New Writers Want to Write a Book, But...

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I am amazed at the number of people on some of the writing groups on Facebook that have posts that say something like "I've never written anything before, but I have a story to share with the world, so I am writing a memoir." 

The idea is fine, but if the person has never written before, it's equivalent to a nonswimmer diving into the deep end of the pool.  

Have you heard people say they are going to write a book? Write a memoir? Write family history? Write family stories? The last two are quite possible for someone who is a novice writer. The first two could be overwhelming. Even those who want to write a family history or family stories would benefit from some learning about the art of writing.

Maybe nonwriters can write a book or a memoir. The question is what kind of book will it be? Will it be:

• organized
• written with proper grammar
• full of spelling errors
• punctuated correctly
• interesting
• repeating words too often
• repeating thoughts 
• filled with sensory details
• using a theme
• able to engage the reader
• written with proper tenses throughout
• a rambling mess
• filled with dialogue difficult to read
• full of unnecessary words
• full of unnecessary details
• publishable
• written from an outline or write-as-you-go

Writing a full-length book or memoir is a huge project. Our poster today tells us that big things often have small beginnings. I'm a firm believer in starting small and working your way up to a big job like writing a book. 

Why start small? Because with each small piece you write, you learn and you (hopefully) improve as a writer. You must also give yourself opportunities to learn the craft of writing by reading books on the topic, joining critique groups, attending conferences, and talking with other writers one on one. Their are tools to this trade that you should acquire.

If you want to write a full-length memoir, start with snippets of what might be in the book later. Write about one small incident and rewrite until you're satisfied. Or have someone else read it and give you feedback. We are often blind to our own errors when we write. Others can read your work with objectivity. Continue writing those small happenings that will eventually fit together like a jigsaw puzzle and become your memoir book. 

If you, as a new writer, start to write a full-length memoir all in one swoop, you're going to meet frustration time and again. You're going to wonder why isn't it going together in print the way you saw it in your mind. That happens to all writers, not just the new ones. Even so, it's unsettling.

Do writing exercises as a warm-up each day before you get to the serious writing. Find them in reference books on writing or use a search engine to find them. Stretch your writing muscles.

Start with small pieces of writing and work your way up the ladder until you feel ready to write that book or memoir.