Home & Garden1 min ago
book writing for dummies (like me!)
It has been suggested about 7 times in the last 6 months by 7 different people that I should try and write books for a living. Obviously, these people are also mad and insane and think that I have something to offer the general public, (tooo funny) but then again, just because they are as mad as cheese, doesn't make them wrong.
So, How on this honest earth, do I get started. Obviously, I can write, and spell and have some ideas, but where from there? Who do I tell. Do I need any qualifications, I'm not actually an Oxford fellow or anything you see.
I have a Ba in English lit (mainly medieval and classical lit, but some modern/postmodern texts too) and a Post grad in English and drama and was thinking about a masters in creative writing (when I get the cash!) but do i need anything else? Do I need to be part of a writing group or anything like that?
Am I just being naive that I could ever do it? Is it something everyone thinks they should do at some part in their life? Could it ever work for a nobody?
Thoughts please, either way, help in the right direction, or an end to pie in the sky.
luv
mimi
Answers
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For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.Hi Mi - been a couple of similar queries recently. In summary, have a look at : http://www.writersshop.com/index.html
Check the Writers Year Book for info on publishers. Do not self publish - get a publisher when, you are ready, that handles similar topics to that you want to develop. Take time to get the storyline right, and enjoy the writing - its not a chore. If it becomes so. consider the options.
I'm sure that one of the principle differences between published authors and all of the people who want to be writers is whether or not they've written anything. The only way to know if you can get published is to start off by writing something. That seems obvious but writing a novel is a daunting task and I think that you really need to be disciplined and prepared for hard work. It seems to me, though, that, once you have an initial draft, you have something to work with. Thankfully, word processors make it relatively easy to rework, annotate, move chapters and sections about and to save all of the different revisions.
It's also occurred to me that being a lover of literature doesn't make one a great writer, instantly. We wouldn't necessarily expect an art lover to be a brilliant painter. An understanding of different techniques must be useful but at the same time you (probably) want to avoid being derivative. I suspect that, like a painter, the only way to develop is to practice. I'm trying to begin some writing - short stories, poetry, sketches - without any intention of showing them to anyone else but to stretch my ability to work with words, structure, metaphor etc. It's really difficult to find the time and focus to do this so it may well be that joining a creative writing group would act as a catalyst. I wouldn't worry about other qualifications: they're certainly no guarantee of success. It would be nice to have people who you can trust to give you constructive feedback on your writing. Your friends and family would probably be the worst people to ask.
Finally, I think that it's got be important to enjoy what you write and to enjoy the creative act of writing. Only you will know if this is the case.
The most difficult aspect I encountered was staying "on message" for any writing effort. It's very easy for the novice (and I'm still such) to start down non-relative rabbit trails leading to a product that, intially, had a point you wanted to make but finished with that point being obscured or worse non-existant. Long winded way of advising you to organize the process...
Best of Luck!
Well, I definately will start to try. Clanad, I always had you as a writer type....can't believe I was right! Thank you for your advice one and all. Pretty simple really. And, mostly follows the plans I used to make my students follow when I was teaching.
Jno. I don't need to worry about my day job. I'm a stay at home mum home educating my children: If only giving up was an option, LOL!
Well, I have a few ideas for a few things, I'll draw up the plans and see what happens.
P.s Has anyone used any of the writer's software packages that are around now? If so, how did you find them? Helpful?
Cheers.
http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Arts-and-Literature/Question216288.html and http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Arts-and-Literature/Question214910.html were the prvious Q's that also have some further suggestions. Also see http://www.writerswrite.com/groups.htm and speak to your local library about accessing the gropus in your area for some face to face chat.There are also groups that focus ion many specialised areas - guild of Food Writers for example, so depending on the topic you have in mind, you should find the relevant help.
Not used the publishing software - I prepared a MS and then its up to the publisher to prep this for proofing, editing and printing. As above answers, bery few make a living from writing books, but it may open the door to other oportunities, especially if you are thinking of non fiction - articles, columns, features - all needed by magazines, local papers and so on.
good luck - and we all want a first edition signed of course! (now, whres me quill gorn...and remember Shakespeare had an accent very like Brummie...)
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