Learning how to write from a professional and award-winning script writer, I started by just writing down the facts. Then I realized I needed a chronology and drew a timeline of events. This was harder than I thought it would be because when I wrote one memory down, another would come to me, but out of sequence of the timeline. Having done that I had to restructure my story. But having read extensively and some tips I’d read suggested I should lead the reader onto the next chapter and link the paragraphs to improve the flow of the narrative.
When my friend read my first draft she asked me “What is the storyline or story arc?” She explained that the story needed to lead you from the beginning to the end. After discussing it with her we agreed it should be about building my self-esteem and confidence through my life’s experiences. I realized then that there was a lot of irrelevant material in my story and I had to reduce it but keep it flowing. At this point I became a little confused with my timeline and asked two other writer friends to proofread it for me. Then I had to make corrections of the errors they had found
I wasn’t sure of the title so I wrote out several suggestions and took the list to a meeting of English speakers and asked which one they preferred. A French lady who had known me for a few years suggested an alternative: Change Is Good. So this was the final choice.
Having spent two years on the book it was time to choose a cover and what route to publishing. Should I self publish or go down the traditional route? I decided to use Amazon so that I didn’t have to pay for and stock lots of books which might not even sell. The service of Print on Demand was an excellent idea. The only thing left to do was to prepare a book cover. Amazon gives you a process to follow with formatting guidelines and a few covers to choose from. When I saw an example with a picture of a barren Hillside with a path leading to the summit, I thought “this is exactly what my book is about” following my chosen path but not knowing what is on the other side of the hill.
