Ever think about writing a book?

[fancicoffee13]

I had that notion last night, so I got a pen and paper and it took off. Well, I don't know anything about it, just started writing. Tonight I will refine it by picking an outline and topics go with it for this next year. I know absolutely nothing, just getting started. It is a Christian book, not a novel.

 

[oldaunt]

Yes, got a few chapters in, and life got away from me. No longer have the urge to take it up again.

 

[timoc]

It's said that everybody has a book inside them, I'm certain that I have, but I don't have the discipline or the will to just do it.
I do admire those that can and do, so stick to it fancicoffee13, perhaps I may get to read your work.

 

[Sliverfox]

O,yeah, especially if I'm doing house work .
My brain wanders off into "what if land" to write about my childhood .

I save the fiction stories for when I can't sleep.. get bogged down on details,, fall asleep.
That mention worked well for designing rooms or cabins....zzzzzz

Must have been boring??

 

[PeppermintPatty]

My husband keeps telling me I’d make a great author but I think he’s wrong. I’ve got ocd and tend to describe things or situations in too much detail. Even in grade 13 English we were to write a short story. Mine turned into a l-o-n-g story.

What would I write about?
I’ve written short songs though.
They are far easier since they are meant to be short

 

[Pepper]

I actually wrote a book which was published by the University I attended for my B.A. It was Art History and went straight into their library. Never saw a penny, and I don't think it earned any money whatsoever; they just wanted it as a research tool.

 

[VaughanJB]

Let me start by saying, there is a difference between writing a book length narrative, and "writing a book", as in a publishing company taking an interest and publishing it. I mean, we have self-publishing, but that's a second rate publication, etc.

I always wanted to write novels, but couldn't get any transaction. Non-technical - I could. And so I wrote some technical books, and was published by Coriolis, Prentice Hall etc. Yes, I was published, and in multiple langues, but it isn't what I really wanted. What I wanted is a fictional novel. I earned 6-figures, but it's not the same.

Would I like to write now? Yes, I would. But it would be fictional, and if it made nothing that would be fine. I'd do it for the process, which is fun.

 

[Mr. Ed]

Tried to write a bunch of times..can’t get past the beginning.

 

[Gary O']

there is a difference between writing a book length narrative, and "writing a book", as in a publishing company taking an interest and publishing it.

Yup
Marketing is the big one

 

[Lethe200]

I write fanfiction for fun. Just my own satisfaction. Then I wordsmith it to death, with edit after edit. I do it for a while, leave it for a while, rinse and repeat.

I started because a series I really loved stopped abruptly after the author unexpectedly developed cancer. She finished her last novel, which was halfway done at that point, and died at the very young age of 34. Very talented and since she had an entire story arc already plotted for the main character, for my own amusement I wrote four stories that finished off her story arc.

Another set of stories developed because an author got into legal trouble - her own fault - and wasn't allowed to continue with the characters she had created, under a 10-yr legal ban. I liked the male characters but didn't like her female characters, so I proceeded to write stories based on her AU (alternate universe) but with very specific changes to the political and social culture.

The second set was a lot of fun, I ended up with 15 completed novels and 3 that are started but haven't been fully plotted out yet. Creative writing is a lot of fun and good mental exercise, LOL.

 

[VaughanJB]

Yup
Marketing is the big one

Marketing is big, but so is the process. The editors involved are very active, and they question a lot (and make you think) and rarely - if ever - just wave stuff through. I credit editors with making things as good as they can be. As good as you may think your idea is, they add a whole lot.

They also hold you to a schedule, keep you moving forward. Push push push. It hurts at the time, but is invaluable. To have someone on the outside helping you, is just amazing.