How to Write a Book in 10 Steps (The Ultimate Guide)

How to Write a Book in 10 Steps (The Ultimate Guide) How to Write a Book: The Ultimate Guide Just about everyone has thought of writing a book at some point - even if you don’t consider yourself a â€Å"writer,† you probably have an inkling of a book somewhere in your head. But whether you’ve only just had your lightbulb moment or you’ve been mulling over a great idea for years, there’s no time like the present to learn how to write a book!Of course, there’s no one-size-fits-all formula here, since every writer has their own unique process. No doubt you’ll discover what works for you over the course of your authorial journey. That being said, there are still certain things you absolutely need to know if you ever want to cross the finish line! We’re excited to share our very best tips, tricks, and other info in this all-inclusive guide to  how to write a book. How to write the book of your dreams in just 10 steps ðŸ“â€" âÅ"  1. Nail down your book ideaNailing down your book idea involves more than just being able to state what it's about - although that is part of it. To really nail down your book idea, you should be able to answer the three important "W" questions:What is it about?Why does it matter?Who will want to read it?Once you’re able to answer these questions, you’ll fill in the blanks of the following sentence:.For example: "CEOs will read my book about workplace culture because it offers insights into the practices of the top ten companies voted 'best places' to work in the USA."Or: â€Å"Female fantasy readers will read my book about the first queen of a patriarchal land because it’s unique and empowering to a new generation of fantasy fans.†Let’s break down the various elements of this equation and show you how to identify them in your own premise.The WhatThe  Ã¢â‚¬Å"what"  is the seed of your book. It’s the beginning of something, and before it can sprout into something more, you have to nail down the essence of what you want to say. This often coincides with the eventual theme of your book - but don’t worry too much about that right now.Instead, just figure out how you would describe your topic to someone in a single sentence. If someone were to ask you right now, â€Å"Oh, what are you writing about?† then the what would be your answer. Whether it’s an adventurous mouse’s tale (tail?) or a vegan cookbook, your â€Å"what† will become the crux of your book.On the off chance that you’re reading this guide and don’t yet have a â€Å"what† - you just know that you want to write a book - consider checking out some writing prompts to inspire you!The WhoIf you’re writing fiction, the â€Å"who† will typically come down to genre - â€Å"romance readers,† â€Å"fantasy readers,† â€Å"sci-fi readers,† etc. You’ll also consider ag e, i.e. if it’s a children's, young adult, or new adult novel.If you're writing non-fiction, it’s all about utility. Who will find the information in your book most useful? The exception here is memoir, in which case your readers may just be looking for entertainment. But if you’re writing a guide, an informative tell-all, or even a historical book, your target audience will be people who want to learn from you.No matter your wheelhouse, it’s extremely helpful to come up with a proto-persona for the person who’ll be buying your book. This should represent your ideal customer and is key to reaching your target audience. Coming up with a hypothetical reader makes it much easier to specifically write to them, which will make them more inclined to buy your book.The WhyAnd finally, the â€Å"why.† With the innumerable experiences and wild ideas that people have in their lives, we all have plenty of books that we could write. Indeed, as we reveal in the Reedsy podcast Bestseller, up to 81% of all people believe they have a book inside them. (Not literally - that would be a lot of stomachaches - but in the â€Å"potential writer† sort of way.)So why is this particular book the one you should write? And, just as importantly, why are you the one who should write it? What makes you qualified, and what makes you passionate about this particular subject? You need to determine a) why this book will matter to other people, and b) why you are the right person to address this topic.Your final result of answering these three "W" questions will be the essential thesis from which you work throughout this process. Once you have this prepared, you can move onto the next step: outlining.2. Outline your bookCreating an outline is one of the most important parts of writing a book - in addition to your â€Å"three Ws† thesis, your outline forms a huge part of the foundation on which you will build your book. Even if youâ€℠¢ve never worked from an outline before, or don’t think you need one (i.e. if you're a pantser, not a plotter), there’s no harm in cobbling one together. 9 Types of Editing: A Guide for Authors Read post If you don’t want to wait, or if you don’t trust your own judgment, you can get someone else to look over your manuscript with fresh eyes! Friends and family are a great resource, but consider looking for beta readers, or hiring one of those pro editors we mentioned.Don’t try to fix every issue at the same timeThese days we’re all apparently expected to multitask flawlessly, but take it from us: do not multitask your editing. If you’re doing it yourself, it’s best to break editing tasks down into a list and complete each item separately.For example, your first task might be to look for glue words and extraneous adverbs, your second task might be to break up run-on sentences, your third task might be to look for inconsistencies, and so on and so forth. Doing all these at once will surely lead to oversight - and exhaustion - so just take them on one at a time. You can go here to download a comprehensive editing checklist.7. Write the second d raftEdits all done? That means you’re ready for rewrites: the part where you actually transform your first draft into the second. It’s a magical process, even if does require a good deal of work. The following are some things to think about as you take this penultimate step of writing a book.Nail the opening hookLike reducing glue words, nailing the hook is another simple but pivotal fix you can make to your manuscript. That’s because both editors and readers are prone to quick judgements. If they positively judge your book by its cover and make it to the first page, the opening lines are the next test - and failure to pass could mean they give up on it entirely.Consider the following opening lines:â€Å"Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.