How to write a book – the short honest truth
Every author I know gets asked the same question: How do you write a book?
It’s a simple question, but it causes problems. On the one hand, it’s nice to have people interested in something I do. If I told people I fixed toasters for a living, I doubt I’d get many inquires. People are curious about writing and that’s cool and flattering. Rock on.
But on the other hand, the hand involving people who ask because they have an inkling to do it themselves, is that writing books is a topic so old and so well trod by so many famous people that anyone who asks hoping to discover secret advice is hard to take seriously.
Here’s the short honest truth: 20% of the people who ask me are hoping to hear this – Anyone can write a book. They want permission. The truth is you don’t need any. There is no license required. No test to take. Your book idea is worth writing if you think it is. Writing, as opposed to publishing, requires almost no financial or physical resources. A pen, paper and effort are all that has been required for hundreds of years. If Voltaire, Marquis de Sade and Marina Nemat could write in prison, then you can do it in suburbia, at lunch, at work, or after your kids go to sleep. You will always find excuses if you want them and most people do. Why? Writing is work. No matter how smart you are or how great your idea is, you will have to put in the time and no one else can do it for you.
It helps to kill the magic: a book is just a bunch of writing. Anyone can write a book. It might be bad or be incomprehensible, but so what: it’s still a book and many published authors haven’t done any better.
Nothing is stopping you right now from collecting all of your elementary school book reports, a years worth of emails you wrote, or drunken napkin scribbles, binding them together at Kinkos for $20, slapping a title on the cover, and qualifying as an author. Want to write a good book? Ok, but get in line since most pro authors are still trying to figure that out too.
Writing a good book, compared to a bad one, involves one thing. More work. No one wants to hear this, but if you take two books off any shelf, I’ll bet my pants the author of the better book worked harder than the author of the other one. Call it effort, study, practice, or whatever you like. Sure there are tricks here and there, but really writing is a kind of work. I like this though: it means anyone who puts in enough time can actually write well. Some of our best writing comes from ordinary people from all walks of life.
Getting published. 30% of the time the real thing people are asking is how do you find a publisher. As if there wasn’t a phone book or, say, an Internet-thingy where you can look this stuff up (start with Jane Friedman’s website). Writers-market is literally begging to help writers find publishers. Many publishers, being positive on the whole idea of communication, put information on how to submit material on their website. And so do agents. The grand comedy of this is how few writers follow the instructions. That’s what pisses off all the editors: few writers do their homework.
The sticking point for most people who want to be authors is, again, the work. They want to hear a secret that skips over the work part. Publishers are rightfully picky and they get pitched a zillion books a day. It takes effort to learn the ropes, send out smart queries, and do the research required to both craft the idea for a book, and then to propose it effectively. So while writing is a rejection prone occupation, even for the rock-stars, finding a publisher is not a mystery. In fact the whole game is self-selective: people who aren’t willing to do the work of getting published are unlikely to be capable of the work required to finish a decent manuscript.
But that said – it’s easier today to self-publish than ever. People look down on self-publishing, but I don’t see why. When people buy books it’s not like they care who published them (“Oh, I don’t read Random House books, sorry”): they only care who recommended or reviewed the book. But again, our tragically unpopular companion, work, is required to self-publish so many prefer to keep asking writers how they got published instead of just doing it themselves. You can read what I learned from self-publishing the first time here (although the technology and options have improved since then).
Being famous and wealthy: Now this is the kicker. About 50% of the time the real thing people want to know is how to become a famous millionaire rock-star author person. As if a) I qualified, b) I could explain how it happened, or c) I’d be willing to tell.
First, this assumes writing is a good way to get rich. I’m not sure how this lie started but writing, like most creative pursuits, has always been a less than lucrative lifestyle. Even if a book sells well, the $$$ to hour ratio will be well below your average corporate job, without the health benefits, sick days, nor the months where you can coast by without your boss noticing. These days people write books after they’re famous, not before. A book can help you gain professional credibility, but then it’s more of a marketing project than a writing project, isn’t it?
And if the only books you read are bestsellers, well, you have a myopic view of the publishing world. Over 100k books are published in the US annually, and few sell more than a few thousand copies. What causes books to sell may have little to do with how good a book is, as we’ve all been mystified by the abysmal bestsellers and surprised by amazing books few seem to know about. Either way, to justify the effort you’ll need reasons other than cash.
Discouraged yet? Here is the upside: I love writing books. I love reading books. Books have profound powers and they’ve changed my life so many times. Maybe the bittersweet challenge of chasing words into sentences suits you. If you want to do this you have my support. GO YOU. Sincerely. I am behind you. But thinking about writing isn’t writing. Talking about it isn’t either. Commit to 10 hours of effort (basically a weekend or two). Write an outline or even just a few pages of a chapter. Take a course that focuses on actual writing and getting feedback. If it feels hard but rewarding, keep going. If it doesn’t, well I think you know.
