Step 6 - Research

Step 6 - Get All The Facts

At this point it's time to do the necessary research. Content of your writing will determine the type and quantity of research required.

Research is searching for knowledge. It is the necessary facts to support your information.

When I first thought about writing "Boys on The Gold Coast" (http://amzn.to/AfpjG1) I asked myself if I had a large enough audience interested in baseball. A platform. The answer was a resounding yes. Consequently, writers must focus on a platform. We will discuss more about a platform in a later Step.

Doris Kearns Goodwin, author of Team of Rivals, lived with Abraham Lincoln for ten years. She left no stone-unturned gathering information.

John Grisham drew off his career as a lawyer and politician to write many well-liked crime thrillers. And his knowledge started during intensive studies in law school and later with hands on experience in the courtroom and political chambers.

Perhaps you read an Amanda Hocking romance and it hit a nerve in your brain to write a paranormal romance novel. As the ideas began to flow through your head from what you had already read, you were able to create a story line to share with many other romance lovers.

I write baseball stories like "On The Road Again," (http://amzn.to/14DmZmT) a subject that lots of people are interested in. You might say that it has UNIVERSAL appeal. My ideas started at The Wall. Read Step 2. But I also read lots of sports magazines to get better informed about baseball. The Walton's, a TV series, inspired me to write. Then I coached a Little League Baseball Team that provided some real hands-on experience.

After I wrote my second book "The Unknown Baseball Player," (http://amzn.to/ktuge9) I began to realize the importance of good research.

Next week we look at Step 7 and the First Draft.

Step 5 - Be In The Right Mood To Write

-->Step 5 - Getting In The Right Mood.

The right mood helps people win the game. The tennis player performed poorly with a sore foot. Maggie had an upset stomach and wasn't very sociable at the party. George withdrew from the contest because of a sprained ankle.

Unawares, writers often struggle writing. But this shouldn't be. Identify the problem and move on.

Writers must be well rested. Get a good night's sleep. It contributes to being alert and staying focused.

Depending on who the writer is, time of day may vary. Some people prefer to write in the morning while others in the evening.

Writers don't have to write an entire chapter in one day. Length is not important at this time. Just maintain some daily routine with consistency. One page, three, or a paragraph is all that is necessary to keep moving forward.

Writing is not the same as a school assignment. Students often spend long hours and days (cramming) to complete an assignment. Not so in writing.

Take good notes. Do your research. get all the facts down on paper before writing. It will lessen the stress as you embark on a most exciting journey.

Find a good location to write. To some people it may be the study or bedroom in your house. Maybe the library. I grew up in a 3-room apartment. I was use to writing with a spiral pad on my lap in the living room. You be the judge and choose a place that is most comfortable for you.

Lastly, write about something that you have an interest in.

I like baseball. Anything related to baseball will peek my interest. Boys playing the Chicago Cubs inspired me to write Boys On The Gold Coast http://amzn.to/AfpjG1. I can identify with Orville during baseball team auditions in The Unknown Baseball Player http://amzn.to/ktuge9. I felt the pain Pop, the team manager, was going through being falsely accused in On The Road Again http://amzn.to/14DmZmT.

So!!! Are you in the right mood? Is your writing productive?

Next week in Step 6 we talk about research. More FREE practical suggestions to help you write and get published.

Step 4 - Putting Ideas On Paper

-->Step 4 ­— Write It And Get It Published

My mind is spinning out of control. It's about to burst. I have more thoughts racing through my mind than I know what to do with. It's time to let go and put them on paper.

The traditional method of approach is to make an outline. This is a grammar format drummed into our heads by an ENGLISH teacher we learned to despise. Roman numerals I-II-III, upper case letters A-B-C, numbers 1-2-3, lower case letters a--b-c, and so on.

But the traditional method doesn't work well with me. It's distracting and confusing. If it works for you, so be it, use it.

The best approach for me, an alternative, is to take a sheet of paper and jot down all the important facts. It worked for me because I have 3 books now available on AMAZON to prove it.

To support my theory I will refer to my first book, Boys On The Gold Coast http://amzn.to/AfpjG1. Here are some key points to remember. (1) tennis ball and garage wall (2) retired janitor (3) corner lots (4) a park (5) baseball team (6) Chicago Cubs, and (7) other people.

