How to Get Started Writing a Book
Writing a book is not simple. I have personally been working on a book for several years now. I highly doubt there is anyone who can close their eyes, dream up an idea, and then write a book in a month. But writing a book can be done. It takes alot of creativity, patience, and did I mention patience?
The first step is to figure out what you want to write about. Pick a genre, a time period, a major event that you want your book to revolve around. Be aware that any or all of these things may change several times before you find something that clicks inside your mind.
Next, DO NOT THINK OF IT AS A BOOK!!! This is the worse thing a person can do when it comes to writing. It is too overwhelming a thought and tends to bog down the mind. So think of it as this: You watch an awesome movie and there is one "scene" that you really like. Think of your writing in terms of scene. You can figure out a basic direction you want the characters to go in, but leave the details until later. Then delve into your imagination and write anything that sounds good. My book is a compilation of over 40 little snippets of things I have written over the years. Somehow they led me to the plot line I wanted to write about and the characters I so loved.
Next. Don't waste time editing the same thing over and over again. I assure you ,you will change it later anyway. So just write it down and deal with the technical stuff later. Don't try to force things together either. A reader can always tell when the writer was struggling with a certain part of the book...Usually the ending because writers get there and are like "Oh no! What now! Let me just throw in a car wreck and then I'll have an ending... Just get it over with!!!" Bad Bad Bad idea. Nothing makes a reader more upset than reading a great book and getting to the end and then SNORE!!!!!!!!!!!
Eventually, things will start to fall into place on their own. You can go back and re-read some of the stuff you have already written and it might work with what you are writing about, it might not. But it may give you an idea. Think of your "I CAN ACTUALLY WRITE MY BOOK NOW BECAUSE I KNOW WHERE I AM GOING WITH THIS" moment as a light-bulb coming on inside your head. You will know when things are in order.
Finally, do what works best for you. If learning through books helps, then go buy one. If making lists and charts works for you, then get out a marker. If you like to write on paper or on a computer, if you like music in the background...... Discover how your creativity comes to you and go with it. AND NEVER start spouting off your plot line to other people. Once you do that you lose initiative to keep writing because you feel you have already shared it with people..... BEEN THERE DONE THAT!
Get ideas from friends and family. Do research. Have crazy dreams!!!! Whatever works for you, you just have to find it. And Rome was not built in a day so do not get discouraged if you get writers block. Just move on to another "scene" and the rest will come to you later. And don't expect it to get published a day after you finish it. Unless you are REALLY lucky, it could take years. So put your heart and soul into it and one day you will reap the rewards of your labor!
I hope this helped some of you out there! After years of trying everything, this is how I learned how to write a book! Good Luck!!!
