How do you Write a Book?
Recently I explained my inspiration for writing my first novel, Paws on the Ground. So I was amped up to write it, ready to go but realized quickly I had no friggin clue how to write a book. The longest document I’d ever written prior to my novel was my master’s thesis which of course I filled with graphs and charts to fill the pages. So I did what any rational person would do when they wanted to find out about something….I Googled it!
I spent every free moment for several days reading about processes for writing a book. If you’ve ever done this then you probably already now the following:
-There is a lot of advice out there
-Everyone has their own methods for writing a book
-Many processes are contradictory
So with this in mind I looked for common themes and decided upon two:
-write an outline
-just start writing
So I brainstormed during my lunchtime elliptical machine workout in the tent we had for a gym in Kabul and developed an outline which looked like this:
Intro 10K words
Training 25K words
Afghanistan 40K words
Ending 5K words
Total 80K words
I wrote this “comprehensive” outline in the back of my green Army issued notebook that I carried around. I also used that notebook to write ideas during my travels around Afghanistan. I look at that outline now and wonder how the heck I wrote a comprehensive book with proper arc and plotting. I attribute it to reading thousands of books in my life time.
I next established a daily and weekly writing goal for myself. My goal was 3,500 words a week which would put me finishing the novel prior to my re-deployment. In hindsight it was a simple goal to meet but there were many weeks I wrote nothing because I was traveling around Afghanistan. I like to think of that time as “field” research.
With an outline established I went to work and started writing the next morning. As I did every day afterwards I woke at 5:00 AM, went to my office with my laptop, brewed coffee and started to write. I wrote one thousand words the first morning and never looked back.
About a month later I hit 17k words instead of 10K for my intro. Yep, right from the start I was writing too much backstory into the novel…. or was I?
Do you like stories with a large lead ups (or backstory)?
Do you want action right away?
What do you think the literary agents said about my lengthy backstory?
Here is the next post in this series: Does self-doubt consume you?
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46 comments on “How do you Write a Book?”
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Since the common wisdom is to get to the action and create tension right away, I am guessing agents liked your long backstory–the exception to the rule. Do tell!
By the way, Kevin, if any of your readers are interested in writing a nonfiction book, I do have a free book writing teleclass coming up (followed by an 8 week program). Since your post was about book writing, do you mind if I share the link?
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Kevin Hanrahan says:
Hi Lisa. I wish I was that exception to the rule but I wasn’t. I was rejected by everyone that request the MS. In a future post I’ll tell you exactly what the literary agents told me (those that responded). I’ll also talk about my response and reaction to their rejections/ recommendations.
Please feel free to post your link. I will definitely check it out. I have some non-fiction stories in my head!
Hi Kevin – Where are you now in the process? Sounds like you are going great. I write and then put the outline to what I’ve written and then have to cut out what doesn’t fit the story line – trust me – that takes far too much time. Sounds like you have your goals and are carrying them through on the established time line – that’s 3/4 of the battle right there.
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Hi Sheri. I post updates on the book’s progress on my facebook page if you are interested. I normally post an update every Saturday.
https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Kevin-Hanrahan/124838870952456I need to learn how to write a more comprehensive outline myself!
Wanda517 says: Kevin, backstory is important, but it doesn’t have to all be “dumped” in the prologue or introduction. Some can be saved and included later in the story, where it lends better explanation for a characters actions or thoughts.
When will your book be released?
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I have learned the error of my way Wanda! I posted a link to my face book page a few minutes ago…… this where I post all updates on the book. I am almost ready for resubmission.
Hi Kevin,
I was once where you are now! And like you I just decided to write it, if you have a story in you’re head just start writing! Like you I also did a lot of research which to me seemed contradictory, however, I was an experianced avid reader, so drew on my reading experiance, and looked at how other people penned their stories. This helped me a lot with my first two books. A prologue or back story is always a great intro to the book, but my advice would be not to give everything away in you’re intro! Just give enough to make people want to read the rest of you’re book! I for one am a fan, and will be buying you’re book. Good luck. I love you’re website. 
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Thanks Dawn. My editor and I are discussing to/ or not to prologue right now. We are focusing on those first three chapters to see how shiny we can get them first though!
