If You Want to Write a Book...

 

There was a comment from a man on my recent post on first drafts. He wanted to know how I might help him start writing a book. It would take a book to learn that, not a few words in a post. I remembered a photo quote that was in my files. The advice it gives writers is pretty succinct. Yet, it has merit. 

It's quite true that any writer must sit down at the keyboard (or whatever you write on) and put one word after another until it's done. Then the author tells us that it is that easy, and that hard. Yes, it is both. 

There are many writers who want to write a book. I admire them and would cheer them on in any way I can. One of the first things I would tell a writer with this goal is to read as many books that others have written as you possibly can. You'll want to get a feel for the way others write. Not that you should write in the same way. Absolutely not. You must find your own voice, not copy another's. As you read, use a writer's eye; note the way each author presents the story, how they draw you in, how they keep you interested and more. 

Next, I would suggest that you not set out to write a book for your first writing project. If fiction is what you want to write, start with short stories, or even flash fiction. If you want to write a memoir, write many slice of life pieces or personal essays. Write many of these shorter pieces before you attempt a book length project. 

A mountain climber doesn't tackle Mt Everest for his/her first try. It would be madness! Instead, the mountain climber begins with small mountains or ones more easily ascended.  With time and practice, he/she moves on to bigger mountains. So it is with writers. Start with the shorter pieces, and when you feel you have had success with them, then start plotting that book you've always wanted to write. 

A person wouldn't try to swim the English Channel on their first time for distance swimming. Of course not. He/she would try many shorter swims first, working on enduarance and strength needed for the Channel swim. It's the same with writers who want to write a book. Go little by little and increasing the length you write. Start with 1,000 word stories and increase to longer ones of 5-10,000 words. If you do that successfully, you are probably ready to begin a book. 

A good exercise for those wanting to write a book is to write numerous character sketches. After all, you're going to build your characters in a book length story. Practice with short character sketches. 

Learn how to build tension in a short story first, as you'll have to do this all through a full book. It's the way to keep your reader turning pages. Here's where reading books about writing can be helpful.

Do exercises where you describe a place or an event or a tragic happening in the best way you can. Do it many times, so that, when you do write that book, it will be second nature to write good description. 

All of this boils down to the fact that you learn as you write shorter pieces. The more of them you write, the stronger writer you will become. Don't only write these shorter pieces. Submit them for publication. If you have a few successes, then maybe it's time to write that book. If you don't get any acceptances, then perhaps you need to continue writing short stories a bit longer before you jump into the pool of book writing.

I don't say all this to discourage the burning desire a writer might have to write a book right away. It is meant to help you reach the point where you are truly ready to write a book.