Just about everyone enjoys reading, which is why authors spend so much time creating new ones. In order to entice people to read their novels, authors are tasks with finding interesting, engaging topics. Some people are under the impression that famous authors are gifted and can just come up with a topic right off the top of their head. While this may be true to some degree, it is certainly not always the case. In fact, most authors have to put a lot of research in to find topics that they believe will engage readers. Below, you will discover several tips to help kick-start your effort.

Finding a Topic

One of the first things you will need to do is find a topic for your new novel. It always helps to consider your interests, but it is also just as important to consider your audience’s interests. It is extremely difficult for most writers to settle on a topic, but sometimes it is necessary to gravitate readers to their novels. You must come to a point, where you and your audience will be totally satisfied with the topic. Of course, this will not be easy, but if you take the time to listen to your audience, you will eventually find a satisfying topic for everyone.

Remember that how long a chapter should be it won’t always matter so much. Focus on the basics and you’ll get it right.

Search for the Perfect Contacts

If your book is going to be based on real facts, events, and people, you will need to start searching for contacts early into the planning stage. Never wait until you have started writing your book to gather contacts because you need to rely on these experts for information throughout the process. For example, if you are basing your book on someone who experienced some bizarre tragedy in his or her life, you will need to keep an open door of communication with this particular individual from the very beginning to the end and beyond.

Contacts can include professionals, such as police officers, attorneys, physicians, and individuals who have a story to tell. Finding these contacts early in the process will ensure there are no delays in the release of your new novel.

Research During Outlining

Creating a book outline can be time-consuming and excruciating. Not only do you need to focus on your goals during the outline phase, but also you must spend time researching important facts and details that will have an impact on your story. Start by creating a mind map, which will help visualize and organize the information you collect during your research.

Place your topic in the center of a blank landscape page and then utilize lines to draw connections. The completed mind map will be utilized to structure your book from one chapter to the next.

Research for Background Timelines

Some authors will create a background timeline for the main characters in their stories. While this is genuinely not necessary, it helps define important events and moments in the character’s life. To create these timelines, you will need to collect relevant information from a variety of sources, such as people and books from your local library.