The journey to becoming an excellent author is an interesting one which, like any other career, passion or dream, requires a lot of patience, hard work and determination to succeed. Here are some tips to help you make your book writing dream a reality.
1. Briefly describe what you want to write about
The first step in writing a book is not writing. It is figuring out what you are trying to say. If you do not know what the point of your book is, there is no way your readers will. First, put together a solid outline containing a brief description of what you want to talk about in your book.
2. Avoid trying to be perfect
When writing, do not bother yourself with how perfect your words are or how well your sentences are structured. The first draft of your book is often a raw presentation of its content, so it definitely won’t look good at first, but you will feel much better once you have gotten the words out. You will also have something to build on to get your final product.
3. Say it out loud
You might have a great outline, but when you sit down to write, certain internal forces can hold you back. So, first, speak it all out. Do an audio recording of what you want to write. Then get the recording transcribed by listening to it and writing out what you recorded.
4. Stop trying to ‘find’ your voice
Your ‘voice’ is your thought pattern and how you express yourself when writing. It is not something you are ‘looking for’ or ‘trying to find.’ It’s something you have naturally within you, and it forms part of your writing personality. It is your duty as an author to express yourself in that natural voice that you already have. Stop trying to ‘find’ it.
5. Write as though you are talking with your friend.
You express yourself best when you are having a conversation with your friends. This is because you are more comfortable at that point in time. You do not force your ideas out, neither do you sound different from your real self. When speaking with your friends, you engage with everyone; you pay attention and you are open. You also want to be sure that they understand what you are saying so you do not mind answering every single question they ask. That is how to write a non-academic book. This is because your aim of writing is to connect with your readers through the content of your book. That way, you will get a genuine response and know what they feel about your ideas.
When you put these five tips into action, you will be on the right path to improving your writing skills. By the time the final draft of your book is ready, you will be proud of your work. So, just have fun expressing yourself through your writing.
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