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 VoltaireMarquis 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:

[Light editing: 10/7/2019, 2/4/2021]

 

1,305 Responses to “How to write a book – the short honest truth”

  1. David

    Hi Scott,
    I like your style, seriously. Already posting a comment but still have to read your practical advice topics. If you wrote a book, I will read one for sure just to see if I can find the same humor in it that you use on this website, or, to see if your ‘writer face’ will show (if your writing is completely different then the style your displaying in your advice above. Anyhow, you contributed to making the end of my thursday afternoon less boring if not slightly more cheerful. David. By the way; I also think writing is a talent.

    Reply
  2. Gen. Hassan Adani

    That was a great advice. I read two books by scott and it is a delight.

    Reply
  3. AKSENT

    seriusly, thiz iz wone ov tha mosst usefull artikles abuot riting, four no english majers an langauge/grammer phreaks outside their (mosts are bad writer themeselfes and should stick to editing) oh… most writer get edited? shock.

    anyway – nice one.

    Reply
  4. Bill

    That was well put. Everyone wants to be tapped on the head by Harry Potters magic wand. I look forward to reading more of your post. Bill

    Reply
  5. Trish Kub

    I just want to say thank you for your information. I have had several request from friends and family to write a book.
    I actually started one when I was 12 yrs old.
    I write true stories. Real Life Tragic and Humor.
    My life has been a roller coaster ride of insane moments.
    I think I will just start and see where it goes, if nothing else my kids will have a copy for themselves.
    I like the part about not getting rich. That is like counting your money before the dealing is done. LOL

    Reply
  6. Jerilyn Kennemer

    I am ready to get started! I appreciate all suggestions and direction.

    Best Regards,

    Jerilyn

    Reply
  7. Vicki

    Dear “Unpublished_but_better_than_you” –

    If you cannot tell the difference between an honest typo and a “grammatical error”, you have no business pointing out the former as if it were the latter.

    Good writing does not mean “there is not now and never has been a typo”. Good writing means there is good reading.

    Scott was kind to allow your comment to remain here.

    Reply
  8. Alice

    You are straight forward! I appreciate it…more than you know! Words have meanings…but I believe that truth can take less words than lies any day of the week!

    Alice

    Reply
  9. Matthew

    You’re words are appreciated. I feel conflicted. There is stuff inside me that I want to get out. Ideas and stories, I’ve had a decent few, but the hardest thing is getting them out onto the paper. I know it’s not an excuse, but at least it “feels” like I don’t have the time to devote to trying to write. My brother has written a book(though he doesn’t want it published) and sadly I feel a bit jealous. If he can do it, why do I seem to have such difficulty moving the words from my head to the page?

    Again, thank you for the article.

    Reply
  10. Chantae

    i LOVE to write, i write my own songs, poetry, and journal entries. i really want to publish my book about my life so far and how i really coped with it. im not doing this for fame or want attention, i want to do it for me and want people to know how i feel. ima lovable gurl and kinded spirited person once u get to know me. my book is soon to be published, but im not exactly finshed yet, im not half ways on my book. im going to call it ”My Life On This Journey”. Or ”Miles To Go On This Journey”. im not sure yet. but id surely highly appreciate if ya’ll read my book when it comes out, and im going to write another book in about 15 years for a book#2. this book im writtin now is book#1.
    thanx for reading!!!

    Reply
  11. Sharon

    Thanks love the advice. I just wanted to write about something hope it sells get rich truth.

    Merry Christmas.

    Reply
  12. Chelsea B

    I am with Joe. It is 30% into writing when I’m caught in the headlights of writing. I put so much pressure on myself to find some solid direction and it’s all guilt wheels and explosions from there. I find Oblique Strategies, developed by Brian Eno (U2), to be a life saver when I find myself in a rut like that. They are the best creative hacks I know of. Google it.