† - Anna Kareninaâ€Å"We are going to die, and that makes us the lucky ones.† - Unweaving The Rainbowâ€Å"It was a queer, sultry summer, the summer they electrocuted the Rosenbergs, and I didn't know what I was doing in New York.† - The Bell Jarâ€Å"In the fall of 1993, a man who would upend much of what we know about habits walked into a laboratory in San Diego for a scheduled appointment.† - The Power of HabitThrough the use of strong statements or interesting anecdotes, each of these hooks creates intrigue right away. But that doesn’t mean you should go for clickbaity, flashy, second hand-car-salesman exclamations here. Rather, consider the aspects of your book that will naturally pique human interest, and lead with that.Rework those inconsistenciesInconsistencies are the plague of edits and rewrites: you have to deal with them or they’ll just get worse. So after highlighting them (or having someone else point them out) during the editing process, you need to prioritize inconsistencies in rewrites. Basic factual inconsistencies and superficial descriptive contradictions should be pretty quick to deal with. But f or deeper plot/structural problems, here are a few tactics you can try:1. Examine character dynamics. One of the most obvious indicators of inconsistent characterization is character dynamics - think of them as the canary in the coal mine. If character dynamics seem unnatural, there’s probably something else wrong†¦ probably because you haven’t made your characters well-rounded enough to sustain themselves.As a result, this is one of those fixes that will probably take some time. But if you sense something wrong with your character dynamics, don’t be afraid to take a deeper dive into overall characterization.2. Eliminate subplots. Luckily, this one's a bit less labor-intensive. Sometimes to root out confusing inconsistencies, you need to delete subplots or side stories that contradict either the main narrative, or your characters’ personalities and motivations. You may also have a subplot or secondary story that you love, but that doesn’t rea lly go anywhere. We know that cutting it out will be hard; just bite the bullet and do it.3. Explore different endings. The ending is often where spotty characterization rears its ugly head. For instance, a character who hates another character throughout the book does a 180 and falls in love with them (how many poorly plotted romances fall victim to this?). Or maybe a character who was seemingly making progress reverts to their previous, terrible self (we’ll call this the Andy Bernard phenomenon, one that any devoted fan of The Office will recognize).So don’t just leave a bad ending in place if it contradicts what would realistically happen. Again, it might be a lot of work to change, but your readers will thank you for â€Å"keeping it real† (as the kids say).Consider your conclusionSpeaking of your book’s ending, it’s important to consider not just potential inconsistencies, but the overall impact of your ending. Have you worked through all the problems you’ve posed throughout the book? Did you tie in all the themes you wanted to address, and does the ending subtly re-emphasize them? Will readers be satisfied with this point of resolution? (You may have to ask other people for their opinion on this.)Unlike rewriting your hook/intro, reworking your conclusion may involve going back throughout your book to insert other bits and pieces as well. For example, you might realize that you haven’t incorporated a certain theme enough for it to resonate in the conclusion. This means you have to retroactively work it into previous chapters. Again, don’t be afraid of the workload: embrace it as the thing that will make your book the best that it can be.8. Publish your book (if you want to!)Our heartiest congratulations to you - you’ve written a book! 👠 Your journey’s not quite over, though: now you get to decide what to do with it.Though we’ve titled this step â€Å"get it published,à ¢â‚¬  that’s not necessarily what you have to do next. Maybe you’ve written a book just to prove you that you could. But even so, it’s good to have the necessary information, in case you do eventually decide to pursue that route.Here’s a selection of our best resources on both traditional publishing and self-publishing, in the order that you’d most likely have to use them.Self-publishingIf you want to self-publish your book, but don’t know where to start:How to Self-Publish a Book (free course)All the considerations and requirements that go into self-publishing:The Essential Self-Publishing Checklist (blog post)For after you’ve self-published and you’re ready to start marketing:How to Create the Ultimate Book Marketing Plan (blog post)Traditional publishingWant to lock in a publisher before you start your non-fiction book?How to Submit a Non-Fiction Book Proposal (free course)If you’re hoping to acquire an agent who wil l represent your book:How to Write a Query Letter That Agents Can't Resist (free course)A comprehensive overview of traditional publishing:Traditional Publishing 101 (free course)Ultimately, what you do with your manuscript is up to you. But whether you keep locked in a chest (/untouched folder on your desktop) or publish it for all the world to see, just know that you’ve achieved something amazing - something you may not have believed possible just a few short months ago! So once again, well done. And if you do decide to publish, we can’t wait to see what you’ve created.  Ã°Å¸â€œâ€"Before you go, we can’t forget our last tip: once you’re finished, reach out to us with your top tips so we can add them to this post, and help other aspiring authors reach their goals. Or if you have some already, leave them in the comments below!

