|
Turning Ideas Into Books
by Laura Backes, co-founder of Write4Kids.com
© Copyright 2001, Children's Book Insider, LLC
Maybe you're one of those lucky writers whose head is bursting with
ideas. Or perhaps you have one idea that's been nagging you for
weeks, always at the edge of your thoughts. Either way, you're
itching to begin writing. That's good. But before you rush headlong
into your story, stop and ask yourself one question: Is this just an
idea, or is it a book?
Ideas, of course, are the seeds of any work of fiction or
nonfiction. But until an idea is fully developed, until you can
envision its beginning, middle and end, that one idea might not be
enough. The experience of writing for pages about an idea and
ultimately getting nowhere (or getting a pile of rejections)
has taught many writers to outline their books before they begin.
But if the thought of an outline sends shivers up your spine, at
least thinking your idea through and making sure it merits months of
writing can save you future frustration.
Ideas for Fiction
A lot of writers, especially when they're beginners, get ideas for
fiction from their own lives. This can be useful for several
reasons: you're emotionally invested in the topic, you can relate
directly to the main character, and if the situation actually
happened to you, you're less likely to be unconsciously basing the
story on a book you've read. But remember, just because you find
this thing that happened to you or your child fascinating, it
doesn't mean it will be fascinating to thousands of potential
readers.
Very often, a real-life event is just that - an event. It's a
vivid scene you recall with pleasure, or a family joke that's
repeated over and over. It evokes strong emotions when you remember
it, perhaps you even look back on an event as a turning point in
your life. But only rarely does reality provide a plot. When writers
stick too closely to what really happened they fail to develop the
elements necessary for a good story: a believable main character who
is faced with a problem or conflict, mounting tension as that
character tries to solve her problem and experiences setbacks, and a
tension-filled climax followed by a resolution that's satisfying to
the character and the reader. If your main character is really your
son, you might not want to get him in trouble or throw rocks in his
path. But you have to. It's the only way you'll create a story that
will keep readers hooked and wondering how it will end.
Speaking of endings, if the resolution of your story comes too
easily, it's probably obvious and predictable. Try mixing up real
life and have the situation evolve in a different direction.
Surprise yourself, and you'll surprise an editor.
However you get your idea, focus first on whether it's a plot or a
theme. Many times, an initial idea is really the underlying meaning
of the story, what the author wants to convey to the reader. Themes
should be universal in their appeal-- such as friendship,
appreciating one's own strengths, not judging others too quickly.
Then play around with the sequence of events until you develop a
plot (what actually happens in the book) that makes this theme clear
to the reader. And remember; if you're using a childhood incident as
the foundation of your story, tell it from your childhood viewpoint,
not how it feels to you now as an adult.
Ideas for Nonfiction
Your nonfiction book should be based on something you're truly
interested in and passionate about. After all, you'll be living with
this idea for many months. The key to successful nonfiction is to
take your idea and approach it in a way that no one else has ever
done before. This means doing most of your research before you begin
to write. Don't settle for the most easily-found information on your
topic - your readers have probably read the same information. Keep
digging until you find an aspect to your subject that strikes you as
unique. Then search through the library and book stores to make sure
no one else has already beat you to it.
For a nonfiction idea to become a book, you need enough information
to fill the number of pages necessary, depending on the age group
for which you plan to write. Younger children need a foundation of
basic facts, but you can also get fairly detailed within the scope
of the approach you've chosen as long as you explain concepts in a
simple and straightforward manner (how animals hibernate, why
insects are different colors). Older readers can draw on a broader
foundation of knowledge, and infer connections between your topic
and related subjects. A detailed outline of any nonfiction book is
essential to help you see if your idea has enough substance and
originality, or if you need further research before you begin
writing.
Whether it's fiction or nonfiction, your idea should mean something
to you, but also have the potential to mean a lot to your readers.
Think it through, add to it, take the nonessential elements away,
and make sure it has a beginning, middle and end. Only then will
your "idea" turn into "an idea for a book."
About the Author
Laura Backes is the author of the just-released "Best Books for Kids
Who (Think They) Hate to Read" from Prima Publishing. She's also the
publisher of Children's Book Insider, the Newsletter for Children's
Writers. For more information about writing children's books,
including free articles, market tips, insider secrets and much more,
visit Children's Book Insider's home on
the web at http://write4kids.com
Copyright 2001, Children's Book Insider, LLC
More Writing for Children Articles
More Writing 101 Articles
|