    Reply
  13. Jimmy D

    I appreciated finding this article and it was most likely, as enjoyable as it probably gets, talking about how to write a book. Reading the comments was the hardest reading I have ever done. People talking about how they want to write a book, how do they get started, how do they find a publisher? Then the many experts input and advice, sending me right over the edge. So very annoying most of these comments are, I am wanting to print them out, just so I can watch them burn up in flames. The article should have stood alone, I was content with its message. Why I forged on was pure curiosity, as painful as it was, my skin is still crawling from the experience.

    Thank’s Scott and I wish most of you had never found this article, your all boring. :) I’M just kidding……
    No I’M not, you bored me to tears!

    Reply
  14. Allison Briskman

    “How to write a book-the short but honest truth.” I loved your article so much. It really is (honest to God) a slap in the face for me. I really desperatly want to be a writer, ever since I was little. But my problem is that most of my ideas are in my head and that’s where they like to stay. I swear, I really think people would like to what I have to offer but I’m either too unsure of myself (the most likely theory) or too lazy (I have been known to procrastinate). Over the internet, I’ve read dozens of websites about character development, plot planning, and how easy it is to write a book. I know the truth though; a book is a bitch-slap and half if your not really serious about writing. Thank you for the advice on writing. I probably won’t publish for years to come but I know now it’s what I want to do.

    Reply
  15. roy

    Thank you Scott, your advice is priceless, and is so very much appreciated. I your honesty and clarity are refreshing in a sea of so called experts. but you advice is on the mark.

    thanks again.

    Reply
  16. Tee

    i’m writing a non-fiction book on the lesbian relationship I started with my then girlfriends’ good friend…whom i’m still n a relationship with! it’s really good i know that it’ll take me time to write a lot….itz so interesting that i had to put it on paper! how the good friend was dating my bestfriend n my bestfriend was n a relationship with my other ex-girlfriend that is friends with my now ex-girlfriend that was friends with the good friend….confusing right??? but this book would help a lot of lesbianz i know that have ended up or is in this same situation.

    Reply
  17. lisa

    thanks for the words of the wise but I have a book I would love you to read . . .

    Reply
  18. Ann Hollingworth

    I find your posts very interesting and helpful, but would suggest that you edit them for errors. The Betsy Lerner line above under “Practical advice…” should say, ” an editor’s advice to writers.”

    Reply
  19. Tyrena

    you are right anyone can write a book…but not just anyone can write a good book

    Reply
  20. Dani

    I’ve always loved to wrighting :) I don’t exactly know why, but there’s something that just feels special about it! Knowing that you can create your own little peace of world, using a peice of paper and a pen. Even if you don’t show it to anybody, it’s still there for you and you can ALWAYS add! But, knowing that somebody does read it, and thinks it’s amazing is deffinatly a good feeling. I like to write, read it over, and add more. You can never come up with too many good ideas for one story, you have to be creative and give it your all.The hard part is, coming up with your climax to me, then the solution.

    Reply
  21. Leslie

    hi. i am not even half way through my first book. the thing is although my mind is full with the events in the life of my characters, I can’t seem to be able to put this in paper. my mind is all over the place. too many people, too many lives, too many events. any ideas?

    Reply
  22. jules

    i want to know particularly how i will start writing my own book.i am really a novice and will need your help.i will be hoping to receive replies from you starting from today.Meanwhile my name is Jules Danmaigona and am a Nigerian

    Reply
  23. it

    I love reading. I love writing. I, a JAG Prosecutor, write books for fun. Like a second job. But not exactly.

    Reply
  24. Achinyang Adie

    Your site is great. I have several book ideas. The problem is I keep putting off hitting the butt on the chair and start writing. I seem paralysed with fears. People might change their perceptions of me when they read the crab I put out there. How do I overcome this?

    Reply
  25. jordyn

    Umm im 13 and i want to write a book. I already have 300 pages. I only got 200 more to go.

