| How to Write a Book Posted: 03 Jul 2019 05:00 PM PDT Anyone with a story to tell can write a book, either for their own enjoyment or to publish for all to see. Getting started is often the hardest part, so set up a good workspace, create a regular writing schedule, and stay motivated to keep writing something every day. Focus on developing a "big idea" that drives your narrative, as well as at least one unforgettable character and realistic conflicts. Once you've written and revised your manuscript, consider your publishing options to get it into readers' hands. EditStaying Focused and Productive - Clarify why you're writing a book. Before you start writing, or typing, or even thinking too much about your book, be honest with yourself about your reasons for writing it. Are you hoping to become rich and famous? Is it a necessity for advancing your career? Do you dream of seeing your name on a book cover? Do you simply have a great story that you want to share with the world?[1]
- Writing a book is both a vocation and an avocation—that is, both a job and a passion. Figure out why you need to write, and why you want to write.
- Keep your goal or goals in mind as motivation. Just remember to keep them realistic. You probably won't become the next J.K. Rowling by your first novel.
- Set up a workspace that works for you. There's no one ideal workspace for every writer. Some prefer a quiet desk in an isolated room, while others work best amidst the clatter of a coffee shop. Most writers, though, tend to work best with minimal distractions and with easy access to any materials they may need.[2]
- While moving from a cafe to a park bench to the library may work for you, consider setting up a single workspace that you always—and only—use for writing.
- Set up your writing space so you have any supplies or references that you'll need close at hand. That way, you won't lose your focus looking for a pen, ink cartridge, or thesaurus.
- Pick a sturdy, supportive chair—it's easy to lose focus if your back aches!
- Schedule writing into your daily routine. It's easy to say that writing occurs in spurts of inspiration, so you should just be ready to drop everything and write when the spark of creativity hits you. However, this is also a great way to not get any writing done. Instead, try specifically blocking off a writing time into your daily schedule.[3]
- The average book writer should probably look to set aside 30 minutes to 2 hours for writing, at least 5 days per week—and ideally every day.
- Block out a time when you tend to be most alert and prolific—for instance, 10:30-11:45 AM every day.
- Scheduling in writing time may mean scheduling out other things in your life. So long as you're not cutting out time with loved ones or sleep, it's probably a trade worth making.
- Establish daily and weekly word goals. Instead of hoping to produce 10 pages at a time during random spurts of creativity, try setting a goal to write 1 page each day. Set your writing goal based on your writing speed and any specific deadlines, and try not to adjust it after you've set it.[4]
- For instance, if you've given yourself a 1-year deadline for writing a complete first draft of a 100,000 word novel, you'll need to write about 300 words (about 1 typed page) every day.
- Or, if you are required to turn in a doctoral dissertation draft that's about 350 pages long in 1 year, you'll likewise need to write about 1 page per day.
- Write without worrying about editing. This is another key component of writing on a set schedule—just focus on writing something now, and figure out if it's any good or how it needs to be fixed up later. To finish a book, live by the mantra, "write fast, edit slow."[5]
- You're nearly always going to spend at least as much time editing a book as you will initially writing it, so worry about the editing part later. Just focus on getting something down on paper that will need to be edited.
- If you simply can't help but edit some as you write, set aside a specific, small amount of time at the end of each writing session for editing. For instance, you might use the last 15 minutes of your daily 90-minute writing time to do some light editing of that day's work.
- Get feedback early and often. Don't wait until you've completed an entire book draft before showing it to anyone. Let someone you trust look over each chapter and offer primarily "big picture" feedback—that is, general opinions on the clarity and quality of the work, as opposed to close editing for style and grammar.[6]
- Depending on your circumstances, you might be working with an editor, have committee members you can hand over chapter drafts to, or have a group of fellow writers who share their works-in-progress back and forth. Alternatively, show a friend or family member who reads voraciously and whose opinion you value highly.
- You'll go through many rounds of feedback and revisions before your book is published. Don't get discouraged—it's all part of the process of writing the best book you can!
EditCreating a Great Story - Start with a big, captivating idea. This is easier said than done, of course, but it's essential to writing a good book. Whether you're writing fiction or nonfiction, you need a concept that will hold your fascination throughout the long process of writing and editing, and that will also captivate your readers.[7]
- Start with the "big picture" first, and worry about filling in the finer details later on.
