How To-32: "How to Write a Book"

How to Write a Book

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Ever wanted to write a book, but didn't really know what to do? This article will help you.

If You're Writing Fiction

1. Figure out what you want to write about. For some people, ideas come naturally, but for others, it's a difficult step. If you’re having trouble, figure out what kind of books you like. Do you read a lot of Stephen King? Write a horror book. Have you been hooked on fantasy ever since the second grade? Write a story about princesses and flying horses. If you try to write a book that you would enjoy reading, writing it will be more fun and easy.
   
2. Know the elements of a good novel.
   
   • The setting. The setting of a story is its time and place. You don't state this outright, of course. A sentence such as the following will state this: Maria walked down the large slope surrounding the castle. Before she could get very far, though, one of her father's maids stopped her and said "King Ferdinand would like to see you." This suggests that Maria, possibly a young girl, lives on castle grounds. This seems like it would be medieval times. Maria is also a Spanish name, which suggests where she lives. Background knowledge would confirm the time and place, because King Ferdinand approved of Christopher Columbus's voyage to America. He was the ruler of Spain. Columbus sailed to the New World about A.D. 1492, so this story probably takes place around that time.
     
   • The conflict. A conflict is the problem the main character faces. Maybe Maria, the King's daughter, has been asked to make the decision whether or not to let Columbus use Spanish ships and sailors to explore. She continues to face this problem for most of the story.
     
   • The climax. The climax is the point of highest tension in the book, the point where the reader is really holding their breath. Perhaps Maria has just decided against letting Columbus use Spain's money to explore when he shows up, begging her to let him go, saying he'll do anything to have this chance. This is the point where Maria has a big choice to make, one that changes the whole outcome of the story.
     
   • The resolution. The climax is over, the problem has been solved, and any "loose ends" have been tied up (However, if you intend to make a sequel, be sure to leave at least one or two loose ends unresolved). Maria decides to honor Columbus's wishes, lets him go, and convinces her father to let her go with Columbus on his journey.
     
   • Details are one of the most important things to write in a book. Instead of just saying. "The sky was blue." say what kind of shade of blue it is. It can really boost the level of your story. But don't over detail. It can make you look like you're trying too hard.
     
   
   
3. Start writing! This is the best part. If you're having trouble starting, skip to the conflict of the story, and go from there. Once you feel comfortable with your writing, you can add the setting.
   

If You're Writing Nonfiction

1. Pick something you know about. If you have lived in Michigan all your life, why write about Florida? Your nonfiction book could be information about a place the reader is vacationing to or information on a place in general. Or it could be about today's society. Anything you know about that is absolutely true is okay for nonfiction.
   
2. Research. Every expert has at least one new thing to learn about! You can never know too much about a subject. If you are having trouble learning more about your subject, try to do these things: go online, get another nonfiction book, ask a fellow expert, or read an encyclopedia.
   
3. Format your book. The books that don't get published are the ones that are poorly organized. For example, don't talk about good places to fish and good beaches in Europe in the same chapter. For more information, consult the Related wikiHows.
   

Tips

• Keep a small notebook in your purse, pocket, backpack etc. So when you're racking your brain for ideas, you can use something in your notebook. So if you hear (or think of!) a unique name, story, or whatever else, write it down! It could be the key thing that could make your book a bestseller!
  
• Participate in NaNoWriMo (link at bottom of page). It's a great way to get a novel done, through the magical power of Deadlines!
  
• Be sure your grammar is good. But don't let that slow you down -- see the last point.
  
• Let other people read your story, so they can tell if they like it or not.
  
• If you can't figure out what to write for your fiction story, base it on something that happened to you, and turn it into a story about someone else.
  
• Practice ... it's just like anything else: you have to practice.
  
• Use good vocabulary. It's very important for both fiction (it makes the story sound better) and nonfiction (it makes your book more interesting).
  
• Use your imagination! It’s the key to a great fiction book.
  
• Find the main points of the book first. Save the minor details for later. A good story line is important, but a book is nothing without the details.
  
• Show the reader what is happening...don't just tell.
  
• The highly successful author Stephen King finds that to be successful at writing you must read at least four hours a day and write at least four hours a day.
  
• Take notes, notes, and more notes. They can be gathered into subjects and then turned into chapters.
  
• Just write. Don't get too hung up on perfect grammar, exposition, punctuation, etc. The editing process will come later.
  

Warnings

• Don't get discouraged! If you're feeling frustrated with your current story, take a break. Work on a short story, a newspaper article, an essay, or do a little work here on wikiHow.
  
• To escape from having writer's block, plan out your story in the very beginning. Make a list of very important words that you want to write in your story. Take a piece of paper and number it from one to thirty, and write a short summary of each chapter in the book.
  
• Don't forget to revise! If you don't revise(I don't mean edit.) then your probably going to have a level 1 story. In newspapers the editors revise the story they are seeing.
  

Related wikiHows

• How to Write a Book About Your Life
  
• How to Write a Fable
  
• How to Participate in NaNoWriMo
  
• How to Write a Short Novel
  
• How to Plan out a Novel
  
• How to Write a Book As a Teenager
  
• How to Read a Picture Book
  

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