How to Write a Book – Tips for Emerging Authors

Five Steps to Help New Writers Get a Book Published

Sep 5, 2009 Marg McAlister

For many writers it's The Big Dream: quit the nine-to-five treadmill, stay at home - and write a book. But they can't help worrying: what if it doesn't work out?

No more commuting; no more sneaking away from work early to pick up the kids from the day-care centre. It sounds like Nirvana. But... is it really possible to make a good living from writing? Is it hard to plot a book? Can anybody write a book, or do you need to be born with a special talent?

Creeping doubts like this stop most would-be writers from taking action to make their dream a reality. Then one day, something happens to make them decide it's now or never. They might be reading a storybook to a toddler, and find themselves thinking in disgust: "I could do a better job than this!" – or they might find themselves skipping pages of their current library book because of too much boring backstory.

Whatever the reason, they suddenly think: "Why not? Why shouldn't it be me...?" Within a few short weeks, they wave goodbye their nine-to-five job, and head for their new home office.

Then reality hits. This is it. Time to prove whether they can do it... or not. They sit staring at a blank computer screen. The heady thrill of the planning stages gives way to the day-to-day grind of actually writing the book. That exciting book idea seems to bear no relation to the words that are appearing on the screen.

The plot just won't gel.The characters won't come to life. All in all, the story that seemed to have so much potential now has about as much life as a tree stump. An awful sense of panic hits. ('Where did my day go? This is all rubbish!')

The main problem for many new writers is that they expect too much too soon. They put pressure on themselves to produce, and don't allow their story (and their skills) time to grow. However, by following these five simple steps it's possible to write a book and remain relatively sane!

Five Steps to Writing a Book

Step One – Plan Ahead

As soon the decision is made to write a book, create a timeline and a to-do list. Treat the book as seriously as a work project. Pretend that there is a client waiting for the deliverables. (After all, that is true - there is an editor waiting somewhere.) On a calendar, mark the milestones (first scene, first chapter) and even plan a reward for reaching those milestones.

Step Two – Identify Your Plotting Style

All writers work in different ways. One writer will feel comfortable with a detailed book outline, broken up into sections or chapters. Another writer will prefer the freedom of a mind-map, and likes to plan only a short way ahead. For this kind of writer, it doesn't matter how often the Writing Police insist that a writer should know the ending before he begins.

In the early stages of writing a book, writers who are new to the whole process will find that time spent in identifying their unique plotting style can pay big dividends later.

Step Three – Know the Opening Situation

Ideally, the story should start at the point of change for the main character. This will kick off the story. An 'opening situation' checklist could include these questions:

What has changed for the main character?
What is at stake?
Why should the reader care?
What action will the main character be forced to take (or want to take)?
What will be the consequences of his/her actions, and how will this lead to further scenes?

Step Four – Know the Characters

The above questions for the opening situation checklist are a good guide to what the writer should know about the characters. Motivation is all-important - a careful writer will always ask 'WHY?'.

Why does the main character take the action he/she does?
Why does the character choose to do this rather than something else?
Why is it important to him/he?
Why do other characters react the way they do?
Will readers be able to 'see' your characters clearly?

Step Five – Have a Get-Out-of-Trouble Plan

When writers encounter a particularly thorny plotting problem, or need help with narrative flow, they often need feedback and support from other writers to get out of trouble. If there are no other writers around (online or offline) an author's Get-Out-of-Trouble plan may include money put aside to pay for a professional critique or a writing course. Think about this eventuality before it happens.

There is, of course, a lot of work involved in writing a book. The five steps above are designed to give new writers the initial momentum they need... therefore making it much easier to write that book and stay sane!

The copyright of the article How to Write a Book – Tips for Emerging Authors in Writing Fiction is owned by Marg McAlister. Permission to republish How to Write a Book – Tips for Emerging Authors in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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