- Brainstorm themes, scenarios, or ideas that intrigue you. Write them down, think about them for a while, and figure out which one you're most passionate about.
- For instance: "What if a man journeyed to a land where the people were tiny and he was a giant, and then to another land where the people were giants and he was tiny?"
- Research your big idea to build your expertise. If you're writing a nonfiction book, you'll obviously need to deeply research your subject matter in order to write about it effectively. Even fictional works, though, should be grounded in some degree of reality.[8]
- For instance, a sci-fi adventure set in space will be more effective if the technology draws at least a small degree from reality.
- Or, if you're writing a crime drama, you might do research into how the police typically investigate crimes of the type you're depicting.
- Break your big idea into manageable pieces. If your focus each day is to write about the American Civil War or the goings-on in a fantastical "Middle Earth," you may become paralyzed by the immensity of the task. Instead, divide up your larger concept into smaller components that feel more manageable to tackle.[9]
- For instance, instead of waking up thinking "I need to write about the Civil War," you might tell yourself, "I'm going to write about General Grant's military strategy today."
- These "manageable pieces" may end up being your book's chapters, but not necessarily so.
- Develop at least one unforgettable character. This is another one of the "easier said than done" parts of writing a great book. Aim to build one or more characters who are complex and rounded, not one-note "heroes" or "villains." You want your readers to be able to identify with them and care about what happens to them.[10]
- Think about some of your favorite characters from books you love. Write down some of their character traits and use these to help build your own unique characters.
- If you're writing nonfiction, dig deep into the complexities and all-too-human qualities of the real figures you're writing about. Bring them to life for your readers.
- Emphasize conflict and tension in your narrative. Introduce challenges and obstacles early on in your book, and lead your characters through struggles, triumphs, and failures. The conflict and tension can be both external (like a cunning adversary) and internal (your main character's inner demons due to past tragedy). Make it hard for your readers to put the book down![11]
- The main conflict—for instance, Captain Ahab's obsession with the white whale in Moby Dick—can be an entry point for a range of other external and internal conflicts.
- Don't downplay conflicts and tension in nonfiction works—they help to ground your writing in reality.
- Make sure everything you include advances the story. This is helpful to keep in mind while writing your first draft, but essential while you're editing your book. Make sure every chapter, every page, every sentence, and even every word serves a purpose in moving your story forward. If not, look for ways to revise or streamline your writing.[12]
- Your goal is to never give your readers a reason to lose interest. Keep them engaged and turning those pages!
- This doesn't mean you can't use long sentences, descriptive writing, or even asides that deviate from the main story line. Just make sure that these components serve the larger narrative.
EditPublishing Your Book - Keep revising your book, but don't make excuses for not submitting it. In other words, commit yourself to getting your book out there, and don't use "it's not quite ready yet" as a permanent excuse. Revising, refining, and editing are all essential to a good book, but at some point you have to have the courage to get it published.[13]
- Seeking publication can feel a bit like losing control over your manuscript, after all the time you've spent working and re-working it. Keep reminding yourself that your book deserves to be seen and read!
- If necessary, impose a deadline on yourself: "I'm going to submit this to publishers by January 15, one way or the other!"
- Hire a literary agent if you're aiming for traditional publication. You can submit your manuscript to publishers yourself, but you'll increase your odds of success by working with an agent. They'll have the experience and industry contacts needed to give your work a better chance of finding the right publisher. Unless you live near a book publishing hotbed, your best bet is to search online for literary agents.[14]
- Evaluate potential agents and look for the best fit for you and your manuscript. If you know any published authors, ask them for tips and leads on agents.
- Typically, you'll submit excerpts or even your entire manuscript to an agent, and they'll decide whether to take you on as a client. Make sure you're clear on their submission guidelines before proceeding.
- Look into self-publishing options if the traditional route isn't ideal. If your book has a small target audience due to its subject matter, it may be tough to find a publisher to take it on. This is especially the case when you're a new author. Fortunately, you have options when it comes to publishing the book yourself.
- You can self-publish copies on your own, which may save you money but will take up a lot of time. You'll be responsible for everything from obtaining a copyright to designing the cover to getting the actual pages printed.
- You can work through self-publishing companies, but you'll often end up paying more to get your book published than you'll ever make back from selling it.
- Self-publishing an e-book may be a viable option, since the publishing costs are low and your book immediately becomes accessible to a wide audience. Evaluate different e-book publishers carefully before choosing the right one for you.
