Writing a book is no easy feat. However, if you have the confidence, passion and commitment, you'll reach your goal of becoming a self-published author.
If you’re considering writing your own book someday, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with some of the thoughts and efforts involved in the book writing process. You will need to know the basics of how to write a book, and what it takes to finally publish your own copy. Here are 5 short tips to get you started:
Have a plan
The genre of your choosing won’t matter as long as you have a plan that you intend to follow: (1) have an outline on how the book will flow; (2) think about the characters you will use, their names, their influence, and basically the role they will play in the book; (3) set a timeline set for completing the book; (4) determine the number of hours you’ll need to write every day in order to meet your completion goal; and (5) designate a specific time and location for writing, that is easy to commit to…and stick to it!
Be a Good Story Teller
Tell a good story and you’ll give readers a reason to look for your book and read it. The market is saturated with books covering just about every topic imaginable, but don’t let that discourage you. Telling a good story can catch the interest of readers and help you stand out from all the other books available. Learn from books written by other authors you admire then write something unique and captivating using the lessons you have learned.
Know Your Target Audience
Who are you writing for and what message are you trying to get across? These are two questions that you should take into consideration before you embark on writing a book. Defining and knowing your target audience will carve an easier path for selecting the tone of your book, the best language to use, the message to deliver and the steps of character development. You absolutely cannot write a good book without knowing who you are writing for!
Stay Motivated
On your path to learning how to write a book, you have to stay motivated. There will be times when you will experience writer's block and you will feel like you need to stop. Do not let anything stop you from writing. Keep going even when you are facing obstacles. I guarantee that the satisfaction of publishing your own book, selling that first copy, and getting that first good review will outweigh the struggles you went through while writing.
Believe in Yourself
One of the reasons mot writers stop writing is because of the discouragements and rejection letters they get from publishers. There will always be that person who tells you that your book is not good enough, or someone who laughs at your ideas and tries to bring you down. Shut them out and continue writing! So what if you got a rejection letter. It doesn't mean that you are not a good writer. All it means is that the person rejecting it didn't connect with the story. Keep trying and bear in mind that even the greatest writers got rejection letters when they were starting out.
If you listen to those who know how to write a book, you will realize that it takes determination, persistence and hard work. If you have been thinking about writing your own book, don’t put if off any longer. Push yourself, make that first step and begin putting your ideas down on paper. You will be surprised at how much easier it gets once you’ve made that first move towards your dream goal….A Published Author.
Creative Writing: Finding Your Inspiration
Every writer needs to find inspiration in order to produce inspired writing - whether it is in the form of a novel, short story, poetry, song or even a simple blog post or journal entry. You don’t have to live an extraordinary life to find sources of inspiration for creative writing. They are all around you. Below are some of the most common sources of inspiration that can be used to produce a masterpiece.
Co-Author: Writing a Book in Collaboration
These days, authors often collaborate with each other to produce the best work possible. By collaborating with another author of the same mind, the two of you may be able to produce a successful masterpiece that is esteemed by millions. The goal of producing a top-selling book may feel more reachable if you have the support of a co-author. Consider the following tips and you’re well on your way to the bestselling list!
A Discussion of the Self-Publishing Model
With the rise of self-publishing, a new niche of independent or indie authors has emerged. There are pros and cons to everything, and self-publishing is not exempt from this unwritten concept. Without the assistance of service companies, one might wonder if self-publishing has a broad scope. It’s up to you to decide whether the pros outweigh the cons. Once you decide which path to take, go for it and give it all you’ve got!
