Steps to Writing a Book
They say that good books can be your best friends (am I declaring competition for dogs!?). Nevertheless the point was good books are always a delight and they are always there to ward off your loneliness. Reading lovely books written by others is engrossing, but imagine if you write a book yourself? Wouldn't it be amazing? Just think of how wonderful it will be if you can bring a smile to people's faces or even arouse innermost sentiments? If this seems an exciting proposal for you and gets your adrenaline rushing, then check out the steps involved in the process of writing a book.
How to Write a Book?
1
Conceptualizing your book is one of the first steps to write a book. Decide upon a concept, story or a subject, especially a non-fiction. For a fiction or novel, basically you need to have an outline and most important thing is to pen down the outline. We always have an idea of things at a mental level. But if you ask what is the first step in writing a book, personally I would say start with penning down the basic concept and outline.
2
After you have jotted down the basic concept, the synopsis, the characters, et all, think of a unique angle to write that book with. There is a lot of possibility that your topic could be like a needle in the haystack. But, your treatment, your personal touch and your sensibilities have to add a different touch to it. This will make the book stand out from the others of that genre. Why do you think Agatha Christie or a Sidney Sheldon are revered amongst avid readers? That's because of their distinct punch to the story with which they are able to connect instantly with the readers.
3
Now you would have to expand the idea and make different chapters out of it. A good idea at this stage would be to 'talk' to your close friends and relatives about the chapter. What do you want to say and put forth in a particular chapter? Are the emotional requirements of the target market being fulfilled, is the question to be asked here. Make notes as you discuss and build up on that.
4
Get the chapters together as explained in the earlier step and take that ahead. Compiling those bits and pieces will be your first draft and will take you some more steps closer to writing a book. In fact here you need to prepare for your first draft. Start filling in the gaps. This might require related research to back your point or any extra information you might have. As you go along, you would realize what to add, remove, change or even shift. Organizing and cleaning are common aspects, be it steps to writing a novel or be it steps to writing a fiction book.
5
Then comes actually writing and properly compiling that draft. Have a friend sit with you again and chalk out the missing chinks in the armor and fill them. Get rough print outs.
6
There you are! You have almost done it! The first draft of your book is now ready! You need to edit it. For that, you would need to read the entire book, chapter by chapter. Check out the flow, the connectivity between events and time, the clarity of characters or concept and in general if it is an interesting read. Gauge whether it will appeal to the target market. Try to get an overall feel of the book. You would perhaps need to do some changes to your book after this. Note down the changes and immediately incorporate them in the draft.
7
Send the second draft to a professional editor and get it read by someone else, if at all that is not possible. But a neutral party is imperative to identify the glitches or even tell you the high points of the book. At this stage you just forget about the book for some time.
8
Here all you need to do is take a final review of the book. Read it again thoroughly. Relax, even if you don't like what you have written, that pretty common. This happens whether you are writing a book report or a book review. So don't worry about that. Let the readers decide.
There! These were the steps to write a book! After all this hard work, do not forget to get hold of a good renowned publisher, get the book printed and selling like hot cakes! Finally, before you write, make sure you have read a caboodle of books! This reminds me of what Henry David Thoreau had said about books -
How many a man has dated a new era in his life from the reading of a book.
