It’s pretty easy in fact. When I started Woody Buchman, I didn’t have a clue what I was doing. I went with the old adage, “write what you know.” I set it in my hometown Ottawa and wrote about when I used to be a broker with Midland Walwyn in which Merrill Lynch eventually bought us out. Of course, with embellishments.
To quote Morgan Freeman, “Actors act, writers write, runners run.” Just sit your ass down and start. Doesn’t matter what just start. Stephen King, “Don’t worry if it’s good and correct, just write. Worry about making it good after” Writer’s block? Just an excuse that you don’t want to write or have no confidence in what you’re writing about. Just write, write anything.
Embellish: My main character is everything I wanted to be but was not. I’m an alcoholic addict, so I used that but in a more daring, heroic, and romantic way. Write what you know.
Don’t tell anyone. When I started to tell people, I was writing a book, it was met with doubt, and laughter, called it a pipe dream. No one believed me until my book cover was designed.
The most important before you begin and to quote my editor Diane O’Connell, “write the flap copy first.” Flap copy is that blurb you see on the back of a book telling what the book is all about. It will give you the best outline of your story. It will keep you on track to write the main points in your story. To quote Diane, “It may seem premature to write the flap copy for your book before you even have a first draft done, but this is the easiest—and surest—way to sharpen your story’s focus.“
Then buy the two only books you’ll ever need. “the Novel Maker’s Handbook.” By Diane O’Connell. No, I’m not promoting her book, it's just a great book. This woman and her book changed my writing and thus changed my life. It is the “blueprint,” the “Bible,” the “How to” write a book.” The only writing tool you’ll ever need. She’s ex-Random House, a Published writer. She knows her stuff.
Also, when you think you have something buy Jeff Herman’s “Guide to Book Publishers, Editors and Literary Agents.”
Finally, please ignore all the bullshit on the internet. They just want to make money off your insecurities, or lack of confidence as a writer. Diane’s book is all you need. Available on Amazon and Kindle.
Contact me. I’m free. I’ll be more than happy to help you out or point you in the right direction. Through the school of hard knocks, I navigated my way around. I know what to do, where to go for help.
Seriously it’s easy. If you have a good idea, just start to write. Worry about everything else after.
Ken Waterman
info@woodybuchman.com
343 777 0176
