Where to Begin

Where to begin What type of book do you want to write? Most people will tell you to start with something you know. What if you could put what you know into a completely new dimension? You could be creating a new category. Whatever you many choose just remember every story or book must have a beginning to capture your reader, a middle that moves the reader along to your ending where the conflicts are resolved, and makes your readers laugh, cry, smile or ponder what you have written about. There are many categories that publishers will label different books. Here are a few, however the list is endless and can be broken down into many new sub-categories. * Mainstream Novels o Works that are intended for the general public and include subjects such as, family life, coming of age, courtroom dram, and dealing with physical problems, but is not limited to. * Literary Novels o Used mostly for writers best known for their particular styles and re-creation of classic styles. * Philosophical Novels o Written to make a point about life's meaning. * Religious Novels o Published mostly be religious publishing houses. * Action/Adventure/Thriller o Fast paces action that can take place in exotic locations and are set in present or recent past. Suspense is another term for this type of category. * Romance o Geared mainly towards women and deal with courtship. They can bee set in any period of history or present. * Science Fiction/Fantasy o Science Fiction is based on technology, effects of science and theories of people and places in the near or far future. Fantasy is usually about magic or alternate worlds. They can include dragons, witches and sorcery but don't have to. * Horror o Ghosts, witches, mummies, monsters and the like are used as the main characters with the powers to scare us. * Crime o Mysteries, and detective novels that describe crime in forms such as puzzles, actions, often murder. * Animal Stories o One or more main characters are animals. * Juvenile/Young Adult Novels o This type of work will usually have a protagonist the same age the book is intended for. * Children's Picture Books o Usually written in short rhymes such as a stanza in a poem. Accompanied with full colour pictures that draw the child into the imaginary setting of the story. By now, I am sure that you have a good idea of the type of book you have in mind. Here are a few general tips on what you should do before you put that pen to paper, or fingers to the keyboard. 1. Decide on a basic category you want to write for or see if you can combine more that one together. 2. Look at novels of the same type and aim to write your book to the same length. 3. Read many books by many different authors in the category of your choice to get writing styles and techniques. 4. Draw readers into your story by providing situations that they can relate to. Making sure that each situation is suited for the appropriate age group. 5. Research your topic thoroughly. You will lose your credibility with your readers if your situations or resolutions are filled with conflicting information or inadequate descriptions. 6. Be yourself and write what you like, let your writing reflect a part of you. One great source of ideas for your story is your daily newspaper. From what is happening in your community. The shooting that involved a neighbourhood child to the plans to build that new mode of transportation. You can also check the advice column. There you can find enough real life situations to last a lifetime of writing. Every story must follow a general structure of beginning, middle, and end but can have many different sub-plots as long as everything ties together by the time you are finished. The first line of your book will either grab the reader or make them put it down. It must reach the reader and give a hint of what to expect from the story.