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Tips for Writing a Fiction Book (Part Three)

Monday, February 9th, 2009

The first tip for writing a fiction book highlighted how outlining your novel can help develop ideas, while the second tip focused on added character development. This last tip will emphasize how to flesh out your novel with subplots.

Building Depth

Creating supplementary stories to your main storyline really helps to engage readers by giving your novel depth (as opposed to a boring, linear story). Also, it allows you to put your characters into situations that vary from the central plot which can enhance certain attributes or demonstrate a different side of your characters.

Unless you’re creating a children’s book, readers want complexity and substance that will make them question characters’ motives and actions. By having a subplot or two, it supplies an opportunity for your characters to expand out of their conventional element into situations where they can display more personality or abilities that wouldn’t be possible within the structure of the main plot.

Make it Connect

Of course, one of the major concerns is not to letting your subplots dominate your novel or water down the central plot. Subplots are meant to supplement, not supplant. Likewise, subplots need to be well-developed or they might take away the reader’s attention as they ask, “Why was that in there? What was the point of that?”

So, the trick is making the subplot secondary (which is what it’s supposed to be) to the main storyline, but at the same time making it relevant enough to have in the first place.

Conclusion

I hope that the three-part series of tips for writing a fiction book were helpful. As always, I’m interested in hearing what you think. Do you have additional tips for novelists? Feel free to write a comment below.

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Luis D. Bonilla
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Pros and Cons of Hiring a Ghostwriter

Monday, February 2nd, 2009

If you are looking to hire a ghostwriter, your selection could seem endless. Do you want to hire by price or by quality? Is there a way to get both? Do you want the ghostwriter to have English as their first language? Does the ghostwriter’s voice matter? Are they proficient (or at least familiar) with the topic I need written?

After you take a quick inventory of what you need completed by a ghostwriter, make a pros and cons list that will aid in your search. Doing so will allow you to get an idea of how much a ghostwriter can help with your writing project…or it can reveal that you might not benefit from having someone ghostwrite for you. The following is a small list to get you started.

Pros

  • Save Time: If writing isn’t your niche, think of what you could be doing with your time (i.e., promoting your project, finding a publisher, etc.).

  • A New Voice: It has happened to all of us at one point or another; we know what to say, but don’t know how to make it sound quite right. The appropriate ghostwriter can help you sound more professional, laid back, humorous…anything that you need your project to be.

  • Support: Having someone who is proficient in writing is a great luxury when you need new ideas for your project. A good ghostwriter will be constructive and encouraging with your written project, allowing for a completed work that is acceptable to you.

Cons

  • If English Isn’t the First Language: Although there are some rare exceptions, when a writer’s native tongue isn’t English, you can sense it in their writing. Make sure you know who you’re hiring and what quality (if any) you’ll be sacrificing.

  • Royalties/Contracts: Some ghostwriters prefer (or require) some type of royalties for subsequent sales of the book or writing project. This may be okay if you don’t want to pay a lot upfront, but it could be more than you’re willing to pay in the long run should your manuscript sell many copies. Be sure you know the boundaries of your ghostwriting contract.

  • Pricing is Too Low or High: C’mon, are you really expecting brand new, articulate work that is written by an experienced professional for about $3 a page? How about a 300-page self-help book written in three months for $10,000? Personally, I would steer clear of the “dollar menu pricing” ghostwriters (lack of quality) and the “my pen writes with liquid gold…really, that’s why I charge this much” ghostwriters (lack of…reality?).

(Note: There are ghostwriters that have attained “pen writes with liquid gold” status, but it is far from the norm, in my opinion.)

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Luis D. Bonilla
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Tips for Writing a Fiction Book (Part Two)

Monday, January 12th, 2009

The last Individual Project Topic was part one of “Tips for Writing a Fiction Book” in which I discussed a strategy for outlining your novel in order to make it easier to flesh out an entire story. This week I will illustrate how to develop your characters with the purpose of keeping readers intrigued with your cast (and will try not to regurgitate what’s already floating out on the Web).

Establish the Setting

I feel that when cultivating believable characters for a novel, it’s best to have your entire setting determined so that the character fits within the story’s framework. By starting character development with the setting (i.e., time period, country/land, lifestyle, etc.), you are better able to create the characters’ experiences, interests, and other attributes that will make them believable.

Interaction: Not Like You

It’s important to not put your voice (or your personality traits) into characters, as they will all come off as uninteresting…think Cruise in Valkyrie.

Your novel’s characters need to respond to situations and have conversations that coincide with their constructed nature. So, you don’t curse when you talk in everyday situations, but maybe the Queens, New York gang member from your novel would curse in a #%&* minute!

Concluding with Part Three

The next time the Individual Project Topic rolls around, I’ll conclude the fiction book mini-series posts with how to modify your main storyline to comprise a well-rounded plot.

As always, if you have any comments, feel free to leave them below or email to feedback@wordszilla.com.

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Luis D. Bonilla
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Tips for Writing a Fiction Book (Part One)

Monday, December 8th, 2008

I plan to write a mini-series of tips for authors who are beginning to write a fiction novel. I feel that there are common practices between successful, engaging stories and will attempt to lay the groundwork for beginning novelists searching for fundamental principles that most readers expect from novels.

Know Your Story: Outline

Most beginning writers have a great idea for a story, but don’t have enough story for a great novel. Novels usually entail a vivid creation of characters within a particular time period and/or world and just having a “sweet idea” won’t automatically create a fleshed-out story. This takes some effort…this takes an outline.