Then I created a story line. What is the story about? The answer was a brainstorm idea from beginning to end (chapter 1 to the last chapter).

I continued my idea with a book title and listened 25 chapter headings supported with details. Each chapter even though they are linked to the entire story must stand-alone. Using 9 different baseball positions helped me to form different chapters and create a story. Read Boys On The Gold Coast and you will see how it all fits together.

My other books used the same format. The theme for The Unknown Baseball Player http://amzn.to/ktuge9 was popularity. Every body wanted to play on the boy's team since they played the Chicago Cubs. In On The Road Again http://amzn.to/14DmZmT the boys couldn't play enough baseball. It was like the old Jays Potato Chip commercial—Can't stop eating them.

Jotting your idea on paper is the fun part. So dream, let your imagination go wild, and make changes.

Next week Step 5 is about moods. And that's more FREE helpful practical suggestions that get you closer to your passion to getting published. 

Step 3 - The Story Line

Now it is time to develop a story line. This can be an awesome task. The first thing to consider is whether it will be nonfiction or fiction. And the writer must be in the right mood. Some writers do better in the morning while others in the evening.

Nonfiction requires accuracy, which is garnered with lots of research. No leaf is left unturned. The format may vary and the content must be well supported and documented accordingly.

There are many good nonfiction writers. Those listed below are just a few of the excellent writers that I thought of.

Rochelle Melander wrote Write-A-Thon: Write Your Book in 26 days (and live to tell about it) (http://amzn.to/XjnstM). This is helpful information for writers.

Team Of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin (http://amzn.to/10bo7v9). This is an excellent book for history buffs. In a C-SPAN interview Doris said that she lived with Abraham Lincoln in her house for 10 years while writing this book.

John Grisham wrote The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town (http://amzn.to/121AhqA). This is his only nonfiction book.

Side note: In 2011 at the Boswell Book Company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, I attended a book signing for Rochelle Melander's new book. In 2006 I lined up with many other people in the old capital building in Springfield, Illinois, during the celebration of the Lincoln Centennial to get an autographed copy of Team Of Rivals. Goose bumps ran down my back meeting other authors.

Fiction writers are allowed to let their imagination run wild. However, it's important to keep the content simple, relative, and easy for the reader to identify with.

If you read my first book, Boys On The Gold Coast (http://amzn.to/AfpjG1) you will notice three basic components to a fiction story: (1) introduction, (2) body, and (3) conclusion.

From my childhood experiences I developed a baseball team while playing with my friends on corner lots. And ultimately (the conclusion) the boys played the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.

But there must be a conflict to the story. As a kid I did some fast pitching with my cousin Al. And it was fun watching that tennis ball sale over the fence and land on the canopy of the little shops across the street. And so a problem was developed that the boys struggled with throughout my story.

Fiction stories have a purpose. In addition to entertaining, my book has a message. More than just about baseball, it talks about the discipline of hard work, honesty, and God. It's edifying, giving dads a chance to teach baseball fundamentals to a son. It's a good how to book.

To get you started take a piece of paper and do some brain storming. Jot down your first thoughts about an introduction, body, and conclusion. Then think about it, sleep on it, and make the necessary changes. Take all the time you need.

The thrill of seeing my first book in print and listening to what readers were saying propelled me into writing two more books: On The Road Again (http://amzn.to/14DmZmT), and The Unknown Baseball Player (http://amzn.to/ktuge9). It's fun to write and like I said before it's contagious.

Next week Step 4, putting all the details on paper. More FREE practical suggestions as we get closer to Step 12 and getting published.

Home Schooling and Writing

I'm Marvin P. Ferguson, author of three baseball stories now available on Amazon. From my childhood experiences and inspired by John Boy from "The Waltons TV series, I like to write.

When my daughter Denise and home school mom started teaching her own kids, my interest in education perked. Finally, good quality education has returned to the classroom, I thought, as more and more mom's are home schooling their kids.

