How to Write a Chapter Book

Co-authored by Grant Faulkner, MA

Last Updated: September 17, 2024 Approved

If you have ever wanted to write a chapter book, you may have found it difficult to get started. Just remember that getting started is always the hardest part. These steps will give you tips for not just starting, but completing your very own chapter book.

Steps

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This is to give the book a good beginning as well as a good or twist ending depending on how you want to write your book. It helps if you map out your plot, setting, and characters, keeping the notes with you whenever you have the urge to continue your story.
This is important as you should know where to put what in which chapter. Don't get stressed or worried when the story doesn't make sense. You can erase it or delete it! Also, you can put the information that you want with the chapters in the notes. It also helps.^{[1]
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Organize the characters and their character traits. This determines what your characters are, who, what they do, how they are. It's also important to give changes in traits for the main character as they could learn more as they go in your book. In your book, make sure your characters are 3D. Being 3D means that your character will do unexpected things, things that are surprising to the reader.^{[2]
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- Make sure that you know what's driving your characters. What's motivating them? What do they desire? What's standing in between the character's desire and their ability to achieve that desire?
Observe where you want your characters to go. As you imagine, write down descriptions of what you see in your notes, as it would help in your story. If it is a real place, research it. Find interesting things about it and write it down^{[4]
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Start writing! You should have everything ready to get on with your chapter book. It is a good chance that it would be a great book with all of the preparation.
- The best way to improve at writing is to keep doing it. The more you write, the more you're feeling the texture of the words.
Don't worry about negative comments. Take negative comments as helpful hints for other books that you may want to write!

Write Your First Book with this Expert Series

Have you always dreamed of being an author? Writing a book is a lot of work, but you can do it with consistency, hard work, and a good plan. This expert series has everything you need to write and publish your first book.

1

Begin Writing a Book

2

Write Your First Book

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Can I add more than 1 conflict?

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Yes but don't confuse your readers by adding too much conflict. You do not want them to lose interest in reading.

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What do I use to write?

Homa Yeganeh

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You can use Microsoft Word, Google Docs, and you can also write by hand.

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How do I keep up interest in my book so I don't quit on it?

Community Answer

Write about something that interests you and your reader. It might help you to want to keep writing. Remember, if that book idea doesn't work out, you can use parts of it for future books.

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Be confident in your own writing, if someone else doesn't like it but you love it, there will always be someone out there who will!

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Don't get flustered, everyone makes mistakes.

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Level the age of the story, if it is fantasy make it enthusiastic, if it is fiction make it sound real, and if it is non-fiction state everything that happens in real life, for example, uh, em, hmm, and psst.

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