I know that a lot of people will argue that outlining will destroy the creative process and inhibit spontaneity. I will somewhat agree in that too much planning could be corruptive to the flow of writing or story development, but not enough structure can lead to a truncated adventure, diluted characters, or too many subplots that cloud the main story.

The obvious thing to do is find your own happy medium with the outline…one that gives you enough structure to begin, tell, and end your story but allows for you to have some flexibility with your characters and plot.

One suggestion would be to break up your storyline in chapters and then write a short summary for each chapter. Doing this will let you visualize how each incident will begin and end, giving you a more focused plot while eliminating opportunities for wandering characters (unless your novel is actually about a wandering character, in which case I would still suggest an outline).

A benefit of writing an outline or summarizing each chapter is that you will have a definitive end which makes it easier for most people to write. It’s very frustrating for many novelists to just write, write, and write without knowing the ultimate destination. For many individuals (including myself), having the objective in sight gives more purpose to the story leading up to the end.

More to Follow

In upcoming Individual Project Topic entries I will discuss tips to help develop character strength and how to expand your main storyline to keep readers engaged.

Do you have any tips for writing novels? Leave a comment below or write to feedback@wordszilla.com.

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Luis D. Bonilla
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Write an Essay More Easily by Using an Outline

Monday, November 10th, 2008
“Words can only hurt you if you try to read them. Don’t play their game….”—Zoolander (2001)

It’s true that there are not many people alive (or dead) that enjoy writing essays. Although it won’t be as exhilarating as rappelling down Mount Vesuvius, if you implement an outline, your essay shouldn’t be as time consuming and should be more focused.

Professors require different types of essays, we all know this. Whether it’s a three-page narrative or a fifteen-page research project, the way you devise an outline will be the key to an effective essay.

What to Do, Where to Start

First and foremost, nail down what the professor is asking you to write about. If you have more than one option to choose from, select the theme that you feel will be easiest to come up with the required amount of pages.

Next, formulate a thesis statement (something you’re trying to prove or answer). This step is crucial, as it is the pathway for your entire essay. Now, there isn’t a concrete “right” or “wrong” as long as you can back up your argument with facts, researched evidence, and/or logic. As always, your professor is the ultimate judge of the aforementioned sentiment, so keep that in mind as you write.

The Outline

Subsequently, draft out your entire essay which should include the introduction/thesis statement, the body with elaborative points, and the conclusion. I find using Roman numerals to allocate sections works best.

I. Introduction/Thesis Statement

i. What are the themes/arguments?
ii. Purpose of the paper?
iii. What do you hope to accomplish?

II. Theme/Argument Number One

i. Explain why this point is relevant to your thesis.
ii. Use examples from books (or other credible sources).
iii. Use notes from class discussions for extra ideas.
iv. How does this support your thesis statement?

III. Theme/Argument Number Two

i. Explain why this point is relevant and corresponds to “number one.”
ii. Use examples from books (or other credible sources).
iii. Use notes from class discussions for extra ideas.
iv. How does this support your thesis statement?

IV. Theme/Argument Number Three

i. Explain why this point is relevant and corresponds to “number one” and “two.”
ii. Use examples from books (or other credible sources).
iii. Use notes from class discussions for extra ideas.
iv. How does this support your thesis statement?

V. Conclusion

i. Reiterate thesis statement in a non-repetitive fashion.
ii. Review your main points for (or against) the theme/argument.
iii. Acknowledge two (or more) sides for the theme.
iv. Add personal insight as to why you chose a particular side.
v. Close argument/essay with a definitive point.

More to It

What I outlined is not meant to be the only way to construct an essay. But, for those that don’t know where to begin, it is an excellent way to have something to work with as you flesh out your project.

This outline can also be tweaked and amended to fit your particular essay requirements. For instance, you might need to write for two separate arguments or need five “body” paragraphs to explain your point and meet page demands. As long as your essay has the main, basic components, you should be fine as you write.

Additional Points to Remember

Here are some items that I found helpful while I was writing essay after essay during my college days.

  • Use multiple, credible sources to substantiate your arguments.
  • Sometimes it’s better to say “I feel that…” than making a general, universal statement.
  • Ensure that you’re using the professor’s desired writing format (i.e., MLA, APA, etc.).
  • If you’re after a high grade, perhaps you might have to write what the professor wants to read (I’ve sold out once or twice and I feel spectacular!).
  • Reuse ideas or previously written essays* if they are comparable to your current project.
  • After you finish writing, take a 24-hour break and then review your essay.
  • Before you turn in your essay, double-check it, read it out loud, have a friend read it, go to the writing lab, enlist a copy editing service, do something that will catch the little mistakes that make professors cringe.

*Personal anecdote: I had a professor that told me and my classmates that if we reused the same essay twice (for the beginning and ending class projects), he probably wouldn’t notice. I thought to myself, “Hmmm….”

I wrote a decent essay for the beginning of the semester (received something like a B+ on it). Then, towards the end of the semester, I handed in the same exact essay (only changing the date).

Did he find out? Did I get a bad grade? Was he just being sarcastic when he said that?

Oh, yeah. I received an A the second time. And the professor, to my knowledge, was none the wiser. Genius…pure genius.

Ghostwriting Service - Copy Editing ServiceLuis D. Bonilla
luis@wordszilla.com
Wordszilla, LLC

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