EditSample Book Excerpts - Find the time of day when you are most productive, and schedule your writing sessions for that time.
- Keep your notebook and pen beside your bed, and keep a journal of your dreams. You never know when a dream of yours could give you inspiration or a story to write about!
- Sometimes, you should just start writing, and eventually a story will just pop into your head.
- If you want to add a true fact in your story, do some research on it first.
- Avoid plagiarizing (copying another author's work). Even if you do it as artfully as possible, eventually someone will track down and piece together all the copied parts.
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| How to Get a Baby to Stop Crying Posted: 03 Jul 2019 09:00 AM PDT First-time parents will often find it difficult trying to stop their baby from crying. It is perfectly natural for a baby to cry almost every day, especially in the first few months. While you can give your baby time to cool down in later months, early on you will need to address their concerns right away. Always start by addressing your baby's basic needs. If this does not help to calm your baby, then move on to soothing them or entertaining them. Keep in mind that it may take some time to find what your baby needs and to learn what techniques work best for your baby. EditAddressing Your Baby's Basic Needs - Change your baby's diaper if it is dirty. Look for signs such as crying, odor, wetness, or constant movement and check your baby's diaper. If it is wet or soiled, take off the old one and use baby wipes to clean the baby's genitals and legs. Allow the area to dry completely, then apply a soothing ointment and put on a new diaper.[1]
- Check your baby's diaper at least every 2 to 3 hours to help prevent diaper rash and keep your baby comfortable.
- Always wash your hands before and after you change your baby's diaper.
- Change diapers in a warm, clean location, such as on a clean towel on your living room floor or on a changing table in the baby's nursery.[2]
- Feed your baby if they seem hungry. Breastfeed or bottle-feed your baby pumped breast milk or formula. If your baby has progressed to solid foods, then you can also offer them some cereal or baby food. Some signs that your baby might be hungry include:[3]
- Smacking their lips
- Crying
- Rooting (baby turning their head toward you when you touch their cheek)
- Putting their hands in their mouth
- Pat your baby on their back to burp them after a feeding. After they are done eating, they may start to cry because of a gas build-up in their stomach. The best way to burp your baby is to lean your baby's stomach over your shoulder. One hand should be on the baby's bottom while the other is supporting the baby's head and neck. Gently pat your baby on the back as you hold them in this position until your baby burps.[4]
- Keep your baby upright so that they can release the gas build-up.
- Bicycle your baby's legs to help relieve built-up gas. If your baby is still crying after you try to burp them, then they might need more help to release built-up gas. Lay your baby on their back on top of a soft blanket. Gently grab each of their lower legs and begin to bicycle them (this is the same motion as you would pedal a bicycle). Keep doing this until you either hear your baby relieve themself or they stop crying.[5]
- You can also contact your doctor about using infant gas drops which help your baby pass gas.
- Make sure to consult your doctor about constant gas problems. This could be related to acid reflux, lactose intolerance, constipation, the stomach flu, etc.[6]
- Offer a pacifier if your baby is not responding to other strategies. Babies, especially up to 7 months old, have strong sucking needs. If your baby is crying after changing, feeding, and burping them, then they might simply want something to suck on. Try giving your baby a pacifier or help them find their thumb and see if this helps to soothe them.[7]
- Giving your baby a pacifier might also help them to fall asleep.
- Take your baby to their crib if they seem sleepy. Sometimes the best solution is the easiest. A baby will often cry a lot if they need to go to sleep. They may also yawn, be a tad cranky, or simply be falling asleep. Hold them in your arms for a while before you take them to their crib. After they are calm, lay them down in their crib on their back.[8]
- Don't put any blankets, pillows, stuffed animals, or other items in the crib with your baby. These increase the risk of SIDS.
- A musical mobile hanging above the bed, playing a song, can help lull them to sleep.
- Always keep a baby monitor on if you plan on going out of the room.
EditCalming and Soothing Your Baby - Swaddle your baby to provide a warm, snug, and secure feeling. The key is to wrap your baby tightly, without over-wrapping. Start by grabbing a small blanket, and lay it so it looks like a diamond. Then take the top corner and fold it all the way down to the other corner. This should create what looks like an upside-down triangle. Center your baby in the middle of the blanket and pull their arms inward.[9]
- Take the left corner and pull it all the way across the baby. Tuck it underneath their back on the other side.
