write a book

Start with the characters. Figure out who they are, what their backgrounds are and what they look like. Then decide on a setting, when will this take place: year, season etc. Where will it take place the country, the town, the surroundings. Then start writing anything that comes to mind. you can go back and edit whenever you want. Some things would work and others wouldn't you decide that later. Then once your finish submit to agents and editors in order to get published. Agents will help you find a publisher. Stay away from PublishAmerica...they are a scam.

I agree with you.The "Where to start" factor is something difficult to deal with and is capable of dampening a writer's spirits.I dream of writing a book that targets at children, particularly of the age 9-15.Because I guess they are the toughest readers to cater to.But once their attention is captured,they can liven up any writer's lives.

If you can't think of how to start the story then just start with the part that is in your head. Later you can go back and add the beginning.

Actually I have done this. I wrote a book in the 80s. I actually got it officially rejected by some publishers when I sent it out to be looked at. This past year I published it as an e-book. So far I have only sold 5 copies, but I am not giving up. I have also completed manuscripts for two children's stories but am not ready to set up e-book manuscripts at this time. A future project... All the ideas on this site are correct. You need to practice your craft as much as possible. Jot down short blurbs, short stories, poetry, or just pieces of thoughts that come into your mind. When you start to feel the story, develop the characters. Set the place, the times, and study the period you are writing about. The very best advice I can give you is write from your heart. Let your emotions drive you and then add your knowledge. Also, writing about things that you know and personal experience is good because it makes the feeling of your work authentic. You can check out my book, an outline of it, and an excerpt at: http://pages.videotron.com/kbkbooks/oklahomawind/index.html

that is what i was thinking of this morning! i would love to write a book too! but i realize youve got to have real experiences and well earned lessons in life before i can write..i dont to write what others has said..i would love to write someday what is true, Biblical and helpful.

Here's a great site for self-publishing: http://www.lulu.com/

Maybe jot down some ideas and then try and get them into a readable sequence. You could make some notes...or just start writing and see where it takes you....

Hmm check some websitet...

YUes I agree with icequeen that is how it started with me jotting things down but as I am writing about my Life lol my memory is in full force here so good luck and take your time

I had that dream for a while as well then finally the idea just hit me out of nowhere and now I'm working on putting it to fruition. I hope the same thing will happen to you too. Hang in there and have faith.

Decide on whether you want to write fiction or non-fiction. Then think about your characters and how they will interact with each other. Make life hard for them and see how they react. Then find an critique group that will help you along. Find classes to learn about the craft of writing - or better yet go to the library and find books on writing. Develop the craft and you'll know what to do.

Well..what I did when I started writing my first book, I just sort of layed out what I wanted to write, the whole story..a basic overall view of the story. Then I went on and did profiles of the main characters, then more details about the world they lived in. I made it descriptive but also vague enough to give me room to be creative. That's something alot newbies tend to do, needlessly limtit themselves. Then you go on and think about how you want to start the story. Once you come up with an eye-catching but not too flashy of a beginning, you begin writing, soon it all just begins to fall into place as you follow your basic guidelines for the story you want to write..you do the same thing you did with the beginning, when you get to the end. I find it's often best to write clffhangery endings, but explain enough so that people have even MORE questions. Then you want to find someone to publish or you self publish lol