I don’t outline. I just start writing. I usually end up rearranging things once I’ve got it all down on paper. I try to sprinkle the back story throughout the novel in what seem like appropriate places. I don’t mind reading one or two page prologue that includes back story, but beyond that I think it should be in the book. I am anxiously awaiting your first book. I will be purchasing it as soon as it is available.
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Thanks Richard…. I should have talked you before I started writing! LOL!
I wrote 120k words for the initial draft of my book on my experiences as an infantry platoon commander in Iraq and Afghanistan.
I ended up with 68k words in the final book.
The hardest part was not writing; it was rewriting and editing. Never mind the word count in the creative phase. Just write.
A few good ideas that helped me along:
- read Stephen King’s On Writing
- read the Elements of style
- focus on dialogue
- schedule your work
- drink coffee
I see you have got the last two bullets covered all ready.
Best,
Soren
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Thanks Soren. Great advice. I will definitely check out those references this weekend. I’ll talk about the dialogue piece later and what I’ve learned….you are def right though. Is your book out yet?
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It was published on August 24 last year by Denmark’s largest publishing house.
It is only available in Danish, however.I will launch a blog in English next month to share my thoughts on combat leadership. I might translate parts of books in attempt to promote it for a English speaking audience (and publishers!) as well.
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That would be really great Soren. I would love to read about Iraq and Afghanistan through the eyes of our allies. I look forward to when your blog is up and running.
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Most literary agents I’ve read say that they don’t want a big background dump – it’s better interspersed throughout the action.
You’ve read my website and know that I’ll outline out to a point in a general way(unless there’s something very specific I want to convey) in order to have an idea of the way it should head, but I want to keep a lot of the actual writing spontaneous since it’s more fun that way. Really just a personal preference.
Give me a call sometime. I’ve got some ideas I want to bounce off of you.
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You are absolutely right Russ. Back story goes throughout the book. I wish your site was up when I started to work on the novel. I’ve got it righted now though! I sent you a DM on FB.
Since the only writing I do are blog posts ~ which is probably a good thing because I’m notorious for not finishing sentences without interrupting myself ~ I’m in awe of anyone who can write a book! Your post and the comments above are great. Don’t know if I’ll ever write one but I sure do love reading them.
Thanks for sharing your journey with us, Kevin.
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Thanks so much. It has been an epic journey so far and this is only the beginning.
Kevin, I had a similar issue, introducing the character for a 10 book series. I teased some of the backstory in flashbacks and did a “backstory dump” in two other chapters. I did make sure I put plenty of action and conflict up front, though. I think it worked ok, but only history will tell. I would certainly encourage you to write out everything to get it out and worry about where to put it or how much to use later when you revise. The process of writing backstory might generate some cool new ideas or thoughts.
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Hi Patrick. Thanks for sharing your advice. I’m very happy that I wrote out everything and I plan to explain why over my next few writing posts. I’ve already starting writing the second book in this series and it had gone much smoother.
What I really like is that you wanted to write a book and you didn’t let your situation in life get in the way. “Just start writing” is the key. Or “just keep writing.” I don’t use an outline, but I use character bios… I also spend a lot of time going back and editing while I write, which I’ve heard so many people say not to do because it slows you down but for me, it anchors me in the story so deeply the ideas come quickly and there’s lots of internal consistency. That’s the beauty of it; we all get to share what works for us, and borrow from each other if something sounds promising.
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Hi Dave. Yeah you know…I’m just sorta one of those guys that says, “I’m gonna do this,” and then I do it. My next post on writing will be about self-doubt which of course I think most writers possess.
I completely agree…. I love reading how others do it…..I pull from here and there to come up with my own recipe!
Hi Kevin,
I’m a total pantser and can’t plot to save my life! I’m experimenting with using color-coded index cards, but plotting in general bores me to death. I almost always start with my characters, and the story develops from there based on what needs to happen to them to get them to change. When I get stuck or feel like I might stray, I jot down everything I want to happen between that point and the end and arrange the notes in order of how they need to happen. I guess that’s my only nod to plotting, lol. And you’re right to layer everything, dialogue, inner dialogue, backstory exposition, setting, action–layer, layer, layer, and make sure you only layer in what’s important. Sounds like you’ve done well so far and learned quickly. Wish my learning curve worked that fast!
