Learn How to Write a Book

Writing a book is perhaps one of the most satisfying pastimes that can be done without spending a great deal of money. Most other things, such as building model railways or computer games demand a constant influx of cash; it seems like there will always be something else you need to buy. Writing on the other hand is something that doesn’t require anything more than an electronic word processor or a computer. True there are many things you can purchase to help you from software to help you write book plans, to extra monitors for better researching, none of it is necessary. Most people have a laptop these days, which is the ideal tool for writing a book. Beyond the basic necessity of a computer, and a word processor such as Microsoft office, there is very little expense required beyond the hours you put into the project. Not only that, but wring could eventually bring you in money. There are few other hobbies that have the prospect of paying for themselves. So teaching yourself how to write a book is definitely worthwhile. But even you don't succeed at ever finishing your book, the act of writing will hone your skills and give you confidence in other writing areas. And better yet, with a little effort and following the advice put down here you will finish it. All it takes is persistence.

If writing non-fiction then an internet connection is a good idea for conducting research. If writing fiction, then an internet connection is not essential but can be helpful. Some writers such as Dean Koontz swear it’s nothing more than a distraction and don’t have it at all where they do their writing. Others feel the need to have quick access to information even when writing fiction, especially if setting it in a real place, or if you have facts you want to check out. Either way is all down to personal choice.

The most important fact of writing is that most people who want to write a book never will. It’s said that of all those who talk about writing a book, as many as half of them will never get around to putting pen to paper. Sad but true, but less competition for those who get published in the end. Inspiration is often cited as the reasons for this. “I’m waiting for inspiration,” they’ll say, or “I have a great idea, I’m just waiting till I’m in the mood to write.” Which is great, but inspiration is just a good reason to justify taking no action. What gets books written is taking action.

Learning how to write books is all good and well but you also have to learn how to be organized, and that will only happen through experience. There are many different tasks that a writer can take during the day in the course of working at their writing project, these can be anything from plotting out scenes, looking for software, researching. It’s important to identify high value tasks, i.e. the things that will move you forward, and do them more than the others. Finding software to help write is a very low value task for example. It’s fun, but it won’t get you writing any quicker than if you were typing words into your word processor. Plotting out and planning is a medium value task, but it’s possible to do too much of it and keep you back from the highest level task of all.

To get that done, pick a word count. It doesn’t matter what the word count is, only that it’s an easily achievable goal. Small word counts are better than big ones to start with. And as you get faster at writing you can increase your goal. Start with 350 words. It’s only a few paragraphs, but if you write that much every day your book will be complete in less than a year. Consistency is the best way to get a book finished. Most people want to write the book as quickly as possible, but someone with a small word count that writes each and every day has more chance to beat someone who writes in bursts.

Rewriting is the next big show stopper. Out of all the people who get so fast as to actually write their novel, most won’t get past the first three chapters. Instead they will press on until chapter three only to realize that what they had written wasn’t good enough, or discover they had different ideas, and then go back and rewrite the whole thing. Back to the end of chapter three, before another shiny new plot idea comes along and the whole thing gets wiped again. This pattern is easy to fall into it, and most people don’t realize they are doing it. The important thing to remember is that ploughing on and getting to the end of a book is more important than having it step by step perfect every chapter. Only when you get to the end, and have a completed book behind you can you see how all the intricate pieces of the puzzle fit together. Then it becomes okay to rewrite. Just avoid it before reaching the end.

To improve consider joining a critique group, and have them identify things they feel is wrong with your writing. Writers in such groups act as readers and will give feedback, and you can do the same for them in turn. It’s also a good way to make friends. There are many critique groups both on and offline.

If you persist with your efforts to write a book then you will get there in the end. It is a tough road, and of all those who want to pass down it few ever get to the end. But those who do find it very rewarding.