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]
I like what you wrote :) I’m seventeen, love writing, and hope to make a career out of it. I think the biggest thing about writing a book, is to make it your own. That’s what I hope to do. Thanks for the chuckle!
If the truth be told writing is natural. It cannot be taught. Thats why there’s a word called TALENT. If its not in you no matter how you force yourself it wont be as good as the naturals. Anyway its my opinion and anyone is free to dispute
One is only truly limited by their own imaginations. Writing is easy but getting started is the snag for me. Once I begin then it’s like… hmmm… where do I go from this? I have written so many things that others have read on my yahoo profile page in blogs and I am told time and time again I need to write for a living.
Could sure use someone who has “been there done that” to mentor me in the right direction. Who was your inspirational go to guru?
i just find myself writing…sometimes it streams uncontrollably and i bet you, i cant tell how much of nature’s mental deliveries i have aborted. av got pieces of striking writeups; that perhaps, formatting skills has kept from becoming a binded book and therefore they remain as i drafted them the first time. can u help nurture me into having my book, handy?
I really want to know how to get started and keep started.
Well as I grew up I always told myself, I will write a book about it one day. Then as I got even older my friends said you should write a book. I know that not alot of people have the ability to be honestly haunted. With a whole family and slue of friends to back up the stories. I don’t even know if it will help but I want to tell my story and I want new friends to stop say your just crazy. I am a very private person and I do belive my true stories whether they sound wacky or like I have lost my mind are truely scary, unbeliveable and begs the question why me? I live it fine and with prayer to not have a haunted life to tell my self to take meds but my famliy says its all real stop dening it. I just want to help every who is scared to sleep or walk though the dark its ok I know whats there. I think that no creator of no film has captured my way of seeing evil or gost. I don’t know if the public can handle the truth. But I know that they shouldn’t be scared. And if they are not I will make them even with just the few of experiances I have had.
I don’t think Im crazy because it’s a gift that belive me I wish sometimes I did not have. If I could give this gift in a story hold on to your souls.
I have written a book but it’s so hard for me to get it publish or even looked at, I think it is because of where I live, I live in Wagener,SC and some people haven’t heard of this place but how will they learn about it if they won’t give us a try, they will judge before they have a look at it so if you have any surjection about what I should do please email me ASAP please.
I have already written a book but it’s hard for me to get it publish when all they say is it’s good but we can’t publish it right now, but if it’s good what is the problem with them publishing it, where I am from they have never heard of it but how will they learn about us if they don’t give us a try so if you could please give me some kind of tips or sujestion on what to do I will surely apperciate it, and down here we love your work please give us more of it.
Thank you – I needed that. I’m also glad you mentioned NaNoWriMo because I will be participating this year. Did it a couple of years ago, but was so new to this computer thingymabob that I couldn’t get my 65,00+ words submitted. So I didn’t get my certificate of completion. So I made one for myself, because I know that I did it.
Your advice is good. I will take it. Thanks again.
Hope that this guy does not write motivational books.
Great post, really down to earth.
Anyway, Im currently 17 and on the fifth chapter of my book. Many people in my school ask to get copies of what there is of my book (they get turned down kindly) but who can I send chapters to that can give meaning full feed back?
i think now i have all the motivation i needed to persue on what i have been dreming for.Thanks so much now i see myself as a an expect in writing.
Hi Scott, I was just sitting here thinking about my life and came accross your site:) Before i start writing I would like your honest opinion. Do you think anyone would be interested in a book about a girl who was molested as a child ,lost her virginity by a stick from her (not) cousins, raised by a man she thought was her dad but did not find out until her 40s,married to a psycho who beat her daily and kept her hostage for a year until he died in front of her by accidentally shooting his own self while trying to shoot her, married 3 other times to abusive men,came out of the closet in her 30s,lost freinds ,church and family because of it , then diagnosed with multi personality disorder and all the “wonderful things” that go along with it? sometimes life throws you alot of curveballs, however its how you swing the bat that matters!
Thanks for your time.
Bobbi
This is the first site I went to upon wanting to write a book. Just thought I would tell you it was perfect and I am still laughing. I have no idea’s of what books you have written, but after reading this page I will look and maybe even buy one. If you have done nothing else today, know that you made someone smile and laugh. We are all looking for the “get rich quick” scheme and you put on black and white….it always boils down to hard work.
Thanks,
Julie
Good thoughts, Scott. You take the mystery out of this for people getting started.
A thought for Bobbi: Of course people are interested in your story. I just finished writing a similar book for a client. But give some thought to your purpose for writing. Do you bring something redemptive to your reader? Do you offer hope, healing? Those who read these kind of books will be looking for that.
