How to Write a Book in 28 Days

Writing a book in 28 days is quite possible, provided you have all the required background information. If you don’t have the research already done however, you can still write one in the month.

Instructions

1. Make a folder on your hard drive and call it “My Book,” or the title of your book. Within this folder, make another folder and name it “Research.” Also keep a hard folder of non-Internet research.

2. Spend the first week searching the Internet, public libraries and newspaper archives regarding the topic of your book, and store these in the “Research” folder.

3. Design a plot (storyline) for your book and place this in a folder named “Plot” in your “My Book” folder. Flesh out your main characters and place these ideas in a folder named "Characters" in your "My Book" folder. Keeping these items at hand during the writing process is a useful tool for staying on track and combating the dreaded writer's block.

4. Write a chapter summary for each chapter in keeping with your aforementioned plot. (This can be adjusted as you write if need be). Start writing at whichever chapter you want to start at. If you have a concrete idea where you want your story to end, then write the ending first and then work backwards. This is a tried and tested writing method.

5. Set a definite time and regimen to your writing and stick to it. R.L. Stine of the Goosebumps series set aside a room as his office and made a rule to write 20 pages per day. After the first week of research, you have 21 days left. If you write 20 pages a day you will have a 410-page book! You do the math.

Tips & Warnings

• Make a plan and stick to it.

• Don’t agonize over words, write what comes first, you can always revise later.

• Find a comfortable writing atmosphere. Some people like writing in crowded cafes, some like solitude.

• Participate in A Book in a Month challenge. You will find plenty of them on the Internet!

• Don't let outer or inner critics deter you! Keep writing no matter what!

• Don't answer the phone! Unplug it and put a sign on the door that says "Do Not Disturb!"

Resources

• National Novel Writing Month
• Tristi's Challenges
• How to Write Longer Fiction
• How to Write a Publishable Novel