Bored with your day job? So why not try to get in touch with your inner J.K. Rowling?
J.K. Rowling went from being poor and writing her ideas for a children's book on a napkin to being almost as rich as the Queen. It's like buying a winning lottery ticket to write a best-seller. In fact, Rowling's story of how she went from being poor to rich could be a good idea for a best-seller on its own. Because who doesn't want to be the next J.K. Rowling? Could there be a better way for all your money problems to end? Writing doesn't cost anything but time and effort, after all.
When you have a lot of bills, can't take a vacation, or feel like you work too hard for too little money, it's easy to dream of being a successful author. But it's not as simple as it looks, or everyone would have done it. So how do you write a book that people love? The plot gets worse...
- Some narrative theorists say that there are only a few plots in the world. Some say there are three, some say there are seven, and some say there are ten. Find the archetypes of fictional characters and then start writing.
- You also need to be a good writer who is good at what they do.
- You tell great stories. Storytelling is very important. If you look at any best-selling book, even Harry Potter, you'll find a story that grabs you by the collar, shakes you up, and makes you feel like you've learned and lived.
- Have faith in your own story. If you just copy an idea, it won't work. You have to believe in your world and characters if you want to give those old plots your own twist. Stay true to yourself.
Other trade secrets are:
- Discipline. Dan Brown didn't spend months at the top of the best-seller list or get Tom Hanks with a bad haircut to star in a movie based on his book without having discipline. He takes breaks every hour to do sit-ups and stretches to keep the blood and ideas flowing to his blockbuster brain. He writes at 4 a.m., when there aren't any distractions.
Choose a topic that interests you and is big enough to spark a lot of moral discussion.
Remember that people's ability to pay attention has changed. We're used to movies that move quickly. The chapters in Dan Brown's books are short.
Guys and girls who look good sell. Picture Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, or Nicole Kidman as the main character in a movie you wrote. Or Tom Hanks with a bad haircut would work.
Putting cliffhangers at the end of each chapter will keep people interested.
The golden rule is to ignore everything above. Authors have given us a lot of advice on how to write a best-seller. In reality, you need a good story, a strong will, self-discipline, and a basic grasp of the English language. To write, you have to be brave and work hard. As the saying goes, you need 10% inspiration and 90% hard work. Even if you do everything right, there's no guarantee you'll win the big prize. Let's face it, most of us have to deal with reality, pay our bills, and figure out how to handle our money without J.K. Rowling's bank account to help us.
