Writers can be a strange breed; some are extremely methodical and hide away for many months at a time crafting their creations. Others are able to carry on a normal life and write a few hours a day or when they feel motivated to do so.

Begin by brainstorming title ideas. Come up with at least five and preferably twenty or more potential titles that encapsulate your subject. Begin with the rising action, the part of the story where events build. Then describe the climax, where the story reaches its most dramatic or interesting point.

Include subjects such as why you should write a book review, choosing your book and avoiding common pitfalls. Includes four exercises to practice shortening techniques, then compare your more concise version. Reviewers of nonfiction texts will provide the basic idea of the book’s argument without too much detailed. Reviewing can be a daunting task.

Be prepared to have a “home team” of family and friends to give you critical feedback on your assignments before posting so you don’t reduce your colleagues’ brilliant analyses to spell and grammar checking.

Comment on the evidence that supports the research. Comments are closed, but you can leave a trackback. Comment on parts of particular interest, and point out anything that seems to give the book literary merit. Relate the book to larger issues.

All of us carry at least one novel around in our heads or our hearts. All the people you’ve told about your book will now ask you about it when they see you, their faces full of hope that you will succeed where they did not. At the end of the day, if you don’t have an absolutely killer book proposal, you can forget it. Your book concept will see only the publisher’s shredder.