- Take the right corner and pull it all the way to the left. Tuck that underneath their back as well. Finish the fold by tucking the bottom of the blanket underneath the baby.
- Keep the top open so the baby's head is fully exposed. You can also pull back some of the blanket at any time you think it is too tight.[10]
- Cuddle with your baby to make them feel secure. Babies, especially during the first few months, need lots of care and affection. Hold your baby in your dominant arm and secure them with your other arm. Rest your baby's head in the crook of your elbow. Sway, bounce, or walk as you hold your baby. Make sure that your baby is resting against your body, as they may like to hear your heartbeat and see your face.[11][12]
- Adjust the noise level in your home. While some babies like noises, some like it to be quiet and dark. Dim the lights in your house so that they do not bother the baby's eyes. Turn off the television, the vacuum cleaner, hair dryer, etc.[13] If this doesn't work, turn on a fan, play soothing music, or play rain sounds, ocean waves crashing, or similar water sounds.
- You might also want to check the internal temperature of the house. If it is too hot, or too cold, that can bother the baby's nerves.[14]
- Give your baby a massage. The warm touch of your hands can console your baby almost instantly, especially when they are feeling muscle or joint pain (commonly referred to as "growing pains"). You will want to lay your baby in a comfortable position, like on the couch or the bed. Take your baby's clothes off except for their diaper. Use baby oil or lotion to conduct the massage. You will want to work in soft, gentle motions. If your baby cries more when you begin to give the massage, don't continue the massage. Try something else.[15][16]
- Make sure to work the face, arms, legs, back, and stomach.
- Use slow circular motions as well as hand-over-hand motions. Use thumb-over-thumb motions to massage your baby's hands and feet. Separate and massage each finger and toe.
EditEntertaining Your Baby - Sing to your baby to distract them. If your baby is crying and having trouble sleeping, sometimes the easiest remedies are the best. Sing a lullaby to your baby, or just hum as you watch your baby. They will focus on the notes and your face, and finally relax. As you are singing to them, you can either lay them in their crib, or hold and rock them in your arms.[17]
- It does not matter what you sing to your baby! Sing a nursery rhyme or a popular song that you know well. Your baby will just like hearing the sound of your voice.
- Play a game with your baby. Put your hands over your eyes, pull them away, and say "peek-a-boo!" Make funny faces at your baby by scrunching your face, and wait for them to laugh. Place them on the carpet and crawl around on the floor with them. Place your hand in front of them face and wait for them to touch your hand with theirs.[18]
- You can also try talking to your baby in a silly voice. Put your face close to their face and talk to them.
- Take your baby outside in a stroller or baby carrier. Secure your baby in a stroller or place your baby in a sling around your shoulder. Your baby will enjoy seeing new things, and breathing fresh air. Always bring a bottle, pacifier, diaper, etc. with you when you leave. Go walk with your baby for about 30 minutes to 1 hour. The movement of the stroller may also calm your baby down.[19][20]
- Make sure not to go anywhere too rugged.
- Visit a friend or family member with your baby. Taking your baby to a trusted friend or family member's house may be a good change of pace for both of you. Breathing fresh air, going on a car ride, and traveling to new places can also excite your baby's senses and make them forget about crying.[21]
- Try not to get discouraged if something doesn't work. Just keep trying different options.
- Take your child to the doctor for regular check-ups. Crying for excessive amounts of time might mean that there is a serious problem which needs to be remedied.
- NEVER shake a baby. This can cause brain damage and death.
- Never spank or hit your baby. They are too young to understand why you are physically punishing them. Spanking will only cause them to cry longer, and it can cause long-term psychological damage.
- Always keep an eye on your baby. Even if your baby won't stop crying, it is unacceptable to place them somewhere secluded, or far away.
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| How to Fold a Fortune Teller Posted: 03 Jul 2019 01:00 AM PDT Making a fortune teller is one of the best ways to entertain your friends. All you need is a piece of paper and a marker to create a fun game you can play anywhere, anytime. Fill the inside with fortunes that your friends can pick so you can "predict" their future. Once they pick a fortune, read it out loud so everyone can hear it. Once you make one fortune teller, you'll want to keep making more with different things written inside! EditFolding the Fortune Teller - Crease a square piece of paper diagonally from each corner. Fold the top right corner to touch the bottom left corner. Crease the fold with your finger and then unfold it so your sheet is flat again. Then take the top left corner and fold it over to the bottom right corner. Crease the fold with your fingernail before unfolding it again.[1]
- If you're using a piece of rectangular paper, you can cut it into a square. Fold one corner over to the adjacent side. Use scissors to cut off the small rectangle. What remains is a square-shaped piece of paper.
- Fold the paper in half from each side. Bring the top edge of the paper to the bottom edge and crease the fold. Unfold the paper so it's flat again and rotate it by 90 degrees. Fold the new top edge of the paper to the bottom to crease it and then flatten it out again. Your paper will have 4 lines intersecting in the middle.[2]
- Make sure you're always folding in the same direction or else your fortune teller won't form correctly.
- Bring the corners to the center of the paper. Start with one of the bottom corners and fold it into the middle of the paper where the creases intersect. Press down on the fold with a fingernail so it stays in place. Turn your paper 90 degrees and fold the other bottom corner toward the center. Keep rotating and folding your paper until you've made a smaller square containing 4 triangles.[3]
- If the paper doesn't stay in place when you press it with your fingernail, then use the edge of a spoon or knife.
- Flip the paper over and fold each corner to the center again. Turn your paper over to the other side so you don't see the folds. Grab one of the corners and fold it toward the middle where the creases intersect. Press down on the fold with your finger. Rotate the paper and fold each corner to the middle of the paper until you've made a smaller square.[4]
EditFilling in the Fortunes - Put numbers in ascending order on the triangles. Start with the number 1 in the smaller top left triangle on the fortune teller. Write the numbers in ascending order clockwise around the triangles. End with the number 8 in the last triangle on the left side of the fortune teller.[5]
- Each of the smaller triangles will be on half of a larger triangle. If you want to separate them, draw a line along the crease between them.
- Write the fortunes underneath the flaps. Open up the triangles labeled 1 and 2 and write a short fortune underneath each number. Keep the fortune 1 sentence long and use small handwriting so it fits in the space. You can make your fortunes bad or good if you want. Repeat the process under the flap for each number so you have 8 different fortunes in all. Close the flaps once you've written all the fortunes.[6]
- Draw a line along the creases if you want to tell your fortunes apart easily.
- Flip the fortune teller over and color the squares. Turn your paper over so the 4 small squares are face up. You can use any colors you want as long as each square on the fortune teller is different. Let the marker dry completely before you use your fortune teller.[7]
- If you don't have colored markers, you can write the name of the color on the squares instead.
EditPlaying with the Fortune Teller - Fold the fortune teller in half so the squares are on the outside. Flip your fortune teller over so the numbers are face up. Fold the top edge of the fortune teller down to the bottom edge so 2 of your colored squares are on top.[8]
- Slide your fingers underneath the squares to operate the fortune teller. Lift up the squares slightly so that you can fit your thumbs under the bottom two squares and your index fingers under the top two. With your fingers under the squares, press the corners toward the center of the fortune teller so each square forms a cone shape. The four corners will meet in the middle of the fortune teller.[9]
- Be careful while you're folding the fortune teller up since it could crease or rip in the wrong place.
- Pick a color and spell it out while opening and closing the fortune teller. Select a color square on top of the fortune teller. Once you pick a color, spell it out loud and open the fortune teller with each letter. Alternate the direction you open the fortune teller from top to bottom or side to side. When you reach the last letter, leave the fortune teller open.[10]
- For example, if you chose the color red, you'd say "R" and open the fortune teller one direction. Then, you'd say "E" and open it the other way. Finally, you'd say "D" and open it in the other direction one more time.
- Choose a number and count it out. When the fortune teller is open, look inside to see 4 numbers inside. Select one of the numbers and count it out with your fortune teller, alternating the direction you open it each time. Once you're finished counting, leave the fortune teller open in that position.[11]
- If you picked an even number, the fortune teller will end in the same position. If you picked an odd number, you'll see new numbers to choose from.
- Pick another number to reveal your fortune. Choose a number inside the fortune teller to select your fortune. Take your fingers out from the bottom and lift the flap for the number you picked. Read the fortune out loud so your friends can hear it.[12]
- Keep playing the fortune teller until you reveal all of the fortunes.
- Use construction paper to make your fortune teller more colorful.
- If you have small hands, try using a smaller piece of paper.
EditThings You'll Need - Square piece of paper
- Pen
- Markers
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