Presentation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 8

Presentation - Essay Example Mercanta International is a long time and decently reputed company that sources green coffee from seventeen countries in Africa and Latin America. We are especially well mentioned with regards to strong corporation and considerate corporate policies in the wider context of interests of our corporate partners. Moreover, we adhere to a strict code of operation and corporate ethics and meet all legal benchmarks in all our operations. It is thus our sincere assurance to you that you can have all the confidence as you consider this offer to corporation. Some of the immediate benefits your association stand to benefit working with us is the fact you would no longer have to take your coffee beans through the conventional roasting process and other primary preparation procedures as we would help out with that. The most likely by you question is how. Let break it to you that we have progressed to source the green fresh coffee berries almost straight from the farms. In this regard, your association will take advantage of our efficient infrastructure, systems and logistics in temporary packaging for fright and reduced transportation costs. You therefore stand to get higher returns for your produce as this potential partnership would reduce the bureaucratic and most wasteful stages of handling your produce. If these developments were to succeed, we have a plan in preliminary stages to establish a local office right here in Kenya to effectively handle your affairs and to strengthen our partnership. We have had lengthy deliberations on your main concern of delayed payments as has been perpetually been the case in your perspective. As a direct outcome of these deliberations, it is my pleasure to make it known that plans are underway to partner with Barclays Bank Kenya and The Jubilee Insurance Company to take care of any unforeseen instances that may delay disbursement of money in time to your association therefore to farmers. We also look forward to establishing a

Reading response LN 3 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Reading response LN 3 - Essay Example If the speaker possesses semantic prowess then they can automatically depict irony and humor in a phrase. Pragmatically, humor may be described as differing from other means of communication as its major purpose lies on amusing its audience. It is evident that humor is proactive as it forms a major part of communication. This results from the fact that people can cooperate to tell jokes. It is through inferences and implicatures as Attardo (2001) indicates that irony is created. This fact validates the fact that irony is pragmatic. Yet another interesting fact is the verity that irony is pragmatic. Attardo (2001) indicates that it is extremely fallacious to view irony as merely a processing of texts and thrusting aside the original meanings. Evidently, the ironical interpretations of irony can be understood immediately even without focusing on the literal meaning (Attardo, 2001). With this in perspective, it is worth validating the verity that irony is pragmatic. Even in statements that are forced to be ironical, the meanings are immediately deduced. However, it is validated to question on what needs to be termed as ironical and what is not ironical. It is also important to inquire what aspect of irony can be described as contextual inappropriate. Is it when the irony does not relay the intended meaning and create general implicature? The author also focuses on the reaction of humor and irony an attempt to assess the various responses that emanate from the same (Attardo, 2001). This aspect is very intriguing as not all persons will appreciate humor and irony. Some persons will choose to ignore, other will laugh while others will continue the humor or irony in question. It is this verity that validates the author’s choice of topic. Humor and irony interrelate but the same is not detected by all persons. The reactions that are displayed

