by Aris Jameson

Created on: June 30, 2009   Last Updated: April 03, 2010

There are several important things I recommend accomplishing before you begin writing your book. The first is to establish which genre your book will fall under and read as many novels as you can by prominent authors in that genre. It is nearly impossible to write a solid book in a specific genre without first reading other books and finding out how their authors captivate readers. If you plan to write a horror book, check out some of Stephen King's work; mystery writers should read up on Dean Koontz, and I would advise science fiction writers to read the Harry Potter, Twilight, and Lord of the Rings series. By reading these books you'll expose yourself to various writing styles and plots, and you'll also be able to learn how these authors effectively develop characters and describe settings. While reading, take the time to ask yourself a few questions. What makes the characters in this story dynamic? Is it their rituals, their backgrounds, their relationships with other characters? What in the story makes you want to keep reading on? You may find some books to be boring; why? You might even enjoy the sentence structure in a particular paragraph so much that you attempt to replicate it in one of your own sentences.

My next piece of advice is to do research online to ensure that your title and plot have not already been taken. The last thing you need is to be fifty or one hundred pages into a book, only to find out that your plot is too similar to a book that is already in print. Also, describe your plot to friends and family members and ask them if it sounds familiar to them. I have an uncle who saw a movie twenty years ago, and unknowingly began rehashing its plot in his book. When I read it, I informed him that the plot sounds like a movie I had watched recently and, sure enough, he had to scrap the manuscript. This mistake may sound strange, but it is actually easy to make. Most folks are exposed to many books and movies in their lives, and the plots sometimes blend together in our minds, causing us to think that something we saw in the past is actually our own idea.

My final, and most important, piece of advice is to have fun writing your book and be patient. If you are writing because you want to be a millionaire or bestselling author, then I suggest you find something else to do because you'll likely be disappointed. It is difficult enough to publish one successful book, never mind become a prominent writer. Your chances of doing so are similar to your

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