What's your step by step process to writing a book?
I am in the groove on a new book. It always takes me a while to get there - and I often have moments of aching despair as I inch the book forward, the doubts and self-criticisms piling up, the question about whether what I am doing is any good is omnipresent on a daily basis. And I write this as someone who has written 12 novels, four works of non-fiction, and sold many millions of copies. And yet every time I push my way into a new novel the need to move it along is simultaneously underscored by all the incertitudes that accompany the writing process.
And then, at a certain stage in the narrative development, there is a decisive click and the doubts recede a bit - and I can start motoring with a bit more ease. This new book will be my twenty-sixth - and it never gets easier. Then again, why should it? I never complain about the agonies (and the absolute loneliness of the creative process). I love what I do - and understand that its rigors, its solipsism, its attendant neuroses are the price you pay for writing fiction. I saw an interesting, unsuccessful film called ‘Midnight Special’ some time back in which a father, played by Michael Shannon, tells his eight year old son: “I’ll always worry about you... that’s part of the deal’. This parent could certainly agree with that paternal world-view. Just as I know that doubt and anxiety about ‘can I do this again’ are also part of the creative deal. Which is why when the writing hits clear water and you find yourself in the groove... put it this way, it validates all the long dark nights of merde that accompany the process. Just wanted to ask and get some ideas on shaping my own? Because mine have always been so messy, and I get artistic process can often be like that. But with mine I usually pants it. Which I get there are gardeners and adventures when it comes to writing (Planning everything vs planning next to nothing) and I feel I fall in the middle, closer to planner, I like to know where I'm going, events, arcs, outcomes etc. Then change anything as needed, if things don't work, or if I type something that springs a new idea etc. It might be an okay method? But it feels too structureless to be repeated comfortably. As so I often try to start something new and get overwhelmed with the list of things I have to do (Story Arcs, Themes, Characters Arcs, Plot Structures, does X work with X, Making sure my characters are likeable from the start, having those defined characteristics ready for every character. Is the plot structure of this arc working? etc, etc.) I've tried making that list and working through it, but it never works, I just get burnt out. Often because (as they should to be honest) those aspects all connect, so making progress in one topic is making another worse, or more convoluted.
I get the age-old advice of "Just Write!" I kinda did it with my first project where I wrote an awful first three chapters, kept the first, reworked the second and tossed out the third. And whilst that project came together by the end. I don't know how...Not trying to be annoying. But I feel it was so much bashing my head against the wall that it made me want to stop. I feel like wrestling with writing issues is fine, but burning yourself out on bashing your head against a wall is not. And I guess im trying to avoid that same burnt out feeling. I've had this project ive been trying to get a go on since, like...? April last year? And I was doing the general life audit of my life goals, and to finish this book that I have a bunch of on and off ideas for over the last year, I was trying to break it down into smaller steps so that I can better feel, idk better or more in control of iit. And I realised I had no process and wanted to hear from others, or maybe advice on my just bashing of book elements until something sticks My grandfather always told me that "everyone has a good book in them." I've always wanted to write a book but, quite honestly, I'm scared. I've never written anything longer than a term paper and even those I'm not too proud of. I'm afraid of not having proper punctuation, grammar, gripping my audience, and just being able to tell a good story.
How did you start writing your first book?
Hi, wonderful people
Have you ever thought of writing a book?
I think every reader have some sort of book ideas that they would like to write. What's your idea or are you thinking of publishing your own book.
When you want to write a novel. Where do you start? What do you begin writing first?
Advice
I've been wanting to write my own book for a few years now. I've always loved to read, but writing is a fairly new thing for me. So I'm just curious from you more experienced writers. Where do you begin when you're starting a novel? Is it as simple as just starting at the beginning and letting it develop as you write. Or do you plan out things ahead of time?
I have this revenge story idea where the protagonist is wronged by a man and she takes her revenge too far and the man also have nothing left (no happy ending). But I feel like if I look it up there already would be a book like this.
I want to ask each one of you how did you write your first book? Did you write every day or every week? How mu The time it took you? Who|what inspired you? What was your story?
