World-Building. It's where many aspiring novelists run to with joy, only to come back frustrated with the ton of details that go into crafting a world correctly.
But, that's not really what this step in the process of creating a book is all about.
Before we get lost in the weeds, let's take the Design process in small chunks. The first step in design is to determine what you want to say. Note that I'm careful here not to say, 'what God wants to say...' This is mainly because it comes across as trite. It's certain that God gives us things to write, but we must be careful not to elevate what we write to the level of Scripture. Editors, and even readers, get turned off by the statement, 'God gave me this book to write.' It may very well be true, but it's still your words, and saying it's God's work may give you something to answer for later, especially if it's, well, not very well done.
Before you begin the design of your book, of course, you need to pray, and ask God if this is what He wants, and what it is He wants from you in this journey. And every experience is different, but I believe the artist is implanted (by God) with the desire to create, and guided by the Spirit as to what he or she should create.
1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah: 3 And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, 4 To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, 5 And in cutting of stones, to set [them], and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship. 6 And I, behold, I have given with him Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan: and in the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded thee; [Exo 31:1-6 KJV]
Just as God placed in Bezaleel and Aholiab the desire and knowledge to create according to His good will, and given their hands the skill needed for the job, so He empowers us to do the same in the endeavors He's called us to do too.
Sorry for the preamble, but it's important.
On to the Preliminaries of Design.
Bullet points for how to accomplish the preliminary design of a book:
- Identify what you wish to convey
- Identify why you wish to convey it
- Identify who you want to say it to
- Identify how you wish to convey it
Exactly. The old, who, what, when, where, how, and why, except in a different order and with some of them dropped out and... something almost, but not entirely, unlike tea. Sigh.
The order above is important. You need to ask yourself specifically what you are called to write, why you feel called to write it, then who needs to hear it, which will actually determine how you deliver it.
In essence, you don't find a lot of middle graders and young adults reading nonfiction for fun, but that is a solid platform for adults, and young adults on assignment.
For the most part, I'll cover the process here for Fiction. I'll have sections for non-fiction too, and I'll try to clearly mark them.
Fiction:
Once you've answered the questions above, the how should have helped you identify genre and main story line, the who should have helped with reading level and expected overall length.
For example:
- what - I wish to convey Proverbs 10:12 (main points: hatred promotes strife, love covers sins)
- why - I believe God has put it on my heart due to hurts in the past
- who - I want to reach teens with this message
- how - through fiction: YA Mystery
Story: (Elevator Pitch)
Someone is targeting the 'in crowd' at Gallantino High School, and kids are getting hurt. Suspicion is on the new kid at school. Who is he, and where did he come from? Drew Davenport must find the culprit before things turn deadly... for everyone!
The stakes in this story would have to be high, and the motive for the antagonist would have to be strong. According to James Scott Bell, the stakes are usually death. Death of a person, a dream,
In this story, assuming I ever wrote it, Davenport would be the main character, and the new kid would be the son of a man who was set up and fired, and run out of town years ago. The dad committed suicide and the mom always blamed the people of the town for it. Eventually she remarries, and because of an inheritance, they move back to her hometown. The new dad is trying to fit in, but the mom is bitter. This new kid goes through a character arc where he is angry at everyone, especially the kids of the people who destroyed his dad. He finally moves to forgiveness, even in the face of accusations and plots against him too.
Eventually he has to work together with Drew to uncover the real saboteur and bring them to justice. The one who actually has been creating these accidents is another kid whose parent was harmed by this group's parents. As the truth comes out, both parents are exonerated and some of the perpetrators are met with disciplinary action.
NonFiction:
As in fiction, you also have to answer the same questions.
Example:
- what - I wish to write a Devotional based on the Gentiles who interacted with Jesus
- why - As one, I think it encouraging to see Jesus' response to them and their faith
- who - to reach other Gentile believers with encouragement and examples to follow
- how - a one month daily devotional, format of subject, reading, commentary, prayer
I would not need to plot this out, obviously, simply read through the gospels to find 30 Gentiles that interacted with Jesus, like the Woman at the Well.
Next, we'll talk about the meat of Design - Characters.
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