Here's another excerpt from Dilip Mukerjea's new book, BrainTales: From Imagination to Imprint:

How to Craft a Book

You have at least one story within you . 

Since there can never be anyone else like you, your story is unique. Write it. 

Do NOT say: “I hope to write a book one day.” or “I wish I could write a book.” or “If only I could be an author.” Wishing and hoping will never make you realise your dreams. Be bold. Say: “I A M writ ING ! ” (Yes, ‘am’ and the –ing ending are deliberately in red capitals! You should stay in the ‘present continuous’ tense! Anything else will tempt you to procrastinate!). It begins with a flame…then rages into a bonfire within your chest. Follow just one rule: don’t bore your readers. 

Your theme could be anything that desires to gush out of your soul! A story, an exposition on a pet topic, your autobiography, fact, fiction, or fantasy, it matters not. Know that real life is often less believable than real fiction! Write your book, then check it several times. Make several copies of your manuscript. Get people you know, and don’t know, of all ages and persuasions, to read your work. Get them to critique away; every observation is an opportunity for you to improve your writing. 

Whilst your manuscript is being critiqued by all and sundry, put your copy away for several weeks. Incubate. Marinate. Cogitate. Then read it right through, asking: 

* Have I started memorably? Will my first paragraph, or the first page, grab the reader’s attention? Thus, have I done enough to impel the reader to keep reading? 

* Have I managed to sustain the initial fascination with my book? Is my eloquence engaging; my treatment of theme provocative; my thought design stimulating? 

* Every few pages, have I upped the tempo, or changed pace so as to keep the reader happily challenged? 

* Is there enough reach and richness within the material to appeal to a broad cross-section of readership? Would peoples of diverse interests and disciplines find my work informative, communicable, and entertaining? 

* Have I ended memorably? Will my last paragraph, or the last page, grab the reader’s attention? Thus, have I done enough to impel the reader to want to keep reading? Or pondering? Or wishing for more of the same, only more? And more? 

If the answer to each of the above questions is “YES!” you should now have a manuscript ready for submission to publishers. Your manuscript could also accompany a ‘book prospectus’. The publishing domain is a blizzard of activity; today’s high-tech high-velocity operations keep editors and agents on their toes. If you are a first-time author, they would often not be willing to assess your potential purely on the basis of an outline and sample. Give them your completed manuscript. Project confidence, and exhibit competence. 

Then, go back to what your readers will have first-contact with: 

(a) the title 

(b) the theme 

(c) the cover design, front, side, and back (people do judge a book by its cover!). 

• Have you selected a title that will demand attention? Via a combination of existing words, or a configuration where you have created a brand new set of letters or words. Do you have a powerful subtitle to complement the title? 

• Have you ensured that the cover design matches the title and theme of your book? Can it be seen from a distance? Even the spine of the book must claim attention, or else it may be lost in the ‘bibliomass’ within large bookstores. 

These considerations are usually decided in discussions with the publisher, unless you have opted to self-publish. I find it best to start with a provisional title and cover…it keeps me focused and undeterred by deadly deadlines. The final cover design can be done after the manuscript pages have been sorted out.