How do you feel about writing in your books?
I use to think annotating a book was reserved solely for literary remarks, like what you'd have to do in English class, and I always hated doing it. Then one day it clicked that I could just...write whatever I wanted in them now, which is stupid I know, but I always thought my commentary had to be intellectually stimulating and I didn't like thinking about it too hard. Now that I've realized I can write any thought I want like "that was dumb" or "yeah I'd slap you too" or just general predictions I have, it's made reading so much more enjoyable. But I know some people hate writing in books and was wondering what your opinions were on it and if you do write in your books, what do you jot down?
I am a new writer and I'm trying and making an effort, but it gets hard at times, but please don't say 'Hayet if you're struggling so much stop writing......"
What did you learn from writing your first book?
Discussion
Hi everyone!
I'm 14 years old and obviously still in school. I have this unprecedented gift for literature that the teachers at my school had never seen before in other students, and my friends love reading my stories (not trying to be conceited). Most of them encourage me to go write a book, but it seems almost impossible to balance time between my studies and my writing.
What do you enjoy about the process of writing?
Hi, I'm new to this sub and really wanted to find out from all you people who actually write stuff what you enjoy about the process. Is there a kind of "writer's high," like a runner's high, where you can get in the zone and just go? Or is it a slow, painstaking process like building a stone wall, but you love the difficulty of it?
I burn out quickly when I try to write, not from lack of ideas, but out of frustration about how slow the process is of getting words from my brain, down through my fingers to the paper or screen, so I'd like to know what some of the good, enjoyable parts of writing are that I might be overlooking.
I've also tried looking for options online, but most of the story-publishing websites have authors way older than me, and I read somewhere online that only people with the most life experiences; the older ones, have a better capability to relate to the audience they are writing to. People say that a young writer's inexperience shows in their writing, and some even go as far as saying that young authors are only capable of writing cute fantasy books and disdainful romantic cheese - a prejudice which has been my major drawback when it came to my dreams for publishing a book at this age.
Even though I incorporate adult themes into my stories, I fear people may still judge me for being "too young" and "inexperienced", and that I won't be able to go anywhere by writing a novel, let alone a short story. I've had millions of ideas for a book and most of them have either been abandoned or crumpled and thrown into a trashcan. My studies are going worse by the minute, I still can't find a good website to publish my stories in, and even if I do I don't know whether I could get past the age barrier.
So as the title suggests, I want to write a book but whenever I try to write it I just can't put words together. I have been thinking about the story I want to write since I was about 5/6 years old. And I have been writing short stories on my phone for fun for about a 2 years and I love writing. But I want my first online published book to be the story I've been thinking about since I can remember but everytime I try I just can't and it's getting very frustrating because I have some other books I want to write and have a couple chapters ready but I just cannot publish any of them without completing the book first. Why is this happening to me. I really want to share the story with the world but I can't help but wonder if I am just not ready to share the story with the world and am subconsciously holding on to it. Is there a word for what's happening to me or am I just weird. But anyways thank you for listening to my rant.
If anyone could give me advice on how to manage my time, or provide any websites, subreddits or other things that may help with publishing stories, or somehow convince me that my age is not an issue, I would really appreciate it. Any advice at ALL would help actually. Telling me to wait until I'm older or any stupidity like that is not advice.
Also, if someone could tell me if this subreddit can be of any help please explain because I'm relatively new here and I don't know how things work.
It’s common to hear authors talk about how much they learned from writing their very first book, and many contend the final product was downright bad.
To those of you who have written one book or more, I would love to know what it was you learned from writing and completing your first book if anyone wants to share their experiences. What did you wish you’d known before writing it? What mistakes did you make, if you see them as such? What are you proud of?
Thanks!
Edit: Just wanted to say thank you for all of the insights! I'm on my first book (I'm considering it my first because it's the first one I'm taking seriously enough to finish, and I'm nearly done the first draft) and I was super curious of others' experiences!