Many blessings!
Dwight
EmpowerGood.com
Im hoping to write a nonfiction about the killing of a mentally ill man in the town of which I live, killed by pilce for being “mentlaly ill.” the family later fogives the shooter after a chance encounter with the shooter, off duty in plain clothes ( unaware of who he is). The story is truly remarkable and touches on miracles and prayers being answered. My problem is, where do I start the story? The birth of the deceased to his eventual killing or work the story backwards, from the killing and go back in time, so that it would not be boring? How do writers know how to start that firt page?
Wow iv always wanted to write a book and {ive tried} but i would get to the end and never know how to finish the storey. and your right its REALLY hard!!!!!!!!!!!!!! but its fun i love reading and writing so i thought oh ive read so many books itll be easy but reading and writing are very differnt things!
thanks for the article it was really cool and helpful!!
:D + bye
so im only 11 so can i write a book ang get it published? i cant get past the first 12 pages would anyone publish it or would they just ignore me and { please dont think im crazy!} i think like im in a book,…… is that bad or will it help me anywho your article REALLY helped
THANKS :D
+ by = C {kidding i happy}
Hi, my name is Rod Dyson. About 6 years ago I was a professional blackjack player. I trained blackjack players and owned and managed a very professional team of blackjack players. We played mainly in Australian and New Zealand casino’s an had a big trip to Las Vegas. 4 of us did a road trip from Vegas to San Diego stopping at every Casino on the way and played until we were either kicked out or about to be kicked out. We won a lot of money and had some amazing experiences with crooked Casino employee’s etc.
I have been considering writing a book about our exploits and while doing so expose some of the secrets of blackjack that you will never see published in a book. I would like to write about our training program, how our team was run, how the payouts to players worked etc. I would like to combine a book teaching blackjack with the real life experinces of a 10 man blackjack team. intertwining the “lessons” with real life applications.
The book would be very contriversial in exposing not just how we do it but exactly how we got away with it. Exposing crooked casino staff without names would in itself be contriversial.
My question to you, do you think this type of book has a chance of success?
Cheers Rod
Ok heres my deal; I don’t read often and NEVER written anything but for some strange reason I want to write a book just to see if I could I want to write a nonfiction modern time horror and I have the Ideas and details but don’t know how to construct or even start a book (ie how many chapters how long the chapters shall be etc.) do you or anyone has advice lemme know
Thanks for such practical, sensible advice. I’d much rather hear about the hard part up front than have a nasty surprise later, once I’ve put in time and effort. Much better to begin as I mean to go on.
Hey, me again. My first comment was for Scott, but this one is for some of the posters. SPELLING AND GRAMMAR COUNT!!! For a bulletin board composed of writers, this one contains a lot badly spelled comments with embarrassing grammar mistakes. And I don’t mean the 11 year old contributors, I mean the adults. So before you submit anything, anywhere, do make sure someone checks your grammar and spelling. No agent or publisher is going to take you seriously if you submit something that looks like what you wrote on here.
This is simple and matter of fact. My first search on “How To Write a Book” and this 2007 article comes up. I appreciate the down-to-earth information and the humor attached to it. Thank you… :)
Write books upon the genres that interests you, for me its suspence and crime. One of my favourite authors is Mary Higgins Clark. Try finding out the key features of the books your favourite author writes or the language he/she uses. Trust me you will enjoy writting more that reading once you are edicted to it. Keep trusting and believeing in your self life can be so much happier when you put your worries on a piece of paper.
I would like to write a book on Alternative energy and the pros and cons…
This book would have today’s technology for every home owner to solve their own energy problems, using solar, wind and many new technology.
As a inventor and designer, having patents on advance engine designs offering new technology to build simple low price power station for each home.
As we all know by now, Governments don’t want us to have anything free. This is one reason why solar power is not cheap, the Sun offers free energy and the solar panels convert that in to free electricity. Governments cant tax free energy, so they make it very hard to get free energy.
What do you think about my ideas on this book?
Hi Scott,
I’m 11 years old and I want to become an author just like you (I think your an author) and I’m writing a story can you give a few tips please?
Sincerely, Harris Matthews
Hello, I really enjoyed your reality check on writing a book or books, and the possible reason(s) why someone might be inclined to undertake this particular endeavour, it all makes plain simple common sense. Funny, I had an idea, about writing a book about a person who has Narcissistic Personalty Disorder,the book is called called ” It’s The All About Me book” and inside this little 20 page book, every page would be a white page with the word “Me” in huge black bold letters in the center of the page with a little mirror on the opposing page. I thought the idea was hilarious and I knew it would sell because we all know people like that in our life and there’s times when we’re just itching to give them something like that for Christmas or their birthday(ok that might be a bit over the top).