Differences Between Trait And Psychodynamic Theories Psychology Essay

Differences Between Trait And Psychodynamic Theories Psychology Essay Personality theories concentrate on how traits are developed and how behaviour is generated. Personality traits are durable dispositions of behaviour that occur across a variety of situations. They are like tendencies; a persons predisposition to react in a certain way in various different situations. Trait theories focus on indentifying the characteristics we possess and the degree to which we possess them. However trait theories are starting to address concerns such as how behaviours are developed, how traits are generated and how our goals and motivations affect the development of traits and the degree to which we possess them (Mischel, 1996). On the other hand, psychodynamic theories of human behaviour assume that human lives are ruled by internal unconscious forces and that these forces; which may be images, opinions, or feelings are the chief determinants of who they are and what they do (Kaslow, Magnavita Patterson, 2002).This essay will relate trait theory in comparison to p sychodynamic theory. Gordon Allports trait theory views personality as a combination of stable internal characteristics that an individual displays in a given situation. Conversely, Sigmund Freuds psychodynamic approach emphasizes the interplay of unconscious irrational forces struggling for control in shaping ones personality. Freud believes that human functioning is influenced by three basic structures of the mind: the id, the ego, and the superego, which emerge developmentally. The id, as stated by Freud, is present at birth and works on the pleasure principle. The ego operates on the reality principle and attempts to satisfy the id while obeying societys rules. The emergence of the ego for Freud symbolizes the origin of consciousness and he refers it as the superego; which is the internalized rules of parents in society (Bernstein, Penner, Clarke-Stewart Roy, 2011). On the other side of the coin, Allport argues that varying strengths of many qualities or traits actually determine the personality of a person. Allport had three categories of traits: the cardinal traits, the central traits, and lastly the secondary traits. The cardinal traits govern and shape a persons behavior. Central traits are characteristics that others use to describe another individual. Secondary traits are circumstantial. More recently, trait theorists have indentified five main factors that make up personality; Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism (Pastorino Doyle-Portillo, 2012).Thus one can assert that traits are relatively stable predispositions to behave in a certain way whereas psychodynamic theory deals with unconscious motivations and conflicts in ones head. Allport uses the concept of personal disposition and the idiographic approach which focuses on studying one person at a time to explain that every human being possesses unique traits that create a personalised type of behaviour in a particular situation. He also specifies that traits are exclusive characteristics to a particular person alone which generates consistent and specific behaviour patterns (Carducci, 2009). On the contrary, psychodynamic theorists focus on group behaviour and making comparisons between people while describing dynamic interactions between individuals (Jarvis, 2004). Thus one can affirm that the trait approach to personality focuses on predicting a specific individual behavior whereas psychodynamic theories centre on predicting typical behaviour of a group of people. Psychodynamic theorists believe that many of our actions depend on hidden beliefs and emotions. These unconscious forces can bring a change in an individuals behaviour and personality. When a person meets other individuals; he involuntarily experiences a must to act as they do so as not to be rejected. Thus, he represses more of his tendencies to be more compatible with the norms of society (Collins ORourke, 2008). In contrast, an individuals behaviour is likely to stay relatively consistent across a broad range of situations over the course of time due to the enduring and stabilizing impact of traits (Mischel, 1996). Hence one can argue that trait theory focuses on constancy in personality while psychodynamic theory hints at change in personality. Trait researchers usually study the processes behind the behaviour related with a specific trait. For example, some psychologists are keen in examining the underlying concerns of shy people which keep them away from the social world (Burger, 2010). Nonetheless psychodynamic theories stress upon the importance of early childhood experiences, the significance of repressed feelings and internal disputes between the conscious and unconscious forces that manipulate our thoughts and behaviour (Plotnik Kouyoumdjian, 2010). Therefore one can state that trait theory focuses on indentifying the mechanisms underlying behaviour while psychodynamic theory emphasizes on describing personality and predicting behaviour instead of explaining why people behave the way they do. Early research has shown that natural physical endowment is more important than environment in determining personality in the sense that it is not simply likely to produce a light or superficial impact on the image that an individual projects vis-Ã  -vis others in the society but rather it is the prime factor which decides whether he or she will be favourably or unfavourably perceived by others in the community. However ownership of a specific trait does not guarantee success in a specific field; for example, honesty, self-confidence and the ability to motivate others are some of the few characteristics which determine leadership. More recent research study showed that an individual possessing the traits mentioned above does not necessarily score high on leadership performance. Combination of both the leadership traits and management skills are needed to create effective leaders (Novick, Morrow Mays, 2007). On the other hand, Freuds psychodynamic theory emphasize hugely on the disp utes between conscious and unconscious forces that manipulate our views and actions (Plotnik Kouyoumdjian, 2010). Thus one can claim that trait theories integrate both the nature and nurture approach when shaping personality while psychodynamic theories rely mainly on the conscious and unconscious forces when predicting an individuals behaviour. To conclude; trait theorists are more concerned with indentifying individual characteristics which when combined can be used to describe personality. Proponents of the psychodynamic theory rely heavily on the dynamic forces of the subconscious to explain the perceptions, and behaviours of individuals. These behaviours can lead people to behave in ways that are ineffective and even self-destructive (Mischel, 1996).

