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You can write a book! Just follow the map to get there.
introduction
THE MAP
ONE: Write a one to three sentence premise
TWO: Picture your ideal reader
THREE: Write a one-page outline
FOUR: Write one chapter at a time until your first draft
is finished
FIVE: Read through your book without editing
SIX: Rewrite until finished with your second draft
SEVEN: Get beta readers/a critique group/a content
editor
EIGHT: Rewrite until you finish your third draft
NINE: Get beta readers/a critique group/a copy editor
TEN: Publish
table of contents
ONE: WRITE A ONE TO THREE
SENTENCE PREMISE
Whether you’re writing a book or a blog post, it’s
tempting to just dive into your writing project. However,
you will save yourself time and create a better end
product if you settle on a solid premise before you start
writing.
1. the protagonist
2. the setting
3. the crisis the protagonist faces
4. the protagonist’s goal
one
TWO: PICTURE YOUR IDEAL
READER
The definition of a story, according to dictionary.com, is:
A narrative, either true or fictitious, in prose or verse,
designed to interest, amuse, or instruct the hearer or
reader.
The best stories are not about how the author feels. The
best stories are about how the reader feels.
two
For example, when J.R.R. Tolkien wrote The Hobbit, he
never thought anyone would be interested in it. Tolkien
wrote the novel as a bedtime story for his four children,
in other words, as a way to connect more deeply with his
family. One of the best selling books of all time was
written by a man who didn’t even intend to publish it. He
only wrote the book to entertain himself and his kids.
two
THREE: WRITE A ONE-PAGE
OUTLINE
Plans are worthless, but planning is essential.
three
Use this very simple five-part model as a loose guide (it
works for fiction and nonfiction):
ACT I
1. SETUP: Why should we care? about this character?
about this idea? about this problem?
2. THE PROBLEM: You/your character wants
something… but there’s a problem. What do you/
your character want? What is the problem? And
why does it have to be solved now?
ACT II
3. MAKE THE PROBLEM PERSONAL: Why is this
problem so hard to solve?
4. SOLUTION: Solve the problem.
ACT III
5. RESOLUTION: Why does it matter that this problem
is solved? (Or for tragedies, what does the world
look like now that it hasn’t been solved?)
three
FOUR: WRITE ONE CHAPTER AT
A TIME UNTIL YOUR FIRST
DRAFT IS FINISHED
Write each unit of your book in one sitting.
four
FIVE: READ THROUGH YOUR
BOOK WITHOUT EDITING
After you finish your first draft, read your manuscript
through by yourself without editing.
five
SIX: REWRITE UNTIL YOU
FINISH YOUR SECOND DRAFT
Your second draft is meant for major structural fixes.
six
SEVEN: BETA READERS/
CRITIQUE GROUP/CONTENT
EDITOR
Send your manuscript to a group of up to thirty friends
and fellow writers for feedback. Through these beta
readers you will finally be able to get a sense of what
your book really is, not what you think it is. Beta readers
bring fresh eyes, and by listening to them as they talk
about your book, you'll be able to see what's ready for
publication and what isn’t.
seven
EIGHT: REWRITE UNTIL YOU
FINISH THE THIRD DRAFT
Now that the major structural changes have been made
in your second draft, it’s the time to polish your prose.
Your final, detailed line edits don't come until your third
draft. First drafts are for digging the book's foundation,
second drafts for framing the house, and third drafts for
finish work.
Get polishing.
eight
NINE: BETA READERS/
CRITIQUE GROUP/COPY
EDITOR/PROOFREADER(S)
Another round of beta reading. If you’re part of a critique
group, this is a great time to begin sharing your writing
with them.
nine
TEN: PUBLISH
Celebrate! You finished your book! Regardless of
whether you publish it or not, you’ve done something
most people only dream about.
1. Platform
2. Agents/Publishers vs. Self-Publishing
3. Pre-launch
4. Publish
5. Promote
ten