Knowing where to start is half the battle. The other half is actually writing the book. A mere 8% of first-time writers have authored a completed novel. With a writing coach by your side, your chances of taking your book off the back burner triples.
So, what are the reasons keeping you from acting on your creative dreams? Days are filled with work, childcare, cooking, kids’ sporting events, and family obligations on the outside. Your inside voice may be telling you to chase that “shiny object,” give in to your writer’s block, or give way to your perfectionist tendencies. That’s all very real. It’s also a reality that the longer you put off what lurks within you, the more you question your belief in yourself.
Write Coach believes in you… and your book writing journey. Consider these key three things before writing:
- What you are writing about and why
- The importance of developing characters people understand
- How the plot essentially defines the story
The moment we set out to write a compelling narrative or nonfiction piece we start to build a framework for what we intend to write about, and this means establishing a motive and a reason.
For example, in Harper Lee’s “To Kill A Mockingbird,” we might agree that Scout, Jem, and Atticus Finch are characters most of us understand. This is the reason many of you reading this blog don’t need to Google those names right now. Atticus more than adequately proves that Mayella Ewell was attacked by her father Bob Ewell, not Tom Robinson, though he is wrongfully convicted. When Bob attacks Scout and Jem, they are unexpectedly rescued by Boo Radley. Lee’s commentary on both racism and prejudice through these two outcomes in her classic novel was not by accident. I believe Lee plotted out how each character’s journey would end before writing the first word of her book.
Six Stages of Plot Structure
If the idea of plotting your book pumps adrenaline into your veins, let’s review plot structure before one word goes on the page of your first draft:
- The Situation: Setting, Routine, and Point of View
One easy way to hook your audience from the very first page is to establish your hero’s identity with a punchy quote or memorable description. Knowing where, when, how, and why a main character ticks is critical for the reader to care about them.
- The Journey: Protagonist/Antagonist Goals
Main character(s) are individuals who your readers should either relate to, be shocked by, cheer for, despise, or fall in love with. Even better if you develop a metaphoric map for where they want to go. Start your hero on their journey simply by creating a desire and a path.
- The Essence: Motivation for each character
Your hero is taking action toward their goals no matter what obstacles lay ahead. Your secondary characters should also have a serious purpose, even if it flies in the face of the protagonist’s primary motivating force. This energy from within the characters is the secret sauce to adding unspoken energy to your book, one which feels magnetic for your audience and makes them want to turn the page.
- The Setback: Conflict, Hurdles, and Failures.
A writer needs to build conflict throughout their story, be it fiction or nonfiction. This will lend drama and authenticity, but also help readers to start pulling for or rooting against certain characters. You might establish a setback, a point of return, and “a way out of that paper bag” they were caught in before your book is at its climax.
- The Climax: Turning Point and Facing a Fate.
We have all seen enough movies or television shows to understand how much emotion can be packed into a movie theater at the moment when the hero in your story, real or imagined, faces their greatest obstacle, determines their own fate, and hits the pinnacle of drama.
- The Transformation: Resolution, Problem Solved (tying it all together).
As your book resolves, one thing to keep in mind is that most books leave the reader with a feeling of resolution as it relates to the main characters’ original goals. This is not mandatory, as some stories based on reality just do not have a buttoned-up ending. When writers I work with determine their endings first, it’s easier to reveal the new life your hero is living once their journey is complete.
Everyone Has A Story To Tell
What’s yours? I’ve blogged about my step-by-step guide on how to get from the idea in your head to a book on the coffee table, but you still need a nudge. Enter the writing retreat. Its beauty is in the goal setting. We help you set “process and outcome” goals, which are both motivating and meaningful. Goals will maximize your chances of achieving that ultimate goal of writing a book.
You can accomplish that goal with a retreat from everyday life to feed your creativity. I’ve found a beautiful location that helps get the creative juices flowing and not only lifts up my own mental health but feeds my soul.
Endcliffe Writer’s Retreat
My mission in life is to help more women feel confident with their writing and reconnect with their creativity. This is why I created a Writing Retreat open to female writers at all stages of the writing process. Whether you have just an outline or you’re halfway through Chapter 3, a small investment of time and money could be the catalyst to complete your book!
If you’re the type who prefers to write in solitude, we get you. It can be a great way to break out of a hectic life routine. If you need a professional writing tutor to help guide you as you outline or complete a first draft, don’t hesitate to get a second pair of eyes on whatever story you’ve decided to write. Write Coach lives for this stuff!
