Write Your Book STEP BY STEP

Write your book STEP BY STEP

hello hello, it's me again!

today i'm bringing you a step-by-step / checklist to finally get your book done. i know it can be a bit complicated to put everything together to make your idea come to life (you're definitely not alone!)

that's why i compiled some tips and made this post, in hopes to help some author out there :D

let's get started.

PREMISE

assuming you already have a good idea in mind, you should start by writing a premise. to help you with that, try to answer these questions:

who is the main character?

what are their goals?

which troubles will they face / what's stopping them from achieving their goals?

do they have an opponent? if so, who?

now that you know the answers to these questions, it's time to write the premise. the premise consists in a sentence that summarizes your whole idea.

PLOT OUTLINE

there are infinite ways to plot your story. you can do it by writing down ideas and linking them together, following a scheme, or any other method.

the most common plot outlines are these:

synopsis outline: one to two pages, where you hit all the major beats of the story

in-depth outline: outline each chapter/scene

snowflake method: develop the premise into a bigger paragraph, and that paragraph into a page (etc.) until you have the whole outline of your story

booken method: plot the start and end of the story, and the main characters

the novel factory created plot sheets for free, and you can choose from eight different templates. you might want to check it out!

KNOW YOUR CHARACTERS

having your outline defined, you should start developing your characters now. the main character's profile might be more detailed than the others, however, it's up to you. there are many character sheets out there on the internet that will help you create flawless characters.

i have a post with resources that might be helpful when creating a character, check it out!

and here you have some prompts and sheets to create a character:

Quick Character Creator - EA Deverell

Extremely detailed character sheet template - @hawkasss

The Best Character Template Ever - Dabble

Character Twenty Questions Worksheet - The Writers Circle

at this point, you should also define the narrator's voice, tone, etc, as well as the pace of your novel.

LOCATIONS

define the principal locations of your story, the settings, and where the story is taking place. it's important to know how the environment looks, and how your characters feel about it.

for this part, you might find it useful to do some research about some locations, if you're not familiar with them. find inspiration on Pinterest, Tumblr, or even on books, paintings, and art. everything is valid.

if your story takes place in a fantasy environment, you might need to fill out a template to create it or write down the way you imagine it to be. try to get as many details as possible, so there are no holes when developing the novel.

SUBPLOTS

you might want to give more depth to your novel by developing a subplot (or more than one). make sure it doesn't get too confusing or that doesn't take the focus away from the main action.

the subplot can be a romance, another character's relationship, a character's arc, a backstory, etc. this will make your story more real and 3D, more realistic.

develop it as a side story and mix it with the principal plot but don't make it as important as the main story, otherwise, none of the plots will make an impact.

SYNOPSIS

write a synopsis as long as you wish, covering every important part of the story. this will help you to really know your idea, and have a solid structure for it. it can range from 500 to 2,500 words, but you don't have to restrict yourself to a number.

things the synopsis should cover:

the status quo

the complication

initial challenges

midpoint

further challenges

the low point

the climax

the resolution

DRAFT

and we get to the best part which is writing! now that you know everything about your story, characters, locations, and scenes, all you have to do is to put all that together in words. don't feel pressured to make everything look perfect already, just write what comes to your mind. if you have a new idea for the plot, good, write it down! if this character doesn't make sense anymore, okay, get rid of them. just go with the flow, following the structure you've planned, and everything starts to come to life.

i know it's so tempting to go back, read what you wrote, and start editing and polishing, but trust me, don't do that! it's a waste of time, and you will take so much more time to finish your first draft. in fact, i've given up on so many stories because of that...

just when you finish the first draft, you will re-read everything and start editing, fixing plot holes, changing what doesn't fit well, etc. but for now, just write, get the first draft done. enjoy the process, don't rush.

thanks for reading!

i hope this post was helpful!

also, you might be interested in this free workbook with over 90 pages and many exercises! check it out here: THE WRITER'S WORKBOOK

resources for this post:

How to Choose a Plot Outline Method: 4 Techniques for Outlining Novels

How to Write a Novel: A Step-by-Step Guide

More Posts from Blogmarkostuff and Others

9 years ago

I made it to the top! Resumes are not always written in fancy diplomas or degrees, but in knowing how, when, where and why. It's a mixture between knowledge and experience.

I Made It To The Top

I made it to the top

10 years ago

Originality and creativity combined with a great set of colors, in addition to a wonderful team of dancers, make this video the one hitting the top in the first place in the USA.

What can we say about the song? Original! and even Meghan Trainor recognize that point by saying to DirectLyrics "I wrote the song for myself and my insecurities and it seems to have helped many other people in world too. I'm so happy others can relate to it and understand what I'm singing about." .

Obviously that was one parte of the whole enchilada. A song without an artistic idea is flawless, and as you watch the video, we enjoy every second not only for the dancers and their funny way of expressing themselves, but also for the point that the singer is trying to convey."Every inch of you is perfect from the bottom to the top".

