So, You Want to Write: So, You Want to Write series, #1

By Theresa Sneed

Author Theresa Sneed loves to help others learn how to write and publish books almost as much as she loves writing herself. In this short, informative book, she shares her writing steps to success. Step 1. Get your writing sanctuary ready Step 2. Schedule a consistent time to write Step 3. Begin an ideas page or folder Step 4. Brainstorm ideas Step 5. Storyboarding Step 6. Develop your writing Step 7. Find beta readers Step 8. Start a new writing project Step 9. Revise and edit your manuscript Step 10. Hire a professional editor Step 11. Revise and edit again Step 12. Format your book Step 13. Create your cover Step 14. Publish your book Step 15. Marketing.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Theresa Sneed
• Release date: Jun 15, 2017
• ISBN: 9798223908449

Theresa Sneed

Author Theresa Sneed graduated cum laude with a BA in education, and though she loves teaching, she is currently taking a break from it to pursue a writing career. Her books are unique; each story will take you to places you have never imagined before. She writes across four genres—mystery and suspense, fantasy, historical fiction/time travel, and realistic paranormal. All of Theresa’s books have elements of sweet romance, and while none of her books have profanity or sexually explicit scenes, each book is intriguing and white-knuckle intense—the kind you can’t put down. The No Angel series is the story about a guardian angel with an attitude, and the ever present, but misunderstood spirit world. There are four published books in the series with many more to come. Book one is called Angel with an Attitude, book two – Earthbound Angel, book three – Destiny’s Angel, and book four – Earth Angel. The Sons of Elderberry series has one book out called Elias of Elderberry. Book two is called The Wood Fairies of Estraelia. Harry-Potterish—with wizards, fairies, elves, pixies, yōkai shapeshifters, and dragons, this epic story has it all! Theresa anticipates another three to five books to finish that series. Escape is the story of a 15 year old girl abducted by a corrupt sheriff in the 1970’s. He keeps her captive in his cellar for five years until she escapes with his truck and his young daughter. Escape is book one in a three book series. Book two, Missing is Theresa’s current WIP, (work in progress.) Salem Witch Haunt was intended to be a stand-alone book, until the shocking ending made it apparent that her characters were not finished telling their story. As the ninth great granddaughter of one of the women hanged as a witch in Salem, Theresa has a vested interest in this epic time-travel. Thoroughly researched, all interactions with real people from that era are based on primary sources—the trial scene with Susannah Martin is taken from Reverend Samuel Parris’s transcript verbatim. All Theresa’s books are available in print edition. Visit her website at http://www.theresasneed.com. She loves hearing from her readers and may be contacted through her website or through her email at mailto:[e-mail]. Follow me on twitter! https://twitter.com/TheresaSneed Friend me on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/TheresaMSneed/ Favorite me at Smashwords!

Book preview

Table of Contents

So You Want to Write 2023 EDITION

The Writing Steps to Success

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Epilogue

Letter to Reader

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Copyright

Other Titles by Author Theresa Sneed

Author Bio

So, You Want to Write

A Guide to Writing Your First Book

THERESA SNEED

The Writing Steps to Success

Step 1. Get your Writing Sanctuary Ready

Step 2. Schedule a Consistent Time and Length to Write

Step 3. Begin an Ideas Page or Folder

Step 4. Brainstorm Ideas

Step 5. Storyboarding

Step 6. Develop your Writing

Step 7. Find Beta Readers

Step 8. Start a New Writing Project

Step 9. Revise and Edit from your Beta Readers

Step 10. Hire a Professional Editor

Step 11. Revise and Edit from your Editor(s)

Step 12. Format your Book

Step 13. Create your Cover

Step 14. Publish your Book

Step 15. Marketing

PROLOGUE

The Writing Journey

Where are you on it? It begins with a simple desire to write and blossoms into journal writing, poetry, lyrics, short stories, articles, nonfiction books, and novels.

How do you get from that simple desire all the way to a published author? First, and most importantly, believe in yourself. You are what you think. You will do what you believe you can do, and if you think you can’t—you won’t.

For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.

Proverbs 23:7

Years ago I wrote a short story and showed it to a friend who wasn’t in the least bit interested. From that experience, I became a closet writer. Which means that I wrote on the sly and didn’t share it with anyone. Then one fated Sunday when Marsha Beckstead gave a talk at church and mentioned a writing group that she belonged to, my teenage daughter leaned toward me and said, Mom, you should do that. I was somewhat shocked with her suggestion. What? Me an author? I approached Marsha after church, and she told me all about the group. I joined and began a long career of learning how to write from fellow authors—all of us at different stages in our writing journey. I began with something I loved—poetry. What a thrill it was to belong to a group who understood my need to write and loved it as much as I did.

It’s obvious you have a desire to write, but what’s next? It’s essential that you know your purpose for writing. Why do you want to write that particular story, and who is your audience. Who are you writing to?

Authors generally write for three reasons: to persuade, to inform, and to entertain, or for a combination of those reasons. Knowing why you write will help to drive your writing in the right direction. Personally, I write for all three reasons. I want my books to inform, to inspire, and to entertain, and I work toward that end.

Persuade Inform Entertain

So, you know what your purpose is. What’s next? Prepare to be a writer. Don’t wait for it to happen. I don’t know a single author who was born with a silver pen in their hands—you must prepare to be a writer.

How do you prepare?