Writing is my passion, and I have been doing content marketing from a long time now. My colleagues have started asking me to write a story book or a novel for kids, even I want to start on one, but every time I try to take this idea seriously, I feel that no matter how good a content marketer am I, I wont be able to write a story book at least. Can anyone give me tips on how to write a book?
Thank you so much Jeff for the valuable advice! And I totally and completely agree with your words that we are our own worst critics, I never like what I write and every time i go through my piece I see faults and mistakes in it and when the same piece is read by another person, they seem to like it and they actually encourage me to keep writing.
Jeff, I have shared a short story, I would appreciate your feedback regarding the piece written.
Thanks once again :)
Just start. Put pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard and start. There is no other way, believe me. Everyone feels this way on their first attempt. Yes, you might not like your first attempt, you may even hate it, but think about any activity you've ever done - was it instantly wonderful? With my first attempt at a novel, I re-wrote it 18 times before I thought it was even half-way decent (and it's still not published!). We're always our own worst critics, but if the desire is in you, don't ignore it. It may take you an age, and each rewrite will improve it/change it. Look at the kind of book you want to write, say to yourself 'I'd do that differently' and do it. Copy others to start with, if you like (imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, after all!) but find your own style, and work at it, never expecting the first version will be any good, but the next will be better and the next better than than that, and so on.
Read books, loads of books, the more the better, and see what you like and don't like, and keep reading and writing as you shape your own work. You may ditch one completely, but start again with another idea, and another and another, and then find the one that makes you realise you CAN write a book. Find 'how to' books on writing, there are loads, and don't take everything they say as gospel, because what works for one person, doesn't work for another. Persevere. If you know deep down that you won't persevere, then don't start, but I don't think that will happen, because you said you 'want' to start one. Maybe an idea will sit in a drawer (or hard drive) for days/weeks/months/years, but once you've been infected by the writing bug, there's no cure, I'm afraid, and you'll continue to write as the only way of scratching the itch! It's the most enjoyable and frustrating condition there is, and I urge you to just start. Right now, after reading this... And good luck!