I have a good idea for a book but i don't know how to write one.?

Question

I am a really good creative writer but i have never been devoted to writing a book. it is about twins but i am not sure wether or not for it to be in first or third person and how to start it.

Answer 1

Thinking about writing is not writing, you have to actually do it.  (this is not meant in any unkind way but simply an ecouragement to stop thinking about it so much and start doing it - just start writing and see what comes out)

Try both points of view and see how it goes, as long as you don't get too far along you can change it as you go.  Its like learning an instrument, you have to practice and even if you have great inspiration, your first attempt doesn't always come out right.  But thats OK, just keep practicing and it will get better.

Answer 2

I was the same way too. I had a good idea but not enough time or info. It took me 8 years to write my first book. They key is:all about inspiration. Start by deciding what topic you want to write about. Romance, sci-fi or fantasy or perhaps you want to write your memoir. Let it flow from there. When I wrote my book I downloaded a template file from instantpublisher.com. Even if you are not thinking of self-publishing your book you can use the template as a format-- a base. The template helps you by showing you how the margins and pages a standard size paperback book looks like. You want to go with 4-1/4 x 7 size. I made a mistake and went with a 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 size on my first book. I'm revising my book now and probably will go with the standard when I publish it later. I don't know if what I wrote helps--good luck..

Answer 3

Since the story is likely to be about both twins you might want to consider third person.  If you are going to focus more or one than the other and they are going to be the main character then first person would be fine.  Third person omniscient is useful in that you as the writer have a godlike perspective.  You know everything down to each characters thoughts and secrets and it is your job to convey that to the reader.  In first person you must rely on you characters to tell the reader everything through speech, perspective and body language and in some cases interpretation because the character will be telling the reader things through their perspective.

    Third person means you can give more to setting and tone instead of it being just interpretive so a day could be beautiful but your character could still mention how oppressive the heat and humidity and a second character won't seem so odd telling the first character how lovely the breeze because the reader is already told it was a beautiful day.

     I write in a linear fashion.  The challange put before me was to write a page a day in a linear fashion and not to jump ahead too far but keep pace with the story as it developed.  It is a challenge I try to stick with in order to keep my focus and not jump ahead and end up with gaps and filler to get from one well written scene to another.  This also keeps me focused and the characters live a more coherent and concise existance.  Soon a page a day became a few pages and then gradually became a chapter a day and then a few chapters a day.  Of course I took days off or else the work would read like War and Peace and some day I took just to re-familiar myself with what I'd already written as well as check grammar, typos and continuity.

   Try to keep an outline of the story as you go to also help with focus and if you don't make the outline too rigid you have room to adjust change and expand.  Either way no one can read the book in your head.  Take your creative writing style and put it into that book, so that your voice is heard in it's uniqueness.  Once its complete then you can temper yourself and edit and change and adjust.

Answer 4

Well, if there are two main characters, and they are twins, first person could be confusing, but it could be done, for instance by switching from one perspective to the other every chapter, or you could do it from just one twin's perspective. Otherwise third person, but with more focus on the feelings and thoughts of the twins than on other characters.

As for how to start it, I suppose it depends on the type of story. I always like stories that dive right into the middle of some mundane scene, that introduces me to the character(s), or to te world in whihc they reside, or both. A typical example would be to start with character as they wake up, or as a phone rings and they say hello. That sort of thing.

My favourite series is a murder mystery series, and each book always starts with the main character standing over the body, thinking about how death pauses for no one.