Harmony Stalter's Blog: A Writer's Journey - Posts Tagged "nonfiction"

There are similarities and differences in non-fiction and fiction writing. Both types of writing call for flow. The book needs to read like it is meant to be together. A non-fiction book needs to flow like a fiction story will. There needs to be consistency within the language used. The structures of fiction and non-fiction books vary. The structure of a non-fiction book can be matched with an outline. Outlines make non-fiction books easier to write. Fiction books will not follow an outline. Research varies between fiction and non-fiction. Research is a big part of non-fiction writing. When you are writing on a specific subject, you have to do extensive amounts of research. You want to be sure all your facts are correct on the subject matter you have chosen to write about. Always choose a subject you are passionate about when you are writing non-fiction books. With fiction books, there may be some research needed. You may want to right about a place or a time period. If this is the case, then you will need to research the area and the time period to ensure your accounts are correct. Most of the time, a fiction story is just something that comes from your own imagination. There are those who can write entire books without doing any or a minimal amount of research because it is all in their minds.
When it comes to writing non-fiction material, there is one rule of thumb. Always write about what you know. If you stick to writing about things you know something about and are able to research what you do not know about, then you will be able to see success in books. When it comes to fiction writing, your imagination is the only tool you really need. Well, that and enough paper and writing utensils, whether it is a pen or a computer. Words of advice--always back up your files, this is extremely important, especially if you are only using a computer to write your manuscripts. You need to invest in a jump drive, the larger the capacity the better.


Some writers, like me, hand write manuscripts before typing. This allows us to edit as we are typing. You can choose to do it this way or type up the entire thing, walk away from the story, then go back a few days later with fresh eyes to read through it and make changes. Then you can submit the manuscript to a publishing company, but be sure to read the guidelines first. Some companies only ask for the first three chapters. They use this to determine if they are going to publish your manuscript. It will take some time for them to get back to you. Do not get discouraged when you do not hear back right away.

Writing your first novel and sending it to a publisher can be a daunting task. I always say that finishing your first book and sending it off to a publisher is like sending your child into the world on their own for the first time. You are scared to let go, but want to see him or her succeed. Writing a series of novels with the same characters is a concept many writers take on. There are important steps to remember when you are taking on such a task.

First, you need to pay attention to the novel series you enjoy. Most people, who read for pleasure, do not pay much attention to why he or she enjoys the series books. You will have to go back through these novels and do a break down. The elements you will need to look for in the series of books are character, setting, plot structure, conflict, and suspense. These different elements will help you to understand what needs to done in order for you to write a series of books. Once you have broken down the books, you can apply your own unique style to writing your series.

Secondly, the elements that have a stronger importance are characters and settings. When you are creating a series, you must have your characters and setting completely developed before coming up with the plot and the rest of the elements required for writing a book. Part of your plot is character driven. When you take the time to develop your characters first, it will help you in structuring the series. The impact that setting and characters have on each other will add a sense of realism and depth to your series. When you are writing a series, there may be more ideas and details that come to you. This is a normal process. As you write, you can update your setting and characters.

Thirdly, you must remember that each book has a purpose. When you are writing a series of books, the plot or main story should reach across the entire series of books. You have to think about the end of the series first, and then work you way backwards. Each book can encompass the different events leading up to the end of the series. Each book must have its own mini plot. The first book will set up the main characters and the setting surrounding them. The middle books in the series will allow you to further develop the characters in the book and build tension and conflicts. You can use cliffhangers to entice a person to pick up the next book in the series. The final book of the series will resolve the main conflict and tie up all the loose ends left over from the previous books in the series.

Fourthly, when you are developing your series, you must remember to use multiple conflicts. This will build a strong pacing and suspense throughout your series. Your core set of characters should have a main conflict and a secondary conflict that need to be resolved. You can then switch off between the two as the series develops. When one of the conflicts reaches a critical moment, then you should switch over to the other
conflict. This will cause the reader to want to continue to read your series.

Lastly, you must develop a habit of working on your series of novels daily. If you are able to complete one novel per year, then you are in good standing. Doing this will practice will not be able to begin overnight. You will need to figure a few things out first. Making adjustments in your current schedule and figuring out what time of day is best for you to write are the main things that need to be developed. While you are going about the rest of your day, you should be observing your surroundings and brainstorming ideas to further your story along. If you are thinking that writing a novel or a series of novels is a massive project, you can break it down into smaller projects. First, focus on the preparation of the one chapter or scene at a time. Then once you are comfortable with that, you can move on to the next one. Given some time, the process of writing a novel will turn into a habit and you will do it without thinking about the steps involved.