Here are some practical next steps:
- The single best website to learn more about writing and publishing books – Jane Friedman
- How To Start a Book Project – specific advice for tackling a book sized effort.
- Is Your Book Idea Good? I’ll tell you here
- 28 Things No One Tells You About Publishing
- How To Get From An Idea To a Book – a bit harsh, and focused on publishing, but explains the steps and the time you’ll need
- Writing Hacks: Part 1 – Starting – What to do when the page is blank.
- Part 2 of ‘How To Write a Book’ is here, where I answer the best comments.
- Time-lapsed video of a writer writing an essay – amazing and revealing
- Confessions of a Self Published author – here’s what I learned from self publishing my last book.
- Writer’s Market. How to find a publisher for your written work (more good advice here).
- National Novel Writing Month – You must check this out.
- Or leave a comment below. I am, despite the curmudgeonly vibe, happy to answer thoughtful questions.
- Austin Kleon’s book writing flowchart
- Preview image credit
[Light editing: 10/7/2019, 2/4/2021]
You have given me so much insight into the “World” of writing. I have written 3 childrens stories and shared them with my classroom students and sunday school class. I have had educators and parents ask me to publish my stories, but I did’nt know where to begin. Thank You so much for sharing your “truths” about writing. :-)
Linda
Straight to the point article. Good facts from both sides. Common sense is the key. Don’t work, no book. Simple. I applaud your matter-of-fact report. I shall use it to help encourage me to write a book. Thanks.
You keep it very real and how it is, Thank You .Your writing and speaking that i have seen is wonderful and an inspiration- And with your last words, “get to work”, i just did- Wish Me Luck
please dont approve my comment so i can recomment removing my user last name to first only – Thank You so much
hey its a good blog for the writers as well as the readers… keep up the good work!
I would like to write a book about my experience with a supervisor who on purpose changed my performance evaluation and intentionally left out the section where I could comment because she was giving a warning about her attitude and a co worker had turned her into Human Resources. She treated treated me cruel up unto the meeting she had with other managers regarding her attitude. She was so nervous that I was going to turn her in also that she has been praying that I would get another job. Would this make a good story, this will remind readers of the book, The Help.
Really glad I found this. Great job.
Need someone to help and guide me on how to write better
i find it is easiest to just write a really sloppy chapter, just to get idea’s down, and then refine it, sometimes erasing all of it and starting over, I eventually find an idea that I would like to start with. Every time you try it gets better. Don’t get frustrated it takes a long time write things, even if you do it every day.
My aunt has written a book called “Delectable Spirit” but I am having a hard time getting a responce from her. Meaning, when I call her I leave a voice mail then I miss her return call. anyways, how do you know the difference between a good publishing company and an below standards eager to get some money from you publisher?
hi. I’m now 15 years old. i have been wanting to publish a book since i first started reading. that world you fall into when you open a book that whole new fantasy held between two walls i want that. i want to walk through a book store or public library and see my name in some strangers hands they’re eyes glued to the words telling the tale I’ve spun for them. i just get so discouraged sometimes. I’m worried my luck will turn badly like some of the people around me. i really love what you said about how many of the people want to write books for such shallow reasons and telling them they will fail if they’re whole heart isn’t in it. that just gives me new inspiration and puts a smile on my face. thank you.
Dear Scott,
I have noted your comments on the website, but it does not mention anything about a “Personal experience” book. I am 54 years of age and the experience I have had over my life time, I believe, would be a deterant for many millions of people. The Drugs, the Violance,Biker Gangs, three failed marriages, 4 children etc. Yes it may sound like any other surburben family growing up in a run down part of the country, but I do believe if you hear what I have gone through; what I have put others through and what I am now going through, you would change your mind and would want to listen before you made your mind up. I do not wish to do this for the monetery gain, but as a Father of a 14 year old, I would like others to know my history so they do not do the same.
I am not saying If I made a load of money I
Dear Scott,
I wish to write a book about my life. I am 54 years old and believe I have been through more in my lifetime than most people. Violance,Drugs,3 Marriages,Armed Forces, Biker Gangs and more than you can emagine at this moment like Physical and verbal abuse at the hands of my partner.
If this is of interest to you then please let me know.I want to let everyone know all the pitfalls. Rgds.Bill.
Just reading that post gets me interested in your book. I hope you do write it and if you did I would read it.
William, it sounds like you have an IDEA of what you want to say and at the same time it sounds like you are wanting SOMEONE else to write it for you. I would suggest that you take some time with yourself, no distractions ( tv, radio, computer) and a piece of paper and pencil, not pen, as it is easier to erase a mistake then build a new tree, and list all you want to tell.