I won't because I want to improve my writing skills and improve myself
Do any of you have any advice for a newb - someone looking to learn how to write and write well? How do I:
-develop characters? -design a plot? -choose a setting? -introduce conflict? -resolve conflict? -and all the other stuff I'm forgetting?
Any resources and/or advice for a dreamer would be appreciated. Thanks, guys!
And then, at a certain stage in the narrative development, there is a decisive click and the doubts recede a bit - and I can start motoring with a bit more ease. This new book will be my twenty-sixth - and it never gets easier. Then again, why should it? I never complain about the agonies (and the absolute loneliness of the creative process). I love what I do - and understand that its rigors, its solipsism, its attendant neuroses are the price you pay for writing fiction. I saw an interesting, unsuccessful film called ‘Midnight Special’ some time back in which a father, played by Michael Shannon, tells his eight year old son: “I’ll always worry about you... that’s part of the deal’. This parent could certainly agree with that paternal world-view. Just as I know that doubt and anxiety about ‘can I do this again’ are also part of the creative deal. Which is why when the writing hits clear water and you find yourself in the groove... put it this way, it validates all the long dark nights of merde that accompany the process. Just wanted to ask and get some ideas on shaping my own? Because mine have always been so messy, and I get artistic process can often be like that. But with mine I usually pants it. Which I get there are gardeners and adventures when it comes to writing (Planning everything vs planning next to nothing) and I feel I fall in the middle, closer to planner, I like to know where I'm going, events, arcs, outcomes etc. Then change anything as needed, if things don't work, or if I type something that springs a new idea etc. It might be an okay method? But it feels too structureless to be repeated comfortably. As so I often try to start something new and get overwhelmed with the list of things I have to do (Story Arcs, Themes, Characters Arcs, Plot Structures, does X work with X, Making sure my characters are likeable from the start, having those defined characteristics ready for every character. Is the plot structure of this arc working? etc, etc.) I've tried making that list and working through it, but it never works, I just get burnt out. Often because (as they should to be honest) those aspects all connect, so making progress in one topic is making another worse, or more convoluted.
I get the age-old advice of "Just Write!" I kinda did it with my first project where I wrote an awful first three chapters, kept the first, reworked the second and tossed out the third. And whilst that project came together by the end. I don't know how...Not trying to be annoying. But I feel it was so much bashing my head against the wall that it made me want to stop. I feel like wrestling with writing issues is fine, but burning yourself out on bashing your head against a wall is not. And I guess im trying to avoid that same burnt out feeling. I've had this project ive been trying to get a go on since, like...? April last year? And I was doing the general life audit of my life goals, and to finish this book that I have a bunch of on and off ideas for over the last year, I was trying to break it down into smaller steps so that I can better feel, idk better or more in control of iit. And I realised I had no process and wanted to hear from others, or maybe advice on my just bashing of book elements until something sticks My grandfather always told me that "everyone has a good book in them." I've always wanted to write a book but, quite honestly, I'm scared. I've never written anything longer than a term paper and even those I'm not too proud of. I'm afraid of not having proper punctuation, grammar, gripping my audience, and just being able to tell a good story.
How did you start writing your first book?
Hi, wonderful people
Have you ever thought of writing a book?
I think every reader have some sort of book ideas that they would like to write. What's your idea or are you thinking of publishing your own book.
When you want to write a novel. Where do you start? What do you begin writing first?
Advice
I've been wanting to write my own book for a few years now. I've always loved to read, but writing is a fairly new thing for me. So I'm just curious from you more experienced writers. Where do you begin when you're starting a novel? Is it as simple as just starting at the beginning and letting it develop as you write. Or do you plan out things ahead of time?
I have this revenge story idea where the protagonist is wronged by a man and she takes her revenge too far and the man also have nothing left (no happy ending). But I feel like if I look it up there already would be a book like this.
I want to ask each one of you how did you write your first book? Did you write every day or every week? How mu The time it took you? Who|what inspired you? What was your story?
How do you feel about writing in your books?
