You may have taken a master’s class or read many writing-related materials, yet you may still be unsure about how to proceed. Trying to learn everything at once when writing your first fictional book cannot be easy. The art of writing is like an iceberg with unknown depths you can explore for the rest of your life.
Every newbie writer has a general query about where to find book editors near me. To write that first book, you only need to be aware of the tiny portion of the iceberg above the water. Writing great fiction requires commitment and effort, but there are techniques to make the process simpler.
To Show, Don’t Tell
When it was time for show and told in elementary school, do you recall bringing in a piece of personal property to discuss? You ought to remember that encounter and the narrative lessons it taught you. Then create a time machine, go back to elementary school, hire a second-grade teacher, make sure you enroll yourself in the class, and carry an iPhone with you so you can present it to your second-grade self.
Even though it won’t have phone reception because cell phone towers haven’t been built yet, all the youngsters will be blown away. The younger you are, the more self-esteem you will gain from your newfound fame, the fuller adult life you will have, and the more material you will have to write about your fictional book.
Withhold Information from Readers
Only provide readers with the knowledge they require at the time when creating fiction. According to Ernest Hemingway’s theory, writers should only reveal the very tip of the iceberg. Like the mass of an iceberg beneath the water’s surface, the supporting details—such as backstory—should be hidden. This keeps readers from overloading with information and allows them to fill in the holes creatively.
Get To Know Your Audience
A reader (ideally many readers!) will eventually take up your book. What other authors and novels do they adore? They, who? Where on the bookshelves in the bookstore can they find your book?
These are crucial inquiries because you need to know where your book fits in the ecosystem regardless of how you decide to publish it in the future. You can better shape your story as you go along if you have an understanding of this today.
Of course, none of us enjoy categorizing ourselves, and we all strive to be unique. Since writers are typically voracious readers, this is the best way to solve the problem.
Use Simple Sentences
When writing, try to use concise language so that each word and sentence serves a purpose. Consider the classic Shakespearean phrase, “To be or not to be?” which captures a character’s struggle with their own lives in a few short words. Bigger words and denser content have their place and time, but you can communicate story ideas with straightforward language and sentences.
Write Regularly
The best authors have a consistent writing routine. This entails setting aside time each day to practice writing. Some authors set a daily word goal for themselves; Stephen King averages 2,000 words daily. Joining a writing club is another option; having others hold you accountable is motivating. It gets easier the more you write. Don’t panic if your writing is technically incorrect or you have trouble getting a thought onto a blank page, don’t panic. There will be productive days and less productive days.
Create Suspense and Conflict
Every kind of fiction needs conflict to succeed. Conflict is what motivates your characters and keeps readers interested in your writing. Without tension, your reader will get bored, and the tale won’t progress.
Conflict typically comes in two flavors. Your story’s action, or what everyone can immediately observe, is external conflict. However, don’t overlook internal conflict! This is how the conflict between your POV character and themselves develops; it also establishes the story’s turning point and the character arc.
For a story to be interesting, suspense is also necessary. Suspense is an advantage for every kind of story, not just thrillers. Make a dramatic inquiry to build tension. The question “Is he going to make it?” is an example of a dramatic one. or “Will she find the love of her life?” By casting doubt on your protagonist’s future, you compel the reader to wonder what will happen next.
You must carefully control the information’s flow to the reader to do this effectively. Oversharing ruins drama more than anything.
Focus On Dialogues
The two factors that lead to good dialogue are a deep understanding of your characters and revising. Reading each character’s line and asking yourself, “Does this sound like my character?” will help ensure that each character has a distinct voice. If your reply is negative, you need to revise your piece.
Speaker annotations that include words like “he exclaimed,” “she announced,” and “he spoke fiercely” are needless and distracting. But it’s okay to use “he asked” on occasion. Also, stick to “he said” and, “she said” in your speaker tags.
Edit Thoroughly
Most seasoned writers follow a set procedure for three iterations or more. First draughts are frequently called “vomit draughts” or “shitty first draughts.” Please don’t give it to anyone else! You have the opportunity to investigate your story and ascertain its subject matter in the first draught.
Although it’s vital, editing is frequently the step of the writing process that gives writers the greatest worry. Even though many beginning writers may attempt to improve their second draughts as soon as possible to fix their embarrassing first ones, your second draught isn’t for polishing.
The third draught should be thoroughly polished. Right now, everything is starting to come together. The enjoyable part is now! But polishing will likely waste your time until you have written the first two draughts.
Concluding Remarks
Writing a fictional story may seem a towering task upfront, but it will become streamlined in the successive stages of writing. If you stick hard to the above-discussed tips, your journey of writing a fictional book will be seamless, and you will end up with a must-read book in your hand. Consistency is the key that will help you adhere to these useful tips throughout your writing journey.
