Writing books? Help please?

Question

Hi. i want to write a book based on some real life events of mine. if i wrote it well it would be very emotional and i'm sure it would attract many readers. Just, problem being, i'm not sure where to start. I'm just turning sixteen, even though my english teacher said i was one of the best writers he'd ever met, i was wondering where i could start. Any tips and advice please? x

Answer 1

Hey, you sound like me! :)

Begin by writing down whatever comes into your head - it doesn't have to be the most amazing prose you've ever written, just to get ideas and a steady foundation to start from.



You can then order everything around that you want in different places within your book - maybe one section should be before another one to ensure everything makes crystal clear sense to your readers.

Once you've done that you can begin tweaking your work, improving it - ironing out little details and making it read smoothly. Check all your punctuation and grammar is in tip-top condition and you're pretty much done. As long as you feel comfortable with it and write with confidence then I'm sure you won't have any trouble.

Good luck :)

Clare x

Answer 2

just start typing what you are thinking in word and write it down!

Answer 3

     Grab a notebook, and write out the events as they come to you.  Then sort them out in chronological order and write a rough draft. Read it through and see how it sounds.  Correct it, improve on it, and then perhaps read it into a tape recorder and play it back.  That way, not only will you pick up any mistakes you may have made, but it'll give you a good idea of how it 'scans.'  Give it a try.

Good luck

Mike B

Answer 4

well right down anything you want in your book and you can always change idea if you don't like them anymore. Also if your basing it on real life events try and put it on events you have experienced in your life then you know more about them  

Answer 5

i would maybe put yourself as if you were in someone elses point of view. maybe the outside looking in... if that makes sense

Answer 6

Writing is about conveying thoughts and Ideas to other people, therefore you develop better if you understand people and there needs I once heard of a chap who would stand on a busy station and try to imagine what the folk where all about ,quite frankly he was overwhelmed and decided it might be a better way to start by concentrating upon an abandoned station or on with less people at a  more sedate time of day.

Place yourself in this position and you might write a flyer.  

Answer 7

Hi there!

I think the first thing to do is to start jotting down ideas of the main events in the book, the characters, setting, and so on, so you have the story written down, at least in skeleton form. Planning early on means that the actual writing will be a lot easier.

The next step is the hardest - writing it! It takes a lot of patience and perseverance to write a full novel, but I'm sure you have it in you.  If your English teacher thinks you are good, then you must have some skills already, which will only improve with practice. So, using your plan, start writing your story.

Once you have finished, you can then go back and re-read what you have written, and if needed, elaborate or amend certain passages.

There are lots of writing classes around the country.  You could try your local adult education college, or community college, and see if they have any going on.  I'm sure a google or yahoo search will also help if you just type in "creative writing classes" and the name of the town/city you live in.

Useful books that I have read are (in order) Stephen King's "On Writing" (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Writing-Stephen-... and Katie Fforde's "Wannabe a Writer" (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wannabe-Writer-K...  

I haven't read this book, but it looks good, especially for someone just starting out: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Creative-Writing...

You can also get advice from the following websites:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blast/writing/artic...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blast/writing/artic...

I also like reading Neil Gaiman's website journal, just because it gives me an insight into how writers work. http://journal.neilgaiman.com/

Perhaps you could see whether your favourite author has a blog too, and see if you can gleen any wisdom from them?

Books that any writer should have on their shelf are:

- Writers and Artists Yearbook/The Writers Handbook/The Writer's Market (I don't think you need all three, just one will do, as they are basically the same). http://www.amazon.co.uk/Writers-Artists-...

- An English dictionary (I have a Collins one, though Oxford are supposed to be the best) http://www.amazon.co.uk/Paperback-Oxford...

- A Baby names book (yes, I know this may sound weird, but it's an easy way of coming up with different names for your characters!). http://www.amazon.co.uk/Babies-Names-Jul...

- The Elements of Style (esssential grammar tips)http://www.amazon.co.uk/Elements-Style-W...

Here's a thought - once you have started writing, why not ask your English teacher if they would mind reading your work and letting you know what they think?

Good luck with the writing!

Answer 8

hi, writing books is hard - best to write fiction and lace it with all of your personnel life, keeps it much more real (without upsetting your friends and family).