| I wrote my first novel almost 15 years ago. I had | | | | years back. Since then, I've written four others. |
| never written anything except as a school | | | | One is about a talking tree in the Mayan jungle, |
| assignment. So, what qualified me to write? Well, I | | | | another is about a drug from China that causes |
| had read a lot; the classics, sci-fi, adventure | | | | virtual reality, another takes place in the Grand |
| novels, and a variety of everything else. But I also | | | | Canyon about the birthplace of all life and finally |
| thought I had a vivid imagination that could | | | | one discusses the possibility of a modern-day |
| translate well into the written word. The problem | | | | Jesus. So, as an author, what would I recommend |
| was, I had no idea where to begin. I had a few | | | | to anyone considering beginning a novel? Here are |
| plots knocking around in my head but no clear-cut | | | | my basic tips: |
| direction. So I decided to tackle a much smaller | | | | - Start with a short story of less than 30 pages. |
| project first. I wrote a short story about my | | | | - Write about something you know or interests |
| days growing up in London, and later, New York. | | | | you. |
| It was only five pages, but it got me started. I | | | | - Make an outline and detail the characters, |
| still needed an opening, a storyline, and a | | | | setting, and plot. |
| conclusion. With that out of the way, I began a | | | | - Write a plausible and interesting ending. |
| simple outline for a novel. | | | | - Use believable dialogue, something used |
| My first novel was again about me. I used my | | | | everyday. |
| own town and other things I knew to fill out a | | | | - Stick with common grammar and vocabulary |
| sci-fi adventure novel about someone who | | | | and don't get too cute. |
| experiences a hole in our multi-dimensional world | | | | - Once finished, reread and edit until you can't |
| and passes through into the unknown. Because I | | | | stand it anymore. |
| had been raised in New Jersey, I used all the | | | | The last one may be the toughest of all. You |
| landmarks that were familiar. As I thought about | | | | need to read the completed manuscript and have |
| the plot and characters, I raced toward an ending. | | | | your friends and relatives read it too. Does it |
| It was at that moment I realized something | | | | make sense? Let them be critical. Besides the |
| fundamental to a novel. It must have a satisfying | | | | obvious spelling, grammar, and punctuation |
| ending. I took days to figure out how to end this | | | | problems, look for other weaknesses. Does it |
| tale. Finally, I had something that made sense and | | | | flow logically? Are the characters and settings |
| it was only then that I began to write. | | | | believable? In my novel, I needed the readers to |
| When I finished, I tried to get it published. But, | | | | a take a leap of faith regarding how a man could |
| once again, I had no direction so I had no luck | | | | regenerate, but I back it up with some scientific |
| finding anyone willing to publish my work. So I | | | | reasoning. If you introduce something too strange, |
| decided to keep writing instead. I had ideas for | | | | you might lose your viewer. Then, once you're |
| four other books that needed to be put on paper. | | | | happy with the result, put it away for at least a |
| My second book was far better than the first. | | | | month. Then pick it up and reread it again. Do this |
| The idea sprang from a visit my wife and I made | | | | at least three times. I guarantee that each time |
| to her 85 year old grandfather back in West | | | | you will find something to change or edit. It's |
| Virginia. He lived the past 30 years in the same | | | | tough to read your own work, especially if you |
| house he had shared with his recently deceased | | | | know exactly what will happen next. |
| wife. He was self-sufficient and loved the holler he | | | | Once you think you're ready to publish, decide on |
| inhabited. I wondered how old he might live to | | | | one of these directions. You can (1) self-publish |
| become. | | | | with someone like where you pay per book or (2) |
| From that simple premise came my story. It's a | | | | try using either a literary agent or (3) submit |
| tale about an old man who lived to be 150 years | | | | directly to a publisher that is accepting new |
| old in West Virginia. He suddenly becomes a | | | | manuscripts. Any of these outlets can be found |
| young man again and word leaks out to some | | | | on the Internet. I recently ended up writing a |
| wealthy old men in New York. He decide that | | | | non-fiction book about my life in the Yellow Page |
| perhaps he holds the secret to youth. They would | | | | industry which has sold better than my novels. |
| do anything to be young again with all their | | | | But for you, I suggest you start mapping out that |
| money. So they began their quest to capture this | | | | short story and diving into the world of literary |
| unique man and uncover his riddle. I called it | | | | pleasures, from an author's point of view. Good |
| "Pursuit of the Phoenix," and published it a few | | | | luck and good writing. |