Your blog is amazing, btw. Well done! I look forward to your book release (any projected release date???), and I’ll be sure to tweet for you. Not that I have a huge platform, but I’ve got a loooot of friends near and dear to the military, myself included–I’m biased, of course.
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Hi Angela, thanks for the advice and kind words. I found it very freeing just to write and go where ever the story took me. Now I understand better which path to steer myself down down…. I will be a much better 2d and 3d draft person next book.
I am working with an editor and almost done with the final edit. I hope to submit again at the end of this month/ early next. I want to make sure the novel can be the best it can be for I submit it to agents.
I’m picking up what you’re putting down! It’s hard getting started. Then it’s hard revising. Then it’s even harder doing more of the same! So glad to hear you have an editor who believes in you and your work and is helping you get it where it needs to be. Congratulations on all your writing. I’m enjoying your tweets. I expect the book is going to be even more enjoyable!
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Thank you very much Donna. There have been times I had to put the novel down for spells….but then I pick it back up and parts make me laugh or choke up and I know I need to get back to work.
Hi Kevin: Well my best guess is that agents said no-no to long backstory or any backstory. I can’t think of anyone since James Michener who could get away with it. And he did because he was famous. His first big smash Tales of the South Pacific got right into it, as a good story should. After that though the reader thought he was in one of Michener’s university history courses – yawn – 200 pages of ‘backstory.’ Backstory (the rulemakers say) should be woven into the body of the story. If a potential reader can’t be hooked right at first, he won’t go on – so what good is the best ever backstory then? Well, unless you’re James Michener. I discussed that in one of the articles in my Fiction Writing tips (http://bit.ly/xAiCAN) But who knows, maybe you’ll be the one to break the mold. Super best luck !!
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Thank you very much Karleene and I so wish I was the one to break the mold but unfortuantely I wasn’t! This morning I’m actually reworking chapter two of my novel again…..
[...] now you know what genre you want to write. But Kevin Hanrahan asks the basic question, How do you write a book? And it’s not enough to want to write a book—you need to have a STORY. Moody Writing explains [...]
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Hi Kevin, I love the way you do a very basic outline and then assign timeline. I think that would give a real panster like me some freedom but some direction. I think today’s books generally start in the action or very close to it with just peek into the character’s normal life before things go off kilter. As I ponder my next story I’m going to break down the 80,000 words into somewhat of an outline. I like your approach. Thanks for sharing.
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Thank you Kylie. I had no family distractions when I wrote my first novel. We will see how my “plan” works out with my wife and a new baby in the picture! I am going to write a deeper outline and maybe write some character sheets before I get too deep into the next book.
[...] my initial post in this series, How do you Write a Book? I provided you my novels “comprehensive” outline which looked like [...]
I think back story depends on who important it is to the plot. The book I am writing right now has a lot of back story woven in to help the audience understand why the main character is the way she is.
Also, action is a great way to grab the reader right away. I stop reading a book if I get to chapter 3 or 60 pages in and nothing of interest has happened. Happy Writing!
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Hi Tania. I think my problem was that I began with the back story and then kept going with the story in chronological order. Momentum built if you stuck around long enough for it.
I’m going to write the next piece in this series this weekend. I don’t want to give it away but some agents stuck around and some just dropped me!
Great steps on how to write a book! I have started writing a book, but I have a problem. I heard that if you are under 18, it is extremely difficult to find an agent. I’m also trying to decide whether or not to become an indie author. I am only 17, so I think it would be best if I became a mainstream author. If you have any suggestions, please let me know. It would really help me out!
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Hi Ali. I would continue down your current path and complete your book. If you want it bad enough publication will come. In what form will be up to you but continue to write your masterpiece! I certainly can’t speak for agents or mainstream publication but if your book is special then I think your age wouldn’t matter.
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Ali Geiger says:
Okay, sounds great. Thank you so much, Kevin! Good luck on your writing, and I hope your early morning coffee will always taste delicious!
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Thanks Ali! Hopefully I can get some in me this morning before the baby wakes!
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First, thank you for your service. Second, I don’t outline the story, but have no problem with those that do. I would advance idea to scribble out character description. Go beyond physical and where living to values, family conflicts, birth order, what family members live or have died, point in life character is at, era lived in, There are good questionaire guides out there. End result could be descripted as backstory, but it doesn’t get written into the story as such although it lurks “between the lines.” For storytelling you may wish to consider Word Painting by Rebecca McClanahan or (although focus is on screenwriting, works well for fiction) The Anatomy of Story by John Truby.
