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Tools And Processes From Your Favorite Authors

author keyboardAs readers, it’s fascinating to get a glimpse behind the curtain and see how our favorite authors craft their books.

There are a lot of different areas of interest to learn about. We can seek to understand how our favorite writers think and the internal workings of their creativity. We can learn about the background of authors and what led them to create the work they are known for. We can also consider the particular tools and technologies that help authors to shape their work.

Today, we’re going to take a look inside the tools and apps that authors use to craft their books. 

Outlining Processes Used By The Pros

Depending on their personal philosophy, your favorite writer might love or hate outlining. 

Just to be clear, both approaches work well. Superb stories have been created by authors who chose to produce a thorough outline of their work. Other authors eschew outlining as they feel it hampers their creative freedom. 

Outlining also doesn’t have to be an all or nothing decision. It’s possible to give yourself a useful outline to work with, while also leaving room for improvisation. 

So, of those authors who choose to outline, what types of writing tools and processes do they use?

  • Handwritten Outlining. Sometimes, effective outlining doesn’t need to be complicated or technological. Authors, as accomplished as JK Rowling, have outlined their work with nothing but pen and paper. It’s always fascinating to learn when a hugely famous story has humble origins.
  • Methodical Outlining. Outlining methods aren’t always simple. Sometimes, they form a carefully formulated, step by step process. One such process is the snowflake method used by Randy Ingermanson. As well as winning the Carol and Christy awards for his fiction Ingermanson has shared his outlining process with the world.
  • Software Outlining. Scrivener has legions of fans from every corner of the writing world. As well as being a great environment to write a book, it also has powerful outlining capabilities. Authors such as K.M Weiland and Michael Hyatt have talked about the ways Scrivener benefits their work.

While outlining may be shunned by top writers such as Stephen King, the fact it’s worked so well for so many others proves its value. The range of different outlining processes and tools is interesting to behold. 

The Many Writing Tools Available

Of course, outlining, or the lack of it, are just the opening act of your favorite authors creating impressive books.

The actual act of writing the book itself also has a wide array of different approaches and tools to facilitate it. 

Let’s take a glance at some of the ways that the best authors out there write their books.

  • By Hand. Writing a great book doesn’t require the most expensive Macbook or even any technology at all. Plenty of the best authors out there choose to write by hand. JK Rowling produced the first Harry Potter by hand, Neil Gaiman before handwriting for his novels, and Stephen King has chosen this way of writing for some of his best work.
  • Old-School Technology. Many authors choose to take a technological approach to their writing – just not the latest technology! Perhaps the most famous of all is George R.R Martin who crafts his fantasy epics on an MS-Dos device running WordStar 4.0.
  • The Latest Tech. At the other end of the scale to authors who write by hand are those who prefer the latest writing apps and greatest technology on the market. Authors such as Richard Powers make use of innovations such as reliable dictation software, and it’s probably only a matter of time before someone manages to produce a book using a neural interface.

What’s interesting about the range of methods on offer is that they prove great work can be created by many different means. The vision and creative talent of the author are what matter most – not the tool used to convey them.

What Does The Future Hold?

As interesting as it is to learn about the way our favorite authors and how they craft their work, it’s also fun to speculate about how the writers of tomorrow might craft books.

By looking at recent developments, as well as picturing how technology might take another step forward, we can speculate on how the tools available to writers will evolve even further.

  • A.I Writing. Even in this day and age, artificial intelligence has been used to write simple content such as sports reporting. It will be interesting to see if full-length, readable novels can also be within the capabilities of artificial intelligence. 
  • Brain-Computer Interfaces. The preliminary signs of writing being able to be produced directly from brain waves are already around. It’s not hard to imagine a future where this has reached a more advanced stage. This will open up writing opportunities for countless people.

Of course, there’s always a chance that things will turn out differently.

Perhaps a new technology so revolutionary we can’t even picture it will emerge. Perhaps writers will end up sticking with what we have at the moment.

No matter what, it will be fascinating to see what the future brings in terms of writing processes and tools!

How Does Your Favorite Author Produce Their Work?

One of the best things about being a lover of books is the endless gems waiting to be discovered.

From finding a new favorite author to discovering a new genre entirely, there is always something new to look forward to. 

In that spirit, feel free to drop a comment with any interesting anecdotes you happen to have about your favorite writers and the way they work! It’s always amazing to discover something new. 