Try starting with bullet points to get an idea flowing for each chapter. Will you use real names or make up names for the characters? That should also be noted.
Once you get the bullet points down, try expanding on them and see were that leads you, only work on one at a time and build upon that one with the next until you finish a chapter and then you can move on to chapter 2.
I have not yet wrote a book, but have a few poems published and that was my mind set and it worked great. I do have a few ideas for some books but we will see if I can follow my own advise.
Happy writing to you and everyone.
Go for it who knows it could be a seller. I would read your book. I am 60yrs. old and i have gone thru hell and back. my brother inspired me to write my book mine is about drugs, jail,prison, losing my mother at the age of 7yrs.old. this book will be about my life.
Bill:
I’m 70 years old. Growing up I had ADHD, OCD, Tourette’s and Dyslexia all mingled together and fighting for space in my head. People with any of these conditions are prone to substance abuse and I had it big time. I’ve been sober 35 years now.
I always wanted to write. I took creative writing three times. I just couldn’t put it down on paper legibly and it was riddled with spelling mistakes and really unorganized. My head moved faster than my fingers could type on the old manual typewriters most of the time.
After a long term relationship ended, I had a lot of anger. I wrote a story in the taming of the screw genre like something I would have read in the 1950s to help me channel my anger. By this time I had a computer with word processing and spell check and it turned out pretty good.
I began searching the web for places to post it. I got such good responses that it has been my hobby ever since. I finally submitted something to a publisher recently. Many publishers don’t actually print them on paper anymore. A lot of what is published these days is in downloadable PDF form that is sold on line. I think that is where publishing is now headed .
Anyway most of my male characters are based on me at different times in my life where I could have made better choices. It gives me an opportunity for a due over in the character’s life many years later.
Every tragedy in my life is grist for the mill that I can use in a story somewhere.
I’m drawn lately to the multi universes concept and a part of me believes that every thing any writer puts in a story is in fact happening somewhere in another universe and is being channeled to the writer. Bob Dylan once said in an interview that he just jotted down what was channeled to him (or something like that.)
I spend a lot of time editing and re-editing. I think it was Piers Anthony ( But Maybe Not) who said that “All Writing Is R-Writing.
Anyway Bill, I think you have a huge stock of experience to turn into some great writing. Go for it.
LC
i like ur sense of humor.thx this REALLY helped.the work part’s no prob.i’m just writing my book for the heck of it, or cuz i just like writing the random words that make a story
*applaude*
I loved the article. It gave me great insight. Thank you. I am 40 pages into an autobiography. I keep restarting the book but not deleting anything, but there is a certain time frame in the book I can’t get pass. Any ideas why or suggestions on how I can? Thank you.
Just sit down and write, even if your words make no sense, refine from there.
I loved the article. It gave me great insight. Thank you. I am 40 pages into an autobiography. I keep restarting the book but not deleting anything, but there is a certain time frame in the book I can’t get pass. Any ideas why or suggestions on how I can? Thank you.
This is really helping me. I have a few ideas in my head for novels.
Thanks for this helpful tip. :-)
Hello:
I have found this to be a in your face, no holds barred article! As a Marine, I like it tough. Oooorah! I am mission oriented and what you had to say has truly motivated me to be a writer. Thanks very much.
Mate i have lived the last 7 years in the most extra ordinary way. I want to pay it forward. I want to help people and influence them in a way that will change the way they percieve life by the story of my life. I am the worlds worst when starting to even read a book but never actually finish it. I am getting this overwhelming drive and God incedence to put my life in words even though i dont have the time where monetary motive to write is non existent. I dont want to make money but i want my book to be powerful enough to change and influence lives. Can you suggest a strategy where i may accomplish my goals through the initial start and how to develop. I have broken it up into my chapters of 7 hence the last 7 years of my life. With an eighth chapter depicting a somewhat conclusion like we never listen as humans but we always react on the bricks that hit us in the face and never the prolific words of advice that are shared with us on a daily basis.
I didn’t find this article to offer any type of insight or advice at all. The voice it was written with was very critical and puts the reader on the defense. I am not looking to become famous or rich with my writing. But I am looking for advice and mentorship from others who share this passion and have more experience than I do. As I build upon my experiences in life I always find it a duty of humanity to pass it along, as a good brother or sister would. But I found the tone of this article riddled with ego. Very sad.
