So, You Want to Write A Ladies Class Book?

One of my favorite things to write is ladies class books. This is because while I'm writing it, I get to really dig into the study, and that is something I love. There are a few standard formatting things I've learned in the last few years, that are extremely important for class books. Things I didn't know when I first started out. So, for a few minutes, I'm going to share those with you.

Guess what! There is a standard length for a class book --or at least a standard chapter length. Class books should have thirteen chapters. My first few class books only had ten chapters. That's too short to use in a quarter long study, but thirteen chapters are just right. If you have already written books with less than thirteen chapters, never fear. They can still be used for a quarterly study, as long as a couple of chapters can be broken up into two class sessions.

The standard ladies Bible class book size is 6x9. This size book is easily used for study, and taking notes in the margins. It's more substantial than smaller books, but not so big that it is too bulky for the student.

I suggest that line-spacing is set to 1.5 instead of single-spaced, or double-spaced, for ease of reading. Really, that line spacing looks great on the page, too. And, it makes it easier for the student to highlight, or underline important facts within the book.

Ladies class books should have discussion questions. I like to write ten to twelve questions for each chapter. I try to find the most important facts in each chapter and make sure to ask those questions. Occasionally, I like to have students write out important verses within the study questions as well.

Book cover design is kind of tricky. I'm just now getting somewhat of a hang of it. I have started using book cover designs that emphasize something I want the reader to know about the book or something that just catches the eye.

For my book, Life Lessons From the Book of Ruth, I decided to use a picture of a boat on the shore as the cover. I often think of life and the direction my life is going when I see a river or boat, so I thought the imagery was good. I also decided to use the pink font because it stood out against the blue. The Sherlock font I used because it kind of gives the idea of a castaway and a note in a bottle. All these things I wanted to tell the reader. I wanted her to know that the Book or Ruth will help her pilot her down the stream of life and keep her from being a castaway.

Hopefully, you can see that there are only a few things you need to know for writing a ladies class book. I want to encourage you to write one. You can do it!


--Susan

How to Choose a Book Topic

So, you want to write a book, but you don't know where to start. It's a lot of easier than you might think, but before you get into the actual details of writing, you have to choose a topic. This is perhaps the hardest and most important part of writing. I tend to have all kinds of book ideas swirling in my head, but how do I know which ones are viable for the market? Well, that's easy. I choose a topic that I'm passionate about and want to know more about. Chances are if I love it, so will others. Ultimately, you must remember that you are generally writing for yourself.

Have you ever been in a Bible class, and thought "I love this verse," or "Wow! This is such a great topic?" Those thoughts are the ones you want to follow to choose a book topic. It is the thing that sparks your interest that will sustain you through the writing process, and will keep readers interested.

Here are a few ways I've found that help me select a topic:

• Read! Read your Bible. Read the newspaper. Read books. Reading helps to inspire creativity, and it is one of the best ways to find a topic.
• Make a list. List your hobbies, things you like and things you'd like to know more about. Use these topics as a catalyst for your book topic. 
• Talk to people. Find out what your friends are interested in. Ask them what subjects they may have wanted to study, but haven't been able to find material for.
• Watch the news. Is there a story you find interesting, or incredible? Dig into it, and see if there is enough information to write a book.
• Free write. Spend a bit of time writing everyday. Don't set confines to what your writing, just write. Write about anything that pops into your head.
• Gather Stories. Chances are you've done something that makes great story fodder. Have you traveled, or lived through an event that'd make a great story? If so, write about it.

Once you've figured out your topic, it's time to flesh it out and brain storm. I like to write a few sentences about my selected topic. 

For Example:

Topic: How to Plan the Perfect Wedding 

1. Selecting the venue.
2. Choosing the right decor.
3. How to select flowers for the season.
4. Selecting the time of day.

Once, I have figured out about thirteen different sentences within a topic, I start writing. Really! It's that simple. You can choose a topic, and you can write a book! Why not start today?

For more writing information check out, Remove Your Shackles & Write.