Writing a book: What we've learned from our debut novel
Tips on writing a book from a fellow author
Phew…the past few months have been an absolute grind but now that I can see the light, it’s time to share what the hell I’ve been up to with you all. Last week – after months of writing 500 words a day – I finally typed the word “END” on my very first novel! The Sound of Southside will be coming to a shelf near you, eventually. There’s still a lot of work to do, like weighing self publishing vs traditional publishing, possibly finding a literary agent, writing a query letter etc. Still, I wanted to share a few things that I've learned during this book writing process. So if you’re thinking of writing a book yourself, hopefully this article can be a resource for you.
Where to get ideas for a book?
When I’m getting ideas for my next film, book or even blog post, my method is the same: Go outside and live life! And while you’re at it, try to view everything through a writer’s lens. One of the best qualities a writer can have is being a good listener. This doesn’t just mean listening to what people say, because sometimes what they didn’t say is just as interesting. Challenge yourself to try to carve out storylines from everyday life and build on that. Sometimes, I’ll sit down on the train or in the park and hear snippets of people’s dialogue which will unintentionally inspire a character or story. Don’t be a creep though. There’s a fine line, so make sure y’all navigate that safely.
How do you know when you have the right book idea?
Writing a book is a grueling process, even if you love writing like me. You really should make sure that you care deeply about the story you land on, because that care will be what carries you through the process. How bad do you want to see this story come to fruition? And why do you want to tell this particular story? Ask yourself these questions. If you’re doing it for the wrong reasons, you might want to reassess. A story that you truly care about will carry you through the burnout that may occur during your book writing process.
Novel outline
I guess this is where I should say that as an author, you should have a beginning, middle and end sorted out in your story before you put a single word to paper. That’s what I was taught at least, but it didn’t work for me. I realized that I like to learn about my characters and the world that they exist in as I go along, so I tend to create better with less structure. I’m saying this to say that you should experiment a bit to figure out what style works best for you. Are you a planner, a pantser or a plantser? If you have no idea what I’m talking about, read this.The method I’d recommend is to have a basic outline of your story before you begin but leave plenty of room for improvisation. Your novel outline should be a guide rather than shackles.
Book writing process
As a filmmaker, I’m used to the creative process being a group effort. Naturally, it’s easier to be held accountable when you have an entire community in on it with you. When it comes to writing a novel though, it’s literally just you and that laptop. It’s super important to have some self discipline as a novelist and if need be, apply some rules for yourself. As I mentioned, I tried to implement the 500 words a day rule that I’ve seen other authors swear by. This was usually helpful, but there’s always those days where you don’t wanna be bothered. Rather than force myself to be creative on those days, I like to close the laptop and go live life. Most times, I come back refreshed and I’m able to crank out even more words on those comeback days and make up for lost time. The key is to not put it off for too long though. Stay the course and take intention breaks rather than just slack off.
Finding a Literary Agent
This is where I am in the process right now, so unlike other bloggers, I won't give advice on anything I haven't done myself. I just completed my book synopsis and I'm currently sending out countless query letters just waiting on that first yes. When I do, y'all will be the first to know!