There are many reasons why people want to write a book, but one of the most popular reasons is that they want to express a certain opinion or tell a story. If you’re thinking about writing a book, then there are many steps to consider before you sit down and start the story.
Motivation to create
People who have written books usually desire fame and recognition. Those may come from publishing a book because it could put them in the spotlight and allow them to have their voice heard. Furthermore, if you get published, your thoughts about certain topics could help people change their lives or open their horizons to different ideas. For example, an author named Kawika tries to be a voice for the Hawaiians. And he also does it because he wants to educate people about his culture.
Rookie writers should first think about the ideas that get the creative juices flowing. If you can’t think of anything, ask yourself what problems or questions you would like to explore.
Define your purpose and topic
Discussing the purpose and topic of a book is important for writers. It defines the message intended by the writer and what the book is about. For example, let’s assume you’re writing a book on how to resolve conflicts with friends and family members. This will define the purpose and topic of the book.
Once you have decided on the general idea of what you will write about, think about the approach that best fits your writing style and expression. Try combining viewpoints you will represent, the tone in which you will express, etc. Also, think about how you will lay out the information in a way that is most interesting and simple for your target audience.
Develop an outline
Outlines are a great tool to organize your thoughts on what you want to discuss in the book. It allows you to make sure there is a flow to the story. It also helps to ensure that chapters or smaller sections have a purposeful construction in the plot development.
During this process, think about what type of information you want to present in each chapter. Make sure you are clear on how it is all organized so there is a flow to your writing. Also, be sure that each topic or point is not repeated throughout as it will bore the reader. Instead, each topic should be covered in only one chapter so there is variety for storytelling purposes.
Story plot
Once you have an outline, it’s time to think about the plot for your story. While outlines are important, they don’t need to be super detailed so that chapters can be added or removed as needed. Think about what type of tone you want in your writing and how it will correspond with the overall message presented in the book.
Every well-structured story will have an exposition in which it introduces the setting in order to engage readers. Then, in the rising action of the plot, there will be a series of events that create problems or questions for the characters. When examining these issues, you can think about what types of solutions may be implemented. It’s also important to consider how they all affect one another in terms of relationships between characters. The climax is the turning point of the story, so think about how to resolve unanswered questions or problems. Finally, there is the falling action which should conclude the book by summarizing what was learned from the story.
Edit your draft
Working with a draft can be scary because it’s not quite finished. However, you need not worry if you’ve already done the important steps of defining your purpose and topic, developing an outline, and thinking about the plot.
When you edit, think about what is missing from your book draft. Be sure to add in key details that will make it a stronger story, such as how each character’s personality or speech affects others. Also, be sure to add in the right evidence to support your points and explanations for readers.
This process will happen quite a few times, and you will find yourself going back and forth through the segments of the story. It is normal for an author to be torn between the segments of his book. A good writer will always try to find a better way to express his thoughts.
Do not lose hope! Editing is one of the most important steps in the book-writing process, so do not get discouraged. Be sure to have patience and know that your hard work will pay off in the end. Finally, be gracious with yourself if your writing is not perfect in the first draft. The important thing is that you can reach your intended audience with an engaging story.