“Dream is not that which you see while sleeping. It’s something that doesn’t let you sleep.” – A P J Abdul Kalam.
Yes, these words are truly inspirational for all those who are passionate about their dreams. It was these words that kept me motivated all this time. Writing is my passion and getting my book published was my Dream. It took me nearly three and a half long years to fulfill this dream. Constructing a house with a lovely garden from one’s own earnings, learning to drive a car, conducting your own Art Exhibition, learning to play a violin- whatever be your dream. If you are that passionate about achieving your dream, then nothing can stop you from achieving the feat.
This article is mainly intended for all the budding authors and the wannabe writers amidst you. Many things will be holding you back from writing your own book or from getting published. Through this article I will be explaining the hardships I faced while writing my book and the solutions I gradually found out. Believe me or not!! These tips actually worked in my case!!
Three Important Things to remember before Penning down your Thoughts
What, When & How
a) What to Write
• Fixing your Book Genre is the most important aspect. If you love reading thrillers it simply doesn’t mean that you can write down a bestselling thriller. First and foremost thing is that you should believe in your own writing skills and must follow your inner call. Some people write from their own experiences and mix a spoonful of fiction in it, which in turn becomes a very good read. Some authors are keen observers and they love to narrate other’s experiences. Some people are into fantasy fiction and create a flawless fantasy world for the readers to enjoy. For example: J.K Rowling – Her Harry Potter 7 book series is a perfect example of writing a wonderful magical fantasy fiction. While writing the first book itself, she had a clear idea about how the book must end. She has created the story plot in such a way the readers can’t miss a single book in the series. So always remember – Fixing the Genre is the first important step. So always take your first step carefully.
b) When to Write
• I have heard many people saying the line “There is no specific time for writing”. Yes of course it’s a fact. Remember to carry a notepad with you always. Ideas may strike in your mind at anytime. So be prepared always. If you are into writing with that sort of passion, then there is every bit of chance that creative thoughts and ideas will take their place in your dreams. Experts say that these dreaming thoughts will stay for around 2-3 minutes after we wake from our bed. So carrying a notepad with you always can sometimes be very crucial in penning down that extraordinary climax of your book.
• Fixed Writing Time & Ambience:
Well in my case I developed a different formula which really worked out well for me. I chose a fixed time for scribbling down my. Every midnight I used to spend an hour in the balcony which in turn helped me in writing the mystic parts of my book. A proper ambience and lighting in your writing room actually counts a lot. If you are writing a horror novel, then try to pen down your thoughts while sitting alone outside on a chilly spooky night. Trust me!! Words will automatically flow through your mind. So remember this – a proper writing time and a perfect ambience is going to influence your book
• Have a Short Walk or do some Exercise: Sometimes doing a little exercise or goingout for a short walk might help you a lot. If you are a person who is working in a hectic work schedule, then there is every bit of chance that you are facing strong writer’s block. I suggest you to take a short walk in the morning or to do some stretching exercises. This will make your mind refreshed and your brain will give you more creative outputs.
c) How to Write
• Avoiding Writer’s Block: Many budding authors or already established writers complain about this so called “Writer’s Block”. Only remedy for this is to WRITE, WRITE& WRITE. That’s all..Yes you heard me right.. Just keep on scribbling down your thoughts, no matter what you are writing. Just keep on writing. Just scribble down and have a goodnight sleep. In the morning, just take a look at what you have written the previous night. You might feel funny sometimes but continue the same thing for two three days. Trust me, your ideas will be more refined and you will be soon back to your writing routine within 2-3 days. So always remember WRITE, WRITE & WRITE.
• Favorite Author: Always find some quality time for watching or listening to the talks of your favorite author. It might change your perspectives about writing. But make sure that you never become too obsessed with your favorite, because sometimes it might affect your writing style. Never ever try to imitate any others, and if you do then you might end up with getting heavily trolled in the social media. So always remember, if you want your work to be acknowledged, then make sure you develop your own unique writing style.
• Social Circle & Peer Groups: Always hang around with friends having similar passion. It will boost your writing skills & develop creativity. Hang out with a friend who is very much keen in watching films & reading books. This will help you in lot of ways. There isa huge chance that sometimes the ideas you are working on, might have already appeared in some films or some books. You might not know the fact and may continue writing the same. Eventually, investing a lot of time on an idea that’s already implemented is utter waste and might make you crack down. So having a good connection with such a social circle will keep you updated about the real time happenings.
• Make Reading your Habit: Always find a quality time for reading books. Seriously if you want to get your book published, then spend some quality time for reading. Make it a habit or a daily routine. It will help you a lot in improvising your proficiency, your language and your narration skills
.• Take a Break & Travel: It’s one thing that might help you in overcoming Writer’s Block. Ideas will start flowing to your mind again.
The first ten pages of your book always play a crucial role in making the Book bestseller. In those pages, the writer must be able to knock the right string and should get in line with the impulse of the reader. He must be able to implant a strong seed of anxiety inside the reader’s mind within those ten pages. Else the chapter is closed and he will no longer be interested in reading any further. Your book may be having an extraordinary climax, but at the moment the reader won’t bother to further dig more. So always make sure that your first ten pages turn out to be as beautiful as your book’s climax.
Lord Byron, the English Poet is a classic example of sheer Quality. I remember a story I had read a long time back, about his college days. One day he was attending his lectures in the class and suddenly the professor gave all the students a writing exercise. The professor gave biblical topic “Marriage at Cana – Jesus Christ turns Water into Wine”. All the students started writing essays about the topic. Young Byron sat in the class all the time, just looking out through the window. An hour passed. The professor started collecting the papers and somehow he was shocked to see the blank white paper in the hands of young Byron. The professor gave him an extra moment and told him to write anything that comes in his mind.
Young Byron wrote a one liner. “The Water met its Master and blushed.” He won the literary exercise with that one liner. So always remember one thing. It’s Quality that matters the most not quantity. Your Book is your Dream and its going to be your identity. So make sure you build a remarkable one. So always remember “Its Quality, not Quantity that matters.”
Ashish Ben Ajay (Author of 307.47, Malayalam Fiction Novel). He is a young author, who has made a name for himself with his first published book. He is a banker with a predilection for the written word.
THE BREW 