I disagree. I believe books and movies Are the same. It is the interest in the story. Meaning whatever the story is: drama , horror, comedy etc. it does not matter. People learn from people and heart always gets to the soul. So write a book. I’m writing one now on a dream and could care less how rich I get. All I want is to share my story and have a hobby to attend to every night. Books are like movies we all watch them but only some read them. Just remember that
I don’t want to be rich and famous I ran away because of being famous to an Island which does not even have a postal service
I ask you not to publish my name on the internet I had to many stalkers in my life
My Life was colorful and incredible and that is why every person who knows me ask me again and again to write a book about it
so i have started and have written over 200 pages so far and I am only 20years old in the book can you guide me further
we can talk on the telephone, I could call you
Thank you for the kick I needed to continue my path to writing my first book. I appreciated your blunt comments and ability to put some of my fears to rest.
Keep it up!
JB
Love your brute honesty.
hey
I want to write a book but i m really confused how to start it can u please guide me better …..
I am writing a book with another person, and before we even started putting words down on the page we made a list describing each character, and outline, and a spreadsheet full of Idea’s. Then the fun part. You can start by writing even just a paragraph of story, adding details, until you get a good chunk of story. Chances are you won’t be happy with it. It is pretty rare if you start a story and keep the first words you wrote in it. You might delete it and try again, and again, but soon you will find the beginning that you like and do the same for the rest of the book, it is a painfully slow process, and takes a lot of patience, but if you keep at it, soon you will have an impressive story.
hi. im twelve. And im writing a book…….i think. I found this site by googling “how to write a book”, so obviously, its not going perfectly. I have been telling stories since I could talk, and i’m a pretty advanced reader. But writing, well, thats another thing. i have tried many times before in my lifetime to write (and finish) a book, mostly because i am a very creative, and i love reading. Im really determined to finish this one, and I don’t even care if it gets published. Its not that im stuck and can’t think of what comes next, or having a writers block or anything like that, its just that i am SO SICK OF THE WORK. i am definitely not the most patient person, and it’s an effort to write at least once a week. Writing is so tedious, and i am SO SICK of reading my unfinished story OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGIAN!!! are there any tips for helping the hard parts go by any faster?? I know i can’t just write a book with the snap of my fingers and expect it to be fun and easy, and believe me, I know it’s not. it is HARD!!!!!!!!! Theres probably no way to cheat the system, but please don’t crush my hopes!!!!! if theres anyone out there that has ANY tips, i would love your insight. I think im strong enough to pull through, but help is always a friend!!!
thank you!
Hi Georgia:
There is good news and bad news for you.
The good news: at the impressively young age of twelve, you have worked hard enough to discover an essential truth about writing.
The bad news: there is no way around this truth. To make anything good in any craft requires dedication to your work. Musicians, filmmakers, painters and writers all have to endure the same thing you have identified, of reviewing work again and again and again in order to make both learn their craft, and to practice their craft on any project. Ideas are the easy part – it’s believing enough in wanting to see a finished work that meets your standard that makes you a writer, or an artist, or a craftsperson.
Honestlu I don’t think this is truly bad news. You now understand exactly the difference between being someone who wants to write, and being someone who likes to write.
I do hope you take this as inspiration to continue. You’re on the right path and the fact that you’ve discovered it so early in your life is a blessing: if this is truly something you want to pursue, you now understand what’s involved. If this much work and commitment to a single project demotivates you, you’ve now learned you might want to look for something else to pursue where the work is more pleasurable, or there’s is simply less of it to begin with :)
Stay in touch.
Hey georgia I just turned 13 and I have wrote the same book over and over. I will write it thinking its great but then I read it then I say what the?! This is stupid why did i put this and why didn’t i put this I have rewrote it like 6 times and Im on my seventh I want it to be long and awesome like some of the books I read but I just can’t do it. I hope you have luck with your book but mine is not going so well. I have plenty of ideas but just can’t put them on paper! This is frustating but I deal with it and keep writing maybe we could get in touch that would be cool. I help you and you help me. And I am really from georgia.
I love how well spoken you are. Surprisingly, this didn’t discourage me at all. Thanks!
A pen, paper, effort. You make it sound so simple. But I am willing to try. There is an urge inside of me that says just try it. I am going to go for it.
I have written over 100 pages during the past year. Each time I reread the book for editing, I discover bad sentence structuring, wrong words, long words that seem out of place, short sentences missing pieces and in general, the kind of book I don’t want to read.
The book is interesting to me because it occurred around me. It has a slightly different slant about a poor boy who grew up to be a poor man, but a very happy one. The intention of the book is to explain life situations as input for other people.
There is much success as a person for the main character, but not financially.
Each time I read the book, I change it. How do I stop doing this and settling on what the book is about??
great honesty!
Thank you for you article. You provided a great deal of information and I am more encouraged than discouraged.
