Okay! I admit it! I was not trained to write a book any more so than I was trained to compose a piece of music.
I remember once addressing a group of aspiring writers. In retrospect, I should have left explaining the process of writing a book to better trained writers, but then, I was president of a local book-writing club and I was seen as being somewhat of an expert in book writing. Well, the following ideas came from–well, frankly, I don’t know where. But, it went like this.
“It is quite simple to write a book. Here are the steps you need to take:
- Come up with and idea.
- Develop it into a plot.
- Define your protagonist.
- Define your antagonist.
- Set up a situation of conflict.
- Place some of your characters in it.
- And they will write the book for you.”
I actually believed it, since that was precisely how I had written my first five books. It turns out that I am an anomaly, which is a formal way of saying I am an oddity.
The writer who informed me that my approach to writing a book was on the unusual side explained to me, and those who had been listening to me in a bewildered way, that generally an author first conceives of a powerful plot. Also, several subplots may be planned.
In addition to the antagonist and protagonist, several minor characters are planned and defined. In depth descriptions of each character are determined: height, weight, body build, hair and eye color, for example. Then there are personality characteristics, emotional quirks, psychological limitations, physical weaknesses and strengths, etc. There are hobbies, likes and dislikes, food and drink preferences, etc.
There are family and friend relationships, educational backgrounds,site locations, etc.
And I might add, etc., etc., and etc. The above is by no means and exhaustive list.
Then there is the generation of chapter outlines, etc.
I have tried to prepare to write a book through the use of the just mentioned approach. It did not work for me. So, for now, I will continue to write the way I did at first. It works for me. And, what is most important is that you find what works best for you.
And I have a little confession to make. The last two books I wrote, in addition to the first draft, took over thirty revisions. That’s a lot. I have a hunch if I could organize my books prior to the beginning of writing, I just might reduce the number or revisions.
But on the other hand, I’m not quite sure.
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