I am actually planning to write a spiritual book. I am a medium and a spiritualist and I’ve been prodded by spiritual forces to write a book about Spiritual Pre-Destiny – “Discovering Your Divine Purpose” I have 13 chapters to write, and if anything it will be an engaging read for anyone interested in things of a spiritual nature and a new take and breath of fresh air on a subject that’s been written about as much as the subject of Love,self help etc… blah blah blah… This is not a you’ve completed your word search, your crossword puzzle and your bored, then pick up my book when it’s published, it’ll be a nice and entertaining way to kill time in Starbucks… Thanks – Michael
Thanks a million times for your wisdom. Peace
Loved your introduction! Congrats!
My question is: I have a post-secondary diploma from a 2-year Tourism program and am currently in a corporate job. I do have great ideas for books and I thought I might try to write one. Do you honestly think I can pull that off with no formal education / experience? thanks,
Excellent article and very helpful!
I think I was making the idea of writing a book more complicated than it really is. The only hard thing for me to figure out now is the subject. I wouldn’t say I’m an expert on anything, but I have a real knack for writing and it’s what I want to do. BUT… it’s my book, right? I guess it can be whatever I want it to be and if it doesn’t work, well I wouldn’t know that until it’s finished.
I have had a burning desire to write an amazing truthful story of my life. No desire to make money, but put the entire story in the proper order.
Scott,
This what every wannabe writer needs to follow. Screw the fluffy books on how to write your way to celebrity and riches, you really hit the spike on the dike. I’ve written and self-published several books, (total of 1200 pgs) mostly about the specialty automotive aftermarket business and I’ve sold close to 5000 copies of one book in particular. Since my business and hobby revolves aroung the hot rod and car customizing industry, that is what I wrote about. My 105 page, 8-1/2″ x 11″ (booklet)on how to run an automotive business sold 1500 copies @ 24.00 each by mail. A couple of press release mentions in 2 industry mags helped. So I feel kinda successful that way.
Your topic of people wanting to be and actually becoming a successful writer is so true. I takes guts, work, discipline, work, more guts, doing without and a mind of the rebel. No matter what others say, write what you want and stop thinking about F&F (fame and fortune). In my spare time I do abstract art. I paint for physical and mind therapy but when I write it feels like my mind has been fulfilled because my thinking is formalized.
I have a question for you, I know you travel around and give advice based on what you write about and I’ve had inquiries to do the same but I’m handicapped and cannot travel long distance. Unable to stand for long and walk any distance inhibits my on stage presence before a live audience. However, performing in front of people is easy for me. I’ve been doing that for 30 years in my main business which is severly limited now.
My question is this – What advice do you have for someone like me when the companies call and want my expertise but I cannot be there physically?
Thanks
Mikey Hartman
WHEN DO YOU KNOW IT’S TIME TO PUT THE ELECTRONIC PEN DOWN – THE BOOK IS FINISHED, YET I AM STILL PULLED TO ITS PAGES CHANGING THE ODD WORD, SENTENCES.
I AM NOW ON THE 6TH DRAFT OF MY BOOK – I MUST ADMIT, THE RED PEN DOES NOT REAR ITS BEAUTIFUL HEAD AS MUCH AS IT HAD DONE ON DRAFT 1
IS THIS A NORMAL PROCESS?
Since I have never attempted to write a book the process is very new. I have written 4 chapters and every person that has looked it over is totally amazed at the content and how their glued to every page wanting more. Also these are educated readers that I have shared with. Gary
Im so confused, when i do my daily things, all this magical mindblowing words of passion, intresting feelings come into my mind, but just for a few seconds then they would dissapear again. I get so frustrated because i truly want to write a book, i have everything it takes, i know that. I will get lost in my mind for hours, i hate it to snap back to reality. Are all the things im feeling real, or is it just all the charracters emotions coming out in me??? can someone please give me an answer?
its so frustrating for me to have to dream about writing a book. i dont wish i could one day sit down and write a book i want to one day sit and write a book, but not just any regular book in the shelves i want someone out there to connect to my book as well as ive connected to some books that ive read. for example yesterday i was trying to sleep when sudennly i had this strange moment in wich i thought of an amazing story for a book. so today i sat down and nothing. i wrote maybe 1 paragraph and after reading it i new that if anyone where to read this they wouldnt be conected they would regect it like the tens of thousands rejected each day.
I want to start by saying “Thank You”. I recently started writing my first book, and this blog makes total sense to me. This because I love reading, I love writing and had a great idea which I believe is perfect for a book.