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Thanks for the leads Donan. I will check those books out. I purchased How to Write a First Draft in 30 Days. I’ve used it a bit when I was working on my second book. I might go back to them as I continue to scribble down notes for the story line.
I’ve found that the writing isn’t difficult but the publishing to be quite expensive.
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It certainly can be if you self publish!
Backstory before hooking the reader is the death knell of writing compelling fiction. Remember why we read fiction? To quote one of my writing mentors and prolific author, Barnaby Conrad, we read fiction for CONFLICT, CONFLICT, CONFLICT!
Good luck-I know you’ll write a compelling story…eventually…just know that writing is rewriting and ‘shitty first drafts’ ( to quote Hemingway & Anne Lamott) are part of that process…..:)
Marla Miller
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Thanks Marla! I believe with the help of my editor we got that book to where the reader will be hooked right away!
I’m working on a editing one of those “shitty” first drafts now! Though there are parts that make me smile, laugh or my heart pound and head spin so I know I’m on the right track!
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Since the common wisdom is to get to the action and create tension right away, I am guessing agents liked your long backstory–the exception to the rule. Do tell!
By the way, Kevin, if any of your readers are interested in writing a nonfiction book, I do have a free book writing teleclass coming up (followed by an 8 week program). Since your post was about book writing, do you mind if I share the link?
Hi Lisa. I wish I was that exception to the rule but I wasn’t. I was rejected by everyone that request the MS. In a future post I’ll tell you exactly what the literary agents told me (those that responded). I’ll also talk about my response and reaction to their rejections/ recommendations.
Please feel free to post your link. I will definitely check it out. I have some non-fiction stories in my head!
Hi Kevin – Where are you now in the process? Sounds like you are going great. I write and then put the outline to what I’ve written and then have to cut out what doesn’t fit the story line – trust me – that takes far too much time. Sounds like you have your goals and are carrying them through on the established time line – that’s 3/4 of the battle right there.
Hi Sheri. I post updates on the book’s progress on my facebook page if you are interested. I normally post an update every Saturday.
https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Kevin-Hanrahan/124838870952456
I need to learn how to write a more comprehensive outline myself!
Kevin, backstory is important, but it doesn’t have to all be “dumped” in the prologue or introduction. Some can be saved and included later in the story, where it lends better explanation for a characters actions or thoughts.
When will your book be released?
I have learned the error of my way Wanda! I posted a link to my face book page a few minutes ago…… this where I post all updates on the book. I am almost ready for resubmission.
Hi Kevin,
I was once where you are now! And like you I just decided to write it, if you have a story in you’re head just start writing! Like you I also did a lot of research which to me seemed contradictory, however, I was an experianced avid reader, so drew on my reading experiance, and looked at how other people penned their stories. This helped me a lot with my first two books. A prologue or back story is always a great intro to the book, but my advice would be not to give everything away in you’re intro! Just give enough to make people want to read the rest of you’re book! I for one am a fan, and will be buying you’re book. Good luck. I love you’re website.
Thanks Dawn. My editor and I are discussing to/ or not to prologue right now. We are focusing on those first three chapters to see how shiny we can get them first though!
I don’t outline. I just start writing. I usually end up rearranging things once I’ve got it all down on paper. I try to sprinkle the back story throughout the novel in what seem like appropriate places. I don’t mind reading one or two page prologue that includes back story, but beyond that I think it should be in the book. I am anxiously awaiting your first book. I will be purchasing it as soon as it is available.
Thanks Richard…. I should have talked you before I started writing! LOL!
I wrote 120k words for the initial draft of my book on my experiences as an infantry platoon commander in Iraq and Afghanistan.
I ended up with 68k words in the final book.
The hardest part was not writing; it was rewriting and editing. Never mind the word count in the creative phase. Just write.
A few good ideas that helped me along:
- read Stephen King’s On Writing
- read the Elements of style
- focus on dialogue
- schedule your work
- drink coffee
I see you have got the last two bullets covered all ready.
