We are halfway through the year. So…. what do you need to do to get that book written?
I’m of two minds, here. Part of me wants to start from the beginning of the process of writing a book, and augment chapters and posts about story structure that I already have here.
But I get more actual questions from writers who are rewriting; querying their first, already completed books; or wrestling with how to take their publishing career to the next level.
So maybe I’ll take the advice of the Scarecrow and go both ways.
Let’s talk about writing that book, first.
I was at a big crime writing/publishing event this week and had a conversation I’ve had a lot of times before and that always makes me feel a little sad.
This person I was talking to clearly wanted to write. They are in a writing-adjacent job. They have written a few experimental short stories. But when I pressed them to just say it - that they want to be writing books - what I got back was:
“Well, that’s the dream, isn’t it? But I wouldn’t know how to start.”
I hear people say variations of this all the time.
This Substack, and the Screenwriting Tricks workbooks, are about how to do it - a clear, step by step process from idea to published book that has worked for hundreds of now-published authors that I know of. At least!
But sometimes it takes a different angle on the subject to click for a person. So let me try something a little different today.
I think when you don’t know how to start a book, or are struggling with the process, it helps to shift your focus from WRITING - to THE BOOK.
Because I’m not sure that thinking of what we authors do as WRITING is very helpful for actually getting books written.
There is a whole lot more to a book than writing.
Most educated people can write. Unless we are severely disadvantaged, we learn the language of writing from the time we’re children.
What I’m doing right now - talking to you on Substack - is writing = but it’s not a book. What we do when we write in a journal is writing (and a really effective practice to hone your writing skills!) - but it’s not a book. What we do when we write a short story is writing that could be a book if we started thinking about it as a book. But it’s not a book.
If you are here, reading this, then you already know how to write.
But if you’re writing commercial fiction, writing a book is much more about STORY than about WRITING. For an author, writing is really just a method of getting a story across to someone. Story uses words, but even more importantly it’s the manipulation of characters, images, emotions, actions, themes, settings, suspense, terror, elation, etc.
Words are just a means of transmitting story. There are whole art forms that use no words at all to tell powerful stories (works of ballet and other dances, silent films, Kabuki theater, puppet theater).
And that’s why learning classic story structure and genre variations of story structure can be such a leap forward in your writing and writing career. Learning to focus on story structure is in many cases the key to that breakthrough that will get an actual novel written.
You’ve had almost a whole lifetime to work with words. But most people don’t have anywhere near that kind of experience and proficiency with story.
However - you’ve already done a lifetime’s worth of preparatory research into story structure - because you’re seen so many movies. How many? Hundreds? Thousands? You know the pattern of a film story inside and out. It’s in your bones! What you probably don’t know as well is the terms for all the patterns and scenes, and the order that they come in. So that’s what we do here.
The easy but crucial first step I always recommend to my classes is to make a MASTER LIST.
What are ten movies and books that are similar to the book or script that you are dying to write?
They don’t have to be exact matches. In fact, it’s more useful when you start this process to choose a movie in your genre that you know well.
From that list, you’re going to hone in on one movie to focus on to learn the classic pattern of ALL stories, no matter what genre you’re writing in.
Now admit it - doesn’t learning story structure by rewatching one of your favorite movies of all time sound more productive and way more fun than doomscrolling?
Try it.
This week choose a movie, preferably one that you know well. Let me know the movie you choose and let’s talk about it.
And now, to the second question I got this week, which I’m sure you’ve all heard and pondered before:
Do I need a social media presence to succeed as an author (or even just sell my first book?)
I won’t lie - I regularly hear editors say that the first thing they do when they get a book submission that interests them is look at the author’s social media accounts to see what kind of a following they have. Publishers do expect authors to do a lot of their own marketing and engage with readers and potential readers. So yes, it is points in your favor.
At the same time, I cannot imagine that any good editor would turn down an electrifying book because the author of that book is not out there humping on social media.
But also you might take heart from Karin Gillespie, who breaks down the latest month of publishing deals in her Substack, and notes:
There were twenty deals for authors with non-existent or minimal platforms.
So there!
Her Substack is here: Pitch Your Novel
Remember that social media engagement isn’t about broadcasting your book. I don’t have to tell you - there are few things more annoying than that. It’s not about spamming the internet. It’s about connection with real people.
If you have no social media presence at all - well, first of all, you’re wrong about that, because you’re here, aren’t you? On Substack? The hot rising social media platform for thinking people?
So that’s a start, right?
I talk about the many advantages of Substack for authors building or expanding their platform here.
So that’s something you could read today, as a step toward building your social media presence.
I would also encourage writers who are struggling with the issue of social media presence to approach this gently. How about making a list of social media platforms you have used, or at least are aware of, and choose just one to spend some time on this week, to see if it’s something you might enjoy interacting on? There is simply no point in jumping into something that revolts you. You need to open yourself up to which platform or platforms could actually bring you some joy.
Just spend some time browsing. You’re looking for a platform that
Doesn’t make you want to stick needles in your eyes
Has people you actually want to interact with, using a way you feel comfortable interacting.
I am always, always about multitasking. If you are already spending a lot of time engaging in something like, for example, politics - posting about politics is an excellent way to connect with like-minded people. Your potential readers are going to be passionate about the same things you are.
If you’re on Substack, and you comment in an interesting way on other people’s sites, some of the other people in that forum will click through to see what your Substack is about, and maybe follow you or subscribe.
Of course, this means you have to create a Substack for them to click through to - but Substack is one of the most intuitive platforms I’ve ever used, and it allows you to create basically an instant website.
I can write much more about social media and/or about using Substack if there’s interest here, but I wanted to get something out there for this week and for the person who asked!
But whatever you do this week, I hope it includes committing to writing or finishing a book in the half year that we have left. It is absolutely doable in that time and you’re in the right place to get it done.
And it beats bloody hell out of doomscrolling.
Alex
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Get the workbooks:
Stealing Hollywood ebook, $3.99, also available as print workbook
Writing Love ebook, $2.99
Need more help? The Screenwriting Tricks for Authors workshop is available online, as a self-paced course with all the videos, assignments, movie breakdowns and personalized feedback you need to get that book written next year. In three parts, and you only pay for what you use.
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All material © Alexandra Sokoloff, Screenwriting Tricks for Authors
Alexandra
Although I dream of my manuscripts being published and so darn popular they becomes films, I find screenwriting to be beyond my capabilities. However, your STFA offers so many valuable hints for us novel writers! You're a treasure. Thanks.
The film I keep going back to that is most like the book I'm working on is Se7en. It's a film that has stayed with me since the first time I watched it, yet also holds up through many re-watches. From the bleakness, to the smart serial killer to the twist at the end - it's just a whole vibe. More importantly though, I want my readers to feel that same "WTF just happened?" that many viewers felt after watching Se7en.