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How do I start writing a book?

I want to write my own book but I'm not sure what steps I should take or how I should approach it. How do I come up with ideas for a story?

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Scott’s Answer

Hey Camryn - Congratulations on your decision to write your own book!

Remember that writing a book is a journey, and it's important to enjoy the process. Keep an open mind and keep writing - you never know where your story might take you.

I have faith in you, Camryn! Happy writing!
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Scott recommends the following next steps:

Start with an idea: The first step in writing a book is to come up with an idea for a story. Think about what interests you, what inspires you, or what you're passionate about. It might be helpful to keep a notebook or journal handy to jot down ideas as they come to you. Once you have your idea, start brainstorming different plot points, characters, and settings.
Develop your characters: Characters are the heart of any story, so it's important to give them depth and personality. Think about who your main character is, what their goals and motivations are, and what conflicts they might face throughout the story. You might even create character profiles to help you keep track of their traits and behaviors.
Outline your story: Once you have your idea and characters in mind, start outlining your story. This might include breaking down your plot into chapters or sections, identifying key scenes or events, and mapping out the overall structure of your story. An outline will help you stay organized and focused as you write.
Write, write, write: With your idea, characters, and outline in place, it's time to start writing! Set a goal for yourself (like writing for 30 minutes each day) and stick to it. Remember that your first draft doesn't have to be perfect - the most important thing is to get your ideas down on paper. Keep in mind that writing is a process, so don't be too hard on yourself if you hit a roadblock or if your story takes a different direction than you originally planned.
Get feedback: Once you've written a draft of your book, it's helpful to get feedback from others. This might include sharing your work with friends or family members, joining a writing group or workshop, or even hiring a professional editor. Feedback can help you identify areas for improvement and refine your story.
Thank you comment icon I appreciate this, thank you for the advice. camryn
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Byron’s Answer

Seek inspiration in the world! Go and chat with people who you don't know yet. Ask them where they come from, what their fears and hopes and dreams are. Ask their favorite movie and why. Ask who their childhood friend was. You'll find that most people in this beautiful world have illustrious stories from which to draw myriad inspiration.
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Denise A’s Answer

Two things you should know before you write a book: how does it begin (your opening that will make the reader want to continue) and how will the book end. The middle can be brainstormed, put on a timeline, or in a circle diagram. It could also be an outline. You may need to do lots of research so facts are right.

Denise A recommends the following next steps:

Then just write. Forget about spelling, grammar and punctuation.
Here’s where you start cutting and/or adding to make it flow.
Get an editor and/or coach for your third draft.
Beta readers.
Final draft.
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JOHN’s Answer

Hello:

Read! Read! Read! (Books, etc.)
Learn! Learn! Learn! (anything)
Watch! Watch! Watch! (Movies, film, documentary's, etc.)

Observation can bring about a helpful teaching step on top of the other aspects. The more the connectivity in the mind embraces more subjects, characters, and knowledge - ideas can sprout, plots can awaken, and creativity flourishes.

Try taking a door and writing a short story about the door. Try challenging yourself to deepen your creative thought process to help experience the creative initiatives. Some places, like writing.com, may offer prompts that can help you think of something to write about. That can help what I mentioned above.

Interactions online:
WritingCommunity, ScreenwritingTwitter (Twitter hashtags).

Classes:
https://www.masterclass.com/categories/writing (Margaret Atwood, James Patterson, Joyce Carol Oates, Amy Tan, etc.)

Gratitude inside your steps.

God Bless,

John German
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Tom’s Answer

These folks all have great advice. But from my own personal experience...just write.
Figure out what you want to write about, refine the idea, then rip it to pieces and put it back together.
It's simplistic, it's difficult, but it's worth it if you have a story to tell.
Just write.
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