Anyone written a book?

[social]

I'm a pretty voracious reader and as most of my public speeches have apparently been pretty well received, I recently decided to combine 2 areas of interest (i.e. reading & writing) with a view to writing a book

It'll probably be crap and is definitely more complicated than I first thought but I am determined to see it through

Anyone else embarked on a similar journey?

 

[sledger]

Have written chapters for a handful of nonfiction books.

 

[social]

Have written chapters for a handful of nonfiction books.

Quickly finding out that both non- and fiction require heaps of research

 

[harsh.ag]

Have a couple of 100 page unfinished manuscripts back from when I was trying to write fiction in college.

 

[sledger]

The worst bit is actually working out what to write about, I find. Once you have done that the actual writing bit is considerably less painful.

Edit: @ social

 

[social]

The worst bit is actually working out what to write about, I find. Once you have done that the actual writing bit is considerably less painful.

Edit: @ social

I actually found that part relatively easy as I am a strong believer in only doing things that you enjoy so the book will have elements of sport/sex/humour/killing

Developing a coherent and entertaining 50k+ word manuscript with character development is the hard part

 

[sledger]

I actually found that part relatively easy as I am a strong believer in only doing things that you enjoy so the book will have elements of sport/sex/humour/killing

Developing a coherent and entertaining 50k+ word manuscript with character development is the hard part

Granted, the actual writing bit is inevitably a hard grind. But for me, that part is just an exercise in self-discipline and resolve. Actually working out what to write about can turn into a form of mental torture though. The research required in order to verify your idea is original and/or good enough to justify you writing an entire book about it can be absolutely nightmarish.

 

[social]

Granted, the actual writing bit is inevitably a hard grind. But for me, that part is just an exercise in self-discipline and resolve. Actually working out what to write about can turn into a form of mental torture though. The research required in order to verify your idea is original and/or good enough to justify you writing an entire book about it can be absolutely nightmarish.

Agreed

Just spent many days on a beach and have churned out more than 10,000 words by doing little more than spewing stuff that seemed ok

Reckon less than 20% will ultimately be usable

 

[Top_Cat]

That's probably why you shouldn't do that first. Just write, every day. Let what you write dictate which ideas seem worth pursuiing rather than waiting for inspiration or worrying about research first. You can't possibly forsee all the pathways ahead before putting pen to paper anyway, not writing because you don't think you have an original idea turns into an excuse for procrastination and you make room for ideas by just getting out what's in your mind now. Just shut up and write*.

* Not directed at any of you guys specifically.

 

[sledger]

That's probably why you shouldn't do that first. Just write, every day. Let what you write dictate which ideas seem worth pursuiing rather than waiting for inspiration or worrying about research first. You can't possibly forsee all the pathways ahead before putting pen to paper anyway, not writing because you don't think you have an original idea turns into an excuse for procrastination and you make room for ideas by just getting out what's in your mind now. Just shut up and write*.

* Not directed at any of you guys specifically.

Yeah, this is ultimately v true.

 

[Dan]

I actually found that part relatively easy as I am a strong believer in only doing things that you enjoy so the book will have elements of sport/sex/humour/killing

Developing a coherent and entertaining 50k+ word manuscript with character development is the hard part

I'm, uhh, concerned.

 

[duffer]

I'm, uhh, concerned.

Would make for an interesting book though.

 

[GIMH]

A couple but not been happy enough to release full thing to an audience wider than me

 

[Daemon]

A couple but not been happy enough to release full thing to an audience wider than me

Got my hands on a copy recently

 

[Athlai]

I'm, uhh, concerned.

He's clearly meaning things he knows about rather than actually practises. I mean he mentioned humour, and that ain't the social I know.

 

[marc71178]

Just write your memoirs, number of lunches with dignitaries you've had

Seriously though, good luck - not something I'd have the time nor patience for.

 

[Smudge]

I write for a living. Screw writing in my spare time.

 

[Daemon]

I write for a living. Screw writing in my spare time.

He said, while typing on a forum

 

[Smudge]

He said, while typing on a forum

 

[Hurricane]

I'm, uhh, concerned.

I thought it was just me who picked up on that.