1st August 2008
Bernard Steele

Before you write your first sentence there are a number of important decisions that you must make. You can still start off by asking yourself what kind of book do I want to write? And what category or genre will it fit into? If you are not sure about where you want to go with your book it may be a good idea to obtain a list of subjects that are available and popular, for example;

Diet and weight loss
Gardening
Recipe books
Marriage and relationships
Child rearing
Health and fitness
Biographies or autobiographies

If the first part of the list does not hold your attention or create any excitement in your mind, you need to move on until you find what you are looking for, trust me, when you find it you will know. Your eyes will widen, your heart will beat faster and you will develop the odd habit of talking to yourself. Don't be alarmed this will be one of the best experiences you will ever have, in fact it will compare favorably with another experience that is much too delicate to be mentioned in this article. When this happens you are on your way.

The second category of books that you may want to check on are;

Text books
Children's adventure stories
American historical (political)
World historical (political)
Travel
History of slavery (America)
History of slavery (the world)
Religion (Christianity)
Religion (Islam)
Religion (Hinduism)
Religion (Buddhism)

If the bells are not ringing in your head so far you can take a deep breath and move on, and by the way, I would recommend a recognized bookstore for this type of search (Barnes and Noble, Borders etc). Browsing the shelves of a bookstore or library is a habit I developed many moons ago, and I have always considered them to be a superior alternative to a computer insofar as the search for inspiration is concerned. You will find eye-catching titles, beautiful covers, and interesting information about the books and their authors. Time spent in library or a bookstore is time well spent.

If you are in the process of writing a book or planning to do it, it is a reasonable assumption that you enjoy reading and that you are well read. My suggestions should be viewed from the perspective of focus. To put it bluntly you are hunting for that part of your psyche that had lain dormant for some time but is now demanding attention. You must find the environment that will nourish your inner being and you will blossom and grow from strength to strength.

The final category happens to be my favorite;

Action adventure
Spy stories
Crime and true crime, and
Terrorists, danger and death

This genre covers a multitude of sins and I crafted a novel to create a mix of American and Middle Eastern warriors with differing positions, beliefs, and points of view. The characters that you will need to lend credibility to your story must be carefully created and easily recognized. Most authors consciously or subconsciously fall back in their personal experiences when they are writing any kind of book. Childhood experiences will influence the story line and the characters. The same goes for the Gardener who will share his skills with the readers and the politician who will inject many private and personal experiences into his or her memories. It is natural to do so and it adds flavor and interest to your work. A highly respected and admired employee was murdered on my watch many years ago, and I was unable to resist the temptation to add a disguised version of her story along with others to my book.

Bernard Steele is a veteran law enforcement officer (operational and administrative), now retired. He was the former chief security officer of the National Banking System of Guyana S.A. To learn about his new book visit http://www.deathinsmalldoses.com .