So you want to be an author. You think you have some pretty good writing skills but you aren’t quite sure about how to get started or whether you’re covering all the bases. So let’s take a look at the step by step process of writing an action or dramatic book:

1. Pick a subject. Do you know anything about this subject? Will the subject matter keep your interest?

2. Write a diagram of where your story is going. How will it begin? How will it end? What major steps will take it from beginning to end?

3. Develop the main characters. What are the names of the main three or four characters? How do they relate to each other? How did their past lives bring them to their circumstances in your book? Has the hero always been a hero or do they find themselves thrown into a heroic situation beyond their control? In other words, know your main characters before you begin writing!

4. Let the reader get to know the main characters before the events become to involved. The reader needs to be able to identify with why the characters might be doing what they’re doing. Tell a short story about what’s going on in each character’s life right before the action or drama begins. Those stories should leave no doubt in the reader’s mind about whether each character is brave/cowardly, kind/cruel, intelligent/dim-witted, etc.

5. Consider starting the action or drama with a mystery. For example, instead of having the main character immediately attacked by someone, why not have the main character find out that someone is watching them? Why is that person watching them? Maybe another character (a friend or working associate perhaps) tells them that they also suspect they’re being watched. Then the first character is attacked and abducted while the second fears they’ll be next and begins looking for answers to what’s going on. They go to a third character for assistance. The action or drama is much more enjoyable when there’s a “build up” to it! Of course, if the book is non-fiction, you should remain true to the facts.

6. Disclose some new aspects of a main character that you didn’t originally detail. Something shocking that explains a bit about what’s going on or develops totally new questions.

7. Consider using exotic locations and describe them. Tell the reader why the character(s) are there. Tie the locations into the story.

8. Keep referring back to the diagram you wrote to ensure that you’re not drifting too far from the storyline. It’s ok to make changes to the diagram as you go along. Just make sure that those changes don’t ruin the “flow” of the entire diagram from the beginning to the end of the story!

If you’re book is going to be instructional, here are some things to consider. Note that they are very similar to those for the fiction writer:

1. Pick a subject. Do you consider yourself an expert on this subject? If not, how will you get the knowledge necessary to write your book? Will the subject matter keep your interest?

2. Write a diagram of your book. What are the main topics it will explore? What secondary topics must be explained in order for the reader to understand the main topics?

3. Ensure that you’ve given the reader enough background knowledge to understand what you’re talking about. For example, if you’re writing a book about quantum physics for scientists, you don’t need to explain anything about basic scientific theory to them. You assume they already know that stuff. If you’re telling the same information to sixth grade science students, you need to provide any underlying knowledge they’ll need to understand the main theme of the book. More importantly, you need to explain those things in a way that a typical sixth grade student will understand. Don’t assume that anything is easy based upon your level of expertise in the subject matter! (This is an extremely common mistake by experts in their fields).

4. Try to make your subject matter fun! If your book is a chore to read, it won’t appeal to large numbers of readers.

5. Keep referring back to the diagram you wrote for your book to ensure that you don’t leave out any vital support material.

For additional information read this How to Write a Book page and you may also want to check out the answers to other common questions at our General Knowledge Questions and Answers site!

For additional information check out the page at: http://www.mostoftenasked.com/howtowriteabook.html and you may also check out many more common discussion questions and answers at http://www.mostoftenasked.com

Author Bio: For additional information read this How to Write a Book page and you may also want to check out the answers to other common questions at our General Knowledge Questions and Answers site!

Category: Writing
Keywords: write,books,book,author,sell,publish