Queer Shipper

And my main complaint is length. I don't care if it looks cool, at some point it's gotta end. It should be sooner rather than later. A fight should only last 2-3 minutes MAX. And really, it shouldn't be to hard to make the most of those two to three minutes if you utilize descriptions. Seconds become hours, especially when you're losing. Fights are exhausting.

Also experience is very relevant. If your character has never thrown a punch they're gonna get beaten up pretty badly if not killed. They'll have sloppier stances, attacks, and improper distance from their opponent, as well as a ton of other issues. If your character gets into fights for fun, they can probably do pretty well. They'll have better stances, attacks, distance, etc.

What does distance mean? Distance is basically how far away from your opponent you are when you fight. Depending on how your character learned to fight (if at all), they're going to have different distances. I will not state what version I practice, but I will say I do a form of karate. This form emphasizes kicks, so my distance is about the length of my leg, unless I'm going in for a takedown or throw or similar. Maintaining distance is pretty important. If you're tall, keeping a small opponent away from you damages them while keeping them from attacking. If you're shorter, if you can get close to a tall opponent it's pretty difficult for them to push you away unless they can throw you. Obviously this will vary by martial arts/fighting style. I'd recommend actually trying out martial arts if you're thinking of using a specific style in your writing, since actual experience can be pretty useful.

Then make a structure for your book, where you give yourself some guidelines to start with, ex:

There will be N chapters going over the N phases of the decline of the west 

Each chapter will include pictures of important people and maps of the major places

A chapter should be no more than N pages long

Then start outlining, ex:

Make a google doc with N sections, one for each chapter you deemed important

Take all the info you can think of, and put it under each chapter in bullet points 

Content edit by researching and rearranging these ideas so each chapter’s info is on theme, and there isn’t extra/useless/out-of-context info

Think about where the “surprising” elements of the “story” are (in terms of what the audience might think is surprising) and make sure those are spaced out, but there is at least one per chapter (maybe more at the very start, very middle and very end)

Then you can start writing, ex:

Try writing out a few paragraphs for each bullet point (may be more or less to get the point across, just write whatever is in your head - don’t care about editing yet! Just get it on the page)

Try writing a few sentences to connect each of these paragraphs - make sure to hit upon why you are flowing from one topic to the next 

Go over the whole thing, chapter by chapter to make sure it makes enough sense all together

Then content edit, ex:

Feel free to add more bullet points to make an area make more sense

Feel free to rearrange (this is an under rated step!) 

Feel free to delete whole chunks (as in move to a google doc named “deleted” - never fully kill it) 

Make sure each paragraph is saying just what it needs to say to get the point across (ie: no fun facts that don’t tie into theme/message/goals) - and is concise 

Discuss/go over sections with people who know about this topic - if you know any (a second set of eyes is good to get info to mull over, not for in-depth critique) 

Then you can start line editing, ex:

Make sure the jargon is right for the audience’s reading level

Make sure the spelling, grammar etc is right (maybe grammarly subscription for a month)

Make sure each sentence makes sense (does it stand alone as information?) 

Make sure each paragraph break is at the right point

Make sure the sentences flow together (try reading it out loud)

Make sure the sentences vary in length and strength (go back and forth to keep your reader engaged. Toggle between length every 2-5 or sentences, and strength ever 5-9 sentences ish) 

Ask for Beta readers or real editors help if you want (strongly suggest beta readers who’s first language is spanish) 

Then you can polish, ex:

Make a key of terms in the back

Make a table of contents

Title the chapters is you want

Figure out line spacing, font

Pick a title for the book (Think about audience again: make sure they know WHAT your book is and why to pick YOUR book over another in this, ex: Decline of the West: a Mexican perspective) 

Make a cover (I suggest a professional if you want money, unfortunately)

Then consider publishing, ex:

One giant pdf you post online (easiest, but no money, and less circulation) 

Going to a traditional publishing company (harder, but may be for you idk)

Keeping it for yourself (I’m pro dissemination, but do what you will)

Publishing on amazon (KDP) (easy – but it’s amazon :/ )

I know that is a lot to take in at once, so sorry about that. I have a lot of knowledge on the subject, so I tend to over-do it, lol. But just take it a bite at a time, and you can do it.