This article is in response to the question by Ria. How to write a Book. Now some would say it's one of the easiest things in the world, but there's a lot more happening once you make that choice. The first thing to think about is what you plan to write about, and at this point some people are already preparing to tear their hair out.

Are you planning a fiction, or non-fiction book? Poems, short Story, novella, novel, biography, a how to guide, childrens books or something

else entirely? Once you've decided what you plan to write then you can start asking other questions. For the sake of this article I will focus on fictional novels. Do you already have a story in mind? If not is there any particular types of book that you enjoy more than any other? If you can't seem to decide on what storyline to follow, or you're struggling to find inspiration, I would suggest reading books by your favourite authors, or even books by other authors who have published in the same category as you plan on Writing. This can give you a rough idea of how to get your own story going, or help get the inspirational juices flowing.

I personally started my story by sitting down and inventing a character, then I started to give the character a personality, and then reasons for the personality traits. From there my story gained its own life and all I had to do was pick up the pieces, see where they led, and put them together into something that's both understandable and interesting. I'm not done yet, but I do know by now where the story is going. Some writers are like me and just jot down a whole bunch of random ideas, look at them, and realise they've got something to work with.

Other writers tend to prefer a sense of order when writing, and find it easier to plan where the story is going before they begin writing. They will normally develop the entire storyline and characters before putting everything together. In the end it all depends on what writing style you prefer.

Some handy tips when writing a book:

1) Always carry a notebook or voice recorder around...you never know when inspiration will strike.

(I've been caught out like that before, andtrust me, try as you might you'll never recapture that thought in the same way again)

2) Don't be afraid of putting too much into the story when you write it. You'regoingto edit it...probably more than once...rather convey your thoughts properly the first time even if it doesn't read well at first. You can always smooth things out later.

3) Do some people watching. You'd be amazed how much inspiration you can get just looking at what other people do in their everyday lives.

4) Write a book that you find interesting, otherwise chances are good you'll end up giving up on the project because it becomes boring...or because you detest what you're writing so much you end up typing something horrible and feeding it to the dog instead.

5) Don't think about what you're going to do with the book until it's finished. Want to publish? Cool. Want to do it for your own pleasure, friends and family? Still cool. Unfortunately you can't publish or read a complete story if the book is still 'In Progress'. Finish it, then you can decide what to do with it, otherwise it's just going to distract you from finishing. Some people get so swept away by the idea of what comes after, they don't get past the first step.

6) Create your own blog... :D ...use it to pratice your writing skills as often as possible.

7) Get someone to review your work. By the time your reading over the draft of your own book for the 70 millionth time you're going to be ready for a fresh perspective. Whether a reliable friend, a family member, or a website designed to help review your work for free, it's always a good idea to get a second opinion.

8) Allocate a set amount of time that you must spend on your book daily or weekly depending on your schedule, and then stick to it. If you can't seem to find inspiration to continue writing at that time, use it to edit what you've already written, but don't let the time pass by without working on it. Eventually you'll keep finding excuses not to write...and then where'll you be? Stuck...that's where.

Always remember that whatever you decide to write belongs to you. Don't let others force their methods on you, but always be open to constructive reviews and opinions. Find your way of working and stick to it. That's the fun thing about writing...nobody hanging over your shoulder telling you how to do it!

Ciao for now!

Here are some more links to other articles which discuss various methods of writing to help you find that one that's right for you:

http://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Book

https://blog.udemy.com/how-to-start-writing-a-book/

https://thewritelife.com/how-to-start-writing-a-book/

http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/guide-to-literary-agents/how-to-write-a-novel-7-tips-everyone-can-use

https://www.writingforward.com/writing-tips/the-22-best-writing-tips-ever

Just remember, these tips and articles are written by other people like you and me. They have their own opinion about what works, all I ask is that you remember, even after all the advice and tips in the world, at the end of the day you need to decide what works for you.

Happy writing!

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