Symbols and Symbolism in The Great Gatsby :: Great Gatsby Essays

Symbolism in The Great Gatsby  Ã‚   In The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald presents a novel with intricate symbolism. Fitzgerald integrates symbolism into the heart of the novel so strongly that it is necessary to read the book several times to gain any level of understanding. The overtones and connotations that Fitzgerald gives to the dialogues, settings, and actions is a major reason why The Great Gatsby is one of the classics of the 20th century. Three themes dominate the text of The Great Gatsby. They are time / loss, appearance / mutability, and perspective. Most of the novel's thematic structure falls neatly into one of these categories. In order to satisfactorily understand the novel, we must examine the roles of these three themes. The word time appears 450 times in the novel either by itself or in a compound word. Fitzgerald obviously wanted to emphasize the importance of time to the overall design of the book. Time is most important to Gatsby's character. Gatsby's relationship with time is a major aspect to the plot. He wants to erase five years from not only his own life but also Daisy's. Gatsby's response to Nick, telling him that he can repeat the past, is symbolic of the tragic irony that is behind Gatsby's fate. Gatsby exclaims on page 116, "Can't repeat the past? Why of course you can!" Gatsby cannot accept Daisy until she erases the last three years of her life by telling Tom that she never loved him to his face. Gatsby fully believes what he says and thinks (or desperately hopes) that that is true about Daisy. At one part of the story he actually tells Nick how, as soon as Tom is out of the picture, he and Daisy were going to go to Memphis so they could get married at her white house just like it were five years before hand. In another scene, when Gatsby and Nick go to the Buchanans' for lunch towards the end of the book, Gatsby sees Daisy's and Tom's child for the first time. Nick describes Gatsby's expression as one of genuine surprise and suggests that Gatsby probably never before believed in the girl's existence. Gatsby is so caught up in his dream that he becomes vulnerable to the world's brutal reality. Fitzgerald masterfully creates a time symbolism in the scene when Daisy and Gatsby meet for the first time in five years.

Terrorism Essay

Many people regard war as the only solution to coo interact terrorism, but there are others that disagree. In this essay I will be discussing and comparing the o option of war to alternative options that can replace it. The first two options both involved the military. Option one involved using nit elegance to locate and bomb terrorist training camps, and option two was to take over or destabilize governments that are sympathetic to the terrorist by sending in trained troop s. In comparing this to war noticed that these options are actually quite similar.By bombing the terrorist camps this would cause them to retaliate, and the end result would be a war. Option TV&'0 would also end up as a war because after your troops have invaded the count rye the country would fight back causing you to have to train more troops to send into battle. Options 3 and 4 are focused on inward focus meaning not getting involved in any issues abroad and focusing on why terrorists would attack you? These tw o pop actions are much better because there would be no war unless the terrorists attacked first.Wit h no war there would be no dead soldiers which would in turn boost the economy because t here would be more workers. Options 5 and 6 involve outreach, meaning that instead of going to war we wow old contact and find out what the terrorists want. This outreach would also involve e developing relationships with different communities in our own country and elsewhere. B lid inning these relationships with other countries would help us form stronger bonds with to hers. Thus we would become less of a target for terrorists.

Should Teenagers Undergo Elective Cosmetic Surgery

On January 4, 2013 at 10:21 pm a corporation by the name of Dheng Nhiee published this quote, â€Å"Plastic surgery is an option for everyone, but it is never a necessity†. As confirmed by many surgeons in the field of cosmetic based procedures, most of the patients seeking purely beauty care see enhancing their physical appearance as the only, or at least the best, fix for the destructive problems they face, such as harassment or personal insecurities. These thoughts are especially expected in minors, therefore the question is, should teenagers be allowed to undergo elective cosmetic surgery for the hopeful benefits of an improved body image? While some choose to believe that altering your figure is something that will compliment your life†¦show more content†¦Knowing that reason is mandatory. So say that today is the day you walk across that stage and receive the diploma you have put so much effort into. Graduating is a big deal, therefore it is legitimate to s how your appreciation for the hard work put forth by the successor in the form giving. Yet, through an article from Deseret News it is known that there are parents responsible for gifting their child with the ability to change the way they naturally and beautifully are as an â€Å"I’m so proud of you† present (Lois M. Collins). But what are you proud of again, mom? The fact that I am capable of reaching my full potential without the enlargement of my breasts or the reshaping of my nose? Often the real issue doesn’t lie within the supposedly faultful feature, maybe it lies within why this feature feels like such a burden. Insecurity has to be a part of the picture to even consider making permanent alterations to yourself and insecurity is often the result of judgments through comparison. A cosmetic nurse by the name of Matty Samaei has stated that numerous teenagers â€Å"watch the Kardashians and come to me with pictures they see on Instagram of models--t hey want to look like that† (Carroll). This experienced provider brings up one of the most devastating things this generation has faced, the undeniable impact society has on everyone