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Getting Started How many times have you said,
“Some day I’m going to write a book.” Maybe you already know the story you
would like to write, or maybe you’d like to write your memoirs, family
history, or a non Here is my way. Later you may figure out a way that suits you better, but what we’re looking for here is any old way to get started. Take one idea, or event, you expect to be somewhere in your book and write a few words that describe that idea or event. It doesn’t matter whether you expect it will appear early in your book, in the middle, or at the end. Eureka, you broke the ice; you’ve started your book. After a celebration cup of coffee, write another sentence elaborating on that event, or pick a different event to write about. Never mind that your words are poorly written, are burdened with spelling and grammar errors, and it even may not make good sense. Continue to write about this event and others in the same fashion. You have now identified several items that will be in your book. Each item is sloppy and vague, but you know what they are, and anyway, no one else will ever see them. Although these discrete items are not in any order yet, they are in effect an outline of your book. After you have the skeletons of several ideas, pick one item to write more about. Again, don’t worry about perfection, spelling, and grammar, but include all aspects of each item you think you will need. Length is unimportant. The item may be a paragraph, several pages, or a chapter. Do this for several more of the skeleton items you wrote earlier. Continue to write these hastily written items until you have included all the items you expect to have in the finished book. The chances are after having
accumulating several items you will be anxious to get started on some serious
writing—writing that you wouldn’t be ashamed for your mother to read or even
Melinda, that picky friend next door. Fine, pick the skeleton of one item and
rewrite it with concise well written sentences. Still don’t worry about
spelling, but grammar is a bit more important. Don’t strive for perfection.
You may feel uneasy that you could still do better, but don’t bog down yet
trying to outdo Repeat this process until you have all the items for your whole book. Some are well developed and some are still skeletons. Now you have a stew pot full of items and it is time to place them in logical order. Word processors make it easy to shift paragraphs or even pages to different locations. Try Word’s Bookmarks for viewing your list of items, or for going directly to any item. Bookmarks can also serve as your outline and will help you decide where chapter breaks should be. At this point, begin rewriting.
Start with the first item in your book and write or rewrite it in good form, but
still not striving for perfection. The first item often necessitates rewriting
the second item. Sometimes the second item will reveal something that requires
rewriting the first item. These relationships can induce ripples back and forth
throughout the whole book. That is the reason I said earlier that it is best to
save your When the whole book is in good
form, begin your final Many writers live by Journals and
formal Outlines, but many others find a different way. Journals may be more
helpful for non One final suggestion. Join a good writing group. A good group will have professional members as well as amateur members. Consider their suggestions with an open mind for their primary goal is helping each other to be the best writer possible. Now, I’m through lecturing. Turn on your computer, bring up a blank screen and write at least one word—Hallelujah, you are on your way—you are a writer. Suggested guidelines:
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