 

The Emotional Power of 3 Favorite Types Of Book

Do you remember the first time a fiction book ever left you with a deep and powerful emotional echo?

emotional book reader smilingThe most effective works of fiction do more than enthrall us with a gripping plot and memorable characters. They are written so effectively that they are able to masterfully tug on our heart strings, like a skilled musician playing an instrument.

The emotional mood of fiction changes depending on its genre. For some of us readers, we have a particular type of fiction we’ve fallen for. We want to read everything in this genre. If this isn’t you, you’re sure to know someone who’ll eagerly check out the latest mystery novel, or is first in line for a romantic release. For other readers, the type of fiction they prefer changes over time. Sometimes we find ourselves in the mood for a thrilling read, other times we want something to make us stop and think.

No matter which type of reader you are, you’re sure to recognize the power of the best fiction out there. Here’s a small celebration of three of our favorite types.

The Thrill Of A Page Turning Mystery

Of all the types of genre fiction out there, the mystery novel remains one of the most consistently popular.

There is something about the combination of a plot that keeps you guessing, a carefully crafted main character, and a diabolical villain that keeps the mystery genre an enthralling favorite.

Sometimes, snobbish readers dismiss mystery books as lacking any kind of emotional payoff. However, nothing could be further from the truth.

The best mystery books are able to effectively combine elements from every other type of fiction out there. Often, within a single novel, mystery tales will explore romantic subplots, moments of horror, and even flashes of dark comedy.

In fact, to read a great mystery novel is to have your emotions constantly played with. If mystery novels weren’t emotionally impactful, they would be easy to put down, and nothing is further from the case.

From the constant thrill of being one step behind the villain, to the sheer terror inspired by a coldhearted killer, the mystery genre is one which is sure to try the emotional fortitude of even a hardened reader.

The Joy Of Emotionally Moving Romance

The case can be made that romance is the most popular type of fiction out there.

The universal human experience of falling in love will never go away, and neither will stories that focus on this joyous sensation. 

Romance is often a lot more literary than it is given credit for. While there will always be examples of cheap and trashy romance, there is also a wide range of different types out there. In fact, some of the greatest works of literature ever, from William Shakespeare to Jane Austin, are basically romantic tales.

Trends in romance come and go over time, but the basic emotional premise stays the same. The reader’s emotions are toyed with as the main characters go through and overcome obstacles in the way of their love, but in the end, things usually work out well.

Good romance stories are more than just entertaining. They can provide a little bit of light and warmth in a scary and cold world. They can give people hope in their own lives, when things aren’t quite going as planned.

The feeling of warmth and comfort is rarer than it should be in today’s world. As long as romance novel writers are around to provide that much needed emotion, they are sure to remain popular.

The Excitement Of Gripping Young Adult Fiction

A key trend in recent years has been the emergence of young adult and older children’s fiction being popular among even older readers.

The trend perhaps started with Harry Potter. Rowling’s tale of wizardry had a vast appeal, extending way beyond the younger audience it was originally envisioned for. Although many of the series’ fans are people who grew up alongside the novels, there are plenty of adult readers who were well above drinking age when the first book came out.

A number of other books aimed at younger readers have gone on to experience acclaim and even big screen adaptations, such as The Hunger Games. So what exactly is the emotional reward that readers get from this type of gripping young adult fiction?

Often, one of the key themes to emerge is rebellion and resistance against injustice. We live in a time where many youth protest movements, on issues ranging from the environment to school safety, are catching the attention of the news. It’s therefore natural that fiction aimed at younger readers would reflect this sense of righting wrongs.

To get caught up in a gripping young adult work of fiction is to feel as if we can all make a difference. No matter how much the odds seem stacked up against us, it’s always worth keeping hope and trying to make the world a better place. That is the powerful emotional truth at the heart of the best books for young adults.

The Endless Emotional Power Of Fiction

Although we’ve celebrated three examples of the emotional power of fiction today, in truth, it’s scope is endless. From the sheer terror instilled by a favorite Stephen King novel, to the sense of wonder and adventure found in fantasy, fiction always has a powerful emotionally payoff for those willing to discover it.

If you’re ever feeling a bit jaded or cynical about the world, it’s worth reflecting on the power of fiction to move our emotions.

Think back to a favorite book, and try and place yourself in that emotional moment. How did you feel? Would you like to relive it? 

The great news is, you can. Pick up a beloved book today. Just be prepared to feel something real.

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