- 1). Instruct students on the proper ways to conduct research. Whether they will be writing scholarly books in areas like history, science, philosophy and sociology, or writing novels, students need to conduct research. Fiction writers conduct research to learn about locations and people that can bring a novel alive. While the story itself may be fiction, the characters, events and locations don't have to be. Including real places and events in a novel can add an element of realism. Scholarly works can be written by conducting extensive research into the ongoing scholarly debate on a given subject. For instance, books on history are typically based on extensive reading of primary source material and in response to the conclusions of other scholars.
- 2). Show your students how to create a schedule for getting their books written. Depending upon the type of book they will be writing students can benefit from a schedule that will keep them on task. One of the most effective ways to create a writing schedule is to determine goals set. Sum up the time your goal will take and divide it among the time you have remaining to complete the project. For instance, if your students want to complete 180 pages in their book within six months, they would only need to sit and write one page per day.
- 3). Teach students the art of writing book proposals and not just books. Few, if any, non-fiction works outside of academia get published without a book proposal. A book proposal, whether for fiction or non-fiction literature, can get you an advance on your royalties, depending upon the assessment of the publisher. If they believe the work will be successful, fronting you money provides incentive to get the work done in a timely manner, and also provides money for living expenses. Teaching students that writing proposals is a major element in writing a book and getting it published will aid them in their quest to be writers.
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -