How to Write a Book About
Prejudice and Stereotyping

By Malia Keirsey

In the century we live in, most people actually think that prejudice and stereotype is a story of the past. But the sad thing is that deep down within our society these vices are still very present. But what exactly is a stereotype and what is prejudice? Prejudice is an unfavorable opinion or feeling formed without knowledge, thought or reason. Stereotype, on the other hand, is an oversimplified attitude people hold towards those outside one’s own experience who are different. These two are a product of adaptive processes that simplify a complex society so that individuals can devote more cognitive resources to other tasks.

It is important that everyone would understand the two vices and what better way to do it than putting it down in writing? If you want to change your society, then this is one of the ways to do it. Today we share about writing a book that deals with prejudice and stereotype.

The difficult writers for a number of writers are not getting their work published. Technology has now offered greater opportunities than ever before to become an author. People do not usually struggle with publishing, however, it is the writing that causes all the headaches.

1. Tell Everyone Know You Are Writing
It is important to let people around you know that you are coming up with a book. If you are doing it for the first time, you need to repeat this yourself every day so as to the energy to write and not to fail the expectations of those waiting to read it. Since prejudice and stereotype are social ills, the comments from others might help you come up with an amazing piece.

2. Getting Started
You do not have to start huge. Start small. Find a time when you are relaxed and free to put your mind to work. You can try waking up early each morning and write a page or two each day. Do not let your deadline pass and don’t let yourself off the hook. But before you start what to write, create an outline. Put up a table of contents with topics relating to stereotype and prejudice relating to your subject matter. To allow the free flow of writing ideas, it is important to choose a special place for you to be writing from.

3. Be and Stay Accountable
There are many forms and types of stereotype and prejudice in different societies. Have a set of word count and break each chapter into roughly equal lengths. Having established your word count and the time frame for completing each section, you need to find someone to hold you accountable. At the beginning, you will be psyched to walk down the road of writing the book. However, as time passes by, the spirit to write dwindles. It is for this reason as to why you need someone to keep you in check and ensure that you share out what there is to know about stereotype and prejudice. Nothing is as nerve wracking as having to rewrite a book because you did not allow someone to have a look at it. If you really feel that you cannot trust anyone with your piece of writing, then you can take up the following short course:

• Self-Editing your Book - once you have compiled every aspect that there is with regards to the area you want in the prejudice and stereotype subject, you can take this course to learn the necessary editing skills.
• Creative Writing Flying Start - this is not only a short course but a brilliant one to get starters going on their writing adventure.
• How to Write a Novel - if you are certain you want to embark on a full-scale work of creative writing then this is one comprehensive course to undertake.

4. Maintain Your Motivation
By hook or by crook, you have to finish the book. Once you have an outline and table of contents the only thing is to add flesh to the skeleton and get going. And it does not just end there. Send it to a great publisher. Do whatever there is to be done to get people reading the book. There may be a problem with the book in one aspect or another, but do not throw in the towel. Learn from the mistakes and make a great come back with another book, probably still on prejudice and stereotype. Generally, many authors feel embarrassed of their first book. But what they fail to realize is that without the first, there would never be a chance to grab lessons for writing another great book. Practice is the only way to become good at what you do.

5. Stay Creative and Beat Overwhelm
Prejudice and stereotype bring about social inequalities and so you need to be creative and realistic when addressing these matters. Stereotypes are cognitive representations of how members of a group are similar to one another and different from members of another group. Be creative in how you bring about these aspects as well as how to overcome the stereotype. Overcome the feeling of being overwhelmed and stay focused to get your book done in good time.

6. Get Out of Your Own Way
It is the time you stop picking at your fingernails and quit justifying your inability to share your knowledge on prejudice and stereotype. Who knows, what you have might just make our society a better haven for everyone. Get out of your way and simply write. There is something amazing that happens when you get in the flow. You will never know where the words will come from but you will find your fingers moving.

7. Make the Book Tactile
What if the book is not complete? What if you do not know how it is going to end and it does not seem to make sense yet? Print it anyway. Get a binder and chapter by unfinished chapter start filling it. Slowly you will see a title a page with nothing behind it turn to a title page as well as a chapter. This way, your book will start coming to life bit by bit. You can flip through the pages and marvel in awe at the creation of your works. You should never stop until the entire thing is complete.

8. Let Your Book Be Your Companion
As you put yourself to write you will realize that writing is a process of quiet discovery. Do not treat your book as a confession but as a companion. Allow yourself the luxury of disappearing it. This will create a bond with your readers and they will be able to share your sentiment son prejudice and stereotype. Take your book with you everywhere you go. If you really do not enjoy sweet times with your book, do you really expect somebody else to?

Our societies experience different forms of prejudice and stereotypes. From time immemorial, attempts to overcome prejudice and stereotypes have been practiced but they still are a hard nut to crack. Your move to enlighten the world concerning these vices might be exactly what the world has been waiting for. Be bold, be focused and make the world a better place through writing.