How do I go about writing and publishing a book?
I think I have some good ideas to put into a book. Of course, wisdom comes with age so much of my book will be written over the course of the next many years. I am willing to be both patient as well as show perserverance concerning this endeavor.How does the process work from doing what I am now….putting ideas onto my laptop every so often, to having a book bound, with a cover and put on bookshelves?
thank you persiphone. if you don’t like questions being asked maybe you should get over yuorself and just leave Yahoo answers, thats what this place is for. Your wisdom is lame and you should answer something that requires no intelligence.
Don’t worry about publication right now. Just focus on getting your book written!
Start by deciding who your main characters are. Learn as much about them as you can (there are tons of character worksheets out there, if you google for them). Give them names and backgrounds. Make them well-rounded.
Then I would work on an outline of your story. I don’t tend to have very detailed outlines when I begin (I have a one or two page plot synopsis, though), but for many writers they benefit immensely from doing a thorough outline first. It really depends on how your brain works, but give it a shot and see if it helps!
I would recommend reading as many books as possible in genres that you like to write, plus books about the craft of writing. When you are reading fiction books, pay attention to how the authors structure their work.
Here are some of my favorites about writing (your local library should have most of them):
1) “Writing Down The Bones” by Natalie Goldberg
2) “Bird by Bird” by Anne Lamott
3) “On Writing Well” by William Zinsser
4) “How to Write Science Fiction & Fantasy” by Orson Scott Card
5) “On Writing” by Stephen King
6) “No Plot? No Problem!” by Chris Baty
7) “Eats, Shoots, and Leaves” by Lynne Truss
“The Elements of Style” by Strunk and White
Also, take a look at a few websites where authors gather. Some of them have very helpful articles and forums. Holly Lisle has a fantastic website that has articles on both the business and writing aspects:
http://hollylisle.com/fm/
Forward Motion is a wonderful, helpful community:
http://www.fmwriters.com/
Absolute Write is one of my favorite author communities, with a vast pool of resources and helpful people:
http://www.absolutewrite.com
Write every single day. Set a target for yourself. For instance, my goal right now is to write 1,000 words a day. I get this done before I go on the internet, read, watch TV, or goof around. To begin, maybe set an easier goal for yourself– try 250 words each day. Write in a journal as well, if you feel so inclined!
When you get ideas, find a way to record them as well. I have a spiral notebook that I keep just for that purpose. This way, when I want to begin a new project I can read through my notes and find just the right idea!
Also, never forget how important it is to edit and rewrite! When you finish a short story or novel, I suggest setting it aside for a month. Don’t look at it or think about it (if you can help it). Work on another project. Once that time has passed, go back and read what you wrote. Try to be objective– are there parts that need to be expanded? Cut out? Rewritten? How is the grammar and spelling? Editing could (and should) take more time than the original draft!
When you are working on editing, you can also spend some time researching the publishing industry. Keep in mind that you are trying to enter a business world, and you will need to conduct yourself appropriately. Learn as much as you can first to help avoid making amatuer mistakes! The book “Writer’s Market” is an excellent place to begin.
Here are some websites that can help. Read them thoroughly and research, research, research!
http://www.agentquery.com/
http://www.publishersmarketplace.com
http://www.absolutewrite.com/
http://www.anotherealm.com/prededitors/
And be warned of the people on this list:
http://www.sfwa.org/beware/twentyworst.html
And keep practicing!
Tips For Writing A Book in 30% Less Time – Get Published TV Episode #027