Writing a book and getting it published is a dream goal for many new writers, but simply starting can be a major challenge. Here are some tips for beginners on where to get inspiration, the best approaches, and general writing technique guidelines to start writing in 2023.
We’ve all heard the advice of “just start writing” or “read more”, but many new writers often find themselves in some kind of mental block when they first sit down to do so. While the former is still important to take note of, we’re going to break down some extra steps that will help your writing shine.
There are conditions you can set up and guidelines you can follow that will make the creative process as natural as possible. Whether you’re writing fiction or non-fiction, any different type of genre and book length, the following will cater to almost any type of book you plan on writing.
How do you start a book in 2023?
Asking yourself a few simple questions before starting a new project can make all the difference. If you find yourself stuck or unsure of how to start, try to isolate the following elements of your book idea. Starting with your motivation or the overall message you want to spread with your writing is a great idea. Find out what made you want to start so that you can come back to hone that throughout the writing process.
Next, choosing a genre or topic that you are truly passionate about and familiar with will also give you an advantage, as you will be aware of the best practices that work for great writers in the genre. If you already have a general concept in mind, it will help to loosely outline this idea and the structure for your story or written content.
While planning out the structure of your idea and gauging the potential length of your narrative, it is important to be realistic about your efforts, particularly in the early stage. Setting manageable expectations, that are still challenging, will keep your motivation higher and is much easier to stay on track.
As for the opening of the story itself, that will depend greatly on the genre you choose so it is hard to give specific advice. However, it is important to carefully consider the opening of your story, as a great first impression can be critical to the book’s success.
Where to get inspiration for book writing?
If you do not yet have an idea or simply lack the ability to get into the creative mindset, here are some ideas to help you tap into your imagination and stay focused on the task at hand.
While everyone is different, finding a quiet and comfortable place for your creativity is crucial for a lot of upcoming writers. Some people can work in coffee shops and busy environments, but even then, having a consistent workplace where you can build good habits is something that might be worth aspiring to.
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It would be silly to completely gloss over the idea of also reading and consuming a lot of stories. It does help to read books in the genre you will eventually write in. Just consuming any kind of story will help you better understand what makes a good character, or help you notice techniques that you can use in your own storytelling. You can watch TV, Film, play video games or see a play, but try, if you can, to keep strict limits on when you allow yourself, so as to not overindulge.
Best approaches to writing a book?
Freewriting is a great approach where you simply sit down and write continuously without overly worrying about grammar or the structure of your arcs. This clever technique works for all kinds of creative writing and even popular screenwriters like Martin McDonagh, writer of The Banshees of Inisherin, have admitted to using this. He is known for even surprising himself with the character twists he arrives at, which is why the audience often feels the same excitement watching his movies
Another great approach is simply filling in your planned structure scene by scene. Or writing the narrative in linear order. This is perhaps the most common approach, and while writers generally put sequences together linearly, you can jump ahead or back if you need to get a good idea out of your mind and on paper.
There are also alternative ideas such as using writing prompts to spur your creativity or the Pomodoro technique of writing in bursts. But, whatever styles and genres you ultimately choose, it is most important to stay patient, but persistent and keep improving on your work over the timespan you set for yourself.