    Reply
  26. Karin

    Wow,
    You sound mad, I’m glad I didn’t ask you this question in person =)Maybe because you get asked this too often. But at the more positive side, you offer good advice. Thanx.

    Reply
  27. saner jones

    hello world ehmmm am a student who lives in germany and study chemistry. friends of mine told me i should write a book or short history,because I am confront with daydream all day long. when i see a picture I can focus on that specific theme an can told dozens of history about that theme….and soon as i switch the place(like on the train,or by swimming…) i created dozens of new history witch cross my brain….i guess i got a disease, maybe i should consult a doctor or should i really write short histories?? please help

    Reply
  28. Sheniqua Johnson

    I am very interested in writing a book. I really do appreciate all the information given on this website. One of the many things that stood out to me was the fact that work is required to complete a book writing project. I have begun to write and again Thaks for this info.

    Reply
  29. Frankincence

    HI SCOTT BERKUN

    I WANT WRITE A BOOK IDO NEED COUPLE THINGS IF CAN HELP

    1 I WILL LIKE TALK ABOUT UJUSTAND SUFFERIN IN 22 YEARS INCLUDING NOW HERE AMERICA WHEN I DO NOT HAVE MONEY IN FRONT. DO HELP PEOPLE PUPLISH THEIR BOOKS THEN CHARGE LATER IF THEY DO NOT HAVE MONEY IN THE FRONT?

    THANK YOU

    Reply
  30. Angela

    Hello,
    Great pointers and advice. I’m in the process of writing a book regarding Senior Citizens and I know from first hand that you need time and have to be in the effort to get it done. Once again, thanks.
    Angela

    Reply
  31. jessica

    i love the fact that you had no intentions of discouraging any of the people who read your article. Your an honest man..I’ve wanted to be a writer ever since i could remember, but that dream started a million years ago, before i got to college, Before the internet completely took over the world, and before writing was something that ANYONE could do (yahoo answers). This is no place to spill my heart out but i figures I’d just share my feelings. All in all, nice article. “Rock on”.

    Reply
  32. Kevin Flynn

    I appreciate this article but I have to say, the flavor of sarcasm isn’t well met. I understand it can be frustrating to have droves of average joes and josephines asking the identical droll question. However, if life has taught me (and persumably anyone else in the US) anything, it’s that you never assume. From that annoying person’s perspective, I can tell you that the “Getting Published” section of your article, rings as confirmation that you clearly understand where we are coming from. So that the vague nature of “How do you write a book?” question means the same to you as it does to us. So why the sharp angle? Either way, clearly if I can type I can write. We know that. What we are truly asking is, “I have a book idea I think would be successful, but if I do it MY WAY, well the chances of success are nil because I don’t have any experience as a published, selling author. YOU DO, so do you have any advice on what is the CORRECT PATH to go about PROPER writing of a book, and the steps thereafter to get it published?”
    Here’s something distilled that I hope you find less annoying.
    1)Is there something that is expected/required format wise whereas if I don’t write my book in this fashion, should I get interest, I would have to re-write it in this standard format? Or is it anything goes?
    2)What about legal issues? How do I prevent my book from being stolen? It may seem obvious to you, but not us. Sorry. We aren’t sitting behind sold copies. We don’t have your hind sight.
    (Is it obvious to you what is the best method for configuring a fibre channel SAN array when you have it traversing two sub domains with only a one way non-transitive trust? Keep in mind a CIFS share is NOT allowed at your client’s office.)

