I want to write a book

[NeoSioType]

I spent years constructing the world, the characters, ect. but when I put pen on paper I realize how little I know. It's the tiny little details that keep me from writing. Most of the time when this happens it sets me into what I like to call a thinking episode. Should I just write it out with little planning? Or spend hours writing well placed paragraphs editing on the way(extremely time consuming)? I don't know which is more efficent in the end.

[ninja9578]

I like writing in large chunks of rambling nonsensical words and then editing them afterwards. You should probably be one full rewrite and three or four complete passes for editing.

[Sornaensis]

Break it all up. Break it way down into what you want, then write bit by bit.

[Vance]

I usually envision writing like forging a sword. Basically, what I do is write down all the ideas in my head. Then, I structure the storyline using an outline. This structuring doesn't involve unique ideas, just the general plot, without describing setting, characters or elements. Then, I write the story, and from there, you hammer it out. The key is just having something to work off of. Get your basic structure down, and keep hammering and polishing.

[NeoSioType]

All right guys advice taken, but I swear saying and doing are two different things entirely. I'm going to ignore my inner editor and unleash the warrior of patience within!

[Ostego]

I'd like to write too. Too bad I suck a bag of dick when it comes to actually writing

[ninja9578]

Just do what you're comfortable doing, if you like editing as you go then do it. But you have to do those three or four passes afterwords anyway.

[Vance]

It always came naturally to me. Besides, you can gain a healthy profit from it, I go to www.freelancewriters.com, you can make about $1000.00 a story/poem there.

[Xaqaria]

Outlining is insanely useful. Just start by writing down what you want to happen in each chapter and then embellish with the details.

[ninja9578]

Not necessarily, most writers don't do that, they just have a vague idea of what the book will be about. The best example I can think of is when Stephen King was writing The Stand he said that he didn't even know how it would end. The part about the boy betraying the group wasn't planned at all.

[Sornaensis]

Well Stephen King is just awesome. He totally kicks ass at writing; so for someone who hasn't written a thousand bestsellers planning is usually key.

[ray]

i start with a vague idea, then ask how would they get into the situation they are in now and start from the beginning. i have no idea right now how the book i am writing is going to end. i just got to the part where the main character realizes someone is something she will turn into later.(she is in flashback currently)

[AmazeO XD]

Write. EDIT: LOL!

[Sornaensis]

Write. Crikey! What we got 'ere folks is a fine example of useless posting. Also known as spam. As you can see, the Spamitus autotrophit was clearly 'ungry, so 'e comes down in 'ere to look for a good thread for 'im to get into; and there, there he lay 'is egg-- Spam. 'e'll then wait for someone to post something about his useless crap, and that is when he strikes, sucking the juices out of the reply. Then he'll run back to 'is cave an' wait, living off of the energy brought on by the useless post-reply.

[AmazeO XD]

Crikey! What we got 'ere folks is a fine example of useless posting. Also known as spam. As you can see, the Spamitus autotrophit was clearly 'ungry, so 'e comes down in 'ere to look for a good thread for 'im to get into; and there, there he lay 'is egg-- Spam. 'e'll then wait for someone to post something about his useless crap, and that is when he strikes, sucking the juices out of the reply. Then he'll run back to 'is cave an' wait, living off of the energy brought on by the useless post-reply. It wasn't spam, it was simple. All there is to do is write. Write in the way you want to. That's what makes your book, yours. A spam post would be like "lol write a book." No, "Write." is just that, a suggestion just to write.

[Sornaensis]

No, Amazeo. That is dumbassness at its prime. If someone asked advice on building a building, saying "Well just go build it." doesn't get anywhere. So shutup unless you have something constructive to share.

[AmazeO XD]

No, Amazeo. That is dumbassness at its prime. If someone asked advice on building a building, saying "Well just go build it." doesn't get anywhere. So shutup unless you have something constructive to share. LOL OMG U WIN! Okay, here you go. Create your characters, and be sure they can be related to. That's the most important part. Make a good conflict, and make sure it follows basic climbing action and climax patterns. There you go Seis.

[Sornaensis]

He already said he had that!! He wanted tips on writing it!

[Sandform]

There are many theories on how to write a book. Generally the idea is to create the story line, understand what message you want to make, decide what bonds the characters should develop with each other, decide which style your going to write in (third person, first person, omniscient or otherwise) Then there is of course the actual story itself. For the story itself its good to know what it is your going to write. Some people create outlines first...some just make it up from beginning to end and then fine tune it after the story is completed.

[Sylph]

Hmmm... I not sure I understand what exactly is your problem - details in writing (structuring text), or details in story plotting? Paragraphs have a place to be in the text - you just break it when "it's time to", I guess. For instance: - chapter - - place description (break) - enters character\character description (break) - action starts (break) - what character thinks about action (break) - character acts (break) - whatever reacts (break) ... Of course, you might decide later that one of the longer paragraphs could actually be more dynamic cut in two, or you might want to break a particular sentence away for effect, but I think the general shape of the text should be there from the start. A great exercise to realize\learn how writers structure their text is translating. If you know a second language, try to translate a few pages of a foreign book. You'll see how quickly you'll get bored by stuff you never notice when you just read, hehehe!

[Sylph]

If the details you're lacking are in the plot you might want to try testing it before you put the pen to the paper. It's kind of like writing code: - You have character A. He is\thinks this way. - You have situation 1. - Does char A reaction to situation 1 makes sense? What will he do exactly and why? How does that affect the outcome? - If he knows about situation 1 and 3, howcome he goes doing whatever in situation 5? Bleh! This is harder to explain than I thought! It does help finding stupid mistakes in a story, caused by faulty logic. One gets so carried away by the big, exciting scenes that the minor yet essential details can get overlooked. Er... I take it from your intro you're talking fantasy or sci-fi, right? Hopes this helps some...