Write a Book

Tips and Tools

The first step in writing a book is being okay with it not being the most fantastic piece of literature ever. Accepting yourself as a bad writer is the most important step to becoming a great writer.

Next, while some people write from the seat of their pants this doesn't work well for complex plot lines.

I started by doing quick chapter summaries, the more prep work you do the less rewriting you must do later.

My favorite writing program to use is Novlr, unfortunately, after a small free period, it does cost ten dollars a month. Luckily there are plenty of free online sites that work quite well.

Fast Pencil is what I moved to next but then they updated the platform which while it is still a wonderful program to use it doesn't allow for indentation. I'm a freak for indentation. It helps me keep track of my ideas.

Why I don't use ibooks author despite having a mac, it seems to always quit on me when I'm half way through. The other reason is I've lost hundreds of pages due to computer failure viruses and human error (forgetting to save and whatnot.) Using online programs, your work is backed up to several servers. Some programs like Writer autosave which is marvelous. Writer, however, doesn't have easy chapter organization.

Once you start writing you will notice one of the most difficult things is keeping track of all the details for every character. The program I love for this is Trello. Extremely simple to use! This is where I keep track of ideas for scenes, future books, and the backstory of each character.

If you're having trouble with ideas my go to is an app and headphones the app uses binaural tones to stimulate creative states changing your brainwaves. This is how I wrote a script in three days.

Many writers such as Lewis Carrol used alternative methods such as LSD, DMT, and Opium to get over writer's block. However, with deep meditation, you can effect similar results.

Whatever you choose to write, make certain it is something you are deeply in love with because a third of the way in you are going to be ready to move on to anything else because you are going to make yourself sick of it. Passion literally means to suffer. If you are passionate about it, you will suffer for it and that requires a great deal of love.

Once you have your chapter summaries, you're going to go off script and that's okay. An outline isn't set in stone. During my writing process, I had to outline several times. One thing I would do is accidentally skip over parts that were necessary to the whole and have to rework several chapters because I missed some small details that needed to be included prior to big events.

I learned one way of not doing this is Mirror Outlining. This is where you start at the main event and then you outline backward and forward from that crucial moment so you don't miss the build ups. This is one of the things that made Twilight and Harry Potter such big successes is in both series the authors used mirror methods and repeating circles to where the endings reflected the beginnings in some way.

Getting the Book Done

It takes a lot of commitment to be a writer. You have to marry a single idea, court it to completion and then when the time comes and you're completely in love with it, let it go. Just like reading the last chapter of a book with characters you are completely in love with, closing it is both bitter and sweet. 

With your book, this feeling is a thousand times stronger. Many times you will find yourself procrastinating because you aren't ready to let go. Your book is your most intimate relationship. You've nurtured it, loved it, watched it grow and done the painful work of editing. 

This is where the hard work of personal growth comes in. You discover what's been holding you back in life. You are forced to progress if you ever want your characters too. You must evolve with your characters in some way in order for your book to be replete and satisfied. Then you move on to your next great love affair. 

I hope this helps! Lots of Love! Please subscribe!