    I think as an IT person I can share your sentiment about annoying inquiries, but I always take into consideration I’ve been churning away at technology since 1977. They don’t even own a server…

    and finally
    3)Resources. I know that the internet-thingy at large and a phone book as you referenced it is all you need to go from idea to ferrari, but for us it’s not nearly as obvious. As well, it’s not always about the money. For instance, my book is about the message and what it will do for it’s readers. Period. And for sake of the phone book, why don’t you grab one and tell me within a reasonable amount of time (3 hours) what # in there is best for getting assistance on allowing SSO to work with a Novell server when VMware is on the back-end. Thanks. CLUE, Citrix, the manf. of the software, will NOT help you because it’s an unsupported configuration…

    Sorry to lay it on thick but I NEVER shun any person asking for help, ever. (Ask my wife, she will make it abundantly clear I help too much)We only have one another and you never know, you may need your neighbor some day. Besides, if they are a stranger coming to you, it’s a good bet they only know you exist because they bought/read your book. You should be more thankful.

    Okay that was hardly distilled but I think I explained more about what you didn’t realize when we come up to you and ask “How do you write a book?”

    – Kevin Flynn – Encom – Sr. Software Engineer

    Reply
  33. terry chartrand

    Hello there, i am writing to you because of my interest in writing a book. Ive only just started to do some research and am gathering information. My topic for the book is about dancers/strippers. Being an ex dancer myself i have alot of contacts and have been in touch with many of them already. I believe that i have all the right ideas but i am having a hard time “starting”. Should i write my synopsis AFTER i gather all my information? I would love your input, i dont expect you to write me back but maybe it will be a welcomed surprise :)

    Reply
  34. chad

    I loved what you said. It really brought a lot of insight for me as someone who really is welling and wanting to bring a book to this world. Even if I just sell one that is more then I had. Thanks again. Please email me anytime you a great

    Reply
  35. kathleen ellis

    Hi. im no one. no writer. no nothing. not even trying to be anyone. I just like the way you talk, my language totaly!anyway, I would like some advice. Im a kiwi living in Australia. I have a story, A fuckn pretty good one I reckon. but im uneducated. My life makes once were warriors, look like a bit of a walk in the park. Shit I can hardly use A laptop. I want to write about my life. But its so fucked up. shit you probably dont even read this shit we send anyway! Iv ben interferred with by 5 people, one a woman. from the age of 4-11yrs of age.ben rapped etc. my sister married my husband. lost my kids to them. ben fucked over my whole life. but yet, I cant seem to hate anyone for it. I still love all. I dont want bad calmer or anything to come of anyone. I just want people to no, that, many of us have had a hard life. but for fucks sake! get over it an stop hating an causing even more dramas. I need a writer! My story is sad, its real, but no one has broken this soul, only injured it. ok. tell me to fxx off.

    Reply
  36. patsy

    I have started my book!! I think it’s a bit like going for a run, the hardest part is putting on your shoes. Just to let anyone out there who thinks they can’t do it, my daughter who was involved in a very serious car accident a couple of years ago(she had brain injuries and a lot of facial scaring) has written and self published a book. Most of the sales of the book have been to family and friends but that is not the point. She has been an amazing inspiration and even if I never finish my book I am enjoying doing it. (Please excuse any spelling and grammer mistakes!!) Thanks for the articals and advise will keep you posted on how it’s going

    Reply
  37. Jacki Baker

    I wrote a children’s book. I’m getting ready to hire an illustrator. Do I get the book copyrighted before I hire the illustrator then re-certify it after I add the illustrations? Do I need it copyrighted before I find a publisher or is that the job of the publisher? HELP!

    Reply
  38. saira

    i learnt a great tip and ide like to share one if you get stuck i feel taking a break from it and inspiration will come

    Reply
  39. Sue

    Hello Scott. I have a web-site devoted to writers and aspiring authors. I don’t sell anything. Please feel free to take a look. The web-site is www. writeandpublishyourbook.com. I was wondering if you would like to do an article or two for publication? I would include your name and a link to your web-site. Thank you for your time.
    Sue

    Reply
  40. Santiago

    Thank you very much, this has been very helpful.

    Reply
  41. hugmamma

    Sounds overwhelming. Not sure if I’d be up to the challenge. My brother keeps insisting I should write a book; I keep putting him off. He wants to do the illustrations is my guess. Never say never, but I’d have to be awfully psyched.

