Dos And Don’ts Before Writing The First Book

Summary

The article provides guidance on overcoming procrastination and self-doubt to begin writing a first book through patience, observation, reading, and practice.

Abstract

The article, written from personal experience, acknowledges the challenges of writing a first book, including the time, effort, and tendency to procrastinate. It encourages aspiring authors to start small, writing consistently to build momentum. Patience is emphasized as crucial, suggesting activities like solving puzzles or drawing to cultivate it. The importance of recording inspirational quotes, observing and noting life's moments, and reading widely is highlighted. Writing short stories or essays is recommended to hone skills, and composing a synopsis helps in outlining the book's potential. The article concludes with a call to action, encouraging writers to begin their journey.

Opinions

Writing the first book is a significant undertaking that can be daunting, but it is important to start despite feelings of self-doubt and the distraction of daily life.
Consistent writing, even in small increments, is key to making progress and overcoming the temptation to procrastinate.
Patience is a critical virtue for writers, as the process of writing requires time, research, and imagination.
Keeping a record of compelling words, phrases, and quotes can be a valuable resource for inspiration and improving one's writing.
Observing life, imagining scenarios, and being in tune with one's feelings provide rich material for writing.
Reading extensively is not only inspiring but also essential for nurturing a writer's mind.
Writing short stories, essays, or even descriptions of everyday experiences can serve as practice and a way to explore different writing styles.
Writing a synopsis early on can help clarify the story and maintain interest and motivation in the writing process.

Dos And Don’ts Before Writing The First Book

- From someone who has written that first book

Writing the first book takes time, effort, and procrastination. You will read articles about how to write and publish it. And even after that, you will take some time to get inspired. Nothing wrong with it. We have all been there. We have to work around a lot of obligations and day jobs. Plus, writing for people around us is passing of time or a Sunday hobby. That leads to more self-doubt and second-guessing. Then, one Saturday morning, when the mood is right, you begin writing a couple of pages, and impatience gets better of you. You share it with those who you consider as your inner circle. They appreciate, you bask in the glory, and it ends there until the next time you get that writing spurt. Then you procrastinate more. For several years.

Stop Stalling, will you?

That ‘One Day’ is today. Take baby steps if it overwhelms you. Write one page. Then two. Every day, add a line, a paragraph, a page, whatever. But keep writing.

Writing anything takes a lot of patience.

Whether it’s a book or a short story, the first thing you have to learn is to have patience. You can read a book in a day but writing it needs a lot of research and imagination. If you don’t have that, find things that will help increase your patience. Solve a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle, draw an A3-sized Mandala, mix rice and quinoa- spend time separating it (well!), anything.

Note down words, phrases, one-liners

You liked that quote you read in the newspaper yesterday. Write it down. Maybe on your mobile/ writing pad/ laptop/ newspaper(!), whichever is handy. But write it down yourself. That’s the best way to remember words, idioms, adages. You will need them.

Think, imagine, observe, feel

Observe how your baby smiles when he/she hears a tune. Or your mother’s hard stare when you don’t clean your room (you should, you are old for that!). Note it. Imagine a situation wherein you are spending a day in a haunted hotel (why would you, you ask?- no idea). And think. When you are driving, when you are taking a walk, watering plants, think. While you do all that, feel everything. For a lot of us, expressing feelings drive us to write. Cash those feelings and splurge on writing.

Read

Can’t emphasize this enough. Read anything and everything you can. Even after you have published 50 books, keep reading. It is fodder for your writing mind. You will get inspired by the damndest things.

Write short stories / Essays

How about if you write a short story or a non-fiction article or an essay? Describe your day if that helps. Write about that Netflix-flick or even your heartbreak. Describe that money-plant in your verandah. Write about your anger, your happy moment. Write a recipe you are proud of (or not). Think about the essays in the language-class you took (or bunked) in school. But write. Something. For a few days.

Write a synopsis

You will have to write a synopsis sooner or later. Better write it now. It will give you a rough sketch of the story. And it will tell you if you are interested in writing at all. Simply thinking about it or talking about it won’t help. Might as well write it down.

Having said that, good luck with writing the first book. Now go, get started!