I am no stranger to hard work. My questions surround the subject matter. If you are writing a novel based on your experiences, do you need to protect yourself from those who recognize themselves in your work? Even if you change the names and some details, the person/scenario may still strike a chord with some close family and friends. Aside from pissing off a great deal of people, are there legal ramifications? I’ve always heard writers write what they know.. if that’s true this can’t be new. What’s the fallout?
Kathy
*Your article,, sorry about that I was in a hurry..
Scott,
I love the fact that you were blunt about the truth. Most people don’t like to hear (or read) it. I am someone who ‘wants’ to write but want is not the same as ‘like’. I am currently working with a friend; we decided to work together to push each other and write and finish a whole book. Hopefully we will, we don’t care about money or fame, all we care about is expressing our imagination and hoping someone will appreciate it and enjoy it just as much.
Your article made me smile and it also made me realize how much of a noob I really am. Hopefully one day my book will be on a shelve in a bookstore and I’ll remember this article that made me realize it takes just as much (if not more!) work to write a book as anything else that is worth the while.
Hi,I wanted to write a book about love but I don’t know the exact words of it. Is it normal for me that I don’t know the exact words for it? And can you give me more advice for me to how to start a wonderful book? And by the way I wanted to say thank you to you because you gave me advice on how to write a book? :)
Kayla S.
thank you for providing this web site , as i have started writing and found this very help full.
Interesting article.
I don’t have anyone ask me about how to write books. Nobody even wants to try. I have a brother and a sister that write masterfully – in short bursts. They can write better than any book I’ve ever read. They just don’t sit down and a write a book.
It seems like a monumental task to someone that hasn’t done it. It’s daunting. Scott made a joke – pile your junk together and slap a cover and title on it and call it a book. Bam, you’re published on Amazon in less than an hour. If that is what it takes to get any of you motivated – do that. Do whatever it takes to remove the mystery – the fear of writing a book. I don’t even remember what the first book I published on Amazon was. It was probably my wife’s Thai food cooking book. I helped her do it – that way we could both contribute and I wouldn’t be a total failure by publishing one of my fiction books first.
We saw sales, so immediately we had incentive to continue. Twenty-five or so books later, and we’re doing OK – but haven’t hit the lottery with a book yet. We haven’t given up… writing is the most rewarding thing ever. Like Scott says – he loves writing. Me too. What else gives me the freedom to sit on my ass all day and think? It’s what I’d do no matter what job I had – working for myself, or others. It’s what I do… I think a lot.
There is something scary about putting together 80,000 words – and having it all make sense, and better, having readers give you feedback that it wasn’t a total waste of their time. Do it once, and the task is far less scary. Do it a couple times, and you just might start to love it – and get paid for it. Do it for the rest of your life, writing 1-2 books each year, and you just might find you’ve created passive income for your family after you die. Personally, that is a big part of my motivation… write my ass numb now… so my kids, and their kids, may play Angry Birds – eternally.
Whatever your reasons – sit down and write a book.
HI my name is Bradley Brooks and i have always been interested in writing my own horror book following in the path of stephen king and of course jeffrey deaver. i can write on and on for days but when i go over it again it makes no sense or i feel that it just isnt good enough. one of my problems is that i find i introduce too many characters early on and by the time i am half way through i have forgotten about one or two of the characters without actualy killing them off or making them dissapear from the story. what do i do to solve this
hello, Would like to write a book about my life with my ex that includes court police and kidnapping .. im not a smart guy , or do i spell so well.. Pluss im not that good with the internet.. pluss in my book would like to put the real names of all invauled.. I think this book would sell and would help some of the guys out there that might be going through what i did…
Please can you help with advice…???
Really enjoyed your realistic and positive bluntness. I have never entertained the thought of writing a book of my own until recently and I’m still unsure if it’s a good idea. Finding this website and reading your article made me feel hopeful. The story I have to tell is based on my life which was not an easy one but I have been lucky enough to see the humorous,sarcastic, and somewhat crazy sides of it. I just hope it translates well. Thanx for the information!
Love this! I love writing; finding the right words to formulate the exact emotion you are trying to express can be a beautiful thing. Even more than that, I love expression. I have actually started a book recently and I hope that one day I can have it published just because I want to give the rest of the world a slice of “my world.” Thanks for this inspiration, and for a good laugh :)
When writing, do you just start with your idea and then fill in the factual aspects of the story later or is their a particular order you must follow for the story to flow? I want to write but I want to be efficient as well. Can you advise me?
hey scott…I really love your advice and outlook on writing. Keep up the good work and visit my site if you get a chance.
http://www.squidoo.com/writing-an-article-in-20-minutes
I find your article funny and intriguing. I’ve had ideas for books for years. I always wanted to be a writer. The only thing that has stopped me is the voice inside my head (which sounds suspiciously like my mother) telling me how rare it is for an author to make enough money to support themselves. I’ve always feared failure so have never done anything with my books except to occasionally write out character profiles and book synopses for novel ideas.
