Have you ever felt like you’ve had an interesting life, and someday you’d like to write a book? Have you wondered how would I write a book about my life. 200 years ago it would be almost impossible, even 100 years ago it was pretty difficult, but in the last 20 years since the advent of computers writing a book has become easier and easier. I’ll give you the lowdown of how I wrote a book in just a few short months on my life.
In fact, you can write a book, even if you hate to write. The new voice recognition software products out on the market can take the pain out even the most reluctant typist. And if you don’t want to go that route, there is transcription services that will transcribe your audio at really reasonable prices.
When I sat down to write a book about my life, I sat down and brainstormed. I thought quite a bit about what I wanted to write, and how I wanted to write it. I didn’t write anything down for a few days, I just let it stew in my brain.
Then I sat down to get a little more organized. Ran down to Walgreens, and picked up a few packages of 3×5 index cards. I sat down for a few hours, and poured out in very broad terms my topics. For instance one of my index cards simply said. Dog bite-hospital-pee.
After a while, I would get more detailed. I would write a little more ideas free form on the card about the topic. Just some memory points, anything that won’t fit on one side of the card was too much and probably deserved a separate topic.
Once you have a bunch of ideas jotted out. Now it’s time to organize them. Put them in the order you’d like to write in. Get rid of some of the cards you no longer want(or rather put them aside, you never know when you might want that card again).
Now you’re ready to put the pen to the paper. What I found is that the beginning is the HARDEST part of the book to get right. I might rewrite my opening paragraph and opening chapter dozens of times. So, I want to whip through it the first time through, no thinking, just blaze away, I know I’m going to rewrite it numerous times anyway, and I would hate to get held up on this part.
If you’re going to get the book done, you have to have a schedule. I knew I wanted to write for two hours a day, and finish my first draft in six weeks. Then I’d spend the next 3 weeks doing revisions. I’d let some friends read it, give me broad impressions, then revise some more. Put together your own game plan.
It took me a month longer than I expected, but I got it done. I like it, it’s not going to get me any literary awards anytime soon. But, it’s something very special that I can pass down to my children. The biggest key to success in writing your own book is to get started. Eventually you have to write. Even Ernest Hemingway had to stop partying and start writing someday. Here’s to reading your own life story soon.
Alan Raimes is a dedicated father, and a comic in his own mind. Now there are no guarantees, that anyone is going to write a blockbuster life story, but with the proper organization, creativeness and determination, anyone can put together their life story much quicker than they believe. For help on writing your own life story, and an amazing blueprint for step-by-step creating your own compelling story, visit his gimmeananswer.com/Writing/ writers resource center.