    Reply
  42. Charchit Joshi

    Hello Scott..nice article must say.
    I m an engg. student but my interests are in philosophy and writing. I have also written some poems at school days for magazines. i am writing on the unnoticed realities and facts which are all around us though not much people want to accept it.I wanna transform my THINKING to my WORDS..need your support.
    thanks
    -CJ

    Reply
  43. gvidaz

    I started to write a book..im writing with laptop,not with paper and pen..im writing not because i want be milionare or something about money..i want that every people who will buy my book and read at night in them beds near fireplace feel what i felt then i was writing a book…i want know,that somebody reading my minds and maybe crying or smileing..thats why i want to write a good book..all this blog is amazing and i hope all this topic will help to write a good book for me:)

    Reply
  44. much_better

    This is to the comment made by Unpublished_but_better_than_you:

    I think out of the two of you, you’re the one who needs to pull some strings to go back to elementary school, and not just to learn how to spell again, but to read as well. You might not have noticed that your quote from the above written text was different than what it actually says.

    So who is better than you??? Maybe there is a reason why you are unpublished. People don’t like to read negative books, and judging by your attitude that’s the genre you excel in.

    Reply
  45. Stu

    Hi,

    I am wishing to write a book about my experience from within a prison in New Zealand, I am English and frequently called a POM (prisoner of her majesty) and felt it rather ironic that I was inside in New Zealand.

    Although a short lag I kept a dairy of each day and figured it could be a pretty good read from my prospective as an englishman here where inside we are very much the minority as compared to those we stole land from 150yrs ago.

    Should I write it as a dairy or more of a story?

    I am no writer so would appreciate any advice.

    Regards
    Kia Ora
    Stuart

    Reply
  46. Hayley Ferry

    Hi. I am only 12 but I want to be an author. I have tried to write a few books,but I found myself feeling un-happy with them and stopped writing them. I will try to write again though,and I must say,this was full of information and caught my interest. And I know that I have a long wait before I could even start a career especially in writing but I will not give up. I will need to develop more complexity as well. =)

    Reply
  47. Georgina

    I enjoyed this article. I agree that it shouldn’t be a struggle write things down on paper, slap it together. Find out how to send in the proper manuscript, and get a publisher. Whether or not, if the material is good, depends on the writer, and their effort to do the ground work! Inspiring! Thank you!

    Reply
  48. Gloria Tovar

    I’m actually Honduran where I seldom hear the’re are any publishing authors. So for me, your information was very valuable because in latin america reading and writting books is seldom encouraged. I actually quite enjoyed your information and will do my homework, it actually encouraged me beyond words. Thank you so much for developing your abilities to write and going with your gut, it’s pretty brave and something to admire.

    Reply
  49. Jenshu

    I think you’re a little self-centered. If you become a well-read author, people are bound to ask you the same questions over and over again. It’s like being an actress but not wanting the fame.

    Reply
  50. Dave Young

    Good article. Many people have misconceptions as to what the writing world is really like. I write marketing copy and immediately people assume I am working on the next New York Times Bestseller. It is a hard work and often pays little. It is refreshing to read articles where people tell the truth instead of reading another blog post about how everyone can be the next Stephen King if they just believe in themselves and buy the latest “writing” software.

    Reply
  51. DM

    Scott, I think I want to write a book and you could say I am very inexperienced… Let’s just say, Never have I wrote a book but am very seriuosly thinking about it. I need some direction and thought maybe you could guide me in how to get started doing this as I really am in the dark and really really feel this is something I want to get started on right away. What or where can I go to get some advice, any thoughts? I thank you in advance for your time, I know you are probably extremely busy and get this request often… I promise I am so thankful!
    Darla

    Reply
  52. Dana Dorsey

    I thought I wanted to write a book about my life, it is pretty interesting. There is a good story in just about every part of the life I have lived so far. Everything that was said made perfect sense. To be honest if I could write the book, I would be grateful for that accomplishment. If it were to be published, well that would be wonderful but it’s not a dealbreaker if it weren’t.