I’m a mom 24/7 and have no studies regarding writing books or anything as such.
My question is:
Once you have completed the book according to your standards, who is the person that checks the manuscript and makes the editing of grammar etc before you bring it to a publisher? I am really sorry if the question is too naive for this audience, this is my first book and I have no clue regarding the steps after I’m done writing it.
Thanks Again,
Lilly
Thank you Mr. Berkun,
You have given me exactly what I needed. No fluff – right to the point. Thank you again.
Byron Guy
hiya my name is rachel im not looking to write a book to get published i want to write for me but i have so many ideas in my head that wont stop untill i sit down to write them down why is this?? i just want to put my ideas on paper something my children can read when there older and be proud of there mum that she doesnt just cook and clean that she has ideas and a brain of her own please help me make my dream come true
thank you
rach x
That was great, I decided I will make a film instead.
I’m 14 and I want to write book, mostly to get my lifeoffmy chest. I started drugs in grade 7 and it’s been a year since ive stopped. Ever after my life has been a huge dissappointment. I doubt i”ll actually write a book and get it published, I mean i’m 14. I really just want people to read it and get a kids view on life, and i want kids to know how hardit is to get off drugs. I just want people to know and understand shit. and i also want this giant ass horrible feeling to leave me alone, and the best way to do this is to write it down. i honestly don’t really know how to. heelp?
Very interesting tips, indeed.
I’m portuguese and I’ve been writing a book in portuguese for a while now. I already have 70+ pages and, fortunately, I don’t suffer from writer’s block because in this project I’ve been having a very, very fertile mind.
If in the US it’s hard to be recognized, believe me that in a little country of Europe, it’s much harder because my mother language isn’t english. Our dream is always to get enough famous to get our books published into another languages and be sold worldwide, but we know that 99% of times it just gets stuck as a dream. It never comes true.
An advice I would give to those who are just starting: don’t dare to write things you don’t know very well yet. While you don’t have experience, the fact that you need to study much more about the subject of the book, will lead you to write even worse, so start from the beggining, not in the halfway.
P.S.: I’m sorry for my bad english.
You seem to have covered all that basis, positive and negative. I’m impressed with your candor and your versatility.
After my mother died, I started scanning old photos and writing something about each one. Mind you this was for my daughters and my grandchildren. This got out of hand, and I started writing stories. Soon after, I took it a bit further, just writing about my every day life, and making some of the stuff up in the interest in reader entertainment. Guess you could call this Creative Writing.
I’ve entered literally all of my stories at Helium.com just to get a feel of how they read. I don’t mind saying that they are rated pretty high…well most of them are.
My aim is to put together all of my material, or most of it into something readable by everyone, and keeping the levity in the content. I would be considering something on the order of “Upright and Still Warm”…as I am 62 years old, and there will soon be no one in my family (oldest of 11 siblings), who has journaled what I remember.
I feel encouraged by reading some of these other responses.
I think anyone has what it takes to write a good book.After all your the one writting it.Even if its not good to anyone else remember the writting came from your mind and the storys it beholds.I think people of all ages should write a book or two with in thier life times.For me if a cant meet all the wonderful people of this world at lease i can read something amazing about or from them.
thanks for the website
its great.
this is not exactly what i was looking for. i have tried to write many books or stories but 5 or 10 pages in, i lose intrest. i think my ideas are good and when i show it to my family they think so to, but i cant keep my mind on the book. i will try this though. wish me luck!!!
I’ve recently picked up something I started writing years ago with new character sketches and fresh ideas. I’m hoping to stick with it this time because I know something good will come out of my writing. :]
Writing is my hobby and I love to do it. :D
Love your website and great advice!
All said is true.But i still find it difficult to make a note for myself especially on TIME.PLS HELP ME DO THIS.
My question to you is: how do YOU personally write a book? Do you plan out the plot first on paper; work out what’s going to be in each chapter; or just sit down and start typing and see how the story plays out?
I have plenty of ideas in my head, but I find that when I start to put them into book-form I get overwhelmed by what should go where, when to end a chapter, and just overall how to put my ideas into something that makes sense to other people.
How do you form YOUR ideas into a book?
Thanks
Hello, I’m Zoe. Currently, I am 11 years old. Last year, when I was 10, I decided I wanted to write something. I love to write; I got that from my mum. so, I started to write a sci-fi book. Now, it stands at 247 pages, though it is still far from finnished. What I need is some advice, since I am quite young to be an author, I wonder if adults wouldn’t take me seriously. I assume if a publisher was sent a book by a child, he would throw it away without a second thought. What is your opinion on this?