Best,
Soren
Thanks Soren. Great advice. I will definitely check out those references this weekend. I’ll talk about the dialogue piece later and what I’ve learned….you are def right though. Is your book out yet?
It was published on August 24 last year by Denmark’s largest publishing house.
It is only available in Danish, however.
I will launch a blog in English next month to share my thoughts on combat leadership. I might translate parts of books in attempt to promote it for a English speaking audience (and publishers!) as well.
That would be really great Soren. I would love to read about Iraq and Afghanistan through the eyes of our allies. I look forward to when your blog is up and running.
Most literary agents I’ve read say that they don’t want a big background dump – it’s better interspersed throughout the action.
You’ve read my website and know that I’ll outline out to a point in a general way(unless there’s something very specific I want to convey) in order to have an idea of the way it should head, but I want to keep a lot of the actual writing spontaneous since it’s more fun that way. Really just a personal preference.
Give me a call sometime. I’ve got some ideas I want to bounce off of you.
You are absolutely right Russ. Back story goes throughout the book. I wish your site was up when I started to work on the novel. I’ve got it righted now though! I sent you a DM on FB.
Since the only writing I do are blog posts ~ which is probably a good thing because I’m notorious for not finishing sentences without interrupting myself ~ I’m in awe of anyone who can write a book! Your post and the comments above are great. Don’t know if I’ll ever write one but I sure do love reading them.
Thanks for sharing your journey with us, Kevin.
Thanks so much. It has been an epic journey so far and this is only the beginning.
Kevin, I had a similar issue, introducing the character for a 10 book series. I teased some of the backstory in flashbacks and did a “backstory dump” in two other chapters. I did make sure I put plenty of action and conflict up front, though. I think it worked ok, but only history will tell. I would certainly encourage you to write out everything to get it out and worry about where to put it or how much to use later when you revise. The process of writing backstory might generate some cool new ideas or thoughts.
Hi Patrick. Thanks for sharing your advice. I’m very happy that I wrote out everything and I plan to explain why over my next few writing posts. I’ve already starting writing the second book in this series and it had gone much smoother.
What I really like is that you wanted to write a book and you didn’t let your situation in life get in the way. “Just start writing” is the key. Or “just keep writing.” I don’t use an outline, but I use character bios… I also spend a lot of time going back and editing while I write, which I’ve heard so many people say not to do because it slows you down but for me, it anchors me in the story so deeply the ideas come quickly and there’s lots of internal consistency. That’s the beauty of it; we all get to share what works for us, and borrow from each other if something sounds promising.
Hi Dave. Yeah you know…I’m just sorta one of those guys that says, “I’m gonna do this,” and then I do it. My next post on writing will be about self-doubt which of course I think most writers possess.
I completely agree…. I love reading how others do it…..I pull from here and there to come up with my own recipe!
Hi Kevin,
I’m a total pantser and can’t plot to save my life! I’m experimenting with using color-coded index cards, but plotting in general bores me to death. I almost always start with my characters, and the story develops from there based on what needs to happen to them to get them to change. When I get stuck or feel like I might stray, I jot down everything I want to happen between that point and the end and arrange the notes in order of how they need to happen. I guess that’s my only nod to plotting, lol. And you’re right to layer everything, dialogue, inner dialogue, backstory exposition, setting, action–layer, layer, layer, and make sure you only layer in what’s important. Sounds like you’ve done well so far and learned quickly. Wish my learning curve worked that fast!
Your blog is amazing, btw. Well done! I look forward to your book release (any projected release date???), and I’ll be sure to tweet for you. Not that I have a huge platform, but I’ve got a loooot of friends near and dear to the military, myself included–I’m biased, of course.
Hi Angela, thanks for the advice and kind words. I found it very freeing just to write and go where ever the story took me. Now I understand better which path to steer myself down down…. I will be a much better 2d and 3d draft person next book.
I am working with an editor and almost done with the final edit. I hope to submit again at the end of this month/ early next. I want to make sure the novel can be the best it can be for I submit it to agents.
I’m picking up what you’re putting down!
It’s hard getting started. Then it’s hard revising. Then it’s even harder doing more of the same! 
So glad to hear you have an editor who believes in you and your work and is helping you get it where it needs to be. Congratulations on all your writing. I’m enjoying your tweets. I expect the book is going to be even more enjoyable!