    I understood what Scott was saying and now I have less confidence than I did now. I am not afraid of hard work I just wouldn’t know how to start. Thanks, tho!!

    I hope you write a bestseller!

    Reply
  53. maria ramos

    Hi, I have a story to tell and I established I m not doing it for money but just to share it with who ever reads it. Now I m a bit passionate about writing it and am tired of just saying it. I dont want to skip out on putting in the work but I have heard of people who write it for you, you tell the them the story work together and slowly get a book together. Is that true and if so how do I find some one willing to help me do that?

    Reply
  54. lanie jane

    this was absolutely no help at all.honestly, i think you need a little help with this whole writing carrier yourself. just add me on to the other 80% who hated what you had to give them. seriously, three best selling books, thats extremily hard to beleive when your advice on the subject is so poor. my next door neighboor has heard of your work to, and he, along with hundreds of others, finds your page useless and insulting. waste of my time.

    Reply
  55. Sammantha Margaret

    You honestly have inspired me! Thank you for this blog :) No matter what you write people are going to say mean things (as seen below) but I don’t care. I enjoyed reading this! thanks again

    Reply
  56. Angelica

    Wonderful information! Thanks for the honesty Scott. I also love to write and read and I’m definitely not in a rush or looking to become rich and famous as a result. I have been giving the idea of writing and getting published serious thought for years now, but I have decided to compile some more information regarding what goes into the task. I think I’m pretty qualified and able to go on ahead at this point (not because of Scott’s info only). My only question at this point is, how much time (on average) does it take for publishers to publish a book?

    Reply
  57. Spockess

    Thank you for being realistic about the whole Cash thing. It really helped out what my goals were. Now they’re a little more pure. acutally a lot more realistic

    Reply
  58. Tracey

    Thank you Scott for your factual, short and sweet introduction to the basics of writing a book. I found it humorous and informative, and best of all it answered all of my questions.
    Write on man!

    Reply
  59. Donna Kinlaw

    Thanks so much. I am inspired by your comments. I started writing a book last year, but when I read the first page to a co-worker, they didn’t act too impressed. I wanted to make sure my readers were sold on my first page. When they weren’t, I never moved past it. I think I just need to start writing and wait until I’m finished to allow anyone to read or critique it. I could always go back and work on that first page after it is completed.

    Reply
  60. Ciera

    I am very serious about writing a book, I have some things that I want to get off my chest almost like an autobiography, I just need some advice on how to get started…If you could please give me some tips/advice I will be ever so happy.

    Reply
  61. amarnath

    hai my name is amarnath,19 yr’s old.studying engineering 2nd yr.now i am writing a book on HTML.i have the capability to write a book and i refer so many books.but i want to publish that book.the copy right,lisence everything else…i dnt have…a writer is writing a book for sometime only i.e.,in a day a man can write 6 hr’s day.do you think ?what the writer do the remaining time???that person is always thinking….if he write a 6 hr’s day its not tough for him.but thinking the remaining time is very superb…..

    thankyou to the scott…..for sharing these lines :D

    Reply
  62. Jessie

    I was just looking at your website and you make some very good points, I was also happy to hear..rather read someone telling it like it is.
    Right now I am currently writing a comic book & i am attempting to write a short comedy about the life of a stoner (nothing conservative just comedy).

    I was just wondering I have a very over active imagination and i have neevr had a writing course so my writing is very speratic and all over the place so i was wondering if an editor helps you kinda put everything in order?

    thank you ,
    Jessie

    Reply
  63. mishy

    I do not know how to contact this great brain. I need badly his advice on sthg really important. there is no email add in his contact bar. some help plz

    Reply

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