My question is, how do you get past the fear of failure? I feel like writing will be a big joke to my family unless I am as famous as J.K. Rowling, Stephanie Meyer, Rick Riordin, Richelle Mead or Scott Westerfeld. Writing makes ME happy, but I always have tried to please everyone around me. I’m conflicted because I want to be happy but I don’t want to disappoint my family. Got any advice?
Hi Roxanne:
You have two choices. A) Spend your life doing things because you want to do them B) Only do what everyone else wants you to do. Which choice do you think is better?
Your family is not living your life. If you want to write, write. You don’t even have to tell them about it. You don’t even have to do it to earn money. Just write because you like it. That’s the only reason you will ever need. Any other reason will lead you to ruin anyway.
If your family loves you they would never want to prevent you from doing something that will make you happy. How could having a happy daughter / sister / son be a disappointment?
Hi Roxanne,
I know exactly what you are going through! I am writing my first novel now, which I started writing two years ago. Family, friends and other people will always tell you to choose something practical, and they never really believe in my writing. They think it’s just a phase and that it will go away. But in my heart I know I want to write, and nobody is going to stop me from doing that!
But it is hard sometimes that hardly anyone supports you. I do talk about my writing to my family and friends but I hardly get the enthusiasm I hope for.
Therefor I also have a need for proving myself to them. I am writing because I want too and because I love too, but I also want to prove to them that I won’t fail at it. But my biggest dream is seeing my work get published and in bookstores around the world! Or atleast in the UK :)
I’m not in it for the money, but I’m in it because it is my dream and if it makes half or the same as what I make now in my day job, I’ll take it! But the main reason for me to write is because I love it!
So Roxanne, don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t or shouldn’t do it. Do it for you and believe you can do it, enjoy it and you’ll see that people will eventually accept that this is what you want and love.
You go! (you already got one fan ;)!)
X- Kim S.
Thank you for writing this article. It has inpired me more to let my feeling out and tell the story of what I went thru.. 3 duis.. jail.. drugs and attempted suicde. I would some day love to write a book about this experience, giving hopefullly someone some courage to say no or keep fighting on. I just dont want my children in the future to judge me and follow in my footsteps because im their mother or my fiance’s family to judge. I just know I can help someone that may go through this to survive like I did. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
wow great article. I felt dumb for typing the question into google but now im glad i did.
Can you give any advice or opinion on style with illustration:
Ok I started with the characters. I’ve created the main character as a few supporting ones and I know the book will have illustrations. However, I’m not sure if it would be best to tell this story via storybook style with minimal text and mostly illustrations or go for more of a novel style with a few illustrations (maybe one per chapter?). I feel like theres alot I want to say but I don’t want to shortchange the illustrated part of it and I’m worried a storybook style would not allow the story to take its time and be told completely and would have to be told over the course of a couple storybooks.
Also I’m going to make an animated short out of this but am having trouble choosing what part of the story to focus on for it. I want the short to be self-contained while the book (or storybooks) gives you the full story. I don’t know…I guess that’s why you just gotta work through it
Hello,
I wrote my first book to near completion unfortunately my car was stolen with my life partner in it, and that was my computer that has the book. I never had a backup plan for lost. Now I am so frustrated at starting over that same book. I can’t seem to get the ideas all together. I have started a second book, it has reached an advance stage but I always mourn the lost of the first book. I don’t know what to do.
Zirah
I have some stories, both fiction, romance and epic, i am talented in writing fiction and they are really interesting… which i want to publish and for home video. I just need some tips to on how to construct my language and how to write a good script, what am i suppose to do?
Hey thanks so much for putting this on the internet, I’m only 12 but i know i can write something. I dont want to get famous off it or anything (Although it would be nice) but i just enjoy the way my head can make an image out of a sentence. Many writers have given that joy to me so i would like to do so to others. I have just got a little problem, time…… I dont exactly have even an hour a day of free time. I have a bed time, school, and church every day. Do you have any tips for anything i can do to get more time??? I would really apreciate it. Thanks so much!!!
I’ve had this dream man it would be such a great beginning to a book or movie. Im a faithful reader. I love to read. Anyway I woke up tonight and I was so releaved that I was in my bed at home because it was so real and something that could really happen to anyone. Man Im still bothered by it
We are a gay couple have 40 years together and are well known in the Leather Community. We have given presentation on Leather/Gay relationship Longivity. We are thinking of writing a book on our history and how we both have grown in our relationship. How do we start? and what is the process? I rather hear it from you because of your honesty.
