.

Writing is like a stomach bug - if you produce a lot of crap you might get better but if you don't produce any crap you die. Don't expect to be good and just write.

 

[Mon0Zer0]

Pick up a pen, or turn on a laptop start to write. If you don't know what you want to write then go for a stream of consciousness and keep writing what comes into your mind until you come up with something that could be a story.

It sound facetious and unhelpful but writing is just putting words to paper.

Writing is like a stomach bug - if you produce a lot of crap you might get better but if you don't produce any crap you die. Don't expect to be good and just write.

Pretty much this. There is no substitute for doing when it comes to writing. Everything you need to learn is revealed in constant and critical engagement in the process.

You can't underestimate the value of reading, too. If writing is like crapping then reading is like eating. You need to eat, to crap. And the more critical you can be in reading (particularly in critiquing other writers) the better your eye will be to spot the problem areas in your own work. Sometimes it helps to be a bit Gillian Mckeith if you want to improve your literary digestive system.

There are courses and books that will teach you the sweetcorn of writing (plot, character, grammar, dialogue, format, metaphor, simile etc.) to enable you to keep regular and write nuttier stories. You need to write lots and lots to build up the required muscle memory to keep pushing out those juicy loglines. Nobody likes a flabby story sphincter.

Most of all, remember to have fun with it. The more you enjoy it, the more you'll want to do it. Some days you'll get a bit blocked up, but with experience you can power through the constipation and spray words all over the page.*

* I'm SO sorry.

 

[sknox]

Why do you want to write a book?
Is it because you have a story idea?
Do you simply want to find out if you can manage to write one?
Is your aim to sell so many books you can quite your day job?
Did someone dare you to do it?
Another reason that I have not listed here?

I ask because the type of question will beget different replies.

 

[Swank]

Why do you want to write a book?
Is it because you have a story idea?
Do you simply want to find out if you can manage to write one?
Is your aim to sell so many books you can quite your day job?
Did someone dare you to do it?
Another reason that I have not listed here?

I ask because the type of question will beget different replies.

Personally, I want to become one of those authors so famous people recognize me on the street. Like Andre Norton or James S.A. Corey.

 

[Astro Pen]

From my (pantser) perspective I think I wrote recently:
Start several promising stories. What tends to happen is that after 30 pages or so most of the starts will run out of steam. They simply won't get traction. But one will snowball and pull you in. You will begin to fall into that world and the characters become real.

 

[Phyrebrat]

Hate to be reductive but: the only way to start is to start. That way you get context for problems that might be personal to your own struggles. Find out what kind of writer you are, what your strengths and weaknesses are. Otherwise the question is really too broad.

 

[Laura R Hepworth]

Exactly what Phyrebat said: just start.

I'd also recommend keeping a writing journal where you can scribble down ideas that come to mind. I use mine for everything from plot ideas to just jotting down names I like and might want to use in future. Until you start, you won't really know what works best for you: plotting everything out, getting a seed of an idea and pantsing everything else, or some combination of the two. You can spend an awful lot of time researching 'how' to get started writing a book, but, while asking questions and researching can certainly be helpful and something we all do, the danger is getting too caught up in learning how to do something that you never actually get started doing it.

If you're not sure what to write, then take a hard look at what you like to read. What are their genre(s), any common themes, etc? Is there a type of story/character/plot twist/etc. that you've wanted to read about, but haven't been able to find so far? These are all good places to start with. You may also see the advice 'write what you know' bandied about and it's not bad advice. You can certainly write what you don't know (that's what research is for), but definitely take a critical look at what you do know and consider ways that you could incorporate it into a book of the genre/style that you most enjoy. Even something as simple as your interests and hobbies can be a source for story inspiration.

In the end though, it still comes down to one thing: just start writing.

 

[THX1138]

In support to what the others have said, there are a few things to remember too; 'To build a story is to weave a good tale, to spin a good yarn.'
Because your protagonist will have to 'go through a maze of challenges in order to complete their quest, with all of its twists and turns.'

In order to do this, YOU must know of, or research info related to your story or come up with something that you, as a writer, can explain or justify. (You may have already done this!)

So, there is a beginning and end to your story. There MUST also be a traumatic event that challenges/change/TESTS your protagonist at some point and thus, change their direction/view/training in order to direct the character to the end of the story. (What?!)

Think 'twist and turns.'

So, bringing back the 'weaving, spinning' metaphors, there is something to remember. Who are all of the main and supporting characters in your story? Do a character description of each, because just like you and the people you know in your life, none of you will react to any situation the same. (Some may not agree, but I find it helpful to keep consistency. DO WHAT WORKS FOR YOU, not for me.)

Also, the in-between parts of the beginning-to-challenge-to-end, are really a bunch of short stories of good, bad info and right, wrong decisions (like a maze) that are a part of the 'weaving, spinning and building' of your story.

Plan it out.
Know the characters.
Have a beginning, conflict/change, and end.
The rest is a maze of situations, so let the characters fill in the rest.
And as others have said. Have fun! You have an idea for your story, so let it write itself. (But with your guidance.)

My humble opinion from my own experience.
Good writing! And here's to a hopeful publishing too!

 

[John stefan]

Thanks a lot everyone for your amazing advices.

kind regards John Stefan

 

[Devin]

Jim Butcher wrote a whole series based on a challenge to cross pokemon and the roman empire, so you can start by just combining things in your head and see if anything jumps out .