How do you begin writing a book? For those who have already written a book!

[TiffyLove]

I have always thought about the idea and do have plans to one day write a book or five!

But where do you begin? Manuscript? Could this just be writing the book in word documents? What is the process? Etc....

[Adrienne]

I have written 2 and am working on a 3rd. I have never tried to publish them, but i have given them to friends to read.

Are you wanting to write fiction or non fiction?

For me, i set a deadline of a book a year. The books i have written around over 300 pages.
I usually start by looking at my post-its. I write down any book idea i have (and where it might fit into the books if applicable) on post-its. i have started moving these to the journal, but i sill like and use post-its. i organize them by putting them on a wall.
After i review any ideas i have for the book i want to write, i day dream while pacing listening to music and i put together the rough idea for the plot. Since i write supernatural mystery kinda stuff, i need a tight plot, so i have to have an idea of where i am going to end up.
I then take some paper, and a pen and i write it out. Very basic stuff. Just who the bad guys are, their motives, how we figure it out.
Next peice of paper, i write subplots.
Then i tie them all together in a larger but still sparse outline. By this point, i have a decent idea of what the main character will be coming up against and how she will resolve it.
I usally do all these steps in a couple days for a total of 4 or 5 hours. (also, i always keep post-its near because i often have ideas for great conversation bits or new plots while i do this, and i write them down as well as the number of the book i think the would happen in and put it on the post-it wall).

Depending on how long i have and how busy i am. I typically aim to write 1 chapter a week. My chapters are usually around 10-15 pages. I usally write it on the weekend (work and everything before got in the way) and i would write until i got it done. I then allowed myself to break.
I often found that the first couple chapters i wrote, i always end up with major rewrites because by chapter 3 or 4, i have found my stride and i dont want to stop writing because i want the story to play out and ideas come to me very quickly.

Historically, if i have the time, by chapter 4, all i can think about is the fact i want to write.

It is just a matter of sitting down and making yourself do it.
I give myself alot of leeway. I can make typos and everything and then i go back at the end of the book and read thru it fixing issues and typos.

I also find it is really useful to have someone who likes to read what you write to bounce ideas off of. The first book i wrote, it was great. They told me to start the book a day earlier in the story. It was a great suggestion and had a stronger opener because i took their suggestion.

The best advice i can think to give you, is to set aside time to write, and come hell or high water, write. Dont let yourself off the hook.

Adrienne

[Bradshaw]

Writing is a personal thing and everyone has their own way of doing it, though some general guidelines do apply.

Since you are asking about manuscripts and how to actually start i think you will find this link useful, Tiffy:

Formatting Manuscripts

Hope it helps.

[TiffyLove]

Thank you.

The link was a great resource.

[ssandra]

I haven´t written yet, but I read Steven Kings "About Writing". It is a great book and good resource and motivation I think!

[mysticmadness]

go to lulu dot com. you will find great help there.

[Strem2]

Originally Posted by TiffyLove

I have always thought about the idea and do have plans to one day write a book or five!

But where do you begin? Manuscript? Could this just be writing the book in word documents? What is the process? Etc....

Hi Tiffany,
I can see that you making plans.... . Don't let the book idea escape you while yo are making plans. Start writing. Write in word if you have it and it works for you. Everything else can be worked out later. Write every day.

Start writing so that your muse knows you're serious!

And, then, when you've got a good start, write some more....

[Bleicke]

1)Think about the book a lot.
2)After a while your thoughts will be so detailed you can write them down.

I finished one novel (unpublished). I thought up three or four scenes, then wrote those down. Then I thought what would happen between those scenes, to link them. I made notes for each chapter. I thought about these new chapters, then wrote those down also. One day, I realized I was finished.

[ChrisN]

I've written many books... *ahem* well attempted too anyway but I always get stuck at page 20 with the final ending and I seem to loose all hope of dragging my novel on. Thats why I prefer to talk in any course material I do because:

1. It doesn't need to be grammer checked :P (not as much anyway)
2. I can talk for much longer then I can write I guess

I have always been a good writer and wrote tones of mini-stories as a kid but I guess I run out of ideas half way through :P Seems as though I am dragging on and on in my stories. Any tips?

[Bleicke]

If your story is interesting enough, you'll want to continue writing. If you don't want to continue writing something, maybe it isn't interesting enough for you?

[ChrisN]

Originally Posted by Bleicke

If your story is interesting enough, you'll want to continue writing. If you don't want to continue writing something, maybe it isn't interesting enough for you?

It's more the fact that I don't seem to be able to draw out something I just get straight to the point...

[alexplatups]

Originally Posted by TiffyLove

I have always thought about the idea and do have plans to one day write a book or five!

But where do you begin? Manuscript? Could this just be writing the book in word documents? What is the process? Etc....

TiffyLove

The best place to begin is to play around with different ideas in your head,
and then to create a list of chapters that you would like your book to have.

I have written a 350 page e-book about effective long term weight loss, and
am currently polishing the last chapters. It has 18 chapters, and took me
about two years to write.

I had an offline business when I started writing, but also had a desire to start
an online business in the weight loss niche

currently as you see I am creating a site using SBI, and within two months
will start selling it on my site, and also through Clickbank and a few other
sites that have affiliates that sell your e-book through their sites on a
commission basis

the ultimate way to create a book is from scratch, start like an artist starts
with a blank canvas, and play around with different visions of your end
result when you finish writing your book

write some pages like artists make sketches of their paintings to get a feel
for what feels right and what does not feel right

eventually you will form a vision, where from all of your ideas and concepts
you will choose *one* that feels exactly right, and then you can spend as
much time as you have daily to bring this vision into reality

Good Luck and Take Care

Alex Platups

[Curtis2011]

Make a detailed outline of the titles of the sections of the book, including chapters and sub-sections within chapters.

After you have the outline 100% done, go through the list of names and fill in all the relevant information that belongs in each section.



I have found that to be the most efficient writing technique. After you have made your outline, you know exactly what to write, and where and when to write it.

Cheers.