With a strong admiration for home schooling and a passion to write, I'd like to share with you some FREE practical suggestions about how to write a book on my blog (bit.ly/rnWXxW). They are 12 easy to read steps that you and your students might find helpful.  

  

Step 2 - Lots To Say In A Book

 

Step 2

Step 2 offers suggestions about what to say. This is the best time to brain storm your ideas on a legal pad or spiral notebook. So sit back and enjoy the challenge. It's a thought provoking process. It's the beginning of a start to form content.

Content. It could be fiction or nonfiction. Martha Stewart used her childhood experiences to start Martha Stewart Living. Pastors may write about their work in the church. College professors may write about their expertise in the classroom. John Grisham, former lawyer and legislator wrote about crime thrillers. A housewife shared her mother's favorite recipe about how to make a delicious homemade meatloaf. There are so many things that you can identify with and write about.

My interest is baseball. When I was 12 years old I frequently threw my tennis ball against a garage wall in my backyard. Baseball was my favorite hobby.

Garage Wall. It was not just any old wall. I lived in a building that was comprised of 16 apartments stacked 4 high in 4 hallways. The building joined a two story coach house separated by a yard with a fence on one end overlooking an alley while at the other end was a 20 foot high wall which was the backside of a 6 car garage. Spread out on the wall was some rusty old nails and hooks that previously accommodated some wooden ladders that allowed my tennis ball to rebound off them and sail high into the air.

It was at this wall that my imagination ran wild. I could be any anybody I wanted to be. Picher, catcher, shortstop, or outfielder, the choice was all mine. Later, in my life, while watching The Walton's on TV, I got inspired to write, and from it my first book "Boys On The Gold Coast" (http://amzn.to/AfpjG1) was born and is now available on Amazon.

Writing is contagious. From my childhood experiences I added two more books "On The Road Again" (http://amzn.to/14DmZmT) and "The Unknown Baseball Player" (http://amzn.to/ktuge9), both also now available on Amazon for $2.99.

So let your imagination run wild. Dream. Have fun. And look for Step 3 about the story line next week, April 18, 2014 with some more FREE practical suggestions, as you get closer to getting published

Step 1 - Big Step Forward - How I Wrote My Book

  -->

Step 1

The first step in writing a book is that the writer must have an idea. It's simple and basic. Sometimes it's hard to believe as often time's writers struggle with this concept. Without having an idea firmly planted in your mind is like being lost in the woods.

When writers start to ponder this thought lots of ideas begin to filter through their mind. It can become overwhelming, but it shouldn't be.

The lists of examples of ideas are endless. Food books by Rachel Ray. Religious books by Billy Graham or Joyce Meyer. Thrillers by John Grisham or David Baldacci. Romance novels by Amanda Hocking or Danielle Steel.

I wrote about baseball. Throughout my life sports played a major part. My stories are fiction and offer readers a source of entertainment with a message that is practical and easy to read.

On The Road Again

http://amzn.to/14DmZmT

The Unknown Baseball Player

http://amzn.to/ktuge9

Boys On The Gold Coast

http://amzn.to/AfpjG1

So how do you go about getting an idea? I have some suggestions that may help you along that line of thinking.

1. Interest. You must have a keen interest in something. If you like cooking would you write about fixing cars? I don't think so.

2. Like. It must be something that you like. Knitting, baking, collecting stamps, again the lists is endless.

3. Do it well. It's in your DNA. It's something with a certain knack to do well. My mother once told me that my father was a good writer. So here I am an author of three books now available on Amazon.

4. It should be something that you already know, something that makes you qualified to share intelligently with people. Perhaps it's a hobby or something you relish reading about.

5. The topic must have enough information to write about.

6. It must have universal appeal. Baseball, religion, crime, politics, food, are all broad subjects. I don't think writing about tying your grandmother's shoe will create much interest.

7. Purpose. Your idea must have a purpose. I already mentioned that my baseball stories (fiction) are entertaining with a message.  Yours might be knitting sweaters for needy people in Africa.

So there you have it, some practical ideas to get you started in writing your book. And next week we look at Step 2 that talks about what to say as it relates to that idea you developed in Step 1. And these are all FREE practical suggestions that I like to share with friends like you that move us closer to getting published.