I use to think annotating a book was reserved solely for literary remarks, like what you'd have to do in English class, and I always hated doing it. Then one day it clicked that I could just...write whatever I wanted in them now, which is stupid I know, but I always thought my commentary had to be intellectually stimulating and I didn't like thinking about it too hard. Now that I've realized I can write any thought I want like "that was dumb" or "yeah I'd slap you too" or just general predictions I have, it's made reading so much more enjoyable. But I know some people hate writing in books and was wondering what your opinions were on it and if you do write in your books, what do you jot down?
I am a new writer and I'm trying and making an effort, but it gets hard at times, but please don't say 'Hayet if you're struggling so much stop writing......"
What did you learn from writing your first book?
Discussion
Hi everyone!
I'm 14 years old and obviously still in school. I have this unprecedented gift for literature that the teachers at my school had never seen before in other students, and my friends love reading my stories (not trying to be conceited). Most of them encourage me to go write a book, but it seems almost impossible to balance time between my studies and my writing.
What do you enjoy about the process of writing?
Hi, I'm new to this sub and really wanted to find out from all you people who actually write stuff what you enjoy about the process. Is there a kind of "writer's high," like a runner's high, where you can get in the zone and just go? Or is it a slow, painstaking process like building a stone wall, but you love the difficulty of it?
I burn out quickly when I try to write, not from lack of ideas, but out of frustration about how slow the process is of getting words from my brain, down through my fingers to the paper or screen, so I'd like to know what some of the good, enjoyable parts of writing are that I might be overlooking.
I've also tried looking for options online, but most of the story-publishing websites have authors way older than me, and I read somewhere online that only people with the most life experiences; the older ones, have a better capability to relate to the audience they are writing to. People say that a young writer's inexperience shows in their writing, and some even go as far as saying that young authors are only capable of writing cute fantasy books and disdainful romantic cheese - a prejudice which has been my major drawback when it came to my dreams for publishing a book at this age.
Even though I incorporate adult themes into my stories, I fear people may still judge me for being "too young" and "inexperienced", and that I won't be able to go anywhere by writing a novel, let alone a short story. I've had millions of ideas for a book and most of them have either been abandoned or crumpled and thrown into a trashcan. My studies are going worse by the minute, I still can't find a good website to publish my stories in, and even if I do I don't know whether I could get past the age barrier.
So as the title suggests, I want to write a book but whenever I try to write it I just can't put words together. I have been thinking about the story I want to write since I was about 5/6 years old. And I have been writing short stories on my phone for fun for about a 2 years and I love writing. But I want my first online published book to be the story I've been thinking about since I can remember but everytime I try I just can't and it's getting very frustrating because I have some other books I want to write and have a couple chapters ready but I just cannot publish any of them without completing the book first. Why is this happening to me. I really want to share the story with the world but I can't help but wonder if I am just not ready to share the story with the world and am subconsciously holding on to it. Is there a word for what's happening to me or am I just weird. But anyways thank you for listening to my rant.
If anyone could give me advice on how to manage my time, or provide any websites, subreddits or other things that may help with publishing stories, or somehow convince me that my age is not an issue, I would really appreciate it. Any advice at ALL would help actually. Telling me to wait until I'm older or any stupidity like that is not advice.
Also, if someone could tell me if this subreddit can be of any help please explain because I'm relatively new here and I don't know how things work.
It’s common to hear authors talk about how much they learned from writing their very first book, and many contend the final product was downright bad.
To those of you who have written one book or more, I would love to know what it was you learned from writing and completing your first book if anyone wants to share their experiences. What did you wish you’d known before writing it? What mistakes did you make, if you see them as such? What are you proud of?
Thanks!
Edit: Just wanted to say thank you for all of the insights! I'm on my first book (I'm considering it my first because it's the first one I'm taking seriously enough to finish, and I'm nearly done the first draft) and I was super curious of others' experiences!
I won't because I want to improve my writing skills and improve myself
Do any of you have any advice for a newb - someone looking to learn how to write and write well? How do I:
-develop characters? -design a plot? -choose a setting? -introduce conflict? -resolve conflict? -and all the other stuff I'm forgetting?
Any resources and/or advice for a dreamer would be appreciated. Thanks, guys!