Here is the song for those who want the lyrics:

                                  "All About That Bass"

Because you know I'm all about that bass 'Bout that bass, no treble I'm all about that bass 'Bout that bass, no treble I'm all about that bass 'Bout that bass, no treble I'm all about that bass 'Bout that bass Yeah, it's pretty clear, I ain't no size two But I can shake it, shake it Like I'm supposed to do Cause I got that boom boom that all the boys chase And all the right junk in all the right places I see the magazine, workin' that Photoshop We know that shit ain't real C'mon now, make it stop If you got beauty beauty, just raise 'em up Cause every inch of you is perfect From the bottom to the top Yeah, my mama she told me don't worry about your size She says boys like a little more booty to hold at night You know I won't be no stick figure silicone Barbie doll So if that's what you're into then go ahead and move along Because you know I'm All about that bass 'Bout that bass, no treble I'm all about that bass 'Bout that bass, no treble I'm all about that bass 'Bout that bass, no treble I'm all about that bass 'Bout that bass Hey!

I'm bringing booty back Go ahead and tell them skinny bitches that No I'm just playing I know you think you're fat But I'm here to tell ya Every inch of you is perfect from the bottom to the top Yeah my mama she told me don't worry about your size She says boys like a little more booty to hold at night You know I won't be no stick figure silicone Barbie doll So if that's what you're into then go ahead and move along Because you know I'm All about that bass 'Bout that bass, no treble I'm all about that bass 'Bout that bass, no treble I'm all about that bass 'Bout that bass, no treble I'm all about that bass 'Bout that bass Because you know I'm All about that bass 'Bout that bass, no treble I'm all about that bass 'Bout that bass, no treble I'm all about that bass 'Bout that bass, no treble I'm all about that bass 'Bout that bass Because you know I'm All about that bass 'Bout that bass, no treble I'm all about that bass 'Bout that bass, no treble I'm all about that bass 'Bout that bass, no treble I'm all about that bass 'Bout that bass 'Bout that bass, 'bout that bass Hey, hey, ooh You know you like this bass

1 year ago

TRAS BAMBALINAS

La escena; la escena de transición capitulo 4:  It is just the fucking rain! No, it is not!.

Primero que nada, me gusto el cambio de escena. 

1.- Venia de una escena digamos “tradicional” a una escena de “aventura”. Teníamos que inventar algo que pasara suave de una escena a otra, a  partir de dónde nos habíamos quedado para dar continuidad. La continuidad era importante, para conectar una escena con la otra, y darle seguimiento a la historia.

2.- Después, se pensó en el diálogo que necesitaba para entrar en el capítulo nuevo, y se pensó en algo elocuente, que llamara la atención, como el concepto del beso. Y teníamos que darlo inmediatamente a la entrada del capítulo, porque siempre las primeras líneas tenemos que atrapar al lector entre la trama.  

Entonces parte de ello, era voltear los papeles tradicionales de las mujeres (femeninas, unas pintadas, zapatos) a otro mas agresivo, más masculino, y los ejemplos estaban en los otros personajes femeninos tipo Lara Croft, con instintos de valentía masculina, o la otra personaje de Katniss Everdeen en “Hunger Games”. Es decir, queríamos pasar de una escena tradicional con una mujer tradicional, a otra de aventura con un personaje femenino de aventura.

El propósito era copiar personajes femeninos con características masculinas (poder, fuerza, destreza, cáracter, empuje), y la jugada, en esta escena, fue mas bien, desmitificar el ser femenino y ponerlo en un carácter masculino. Tener la cara de la mujer, pero el carácter del hombre, y por eso el juego del beso, y las otras escenas de “Quedate aquí, no salgas”, mientras su amigo está en la escena atrás, y ella está dispuesta a enfrentarse a los villanos. 

3.- En críticas que he escuchado acerca de estos cambios (y mire que no es solamente en linea, sino con otros amigos que han leído la historia) se menciona que no van muy de acuerdo en el sentido de que sea la mujer la que se aproxime a un beso, y tenga la libertad de hacerlo. Parece ser que esa idea que presentamos en los primeros párrafos del beso, no tuvo mucha aceptación no fue mucho de agrado, pues se dice que traspasa la cultura, ideas y valores de la mujer en el sentido de ser ella la que es seguida y cortejada. 

4.- El voltear la historia de una tradicional a otra de aventura, también exigía voltear los conceptos de los personajes.

5.- Será el beso considerado como una osadía al género femenino en un ambiente de aventura?” Usted me besó primero!”  “Quédese aquí atrás”, serán conceptos trastocados de la cabeza en una escena de aventura femenina?

Usted qué piensa?

6.- Y es cierto! Le falta trabajar más los caracteres y la ambientación para que no suene el pasaje como flojo. Le falta todavía más trabajo de soporte a ambientaciones y caracteres

3 years ago

Burn the bridges! otherwise you come back to the same roads

blogmarkostuff - My Blog
10 years ago

Even though, Sam Smith reached almost 63 millions views with this song "Stay With Me", hitting the fourth place in the USA Chart according to Nielsen, it is notorious that little tone we heard in "All of Me". In this particular case, this song "Stay With Me", might sound like a replica of   John Legend greatest song "All of Me". Those words in this song ..."stay with me cause you are all of me" are not quiete different from "cause all of me, loves all of you" from John Legend. Another similarity might be the piano, playing in the background, that gives that little feeling of touching people's heart. In addition, the sound coming out of the Sam Smith might evoke, in some parts, John Legend's tones... with a different voice, though.

