My mum says i should write a book! How?
Discussion
My mum has been saying it for years but after the 9 months I've just had she believes i should get something down on paper. It's not going to be a thriller or anything, more a tale of a boy / man who has been through the mill a bit.
Who do I speak to or where do I go to seek some guidance?
Who do I speak to or where do I go to seek some guidance?
Tango13 said:
PM Derek Smith who frequents the SP&L forum, he's written a very good book about his time in the Police and he always comes across as a genuine bloke so i'm sure he'll give you a few pointers.
Indeed Derek is a genuine guy and does have the experience behind him of writing a book and getting the book published. Good advice I would follow. Best of luck with your book.ecain63 said:
My mum has been saying it for years but after the 9 months I've just had she believes i should get something down on paper. It's not going to be a thriller or anything, more a tale of a boy / man who has been through the mill a bit.
Who do I speak to or where do I go to seek some guidance?
Do you want to write a book? Or are you doing it because your mum thinks you should?Who do I speak to or where do I go to seek some guidance?
Do you enjoy writing? Are you any good at it?
Only I don't think it's something you can just knock out in a few afternoons. Not if you want it to be any good, anyway.
Maybe Derek should only offer to help on the agreement that he receives at least 1000 words per week to review...that way you won't take another nine years!
- *OOPS, SORRY*** just read your post properly re: the 'nine' aspect to your post. My mistake!
Edited by ReaderScars on Monday 2nd June 13:37
funkyrobot said:
dave_s13 said:
What about posting up a brief synopsis of what the last 9 months threw your way?
Had baby.The end.
As for your post: Thanks for your input.
Very brief synopsis of last 9 months. Claire fell pregnant beginning October following miscarriage earlier in the year, new baby due May 9th. A week later I'm diagnosed with bowel cancer. 6 sessions of heavy chemo followed. Major surgery booked for May 15th. No baby by 15th. Had surgery. Baby delivered by emergency cesarean on 21st. And so on.
I'm not saying my life has been that spectacular or terrible but it's been fairly busy. My previous 31 years have also been quite a challenge so it's not just about the past 9 months.
Eddie
Best thing to do? Jump straight in. If it's something YOU want to do, that is. Write a few thousand words, see if you enjoy it. There's a lot to learn, and to be honest, it can only be learned by trying. But if you enjoy it, that trying will be it's own reward.
Once you've decided if it's something you enjoy and want to do, come back and we can go through the process in more detail. But for now, you need to work out if it's something you want to commit to. If you find that you can spend three-plus hours writing and wonder where the time went, it's probably for you.
A very good insight to delve into in the meantime is Stephen King's On Writing. It's a helpful resource in more than one way.
Good luck (in all aspects of your life!).
Once you've decided if it's something you enjoy and want to do, come back and we can go through the process in more detail. But for now, you need to work out if it's something you want to commit to. If you find that you can spend three-plus hours writing and wonder where the time went, it's probably for you.
A very good insight to delve into in the meantime is Stephen King's On Writing. It's a helpful resource in more than one way.
Good luck (in all aspects of your life!).
Don't try to write a book yet; but get some practice at writing if it's what YOU want to do . It's not just having had an eventful year that enables you to write a book I'm afraid. That may be raw material but you have to write and write and write before you get any good . As said - try a blog, try writing short articles but write - and seek as much feedback as you can. But not from friends and family as they will probably be too polite. I have written two books and scores of articles and when I look at my early stuff I cringe. It's not easy but it is immensely rewarding if you can do it .But being able to write depends on lots of things - not just having had a difficult time I'm afraid
It might be worth starting by just writing sections down at random, then piecing them together later down the line.
I've always liked writing, and have done on and off for a long time now, but I have little consistency to link what I write into a coherent piece. I'm effectively writing the 'good bits' of the story, with no idea how to link them, although perhaps one day I'll crack it. Or I'll just release a book of random musings!
I've always liked writing, and have done on and off for a long time now, but I have little consistency to link what I write into a coherent piece. I'm effectively writing the 'good bits' of the story, with no idea how to link them, although perhaps one day I'll crack it. Or I'll just release a book of random musings!
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