Thank you very much Donna. There have been times I had to put the novel down for spells….but then I pick it back up and parts make me laugh or choke up and I know I need to get back to work.
Hi Kevin: Well my best guess is that agents said no-no to long backstory or any backstory. I can’t think of anyone since James Michener who could get away with it. And he did because he was famous. His first big smash Tales of the South Pacific got right into it, as a good story should. After that though the reader thought he was in one of Michener’s university history courses – yawn – 200 pages of ‘backstory.’ Backstory (the rulemakers say) should be woven into the body of the story. If a potential reader can’t be hooked right at first, he won’t go on – so what good is the best ever backstory then? Well, unless you’re James Michener. I discussed that in one of the articles in my Fiction Writing tips (http://bit.ly/xAiCAN) But who knows, maybe you’ll be the one to break the mold. Super best luck !!
Thank you very much Karleene and I so wish I was the one to break the mold but unfortuantely I wasn’t! This morning I’m actually reworking chapter two of my novel again…..
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Hi Kevin, I love the way you do a very basic outline and then assign timeline. I think that would give a real panster like me some freedom but some direction. I think today’s books generally start in the action or very close to it with just peek into the character’s normal life before things go off kilter. As I ponder my next story I’m going to break down the 80,000 words into somewhat of an outline. I like your approach. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you Kylie. I had no family distractions when I wrote my first novel. We will see how my “plan” works out with my wife and a new baby in the picture! I am going to write a deeper outline and maybe write some character sheets before I get too deep into the next book.
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I think back story depends on who important it is to the plot. The book I am writing right now has a lot of back story woven in to help the audience understand why the main character is the way she is.
Also, action is a great way to grab the reader right away. I stop reading a book if I get to chapter 3 or 60 pages in and nothing of interest has happened. Happy Writing!
Hi Tania. I think my problem was that I began with the back story and then kept going with the story in chronological order. Momentum built if you stuck around long enough for it.
I’m going to write the next piece in this series this weekend. I don’t want to give it away but some agents stuck around and some just dropped me!
Great steps on how to write a book! I have started writing a book, but I have a problem. I heard that if you are under 18, it is extremely difficult to find an agent. I’m also trying to decide whether or not to become an indie author. I am only 17, so I think it would be best if I became a mainstream author. If you have any suggestions, please let me know. It would really help me out!
Hi Ali. I would continue down your current path and complete your book. If you want it bad enough publication will come. In what form will be up to you but continue to write your masterpiece! I certainly can’t speak for agents or mainstream publication but if your book is special then I think your age wouldn’t matter.
Okay, sounds great. Thank you so much, Kevin! Good luck on your writing, and I hope your early morning coffee will always taste delicious!
Thanks Ali! Hopefully I can get some in me this morning before the baby wakes!
First, thank you for your service. Second, I don’t outline the story, but have no problem with those that do. I would advance idea to scribble out character description. Go beyond physical and where living to values, family conflicts, birth order, what family members live or have died, point in life character is at, era lived in, There are good questionaire guides out there. End result could be descripted as backstory, but it doesn’t get written into the story as such although it lurks “between the lines.” For storytelling you may wish to consider Word Painting by Rebecca McClanahan or (although focus is on screenwriting, works well for fiction) The Anatomy of Story by John Truby.
Thanks for the leads Donan. I will check those books out. I purchased How to Write a First Draft in 30 Days. I’ve used it a bit when I was working on my second book. I might go back to them as I continue to scribble down notes for the story line.
I’ve found that the writing isn’t difficult but the publishing to be quite expensive.
It certainly can be if you self publish!
Backstory before hooking the reader is the death knell of writing compelling fiction. Remember why we read fiction? To quote one of my writing mentors and prolific author, Barnaby Conrad, we read fiction for CONFLICT, CONFLICT, CONFLICT!
Good luck-I know you’ll write a compelling story…eventually…just know that writing is rewriting and ‘shitty first drafts’ ( to quote Hemingway & Anne Lamott) are part of that process…..:)
Marla Miller
Thanks Marla! I believe with the help of my editor we got that book to where the reader will be hooked right away!
I’m working on a editing one of those “shitty” first drafts now! Though there are parts that make me smile, laugh or my heart pound and head spin so I know I’m on the right track!