1 year ago

Capitulo 4: La gente empezó a enamorarse de los cuerpos, cuando las mentes dejaron de valer la pena.

Ms Beautiful lo sabia, y lo sabia bien. 

Ella sabia que la belleza es temporal, y sabia que la belleza pasa con los años, por eso no hacia de su belleza su orgullo, y cómo la amaba y admiraba Walter por ello. Podia hacer juegos con su belleza, como cualquier otra mujer, pero no dejaba que se le subiera a la cabeza, porque lo más maravilloso de ella estaba en su mente. 

Su belleza era solo un instrumento de su personalidad que la naturaleza le habia otorgado, era solo un complemento apreciado en su persona, que cuando se conectaba con su mente, trabajando belleza y el racicionio, hacían bomba, explosión, juegos pirotécnicos en una fiesta con glamour, porque su mente era maravillosa.

Miss Beautiful, amaba a la gente, y tenia un tremendo amor por el ser humano, tan inmenso como el amor por si misma, pero no la coloquen en el lado opuesto, donde alguien viene a destruir su amor y sus amores, porque arderá Troya, tormentas y rayos electrizantes que dejarán quemados a los que se envuelvan en ello.

La mente de Ms Beautiful, el compromiso de Ms Beautiful, era el proposito, una mente con un propósito, pegando una tercera cualidad a una hermosa mujer que podia como los pavoreales, extender todos sus hermosos plumajes ante el hombre de su agrado.

Por eso Walter no amaba su cuerpo, amaba su mente. 

Ella tenia una mente maravillosa. 

9 years ago

A mis queridos lectores

A Mis Queridos Lectores

“Nos pasamos día a día viendo cómo podemos triunfar, cómo podemos hacer para conseguir mejores notas, cómo caerle bien a alguien, cómo conquistar a esa persona que tanto nos atrae… Nos pasamos persiguiendo cosas con la esperanza de que una vez que las tengamos todas vamos a ser verdaderamente felices. Nos angustiamos cuando nos va mal en el colegio, nos deprimimos cuando la persona que nos gusta no nos quiere, nos odiamos cuando no nos vemos de la manera que queremos… Pero, Ustedes creen que si la vida fuese como queremos, que si tuviésemos todo lo que queremos, seríamos felices ¿o sólo encontraríamos más cosas para odiar? Está en la naturaleza del hombre ser ambicioso, querer crecer y seguir creciendo. Pero creo que tenemos muy desordenadas las prioridades.

¿Por qué permitimos que esa mala nota en matemática nos arruine el día? Si al fin y al cabo es sólo eso. Un puntaje. Y tal vez tengo un nueve en literatura, pero yo quería el diez. Entonces no sonrío. En un año esa nota no va a existir, va a haber sido para nada. ¿Por qué quiero conquistar a esa persona que no me quiere? ¿Por qué quiero forzar a alguien a que me ame, cuando seguramente lo hagan mal? ¿Por qué me odio cuando veo que peso más de lo que establece la sociedad como perfección? ¿Por qué quiero el pelo lacio si lo tengo lleno de rulos salvajes?

¿Por qué perseguimos todas esas cosas? Si eso no es crecer, no es triunfar. Nos llenamos la cabeza de preocupaciones, permitimos que los estándares nos convenzan de que no estamos acá para ser felices, sino para trabajar y ser el mejor. Y ascender, y ascender y seguir ascendiendo hasta que las ojeras ya sean parte de nuestras caras, que las sonrisas naturales dejen de existir y que nuestros sueños queden en último lugar. Hasta que, de pronto, abrimos los ojos y nos damos cuenta de cuán equivocados estábamos. Que la felicidad está en las cosas más simples; en los árboles, en el viento cálido, en las luces de la ciudad y en la risa de los niños, en las sonrisas de los adultos y el brillo en los ojos de una persona cuando cumple un objetivo. Así que, a vos que estás leyendo, te pido por favor que no creas que por ese desaprobado en la materia que sea vas a fracasar en todo lo que te propongas, no creas nunca que no sos lo suficientemente bueno/a para cumplir tus sueños. No creas que tenés que seguir una carrera universitaria sí o sí, si tal vez tu pasión es bailar. Nunca dejes de hacer lo que te hace feliz, no importa qué pase. Nunca te pongas en último lugar por nadie, éste es TU juego, y lo podés jugar como vos quieras. Despreocupate, corré, paseá, reíte, saltá, juga, escucha música al volumen que quieras, hace todo lo que quieras y nunca te arrepientas de haberlo hecho si te hizo bien aunque sea por dos segundos. Cumplí tus sueños, lucha por ellos, con paciencia. Seguí creciendo, pero más importante… Sé feliz.”

1 year ago

I bet! if it is not happening right now. Always improving, aways creating lights in supposedly dark times for others.

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My Blog

Here you will find some of the things that I really like. I like writing, music, poems, and producing any idea that comes to my mind. I hope you like it!

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