Inside the mind of a master wordsmith!

An indepth looks at the creative writing process of an author

By Skyyler Buckley

Writing a book is often seen as a romanticized endeavor. Many people dream of becoming an author, of sitting down at their desk with a cup of coffee and typing away until they’ve written a masterpiece. But the reality is much different. Writing a book takes discipline, persistence, and a lot of hard work. In this feature, we’ll explore what it takes to write a book.

The first step in writing a book is coming up with an idea. Some writers are inspired by a particular event, person, or experience in their own lives. Others might be inspired by a news story, a historical event, or a work of art. Whatever the inspiration, the idea must be compelling enough to sustain the writer’s interest and capture potential readers’ attention.

Many authors go about multiple different ways of doing that. Ranging from a place to a special song, to a special place. All that is required is something that sparks something in you and hopefully sparks the imagination.

A horror story novelist by the name of Alane Ferguson has her own special chair in which she “finds her happy place”. She said that “that chair has been with me all throughout my writing career. It has inspired my best sellers and award winning novels and now it is my safe space that I can always turn name of Alane Ferguson has her own special chair in which she “finds her happy place”. She said that “that chair has been with me all throughout my writing career. It has inspired my best sellers and award winning novels and now it is my safe space that I can always turn back to.”

While other authors seek inspiration in other ways. It changes based on what the author is writing or in what person they are writing in. Such as 1st, 3rd, or least commonly 2nd.

An author by the name of Ashley Bustimante who is a well known author in teen novels has been lucky enough to travel the world just looking for inspiration and finding information on an area. She has been through “ the wonders of the world.” This, according to her not only being the common ones but also, “ a quiet street on a busy day” or a “break from the city on a quant farm out in the middle of nowhere.” She just tends to enjoy the comings of being an author and a break from the habitual writing at a desk.

When experimenting with the POV of the book Kane Britt goes to others for help. He appreciates the input of others and often finds their alternative outlook on his book as “refreshing,” especially when he is in a writing block.

His mom Whitney is often his goto for helping with ideas and views. He said, “She has been my rock all throughout my writing career, and I don’t intend for that to change.”

Once the idea is in place, the writer must develop the story.

This involves creating an outline of the plot, including the major events and turning points. It also involves developing the characters, giving them backstories, personalities, and motivations to drive the story forward. This process can take weeks or even months, depending on the complexity of the story and the depth of the

With the outline and characters in place, the writer can start to write. This is where the real work begins. Writing a book is a long and often grueling process. The writer must be disciplined and persistent, showing up at their desk daily, even when they don’t feel like it. Many writers set a daily word count goal to keep themselves on track.

In addition to daily writing, the writer must also do research. Even if they’re writing a work of fiction, the details must be accurate and realistic. If they’re writing a historical novel, they must read books and articles on the time period. If they’re writing about a profession they’re unfamiliar with, they’ll need to talk to experts in the field. Research can be timeconsuming, but it’s essential for creating a believable and engaging story.

As the writer writes, they must also be open to inspiration. Sometimes, the best ideas come when they’re not actively trying to think of them. Taking walks, listening to music, or doing something creative that is not related to the book can all help to spark ideas and keep the writer’s mind fresh.

Alane Ferguson has had the privilage to take many wild adventures to aid her creative and research process. This opportunity was aided by the fact that she writes books relating to murder and mystery.

She was lucky enough to go to all sorts of places. She went to a famous haunted hounted house to explore and get ideas. She used the set up supposed to feel like real to gain ideas. She also suited up and went to a morge to look at the dead bodies to help with details. “[She] still has ‘nightmares’” regarding what she saw there. Although she did say she, “would do it again in heartbeat.”

Once the first draft is complete, the writer must put it aside for a few weeks or even months, depending on their deadlines. During this time, they work on other projects or take a break altogether. When they come back to the draft, they read it with fresh eyes and make notes on what needs to be revised or rewritten.

Kane, a big soccer fan, tends to find that as his break. He said, “ I love that game for the spirit, not just the sport.” He played in high school, and the memories helped get his mind off of writing.

Rewriting is the most important part of the process. This is where the writer goes over every sentence, every word, and every punctuation mark, ensuring that it’s as clear and concise as possible. They also look for plot holes or inconsistencies and ensure their characters are fully developed.

Once the writer is satisfied with a writing group, for feedback. This can be a nerve-wracking experience, but it’s essential for getting an outside perspective on the work. The writer can then take this feedback and make additional revisions.

This haunted house is one similar to the one Alane visted. She was taken on a guided tour helping to inspire her creativity and aid her in the research process.

Finally, the writer will send the manuscript off to a literary agent or publisher, hoping that it will be accepted for publication. This is a long and often frustrating process. Many writers receive multiple rejections before they find a publisher who is interested in their work.

Ashley after this long time working on books and having many hit books now has her own editor. She is now basically family. She has seen enough books that have made it big to know about what to write and not writing. Knowing what has and hasn’t sold. She said, “Even though every book may have its person it might not always find them.” She said this referring to the ability of a book to reach the mainstream.

After all of this hopefully the book makes it big.

With all the work that is put in to hopefully entertain you for a good few hours of your life. The authors hope it is all worth it in the end

In conclusion, writing a book takes time, effort, and dedication. It’s not a romanticized endeavor, but rather a grueling and often solitary pursuit. But for those who are passionate about storytelling, it’s worth the effort. Writing a book allows the writer to be free and make a world of their own. That others can love!

Thanks for reading, have a great day!

I hope you find inspiration or inspiration finds you.

George R.R. Martin, A Dance with Dragons

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