Why You Should Transform Your Idea into a Book
By: Anthony Dezenzio
Tags: Writers On Medium, Creative Nonfiction, Nonfiction, Writing, Fiction Writing

Perhaps you’re among a few of the fortunate writers whose brains are filled with never-ending ideas. Or perhaps you already have an idea that has been nagging you for many months, constantly at the forefront of your thoughts. In either case, you just can’t wait to get started on writing your first book. That’s a good thing. However, before you hurry headfirst into your story, stop and ask yourself this question; Is this merely just an idea, or is this an actual possibility for a book?

Ideas, needless to say, are the foundations of any work whether it’s fiction or nonfiction. Nevertheless, until that idea is completely developed until you are able to visualize its beginning, middle and ending, that single idea perhaps may not be enough. The experience of writing for websites about an idea and in the end going nowhere or receiving a heap of rejections has taught a lot of writers to summarize their books before they even begin. However, if the thought of coming up with a summary sends you scrambling under your desk, then at the very least think through about your idea making certain it is worth laboring for months without the possibility of ending up with frustration.

Turning Ideas into Fiction

Many new writers just starting out, begin writing fiction from ideas received from their own everyday lives. This is often helpful for several reasons. For example, if you’re emotionally devoted to the subject matter, and you can associate yourself with the main character, or if the situation actually happened to you, then you’re much less likely to be unknowingly basing the story on a book that you have previously read. However, even though you notice that this happened to you and you find it fascinating, it doesn’t necessarily mean it will be interesting to your potential readers. Oftentimes, a real-life occurrence is just that; an occurrence. It’s a vivid scene that you remember with gratification. It brings on strong emotions the moment you remember it, possibly even looking back on an occasion as being a turning point in your life. Having said that very rarely does reality provide you with a plot.

Whenever writers stick too closely to what really occurred they don’t succeed in creating the elements necessary for a good story. The main character has to be believable, someone who has experienced a problem or conflict, followed by a solution that’s rewarding to the character as well as the reader. If your main character is really your father, you may not wish to get him in trouble or thrust him into a bad situation. Nevertheless, you have to. It’s really the only option you have whenever creating a story that will keep readers addicted and contemplating how it all will end.

Remember, if the solution to your story happens too quickly, it will most likely be obvious and predictable. Consider mixing up real-life situations and have it evolve in a very different direction. Surprise yourself, and you’ll surprise your readers.

No matter how you get your idea, concentrate first on regardless of whether or not it truly is a plot or a theme. Oftentimes, an original idea is really the underlying meaning of the intended story the author wants to get across to the reader. Afterward, experiment with the sequence of occurrences until you establish a plot that renders the motif straightforward to the reader.

Turning Ideas into Nonfiction

Your nonfiction book should be structured around something that you’re truly interested in and passionate about. In fact, you’ll be living with this idea for quite a few months. The secret to writing a successful nonfiction book is to be able to take your idea and approach it in such a way that no one else has ever attempted it before. This simply means doing the majority of your research long before you begin to write. Never accept information that you first come across regarding the subject matter, most likely your readers have already read the same information. Continue to research until you have found an element related to your subject that feels unique to you. Next, start searching on the web to ensure that no one else has already written about it.

Remember, in order for a nonfiction idea turned into a book, you will need a sufficient amount of information in order to fill the number of pages necessary to complete the book. It’s important to explain the concept in a simple and straightforward method. An in-depth summary associated with a nonfiction book is most important to enable to assist you to determine if your idea has enough material and originality to it, or if you require additional research prior to writing your book.

It doesn’t matter if your book is about fiction or nonfiction, your idea should convey something to you. However, it should also have the prospect to convey a great deal to your readers. Envision it, add to your story, remove any unnecessary elements, and make certain that it has a beginning, middle and an ending. It is only then that your idea will transform into a story for your book.