Hi,
I am in my late thirties and have been through a lot, from childhood until now I am still going through, I have a strong desire to write about my life which involved neglect, rape, molestation, betrayal, lies, abuse, etc. I actually started to put it on paper now at chapter four let my son read it and he told me it was too graphic and explicit…can anyone help me please any suggestion will be welcoming.
Thanks.
I dont have a website yet however I do have some good stories to write some r fiction most r based on my real life this is something I’ve been needing and wanting to do 4 years I do have good stories 2 b heard I love horro Alferd Hichcock steven King and made up my own stories of horro I just love it and then there r stories that happened n my own life like the murder of my son the abusive life I had with myhusbands/boyfriend n how tired I am of all the BS they brought to my life I was left with nothing all that I work 4 I am so ready 2 write my paine will show the truth n my books I even have a screenplay 4 Will n Jada Pitkin Smith I only told my stories to my children n my best friend they were scard to hear some ofmy stories n laughed at the others I read all the time n some of that gets me started 2 write with my emaginaction I know I NEED TO KEEP A DICTIONARY BY Y SIDE AT ALL TIMES can you please help me to get started. Sincerely Yours Crystal K.
Your piece on how to write a book is some of the best advice I’ve ever read on the subject. It gets to the essence of the process. I especially appreciated your last paragraph. One of my favorite quotes by Logan Pearsall Smith goes:”The test of a vocation is the love of the drudgery it involves.” Every line of work (yes, even being a movie star or a famous author) involves some level of plain old drudgery. The test is do you love the process anyway. A lot of people want to BE a rich and famous author (me included) but few are willing to DO the sheer drudgery rich and famous authors (or rich and famous anything) had to slog through to get where they are. If you do work you love the process of and fail at least you’ve enjoyed the process. If you do the work and fail to reach the riches that motivated you, you’ve lost it all. Keep writing Scott. You’ve doing good work and enjoying the process (well, most of it). You can’t ask for much more in this brief life.
I don’t get it.. Why don’t you just answer the question instead of trolling people in your blog post? I mean the really useful thing in your post is the link to your post abot self publishing. I get it.. Your point is that even for the best writers it takesa lot of effort to write. So you should just do it.. But stil.. Really?? No tips no tricks you want to share? How to make a good structure? How many plots? how mny pages..I mean most people will check out your post to find some guide lines and you are just reapeting what most already know.. That you writing is fun, hard and takes a lot of time.
I suggest people to a look at http://m.wikihow.com/Write-a-Book
I found it more helpful than this post, it’s not perfect but at least helpful. Over and out.
peTe
Ps yes English is my second language so I’m sorry for incorrect English and yes I’m writing from a small smartphone so it may misput sentences, words or letters.
I love each and every article posted on this site, and i cant deny dat have been enlightened, and i hope i can also get a post on what am about to outline. Am 21yrs, running a degree on International Relation, i discovered my passion 4 writing wen i was young, and making research has always been my hobby, although i have started writing a book on my love life, but am still facing some difficulties which i hope to overcome real soon. My major challenge is on my research work, i have been searching for a book on a particular topic, but i couldn’t find any, have searched the libraries, bookstores, everywhere, so i decided through all the research that have been able to gather, to come up wit a book on that topic and have it publish for the benefits of the curious mind, although it as not been easy, so my question is, can such book be published since it’s based on research work.
I am now writing a biogrphary about my self and how I feel . I just under stand that you can be a book writer and you can have more free time when you like maybe 12-14 year old and you well become famous by the age around maybe (50-40-20’s-30’s) but 70’s and 80’s you well become a star or some what. And that I just hope that people can read and enjoy my story as well as others and I hope I well change them.And change who people feel about them..
I am a young writer, I love to write story’s. I hate it when I get writers block….. I was just wondering, how do you get your creativity flowing, all the ideas for a great book? Another thing, what’s a good way you can start off a book?
I’m sixteen right now, and I want to write a book.
But there’s something about writing an entire book that discourages me, and I can’t stop procrastinating. Maybe I’m not spiritually ready yet. Maybe it’s the idea that I gotta write lots of words, and make each of them sound so wonderfully bitter-sweet.
But I get bored and stressed and… Am I maybe not destined to write a book? I so want to. I mean, what a wonderful achievement it’d be.
i have written a good book only on paper, and i do not know where to start.
i would like to write a book on my life and do not know where to begin. a hard life, abuse,suicides, landing the best job finally, then they give me a nervous breakdown.now i have major depressive disorder and panic and anxiety disorder. borderline personality disorder and the list keeps going. lost the dream job and 6 years into a major depression with no end in sight. that is just the tip of the iceberg. does it sound book worthy if done right? please let me know. i am a 42 year old woman
How do I know if people will like my book?
