Becoming a writer

Becoming a writer is not as hard as you may think.

Although there is definitely an art to writing, if you can get your ideas onto paper, you are well on your way to creating your first book.

If you are struggling about where to start, don't worry. Sometimes, getting started is the most difficult part of writing. But you have conquered the first battle… you have an idea… you are becoming a writer.

So, now that you have your book idea mapped out (at least in a general way), you should have also put together a preliminary list of potential new, exciting topics to cover in your book. And if you have done your research, you should have a good idea of what other similar books are currently on the market and what they offer readers.

If you want to get new readers and create a profitable book, then simply put, you need to offer readers something new. Find an original twist on an old subject, offer your readers alternatives, a fresh perspective and you will also give them a reason to buy and read your book.

Becoming a writer, whether you are mastering the exciting world of fiction or you decide to teach your readers through non-fiction narratives, entails the same basic principles.

If you are writing a fiction book, by this point, you should have developed a rough idea of who your characters are, what their main personality traits are, what they look like physically. I find it helps to just sit quietly for a moment, close my eyes and imagine these characters as real people. See them like you would in a movie, hear their voices, watch their mannerisms, essentially, be them.

Believe it

Any successful author can tell you that if you are thinking of becoming a writer, in order for you to get your reader to believe what you are writing about, you must first be able to see and believe it yourself.

As easy as this step seems, it is one of the most powerful tools you will ever learn whether you are becoming a writer or a high-powered business executive.

In fact, no matter what career you choose, guaranteed, if you want to be successful, you will need to learn how to use your imagination.

So, now you have a picture of your book in your mind.

Even if you are writing a non-fiction book, you still need to be able to envision your book. Try to imagine the various chapters, the topics as they come to life. Let your mind go into the details of each section and very quickly, you will begin to notice how those ideas start to expand. Don't get too caught up in the exact details however, because again, they don't have to be set in stone.

But in order to move on to the next stage in your journey of becoming a writer, you will have to at least have an initial idea to work from … a minimal outline of your book.

I find as a writer, whether I am writing fiction or non-fiction, these ideas will change as the book develops. That is the beauty of creativity!

Experience it

When becoming a writer, every little experience you have each and every day, contributes to the eventual outcome of your book. So, start to pay attention to what is happening in your life. Take everything in with new eyes and watch as your book idea begins to expand and flourish.

At this point, you may begin to feel a little overwhelmed.

Becoming a writer can do that to you. But don't worry! This is quite normal and in fact, it is a good sign because it means your mind is working overtime and the ideas are flowing! Just take a deep breath and let's move on.

While I have developed a sure-fire writing system with easy to follow steps to writing a book that I would love to share with you (and I know will help you tremendously in becoming a writer), ultimately, if you can find a way to get yourself focused, then by all means, use it.

Plan it

One of the easiest ways I have found to do this however is to start with the Table of Contents (TOC).

If you are writing a fiction book, start mapping out your basic plot line. Do this in sequence of events. Again, this does not have to be written in stone, but it will give you a foundation onto which you can build your book. Sometimes by just putting things down on paper where you can see them, new ideas and little details you may have missed or not even thought about, will pop out.

A great way to do this is to create a mindmap either on paper, or by a using a computer program such as Freemind.

Once you have your TOC lined up, you can begin to start the writing process.

Don't get yourself caught up in the technical details at this point. There are editors out there who can help you with proper grammar or sentence structure. In fact, we have some of the best, experienced editors onboard who can help you with writing a book.

All you need to focus on right now is getting the ideas out of your head on onto the page.

Although it usually makes more sense to write the book according to the sequence of your TOC, sometimes (especially when writing a non-fiction book), you can write chapters as the information and research becomes available. In fact, it is often necessary to do this and even go back to some chapters, because as your research progresses, you will likely find new and original information you will want to include.

This is why having a TOC is important. It is like the guidepost or the basic skeleton of your book. It will allow you to judge where you are in the writing process and can provide you with a gauge as to what needs to be done next.

Once you have everything in place and you have developed a rough draft of your book, you will be amazed at how much you have accomplished.

At this point, you may want to consult with an editor who can offer you constructive advise about the technical details and if there is possibly any other information you my want to include to make your book flow better.

But guess what? You are becoming a writer… you just wrote your first book! It is time now to move onto the next stage… becoming a published writer!

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