A Bestseller: It Starts With Four Decisions
If you are here, you have already decided you want to write a book
. Do you just like writing, or do you have an idea of what to write about? Here are four tips that will help you formulate an idea into a bestseller. These tips include: epiphany, premise, theme and story question. Let's get started.
1. Epiphany
According to Merriam-Webster's Dictionary, the definition of epiphany is:
Epiphany capitalized : January 6 observed as a church festival in the commiseration of the Magi as the first manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles An appearance or manifestation especially of a divine being
a (1): a usually sudden manifestation or perception of an essential nature or meaning of something
a (2): an intuitive grasp of reality through something (as an event) usually simple and striking
a (3): an illuminating discovery, realization or disclosure
b: a revealing moment or scene
The first time I heard the word epiphany was in a writing class. At least I think that was the first time. I may not have even paid attention to the strange word before then. I wasn't sure what it meant, let alone how it related to writing.
In that class we focused on the last definition - a revealing moment or scene. Each main character must have a moment near the end of the book when they realize they are in love, or what they want out of life, or why someone was murdered, etc. But first a book must begin with the writer's own epiphany.
Why do you want to write a book? An idea, an illuminating character, a message you want to get across, or a place that left you breathless? There is always a reason for your choice of ideas. You don't start writing a book without one. This is your epiphany. If you don't have one, you won't put your soul into your work. This translates into definition: an illuminating discovery, realization or disclosure.
For me it's usually some event that sparks an emotion deep in my heart. In "Legacy of Lies" it was the idea that self-motivating people use lies to get what they want but say they did it for the benefit of others. In "The Royal Pain" it all began with a real, horrible murder in the news that totally compelled me. I had to share with others the powerful emotions that the news segment stirred in me. In "Household Repairs" it was the concept of freeing yourself from a domineering father and living your own life. Each of these situations was illuminating moments when I realized that this was what I must write.
A good reference for determining what kind of book you are writing is: "Characters and Viewpoints" by Orson Scott Card. If you haven't already heard the terminology, that's where the MICE Quotient comes from - Milieu, Idea, Character, Event. This is a good book to have in your repertoire.
Understanding the MICE quotient helps you understand what type of book to write. Are you writing a book based on setting; on an idea where you will ask and answer a question; how a certain character will progress; or simply an event which throws the character's life into chaos?
2. Premise
An epiphany will then be translated to a premise. A premise is a short statement that identifies the main concept of your book. It can't be just romance or murder or travelling through time. It's that underlying message the book is stating. Here is the premise for each of my books:
Legacy of Lies - The truth will always set you free
The Royal Pain - You can run but you can't hide
Household Repairs - To your own self be true
As you can tell, none of these are unique ideas. The interesting part will be how your characters deal with them.
3. Theme
From each premise, you must now decide on your theme for the book. The theme is one or two words that identify your work. You always keep this idea at the back of your mind when you are writing to keep you grounded with your characters and your work. Mine follow:
Legacy of Lies - truth
The Royal Pain - accountability
Household Repairs - self
This theme can be applied to multiple characters in the same book, especially with a protagonist. Your heroine may detest lies. Your hero or protagonist could be a huge liar that would cause a great deal of conflict throughout the book.
In a different example, the concept of self can be looked at in several ways:
Self affirmation = the assertion of the existence of one's self
Self-defeating behavior = doomed to fail
Self = a person's way of being
Self-importance = high opinion of one's self
In my book, "Household Repairs", the heroine goes from accepting her relationship with her father (her way of being) to feeling like a failure (self-defeating) to asserting herself (self-affirmation). Her father, who she struggles with, is rich and over-protective (self-importance).
4. Story Question
Another helpful tool is the story question. What are you as a writer trying to discover with your book? This needs to be kept to one or two lines and makes for a good back cover blurb. Here's my examples:
Legacy of Lies
Can a strong-minded daughter, hungry for knowledge of her father's past, and a responsible town leader, come together to uncover the truth...without falling in love or getting killed?
The Royal Pain
After an auto accident, an abused woman on the run ends up stranded at a remote dairy and her presence stirs up an old town murder. Can the loyal dairy manager keep the innocent woman safe despite her reluctance to tell him anything?
Household Repairs
Can a determined daughter escape the clutches of her over-protective father by moving out and buying her own 1911 bungalow, or does the hunky restoration specialist she hired come with his own protection manual?
Discovering your reason for writing a book will help you in the long-haul to keep focused on what you want to say, how to say it and how to move your characters through to the end of the book without losing sight of what you want to accomplish. Remember, your characters will have their own epiphanies and goals they want to accomplish. Happy writing.
by: Cindy A Christiansen
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