I’m from a well Known business family in Northern Ireland, It was founded by my late grandfather, but over the years my uncles and aunts have turned it into a crime family, but they like to pro tre themselves as business people, now im going to write a book and lift the lid. I’m not worried about family ties as i dot want anything to do with them. i will then write a second book about myself as i was no angle and they would be the first to point the finger back. should i or shouldn’t I write these books any advise
I think before most of the people leaving these comments even consider writing a book that anyone would want to read, they need to learn to spell. Also, just because you’ve had a hard life does not mean everyone wants to read it. Everyone has had a hard life. If you want to write your own story as some sort of therapy, do it, but only for yourself.
Hi
I am an Architect by profession and a writer by interest. I have a strong inclination towards writing and started off with articles based on social, political and moral issues in daily English newspapers. To take it further I tried poetry and contemporary writing clubbed with creative and at times critical writing. I write mostly for myself and on the situations I go through in life and the feelings I have at different times in life.
I have been planning on writing a book clubbing my architectural knowledge and my creative streak. people say I am an aggressive writer but I don’t feel so. It all depends upon what I am writing and what I want to convey. I am very reserved person who doesn’t like talking much but can express myself well through writing. That’s what I feel.
Writing is all I want to do and pursue in life. And to give it a proper shape I want to start with a book.
Inputs of any sort and suggestions are welcome.
Regards
Roshiba
Berkun’s blog sums it up nicely. Reread it. Then determine if you want to pay the price to be a writer. If architecture is your thing then write about it. But remember that people want shock-and-awe. They want to be entertained. So create a thriller novel about architecture — like how the Twin Towers suspiciously came down on Sept. 11. But that’s been done so use your insight and training and create something else. Like: Terrorists look for structural flaws in buildings and capitalize; negotiating with rebels in a war-torn country (like Mali) to build a high-rise; or stay close to home and target corrupt officials who buy substandard materials below spec. and pocket the money. Don’t quit your day job.
How about something from your past,a true learning life lesson
Can you tell me what would be the #1 thing that helped you the most in writing a book? I have started several but I never finish because I get stuck and don’t where to go next.
Sure, you have several options:
1. Create an outline then follow it.
2. Get advice from members of a writer’s club.
3. Live what you write, then the material will come naturally.
4. Get drunk.
5. Get stoned.
6. Find a similar character or action in real life and use that material.
7. What you’re writing about is not new — it has happened before somewhere, at some time, in our history. Research what happened.
8. Kill off all your characters with a typhoid bomb and start over.
9. Remember: All actions have consequences.
Can you tell me what one thing helped you the very most in writing your books? I have actually started several with hundreds of pages written but I never have finished one. I get stuck and I don’t know where to go from there? Any advice?
I have always been able to express myself better through writing than talking. I did this as a child. My mom was impressed @ my poetry. Over the years, people hearing about my life experiences have said I should write a book. I have so much I need to unload. I think now is the time. I don’t think there is enough $$ in the world to cover the things I have been through. Where do I begin??????
i want to write a book on SAP ERP…can i need to take permission from SAP?
I you need permission from SAP.
Need help writing my book
I love these tips!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for your inspiration to reconsider the need for writing of good books. I have procrastinated this urge for several years. But I have finally resolved that it is in my best interest to embark on writing. I have the life, social and professional experiences ,the topics and initial materials to get started on the writing project.
No author should be without the book by Julia Cameron “The Artists Way”
Good Afternoon,
Forgive the lack of Christmas spirit, my assumption is not everyone wake up on Christmas day with an ideas of writing a book. I have started non-fictional book with unique and controversial idea that I am looking to explore from different points of view and hopefully break the stereotype. I have read some of your other articles and came to peace with the thought of my book not being published, or even read by many people. But as you mentioned, its an interesting topic to me, so expressing my ideas and summarizing them is sufficient motivation for me to continue writing. I studied and work in the industry that the book is dedicated to and not looking to earn money writing. I am planning on dedicating enormous amount of time on finding support points and historical evidence to commonly known opinions and facts. My question to you is more of general matter: how would do I judge the quality of the source I am using? I feel like users ‘ratings’ are biased or focused on the quality of writing rather then the in depth research that was completed to ensure accuracy of information. I find it difficult to rely on, as again the controversial and widely accepted stereotype I am trying to oppose will be against the standard theory. I highly appreciate any feedback on that matter, as I am young and did not specialize in writing in my university studies. Feel free to email me your response ouliana.jitkova@ryerson.ca. Thank you very much for your time.
Hi, could you possibly give me some advice on how to write realistic fiction?
I have decided to start writing a book , horror has always been my favourite genre , it is inspitational to find a site for new authors
I am constantly self editing. (It has taken me 30 minutes to write this). I have difficulity getting the image on to the paper. Any suggestions?
Very good