I have wanted to write a novel about my experience as a young girl growing up among boys in a polygamous family. when I walk on the street or sleeping, I keep on thinking about both bad and good experience and how I could write a book about it. But I wanted to speak to an adviser about the content of my stories and see if it is something worth writing about. Please I will appreciate your advice.
Well said Scott, your honesty is just what everyone needs to hear. I can’t stand it when people try to BS the reality of things so it was nice to read your thoughts. Honesty really is the best policy. Thanks for sharing!
Dawn Savoia
Great advice. I am completing an illustrated humorous book after letting it set over 15 years. I finally got over the fact of making money writing. I have a real occupation and decided to do my writing for pleasure and publish to share with others soon. Also, I told my children original stories of characters I made up while in high school and my son started to put those in electronic documents. I am currently editing those. We hope to have those available in a year if possible. It does take hard work. I am doing this while working full time, attending school part time and raising a family. Thank you again.
Hey,
Liked all the articles. Helped see the other side of writing, pitching and just blurring through!!
Thanks for caring enough to share and advice.
A
I have always wanted to write a book since when I was a little boy. I don’t know if I can make my dreams come true. Anyway, I will begin now and start writing on a subject or topic. I am interested in nature, sufferings in the society, religion and children. Thanks
Whenever I feel like doing something new or whenever I feel like I have a pretty good idea I get doubts like most people. And when I do so, I look up information on the net about the subject to inform myself before I start doing it. Most of the time I get linked to blogs like this, with articles where the bigheaded writer explains about how hard it is to make it happen. Blogs that discourage me and make me not doing anything in the end.
But this time I have to thank the writer for making me realize I shouldn’t care about blogs like this. I shouldn’t care about the opinion of writers who don’t even know the difference between “then” and “than”.
I wish you luck on continuing discouraging your potential competitors and getting passively paid for making simple money making blogs with opinionated and subjective information without any given research or whatsoever at all.
The article was perfection. For me I guess. Ever since I was a kid I’ve loved books, was an early reader. I’ve had some success writing in the business world, done some short stories for some groups that were appreciated. But I always held back (I guess) from the real WORK, practice and attention, to do more.
The article was a great piece of communication, and it’s appreciated. If I need to get to work at it, than (heh-heh) maybe I need to get to it.
Thanks much.
i know how to write a book i just don’t know what it should be about
@Unpublished_but_better_than_you LOL! the author already edited the I think typo error, he writes very well in my opinion, because I got hooked up reading the article. For people who also wants to write a book and wants to know how to publish and market it, the famous, Mark Victor Hansen of Chicken Soup For The Soul series has now opened a website where he shares his knowledge to aspiring authors.
let me put this as delicately as i can. this is good shit. full stop.
HI,
Thank you for your very useful advice. One question remains for me. As I am not a professional writer I believe the only way to have a snowflake of a chance to be seriously read is to write a really unique story. How can I protect my story from being used by a more professional writer as the base for his novel? How do i get a “copywrite” protection?
Regards Graham.
Great article, I always keep myself looking for new tips and ways on how to improve my writing and one of my favorite mentor on learning how to write a book is Mark Victor Hansen, co-author of Chicken Soup for the Soul.
I want to know about process. I have a story in mind and I write down every idea or plot twist I can come up with. Is it better to just write down a story pulling page for page ideas out of your head or is it better to write out all the back story and notes and pull the pieces into one story?
I like your honesty. I was involved in voiceover for years and I would get similar questions from people. I also believe that just because a person is talented in one creative venue doesn’t mean they can write. That’s sort of how I feel about myself.
Thanks for the article.
I get it. Writing is work. Thanks for the very humorous shortest truth. Laugh and learn.
Actually this is just a comment, I found your advice to be the best advice i have ever heard or read. I have been sitting on a book for 3 years scared to do anything with it. I have finally however for lack of better words have found the balls to do something with it. So i am writing the second of the series and finding it easier then the 1st one. To be honest i have never let anyone read it, but i am not scared anymore. I am sure Bane my hero that is not really a hero is relieved to be taken out of the closet and dusted off. After work I will be comeing back and hitting up the links to see what i need to do for i am great at folowing instructions when i want to. And i must say Mr. Berkun you have a wonderful day.
Amy Roberts (Dusk)
Scott – this is a great article, thank you heaps !
Riviera – Thanks for your humour and inspiration.”Thou shall remain happy at all times in the pursuit of happiness”
Stormy – I wish you good luck in advance;i hope it is your topmost priority now.I will read it when it comes in print.
And, thank you everyone for sharing resources, insights, information and most importantly, enthusiasm.Good Luck Everyone !